James Copeland (abt. 1729 - 1793)

Born about 1729 in Essex Co. VA

Descendants

Died 30 Sep 1793 at about age 64 in Chatham Co. NC

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Biography

James COPELAND, born in 1729 in Essex County, Virginia, died on 30 Sep 1793 in Chatham County, North Carolina.

Research Notes

1755 - No Township Listed, Orange County, NC. James lived in the Bells community, near New Hope Creek in eastern Chatham County. Chatham County was formed in 1771 from Orange County and was named in 1758 for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who served as British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1768 and opposed harsh colonial policies. Some of the first settlers of what would become the county were English Quakers. ^[1]

Will of James Copeland

^[2] In the name of God, Amen. I James Copeland of the County of Chatham and the state of North Carolina planter Being sick and weak in Body, but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God calling into mind the Mortality of My Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die Do make and ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hand of almighty God that give it and My Body I Recommend to the Earth to be Buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors Nothing Doubting But at the General Resurrection, I shall Receive the Same Again By the Mighty power of God and as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless Me in this Life I Give Devise and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner and form - - -

First I give to my well Beloved wife Elizabeth all and Singular My Movable Estate Containing My house hold furniture to gather with My Stock of Every Kind of Bruits (Beasts?) and fowls and My Land that I Now Live upon and all the lands that is Now in my position after all my Just Debts is paid During her Widow hood and then I give to my son John Copeland one hundred and sixty acres one hundred acres at the same Being part of a tract Entered By Me James Copeland for My Self and David Copeland and the other Sixty was______ Entered by me James Copeland for myself also I give to my son David Copeland after the widowhood of My Wife The sold tract that J. Haw live upon Containing one hundred and twenty five acres also after the - - - Widow hood of My Wife. I give and bequeath the Movable part of my property containing the house hold furniture and Stock of Every Kind to My well Beloved children By name Sillah Bryant, Daniel Copeland, Silvy Bryant, James Copeland, Liddy Branton, Elisabeth Lasator, Frankey Lasetor, Susanah Ellitt, William Johnston, Sarah McIver and Richard Johnston whom I own as my Children although Known By the Name of Johnston and McIver Sealley Copeland, John Copeland, Polley(Dolley?) Copeland, David Copeland, Anney Copeland, Cloe Copeland. I Likewise consitute Make and ordain Daniel Copeland and Thomas Branton My Sole executors of this this my Last will and Testament and I Do hereby disalow Revoke and Disanull all --- and Every other former Testaments Wills Legacies Bequests and Executors By Me in any wise Before Named Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and No other to Be My Last will and testament in Witness Whereof I the Said James Copeland Have hereunto set My hand and Seal this thirtyeth Day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven --- Hundred and Ninety Three Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the James Copeland seal Said James Copeland as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presents and in the Presents of Each other have hereunto Subscribed our Names

Benjamin Gunter (seal) Richard Gunter (seal) Isac Bright his mark

Sources

1. ↑ http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=3566&h=17065482&ssrc=pt&tid=16157381&pid=18111278347&usePUB=true
2. ↑ Chatham County Nov Term 1809: The execution of this last Will and Testament was duly proved in Open Court by the Oath of Benjamin Gunter and Richard Gunter and ordered to be recorded and is recorded in Book A pages 39 & 40 Test. Thomas Ragland CCC

• The Copeland / Coplen and allied families, immigrants to Virginia, by Herman L. Coplen, Jr., Gateway Press, Baltimore Maryland, 1983 https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/oclc/9713336?availability=Family%20History%20Library