Nicholas Counts (1752 - aft. 1838)

Born 12 Jan 1752 in Frederick, Colony of Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Eva (Unknown) Counts — married 1773 in Orange County, North Carolina

Descendants

Died after 17 Aug 1838 after age 86 in Jefferson, Tennessee, United States

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Michael Hatfield [send private message], Donna Henderson [send private message], Richard Ludwig [send private message], Harvey Counts [send private message], and Jesse Boudoin [send private message]

Biography

Nicholas Counts was a settler in Tennessee before statehood.

Nicholas Counts was born January 12, 1752^[1] to Nicholas Counts and Elizabeth Sharp. At a young age, he moved with his family to Rowan County, North Carolina near Durham. He married Eve Lydge in North Carolina in 1773. About 1788, they moved to Hawkins County (later Grainger County), Tennessee. They had 12 children and raised them in Grainger County, Tennessee. Nicholas died in Jefferson County, Tennessee in 1838,^[2] where he is believed to have been buried.^[3]

Will dated 17 August 1838^[2]

In the name of God Amen I Nicholas Countz do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time made.

First I direct that my funeral expenses and all my debts (be paid) as soon as possible, out of any I may die possessed of or may come into the hands of my executors.

Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Eve Countz a good and comfortable support during her natural life to be secure to her from any claim and right in the land on which we now live. Also two cows and her choice of beds. Also my servant woman named Aggy to stay with her during her life and at the death of my beloved wife my servant woman shall choose which of my heirs she shall live with and shall live with them during the remainder of her life. And shall have and keep her bed. I also will that my beloved wife have and keep for her own use and comfort the greater part of the household furniture that belongs to me.

Thirdly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Boen one negro girl named Tener which said negro has been transferred by my daughter Mary to David Noe and is now in his possession.

4thly, I give and bequeath to my son George Countz one negro man named Alexander, which said negro man has been transferred by sale by my son George to my son Henry Countz and is now in his possession.

5thly, I give and bequeath to my son William Countz one negro girl named Ferebe which said negro girl has been transferred by my son William to David Noe and is now in his possession.

6thly, I give and bequeath to the lawful heirs of my son Isaac Countz (Dec'd) one negro girl named Lucy.

7thly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Keith one Negro girl named Nancy.

8thly, I give and bequeath to my son Nicholas Countz one negro boy named Peter, which said negro boy has been transferred by sale by my son Nicholas to my son Henry Countz and is now in his possession.

9thly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Catherine Easley or her lawful heirs one negro girl named Seytha, which said negro girl has been transferred by sale from said heirs to my son Henry Countz and is now in his possession.

10thly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Noe one negro girl named Gemiah.

11thly, I give and bequeath to my son Aaron Countz one negro boy named John and my son Aaron is to have no further claims on my estate.

12thly, I give and bequeath to my son John Countz (dec'd) or his lawful heirs one negro boy named Alfred.

13thly, I give and bequeath to my son David Countz one negro man named Briant which said negro he had received and is now in his possession many years.

14th, I give and bequeath to my son Henry Countz after my death and the death of my beloved wife all my right title and claim in the lands on which we now live and which he is now held by heir and me jointly. All the hogs and sheep held by us in partnership.

15th, I will that all my personal property I may die possessed of be sold by my executors to the highest bidder on a credit of twelve months and the proceeds of said sale shall be united with what r monies I may die possessed of or may be collected by my executors as belonging to the estate and the money arising from the sale of my negro boy named Bryant and said money when it is all collected by my executors shall be by them equallly divided among my heirs. Aaron Countz excepted as above.

16th, I will that my negro boy Bryant stay two years longer with his mother and that he be sold by my executors and the money disposed of as directed above.

17th, I will that my negro woman named Fereba and her children now in the possession of John Smith of Grainger County shall at the death of said Smith if possible recovered by my executors and then sold after my executors have been paid for the trouble they may have in recovering them and all lawful expenses are paid the remainder of the monies arising from the sale of them shall be divided among my heirs as directed above.

18th, I nominate my son Henry Countz and my esteemed neighbor and friend William Barton be executors of this my last will and testament. In witness thereof I do to this my will set my hand and seal this 17th day of August, 1838."

Nics Countz * SEAL *

Signed sealed and published in our presense and we have subscribed our names hereto in the presense of the testator this 17th day of August 1838.

William S. Manson, Sr. ~ George Witt, Sr.

Slaves

See: Slaves of Nicholas Counts Sr, Tennessee

Research Notes

Nicholas is also listed as a "known" Private in the North Carolina Militia from Orange County in a company commanded by Captain William Rogers. Nicholas participated in the Battle of Eutaw Springs 8 Sep 1781 in South Carolina. This battle was one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution and was fought less than a month after the defeat of General Gates, by Cornwallis, at the Battle of Camden.

The Nicholas Counts in the 1789 Loudoun tax list is probably a different person.

Sources

1. ↑ Nicholas' exact DOB of 12 Jan 1752 is noted in documents associated with his application for a Revolutionary War pension. Nicholas received an annual allowance of $21.66 beginning with the first payment being made 3 May 1833.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Jefferson County, Tennessee, Will Book, Vol. 4, Page: 33; Probate Minutes, Vol. 10, Pages 19-23. Transcript available on GenealogyTrails.
3. ↑ FindAGrave memorial #219531602 for Nicholas Counts (1752–1838), Burial Unknown.

• 1805; Tennessee, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1810-1891
• Tennessee Records of Grainger County - Tax Lists, 1820 [TN State Library and Archives]; Call Number: FHL Film 464105; Page Number: 522; Family Number: 5
• 1836; Tennessee, Early Tax List Records, 1783-1895
• U.S., The Pension Roll of 1835

See also:

• Documents and images attached to FamilySearch personID LD9P-59J and connected profiles.
• http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/c/o/u/Raymond-E-Counts/FILE/0001page.html

Acknowledgments

• WikiTree profile Counts-110 created 26 January 2013 by Richard Ludwig through the import of Richard Ludwig's Family.ged.
• WikiTree profile Counts-241 created 2 August 2014 by Michael Hatfield.
• WikiTree profile Counts-726 created 28 May 2017 by Donna (Smith) Henderson.
• WikiTree profile Counts-1029 created 24 April 2019 by Harvey Counts.