William Godwin II (abt. 1710 - 1753)

Born about 1710 in Isle of Wight, Virginia

Ancestors

Husband of Martha (Kearney) Godwin — married about 1725 in Virginia

Descendants

Died 4 May 1753 at about age 43 in Bertie, North Carolina

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Christina Finn [send private message]

Biography

Last Will & Testament

Date: 1752

SDATE 1 JUL 1752

Place: Bertie County, North Carolina

In the Name of God Amen I WILLIAM GODWIN of the County of Bertie and Province of No. Carolina, Esqr., Being Sick and weak of Body But of Sound and Perfect Sence and Memory Thanks be to God for it, Doe make and Acknowledge this to be my Last will and Testament as follows (Viz). Imprimis.- I give to my Son BARNABY GODWIN One Shilling Sterling to be paid by my Executor (when he comes to lawful age). Item. I give to my Daughter JULIAN, two Cows and Calves, One feather bed and furniture, two Breading Sows and eight year old Hoggs, One Pewter Dish, one Pewter Bason, three Pewter Plates, One Iron Pot, and a Lining Wheel. Item.- I give to my Daughter SILVIA GODWIN, two Cows and Calves, One feather bed and furniture, two Breading Sows and Eight year old Hoggs, One Pewter Dish, One Pewter Bason, three Pewter Plates, One Iron Pot. Item.- I Give to my Son WILLIS GODWIN, two Cows and Calves, One feather bed and furniture, two Breading Sows, and Eight year old Hoggs, One Pewter Dish, One Pewter Bason, three Pewter Plates, One Iron Pot. I allse Give to my Son WILLISS the first Child (if any such should Happen) that shall be Born of a negro girl named Amy, which child is to be delivered to me aforesaid son WILLISS at Eighteen months old, and then the aforesd. negro Amy to be the absolute property of my Daughter COURTNEY GODWIN. I Likewise give to my son WILLISS a Silver Seal, one pair of shoe and knee Buckles, and one small Gun. Item.- I give to my Son KEARNEY GODWIN, my Plantation Whereon I now Live, after the death of his mother, containing by Estimation four Hundred acres of Land, to him and his Heirs for Ever, Nevertheless if my Son KEARNEY GODWIN should die Before he Cometh of Lawful Age, or without Issue, then my aforesaid Plantation to be Equally Divided between my two sons WILLIS and JOSIAS, also I give to my Son Kearney my Silver Clasps for a Band. Item.- I give to my Son JOSIAS a Negro Boy named Samson, to him and his Heirs for Ever, allso one Gun, that is Now in the Hands of John Carter, allso a pr. of Silver Studs. Item.- I Lend to my Daughter COURTNEY GODWIN a Negro Girl Called Amy, and after the Child Given to my son Williss, is Delivered, then the sd. Girl Amy is to belong to my Daughter COURTENY and her heirs for Ever. Item.- I give to my Daughter MARTHA GODWIN a Negro Boy Named Will to her and her Heirs for Ever, also I give to sd. Daughter MARTHA a Gold Ring, the Posey of which is, Not all the World our Love shall sever, the fear of God keeps true Love Ever. Item.- I Desire that my Negro Boy Abner, shall be sold by my Executors hereafter Named, to Discharge my Debts hereafter becoming Due. Item.- I Lend to me Beloved Wife MARTHA GODWIN, two Negroes, Namely Dick and Moll, Dureing her Natural Life or Widowhood as allso I Lend to my Wife aforsd, all my Personal Estate, undisposed of, the use of which is to Raise and Support my Several Children, Nevertheless after the Death or marriage of my Wife MARTHA, my Will is that my aforsd. Negroes Dick and Moll, shall be sold, and the Money Arising therefrom to be Equally Divided Between my three Children, (Viz) JULIAN, SILVIA, and WILLIS, I Likewise Desire that all the Children (if any) that shall be born of my aforsd. Negro Moll, shall be sold, (as the others is to be), by my Executor, and the money apply'd to the use as the other money is to be, that is to my three Children aforsd., JULIAN, SILVIA, and WILLISS. My Will is Likewise that the Legacies by me Given, is to be Delivered by my Executor Hereafter Named, to my Several Children, as they Come of Lawful Age, or Marry. Allso my Desire is that my Hereafter Named Executor is to Doe, and See Don and Compleated, Every Article and Articles of my Will, Allso I Doe hereby Appoint my friend John Brickell of the Aforesd. County of Bartie, to be my Hole and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby Disannulling all and Every Other Will and Wills by me Made, or Caus'd to be Made. In Witness Whereof I have Hereunto Set my Hand and fixed my Seal this fourth Day of May in the Year of Our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and fifty two. WM GODWIN (Seal) Signd, Sealed, and Declar'd) in Presants of Us---------) John Brown, Jurat,Richard Robards Gilstrap Williams, Jurat.Bertie ) ) ss. May Court, 1753,County) The afore Written Will was Exhibited into Court by John Brickell Exor thereto and Proved by the Oaths of John Brown, Esqr. and Gilstrap Williams two of the Subscribing Witness's thereto and at the same time the same Exor Qualified for said office according to Law which was Ordered to be certified. Test. Benjm, Wynns. Ck. Cut.

Children

1. Barnaby Godwin b: Abt 1725 in Bertie County, North Carolina
2. Julian Godwin b: Abt 1726 in Bertie County, North Carolina
3. Silvia Godwin b: Abt 1727 in Bertie County, North Carolina
4. Willis Godwin b: Abt 1729 in Bertie County, North Carolina
5. Courtney Godwin b: Abt 1731 in Bertie County, North Carolina
6. Kearney Godwin b: Abt 1733 in Bertie County, North Carolina
7. Josias Godwin b: Abt 1735 in Bertie County, North Carolina
8. Martha

Slaves

Amy

Samson

Will

Abner

Dick

Moll

Sources

• http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jmljr&id=I59742