Will of John Clifford of Rowan County, North Carolina, 1824
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| 1808 Map of Rowan County published in Philadelphia, created by Jonathan Price, John Strother, et al. Public Domain |
PREFACE
John Clifford is my maternal 5th. great-grandfather. He was born about 1746 in Ireland, the son of Michael and Elizabeth Clifford. John married Rachel Gray in about 1776. They had eight known children. After his wife passed away around 1790, he married Alsey (surname unknown). This part of my tree needs a lot more research to be done. I am grateful to have found his Last Will and Testament, and to have found his father's, too!
SOURCE
“Wills and estate papers (Rowan County), 1663-1978”, digital images, FamilySearch (
https://www.familysearch.org : accessed 22 June 2025), “Original wills Abbott, Benjamin - Cowan, Isaac” (image 1520 of 1768), Last Will & Testament of John Clifford, recorded 28 November 1824, probated November 1826.
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TRANSCRPTION
[page 1]
In then name of god Amen
I John Clifford of Rowan County
and state of North Caolina being of sound sence
and memory Calling to mind the mortality
of my body knowing that it is appointed for
all men once to die, do make and constitute
this my last will and testament in manner
and form as follow
First I recommend my soul to god
who gave it and my body to the earth
to be buried in a decent Christian like
manner at the decretion of my friends who
survive me
And as touching such worldly estate as it
hath pleased god to bless me with I devise
& depose of the same in the following manner
Item I give and bequeath unto my wife
Alsey one third of my land to be liad? of
by my cocn? to Comprehend the mansion
house hold it hers during her lifetime
and then fall to those hereafter named
also one horse beast her choise; together
with the house & kitchen furniture; one Cae?
ane?
Item I will and bequeath unto my
daughter Elizabeth galoway one dollar
over and above what she has Recived
Item I will & bequeath unto my son
Joseph Clifford one dollar over and above what he
has Received
Item I will & bequeath unto my daughter
Sarah Irwin one dollar over and above
what she has Received
[pg. 2]
Item I will and bequeath unto my daugh
ter Rachel White one Colt over and above
what she has received
Item I will and bequeath unto my daughter
Jean Wells twenty dollars to her in property
by my Exrs over and above what she has received
Item will and bequeath unto my son
Michael Clifford one dollar over and above
what he has Received
Item I will and bequeath unto my daugh
ter Mary Davis twenty dollars to be paid
her in property by my Exrs over and above
what she has Received
Item I will and bequeath unto my
daughter Joanna Clifford one bed and
furniture1 [?] saddle, one cow;
also twenty dollars to be paid in property
by my Exrs
Item I will and bequeath to my two
sons John & William Clifford my
two tracts and parcel of land to be
equally divided between them
two waggons horses cattle sheep hogs
together with all the propperty belong
ing to me at my death; They paying
all my just debts
[pg 3]
Lastly I nominate and appoint my wife
Alsey Clifford & my son John Clifford
soul Exrs to this my last will and testa
ment
In witness whereof & have hereunto
sit my hand and affixed my seal this
28 of November 1824.
Signed sealed and acknowledge
In the presence of John Clifford (Seal)
Josiah Inglis
Cynthia Inglis (her mark)
[pg 4]
John Clifford.
Rowan County November Session 1826
Hereby Certify that the within Will was
duly proven in open Court by the Oath of Josiah
Inglis recorded and registered in Book H
page 370 John Giles ck
[fold]
John Clifford
Will
Nov 1826
Copy for Executor
recorded in Book
H page 370
[fold]
Last Will &
Testament of
John Clifford
Cleaned Up by ChatGPT
Here's a cleaned-up version of John Clifford's Will with proper punctuation and sentence structure:
In the Name of God, Amen
I, John Clifford of Rowan County and the State of North
Carolina, being of sound sense and memory and calling to mind the mortality of
my body, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and
constitute this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows:
First, I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my
body to the earth to be buried in a decent, Christian-like manner at the
discretion of my friends who survive me.
As for my worldly estate, which it has pleased God to
bless me with, I devise and dispose of the same in the following manner:
Item: I give and bequeath unto my wife Alsey
one-third of my land, to be laid off by my concern to include the mansion
house. She shall hold it during her lifetime, after which it shall fall to
those hereafter named. I also give her one horse, her choice; the house and
kitchen furniture; and one cow and additional items as specified.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth
Galloway one dollar, over and above what she has already received.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my son Joseph Clifford
one dollar, over and above what he has already received.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah
Irwin one dollar, over and above what she has already received.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel
White one colt, over and above what she has already received.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Jean Wells
twenty dollars, to be paid to her in property by my executors, over and above
what she has already received.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my son Michael
Clifford one dollar, over and above what he has already received.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Davis
twenty dollars, to be paid to her in property by my executors, over and above
what she has already received.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my daughter Joanna
Clifford one bed and furniture, one saddle, and one cow. I also bequeath to her
twenty dollars, to be paid in property by my executors.
Item: I will and bequeath unto my two sons, John and
William Clifford, my two tracts of land to be equally divided between them.
This includes two wagons, horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and all property
belonging to me at my death. They are to pay all my just debts.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint my wife, Alsey
Clifford, and my son, John Clifford, as sole executors of this, my last will
and testament.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my seal this 28th day of November, 1824.
Signed, sealed, and acknowledged in the presence of:
Josiah Inglis
Cynthia Inglis (her mark)
John Clifford (Seal)
Rowan County, November Session 1826
I hereby certify that the within will was duly proven in
open court by the oath of Josiah Inglis and recorded and registered in Book H,
page 370.
John Giles, Clerk
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