Benjamin J GREGORY William Harrison GREGORY James Thompson GREGORY Aswin Starks GREGORY Benjamin Franklin GREGORY John J E GREGORY Andrew Jackson GREGORY Berry J Adolphus GREGORY Pickens Butler GREGORY Argulass GREGORY Elizabeth Crosby JETER Mini tree diagram

Sarah Elvira GREGORY1,2,2

about 1831 - UNKNOWN

Life History

about 1831

Born in Union District, South Carolina

UNKNOWN

Died

Notes

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    General Introduction

    BENJAMIN J. GREGORY (12 December 1786-7 June 1853), son of Gerard and Freelove Gregory, married Elizabeth Crosby Jeter (2 January 1794-18 May 1851), daughter of James and Mary Crosby Jeter, on 11 June 1811. Both Elizabeth and Benjamin were lifelong residents of Union County.

    .....Beniamin's will (which is presented in full on the pages following) is an interesting document in many ways. He willed 1547 acres of land specifically and made reference to other acreage. There is evidence of his having bought 1262 acres during his life and having sold 808.5 acres, plus his share of the 100 acres of his parent's estate.

    .....The explanation for this is fairly simple. Very often, in the early years of our country, deeds were not even recorded until the buyer was ready to dispose of the land. Inherited land was quite often not recorded.

    .....David Sims Jeter, Elizabeth's unmarried brother, remembered his Gregory nephews in his will and also set aside land for the Jeter Family Cemetery. He went a step farther and provided funds for tombstones for his family members. It is ironic that his is one of the smaller stones in the cemetery.

    .....Benjamin and Elizabeth were the parents of ten known children - nine sons and one daughter. They were: William Harrison; Aswin Starks; James Thompson; Benjamin Franklin; John J.E.; Andrew Jackson; Argulass; Sarah Elvira; Berry J. Adolphus; and Pickens Butler.

    Will of Benjamin J Gregory
    The State of South Carolina

    .....I, Benjamin J. Gregory of Union District in the State aforesaid, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding, and taking into consideration the uncertainty of human life, do constitute and ordain this my last Will and Testament.

    .....It is my will and desire that all of my just debts should be paid and for this purpose I authorize my executors, hereinafter named, to make sale of such cotton or other produce as may be on hand at the time of my death, the proceeds o which, together with my cash on hand, I set apart for the payment of my debts and funeral expenses.

    .....To William Harrison Gregory, my eldest son, I will and bequeath all that tract of land whereon he now lives containing two hundred and sixty-one acres more or less, being one-half of the DeGraffenreidt tract bounded by A.S. Gregory, James Jeter and others; valued to him at Seven dollars ($7.00) per acre, together with all and singular: the rights, hereditaments thereto belonging or in any use incident or appertaining, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said William Harrison Gregory, one Negro man slave named Buck and one Negro woman slave named Hariet, together with the issue and increase of the said slave Hariet; which said slaves I have valued to him at the sum of thirteen hundred dollars ($1300). I also will and bequeath to the said William Harrison Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle with various articles of household furniture and other things which are named and valued in my Book of Accounts against my children.

    .....To my second son, A. Starks Gregory, I will and bequeath all that piece, parcel and tract of land containing two hundred and sixty-one acres, being the remaining half of the DeGraffenreidt tract above referred to; valued to him at seven dollars ($7.00) per acre, together with all and singular: rights, members, hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any use incident to appertaining, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said A. Starks Gregory, two Negro men slaves named Harper and Gaines; which said slaves I have valued to him at the sum of one thousand, three hundred dollars ($1300). I also will and bequeath to the said A. Starks Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle, together with various other things which are charged in my Book of Accounts against my children.

    .....To my third son, J. Thompson Gregory, I will and bequeath one tract or parcel of land lying, being and situated in - County in the State Of Arkansas, containing one hundred and sixty acres, purchased from Samuel Pearson; valued to him at seven hundred, sixty-eight dollars ($768), together with all and singular: the rights, members and hereditaments, and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said J. Thompson Gregory, the four following named Negro slaves, to wit: Charles, a Negro man valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); one Negro woman, Lucy, valued at six hundred, nine dollars ($609); one Negro woman, Hannah, valued at six hundred, fifty dollars ($650); and one Negro girl child valued at three hundred dollars ($300); together with the issue and increase of the aforesaid female slaves. I also will and bequeath to the said J. Thompson Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle with other articles named and charged in my Book of Accounts against my children.

    .....To my fourth son, B. Franklin Gregory, I will and bequeath one tract of land containing one hundred, nineteen (119) acres bounded by Harper Farr, Widow Paulk and myself, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); also, one other tract of land containing one hundred, twenty-three (123) acres, bought of Rochester, adjoining the first named tract, valued at six hundred, fifteen dollars ($615); together with all and singular: the rights, members, hereditaments and appurtenances thereto belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining to the said B. Franklin Gregory, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said B. Franklin Gregory, the two following named Negro slaves, to wit: Phil, a man, and Violet, a woman, together with the issue and increase of the said Negro woman, Violet; which said slaves I have valued at the sum of thirteen hundred dollars ($1300).

    .....To my fifth son, John J.E. Gregory, I will and bequeath one tract or parcel of land containing three hundred, ninety-four (394) acres, known as the Ashby Land, valued at __ dollars; together with all and singular: the rights, members, hereditaments and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining to the said John J.E. Gregory, his heirs and assigns, in fee simple. I also will and bequeath to the said John J.E. Gregory, the three following named slaves, to wit: Cato, a Negro man slave, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); and one Negro woman slave, called Farr, and child, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); together with the issue and increase of said slaves. I also will and bequeath to the said John J.E. Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle with other things charged on my Book of Accounts against my children.

    .....To my sixth son, Andrew J. Gregory, I will and bequeath all that parcel or tract of land whereon he now lives which has been already conveyed to him by John Mann, I having paid the money therefor, containing two hundred, thirty-one and a half (2311/2) acres more or less, known as the "John Mann Place," valued at the sum of fourteen hundred, twenty-eight dollars ($1428); together with all and singular: the rights, members and hereditaments and appurtenances to the said premises belonging or in any wise incident or appertaining. I also will and bequeath to the said Andrew J. Gregory, two Negro slaves: one named Isaac, a man, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); one woman slave, named Dicey, valued at six hundred dollars ($600); one horse, saddle and bridle with various other articles charged on my Book of Accounts against my children.

    .....To my seventh son, B.J. Adolphus Gregory, I will and bequeath the following named Negro slaves, six in number: George, a male, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); Horace, a male, valued at three hundred dollars ($300); Henry, a male, valued at four hundred dollars ($400); Catherine, a female, valued at six hundred dollars ($600); Juliana, a female, valued at five hundred dollars ($500); and Josephine, a female, valued at two hundred, fifty dollars ($250); together with the future issue and increase of the said female slaves to B.J. Adolphus Gregory and his lawful heirs. The above named slaves are not to be liable for the debts or subject to the contracts of the said B.J. Adolphus Gregory, he is merely to have the use of them during his natural life; and, at his death, the said slaves, together with their issue and increase, are to go into possession of the legal heirs of him the said B.J. Adolphus; and, in case the said B.J. Adolphus should die without lawful heirs, then the said Negroes, together with their issue and increase, are to revert to my estate and be disposed of in the same manner as the residue of my property not herein specially devised. In case any of the above named Negroes should die before I put them in possession of the said B.J. Adolphus Gregory, it is not to be his loss, but such loss shall fall upon my estate. I also will and bequeath to my said son, B.J. Adolphus Gregory, one horse, saddle and bridle valued at one hundred dollars ($100) which I have delivered to him.

    .....To my eighth son, Pickens Butler Gregory, I will and bequeath the six following named slaves, to wit: Gilbert, valued at seven hundred dollars ($700); Prince, valued at five hundred dollars ($500); Jo, valued at four hundred dollars ($400); Manerva, valued at six hundred dollars ($600); Mariah, valued at three hundred dollars ($300); and Charlotte valued at four hundred dollars ($400); together with the future issue and increase of the said female slaves. The said last named slaves, together with their issue and increase, are to be subject to precisely the same conditions and restriction as those slaves herein before bequeathed to B.J. Adolphus Gregory.

    .....To my daughter, Sarah Elvira Gregory, I will and bequeath one bed and furniture, one gold watch, one bureau (marble top), and one hundred dollars ($100) in cash to be paid to her as soon as practicable after my death. My said daughter has already received about four hundred dollars more than any other of my children by way of tuition and she has married contrary to my will. I desire that she shall be excluded from any portion of my estate except such articles as are devised to her.

    .....To my son, B. Franklin Gregory, I also will and bequeath one horse, saddle and bridle with various other articles charged to my Book of Accounts against my children.

    .....The residue of my estate, both real and personal, I wish valued by three disinterested persons, to be chosen by my executors, and to be divided into lots and apportioned amongst my eight sons herein before named. If, however, my said executors should think it best for the interest to be sold, they may, after giving the usual notice, put it up at auction and sell it to the highest bidder, dividing the proceeds as herein directed; and I hereby authorize and empower my said executors to make, execute and deliver titles to my said lands, the whole or any portion thereof, to such person or persons as may comply with the terms of the sale.

    .....The property herein before devised to my six first named sons has been put into their possession by me and, in the settlement of my estate, is to be received by them at the prices charged in this, my last Will and Testament, in my Book of Accounts against them without interest.

    .....I will and desire that my eight sons above named receive an equal share of my whole estate and, to this end, I direct that the residue of my estate be divided in such a way as to accomplish this object.

    .....I further will and desire that the residue of my Negro property and other personal property not herein specially disposed should be held by my said sons for their use and benefit during their lives. It is not to be subject to their debts or contracts, but is to descend to their lawful heirs in the manner as is prescribed for the Negroes of B.J. Adolphus, and Pickens Butler Gregory herein specially devised.

    .....I will and desire that my sons Wm. Harrison Gregory and J. Thompson Gregory act as my executors to this, my last Will and Testament.

    .....In witness whereof I have hereinto subscribed my name and affixed my seal, this Fifth day of December in the Year of our Lord, One thousand, eight hundred and fifty-one; and in the Seventy-fifth Year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.

    B.J. Gregory

    Signed and Sealed, Published and Declared by the said Benjamin J. Gregory as his last Will and Testament in the presence of each other and in the presence of the said B.J. Gregory have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

    W.J. Kennan
    J.T.E. Brandon
    J.W. McLure

    (CODICIL to the Will)

    The State of South Carolina
    Union District

    .....I, Benjamin J. Gregory, of the District and State aforesaid, do hereby make this the following codicil to my last Will and Testament which is to be taken for a part and parcel of the same, to wit:

    .....To my daughter, Sarah Elvira Gregory, I will and bequeath the six slaves more particularly described in a Deed of Gift made by me to the said Sarah Elvira, subject to the conditions and reversions mentioned in said deed.

    .....I will and bequeath to the said Sarah Elvira Gregory, an equal proportion of my whole estate, both real and personal, which is to be distributed after my death as is herein before prescribed. She is to be charged in the said distribution to the six slaves named in the said Deed of Gift at the prices named in my Book of Accounts against my children. It is my desire that the said Sarah Elvira shall not be charged with any advancements whatever that have been heretofore made with the exception of the six slaves aforesaid.

    .....It is further my will and desire that such property, either real or personal, as my said daughter may be entitled to receive by virtue of this codicil may be delivered by my executors to my sons, J. Thompson Gregory and William Harrison Gregory, who are hereby requested to receive the same on the same condition and trusts as is named in the Deeds of Gift herein before referred to, and to form a portion of the trust estate confided to them. I hereby revoke so much of my last Well and Testament as makes a special bequest of one hundred dollars in cash to my said daughter, Sarah Elvira Gregory.

    .....In witness whereof I have herewith subscribed my name and affixed my seal, this Thirty-first day of January, Anno Domini One thousand, eight hundred, fifty-two, and in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Sovereignty and Independence of the United States of America.
    B.J. Gregory

    Signed, sealed and delivered by the said B.J. Gregory in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses at the request of the testator, and in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names the day and year aforesaid. "To receive" interlined before signed.
    J.K. Brandon
    W.M. Kennan
    J.W. McLure
    --  Leavells, http://littlecalamity.tripod.com/Genealogy/LeavellFam3.html
    ----------------------------

Sources

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