"Where There's a Will" - Transcription of Levin Woollen's Last Will and Testament

How I descend from Levin Woollen. My father and I follow after Betty
Henderson Wood in the lineage shown above.

Levin (a.k.a., Leven, Leavin, and Leaven) Woollen was born in 1744 in Dorchester County, Maryland.  Various records show him living in Maryland up until the time of the 1800 United States Census for Dorchester County, Maryland.  By the time of the enumeration of the 1810 United States Census, Levin had moved about 400 miles southwest of Dorchester County and was residing in Rockingham County, North Carolina.  On 07 August 1820, the United States Census recorded him as living in Guilford County, North Carolina.  Then, on 14 February 1832, Mr. Woollen filed his last will and testament, as follows, with the Guilford County, North Carolina, Clerk of Court.

Last Will and Testament of Leven (sic) Woollen.

Transcription of Levin Woollen's Last Will and Testament

File # 0673

467.

In the Name of God Amen.  I Leven Woollen of the County of Guilford & State of North Carolina, Considering the uncertainty of life being of sound mind & (illegible) Memory.  Do Ordain & disclose this to be my last Will & Testament revoking all others.

Item 1.  I give & bequeath to my beloved wife Rebecca Woollen Our bed & furniture her natural lifetime.

Item 2.  I give & bequeath to my son William B. Woollen all my land which I may disposed & pop??ed of by his paying Five Dollars to each of the rest of the legates that is to say my son Levin Woollen, to my daughter Nancy Woollen, & To. my son Edward Woollen, to my son Benjamin Ellis Woollen, & to my son Charles W. Woollen.

Item 3.  I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Ellis Woollen, one bed and its common furniture.

Item 4.  My Will is the remaining part of my property not otherwise disposed of to be sold and Equally divided Betwixt my son Leven Woollen, Nancy Woollen, Edward, William, Barns (sic), Benjamin Ellis, of Charles Wesley Woollen.

Item 5.  I do hereby Constitute Ordain, and appoint John A. Smith my executor to this my last Will & Testament.  Duly Executed, I do hereby Confirm the same in the presence of God, and here unto set my hand & Seal After Minute deliberation,

Signed Sealed & delivered in presence of us

this (illegible) 14th day of February in the year of} Leven Woollen {Seal}

our Lord 1832

Martin Weatherby}

Green (his X mark) Gordon} durant?

State of North Carolina

Guilford County} November Term 1832

The Execution of the the within Will was duly proven

in Open Court by the Oathes of Marin Weatherby & Green Gordon

Laboring(?) Witnesses Hereto.

Ordered to be Recorded

Then carrier(?) into Open Court.  John A. Smith Esquire Executor

appointed in said Will of qualified as such Accordingly.

Test(?)

A. E. Hanner(?) c/c


©Amy Wood Kelly, 2018 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint or repost this in full or in part or use excerpts from it without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put creating this.

"Favorite Name" - Marie Rosalie Seraphina Toups

I have found so many names in my family tree that I could call "favorites" for a variety of reasons.  For this post, I decided to choose a name that I like based solely on the name itself - Marie Rosalie Seraphina Toups.  She is my maternal third great-grandmother.  I particularly like the Seraphina part of her name, as well as that her given and middle names reflect her maternal French heritage.

My mother and I follow after Andrew Pampas
in the above lineage.

Name Information

• Marie is a common French variant of the ancient names Mary and Maria. Its meaning is not clearly defined.
• Rosalie is a French form of Italian and Late Roman name Rosalia.  As one would expect, it means "rose."
• Seraphina is the feminine form of the Late Latin name Seraphinus and is typically spelled as "Séraphina" in French.  The name is derived from the Hebrew word "שרפים" "(anglicized as "seraphim"), which means "burning ones" and is used to identify the angels surrounding the throne of God in the Bible.
• Toups was derived from the surname Dubs and came into its current form in the late 1600s to early 1700s.  Rosalie's paternal ancestors who had this surname lived in Switzerland, except for her third great-grandfather who lived in Germany, before emigrating to Louisiana circa 1724.  The Toups were some of Louisiana's earliest settlers, starting with Casper Dubs/Toups originally of Zurich, Switzerland.(1)

Timeline

• 22 January 1841 - Rosalie, which is the name by which she was called, was born in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana(2), to Drauzin (a.k.a., Drausin) Joseph Toups (Abt. 1812 - Aft. 22 Jun 1880) and Marie Eulalie Stevens (a.k.a., Istiben, Estiben, Estiven, Estievenne, and other variations) Toups (1818 - Aft. 22 Jun 1880).
• 1 August 1850 - She lived with her parents, two older siblings, and two younger siblings in Grand Couteau, Lafource, Louisiana.(3)
• 23 July 1859 - Rosalie married Marcelin (a.k.a., Marcellin) Stevens (a.k.a., Stephens, Estievens, and other variations) in Lafourche Parish.(4)
• 27 July 1860 - The new Mrs. Stevens and her husband lived in Ward 1, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana (Post Office: Thibodaux).(5)
• 01 June 1870 - Rosalie resided with her husband and their four children in Thibodaux, Lafourche, Louisiana.(6)
• 22 June 1880 - The U.S. Census shows Rosalie as widowed and living with her six children at Ellician Toups Plantation(7)(8)(9), now known as Ariel Plantation(10), located about "nine miles below Thibodaux," in the 5th Ward of Lafourche Parish, Louisiana.

This post is part of +Amy Johnson Crow's 2018 #52Ancestors challenge.

Bibliography

1. Deiler, John Hanno. The Settlement of the German Coast of Louisiana and the Creoles of German Descent. vol. 8, American Germanica Press, 1909. pp. 31, 77, 82, 83, 95, 103, 124.
2. Toups, Neil J. The Toups Clan and How It All Began. Neilson, 1969. p. 98.
3. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCJW-1MC : 12 April 2016), Rosala Toups in household of Dransin Toups, Grand Coteau, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States; citing family 37, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
4. Toups, Neil J. The Toups Clan and How It All Began. Neilson, 1969. p. 98.
5. "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFPD-WLW : 12 December 2017), Rosela Stevens in entry for Marcellin Stevens, 1860.
6. "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M87Q-Z2V : 12 April 2016), Rolelia Stephens in household of Marcelin Stephens, Louisiana, United States; citing p. 7, family 47, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,015.
7. Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, Lousiana Sugar Chemists' Association, American Cane Growers' Association. The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer. vol. 1, Lousiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer Company, 1888. p. 198.
8. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch(https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD6T-1R9 : 15 August 2017), Rosalie Eliza Esteven, 5th Ward, Lafourche, Louisiana, United States; citing enumeration district ED 131, sheet 641C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0455; FHL microfilm 1,254,455.
9. Louisiana Sugar Planters' Association, Lousiana Sugar Chemists' Association, American Cane Growers' Association. The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer. vol. 15, Lousiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer Company, 1895. p. 198.
10. French, Benjamin Franklin, and Joh Gilmary Shea. Biographical and Historical Memories of Louisiana. Goodspeed Publishing Company, 1892. pp. 424-425.

©Amy Wood Kelly, 2018 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint or repost this in full or in part or use excerpts from it without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put creating this.

"Longevity" - The Litaker Sisters

When I think about my family tree and longevity, my maternal great-grandmother, “Nanny,” and her sisters immediately come to mind:

Full Sisters (daughters of George Franklin Litaker, Sr. and Molsie Jane Talbirt(a.k.a., Talbert) Litaker), including Nanny, in birth order:

• Ola Lenetta Litaker McBride (14 May 1898 – 18 Aug 1991), who died at the age of 93.

• Faye Elizabeth “Nanny” Litaker Litaker (28 Aug 1901 – 26 Oct 1995), who died at the age of 94.

• Blanche Lucille Litaker Faggart (22 Aug 1906 – 12 Jul 2007), who died at the age of 100.

• Mary Elva Litaker Weddington (24 Mar 1911 – 20 Dec 1998), who died at the age of 87.

Half Sisters* (daughters of George Franklin Litaker, Sr. and Carrie White Dove Litaker) in birth order:

• Margaret Mae Litaker Swarigen (16 May 1891 – 09 Mar 1982), who died at the age of 90.

• Lacie Carrie Litaker Cox Harris (16 Jul 1896 – 11 Oct 1981), who died at the age of 85.

I grew up around Nanny, Aunt Blanche, and Aunt Mary; and they were all kind, loving, funny, and generous women.  I feel so lucky that I was able to know them.

All of the sisters except Lacie, who move to South Carolina circa 1913, lived their entire lives in Cabarrus County; so they were surrounded throughout their lives with close and extended family and lifelong friends.

I'll share some pictures of the sisters, as well as of a couple of places that were significant in their youth.  I don't have a photo of Mae, so I'm including her husband's obituary, which mentions her, instead.

The Litaker Farm House on South Union Street in what was then
Township #11, Cabarrus County, North Carolina.  This is where the
Litaker sisters grew up.

The Litaker School in Township #11, Cabarrus County,
North Carolina.  It was built by George F. Litaker, Sr.; and it is where his youngest
 four daughters attended primary school.

Aunt Ola and her
daughter, Nancy Elizabeth, circa 1921. 

Nanny with my cousin, Heather, on her left and me on her right.
Concord, Cabarrus, North Carolina. About 1973/1974.

Aunt Blanche - late 1960s/early 1970s.

Aunt Mary (far right) with her daughter,
Marian Young Weddington (far left).

Obituary for Aunt Mae's husband,
Harrison Brack Swaringen.

Aunt Lacie in Lakeland, Florida.
February 1960.

---

* Nanny had one other half-sister, Nellie Gray Litaker Smith (1890-1907), who lived into early adulthood.  Nellie suffered from mental illness, which was prominent throughout her mother's family.  From news reports, it seems she most likely committed suicide.

©Amy Wood Kelly, 2018 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint or repost this post in full or in part or use excerpts from it without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put creating this.

This post is part of +Amy Johnson Crow's 2018 52 Ancestors Challenge.

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Transcription of the 02 Sep 1876 State of North Carolina Will of Probate for Mathias John Winecoff, Jr. (1805-1876), My Maternal 4th Great-Grandfather

Transcription of the 02 Sep 1876 State of North Carolina

Will of Probate for Mathias John Winecoff, Jr.

State of North Carolina SS. In the Probate Court.

Cabarrus County.

            A Paper purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Mathias Wihnecoff deceased, is exhibited before me, the undersigned, Judge of Probate for the said County, by M. H. Winecoff one of the executors therein mentioned, and the due execution thereof by the said Mathias Winecoff by the oath and examination of Jos. N. Brown & Jos. Gouny the subscribed witnesses thereto; who being duly sworn, doth depose and say, and each for himself deposeth and saith that he is a subscribing witness to the paper writing now shown him, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Mathias Winecoff that the said Mathias Winecoff in the presence of this deponent subscribed his name at the end of said paper writing, which is now shown as aforesaid, and which beast the date of 2 day of October 1872.

            And the Deponent Further Saith, That the said Mathias Winecoff the teastor aforesaid, did at the time of the subscribing his name as aforesaid declare the said paper writing so subscribed by him, and exhibited to his last Will and Testament, and the deponent did th reupon subscribe his name at the end of said Will, as an attesting witness thereto, and at he request and in the presence of the said testator, this deponent further saith, that at the said tiem when the said testator subscribed his name to the said last Will as aforesaid, and at the time of the deponent’s subscribing his name as an attesting witness thereto, the aforesaid, the said Mathias Winecoff was of sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a Will, and was not under any restraint to the knowledge, information or belief of the deponent; And further these deponents say not.

Joseph Gouny(?) (Seal)

J. N. Brown (Seal)

Severally sworn and subscribed this 2 day

of Sept. 1876, before me, Jas C Gibson

How I Descend from Mathias John Winecoff, Jr. My maternal grandmother,
mom, and I (all living) would follow after Sgt. Murl Sanders Litaker, Sr.

©Amy Wood Kelly, 2015 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint this post in full or in part or use excerpts from this post without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put into creating this post.

Transcription of the 02 Oct 1872 Last Will and Testament of Mathias John Winecoff, Jr. (1805-1876), My Maternal 4th Great-Grandfather

Transcription of Mathias John Winecoff Jr.'s Last Will and Testament

I Mathias Winecoff of the County of Cabarrus and state of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory and being aware of the uncertainty of life do make my last will and testament as follows viz:

Item 1^st I wish my executors herein after appointed to pay all my just debts.

Item 2^nd I devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth one hundred acres of land including my dwelling and outhouses.  The miles and bounds to be selected by her to have and to hold so long as she remains my widow.  I further give and bequeath to my wife all the household and kitchen furniture which she owned previous to our marriage and all the personal property of every kind which she had before our marriage.  I further give and bequeath to my wife one years support (not to exceed the allowance made by law) and three hundred dollars in cash.

Item 3. I devise and bequeath to my son M. H. Winecoff the parcel or tract of land on which he now lives containing one hundred and two acres.  The miles and bounds of which are marked to have and to hold to him and his heirs forever.

Item 4^th I devise that my executors shall sell the balance of my personal property not given to my widow and I devise and bequeath to my grand child Josephine Winecoff five hundred dollars in cash to be paid to my executors and I devise and bequeath to my grand son Joseph N. Winecoff five hundred dollars in cash provided the settlement which I have made of his father’s estate as administrator shall not be interfered with.  I mean by this bequest to Joseph N. Winecoff that as I was Administrator of his father’s estate and the guardian of said Joseph during the war and owing to the troubles and difficulties the became mixed up with Confederate money and liner the war some of the notes have become worthlys and on the 20^th Sept 1871 I charged myself in the return as his guardian with the sum of two hundred and eighty  four 69/100 dollars in good money.  Now if said settlement and return shall stand and if myself or my executors shall not be held to account for any greater sum than two hundred and eight four 69/100 dollars due said Joseph on the 20 Sept 1871.  Then I desire that he the said Joseph shall have five hundred dollars in addition there to from my estate but if any greater sum than two hundred and eighty-four 69/100 shall be claimed on account of my said guardianship then it is my will and desire that that the said Joseph N. Winecoff shall have nothing whatever from my estate.

Item 5^th I devise and bequeath to my children  M. H. Margaret I. Sarah Ann. Harriet M. Layton M. and Jane Elizabeth. the balance of all my real and personal estate to be divided equally between them and in order that the division may be equal it is my will that my son M. H. shall account for the value of the tract of land which I have given him above but in the account he is not to be charged with the value of any improvements he may put on said land.

Item 6^th If my wife shall marry then it is my will and desire that the real estate which I have desired to her in the 2^nd Item shall be divided equally between my children mentioned in the 5^th Item, and if she never marries then at her death the said real estate shall be divided equally among my children mentioned in said 5^th Item.

Item 7^th I constitute and appoint my M. H. and L. M. Winecoff my executors to execute and carry out this my last will and testament.  This 2^nd day of October 1872.

Mathias Winecoff (seal)

Signed and sealed and published as the last will and testament of Mathias Winecoff in our presence and at his request and in his presence he have subscribed our names as witness thereto.

Joseph Louny(?)

J. N. Brown(?)

 Mathias Winecoff Last Will and Testament - page 1 -
North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 on Ancestry.com

 Mathias Winecoff Last Will and Testament - page 2 -
North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 on Ancestry.com

 Mathias Winecoff Last Will and Testament - page 3 -
North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 on Ancestry.com

Depiction of How I Descend from Mathias John Winecoff, Jr. (Note: Below Murl, Sr.,
the pedigree chart would show my maternal grandmother, my mother, and me (all living).)

©Amy Wood Kelly, 2015 - I am happy to share my genealogical research and writing with others, as well as to help others with their research efforts.  However, please do not reprint this post in full or in part or use excerpts from this post without giving full credit to me, Amy Wood Kelly, as the researcher and author as well as providing the permalink to this post.  Thank you, in advance, for showing respect for my request and the work I put into creating this post.