____________________________________________________________________________ Abstract made by an unknown abstractor about 1890 from original records of Pike County, Arkansas and recorded in Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890 ____________________________________________________________________________ Will Book A page 59. Last Will and Testament of Nathaniel Gray of Pike County, Arkansas. Dated February 6th 1869. He wills that all his that all his just debts and funeral expenses be paid &c., then "I give, devise, and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha E. Gray my household furniture and other personal property and I also give to her the use, improvements, and income of my dwelling land and its appertenances as situated in the County of Pike and State of Arkansas, and described as follows, to wit: the East half of the North East quarter of Section Eighteen containing forty acres, also the South East quarter of the North East quarter of Section eighteen, and the South West quarter of the North East quarter of Section Eighteen, all of Township Nine, Range Twenty-three West containing in all one hundred and twenty acres, more or less, to have and to hold the same to her, for and during her natural life or widowhood. I give and bequeath and devise to each, my beloved wife and my son Jefferson C. Gray, the land and its appertances situated and described as follows, to wit: the North East Quarter of the North East Quarter of Secton Nineteen, Township Nine, Range Twenty-three West in the County of Hempstead and State of Arkansas and the South East quarter of the South East quarter of Section Eighteen, Township Nine, Range Twenty-three West in the County of Pike and containing eighty acres more or less and known as Gray's Ferry on the Little Missouri River, to be for the sole use and benefit, advantage, income and profit, to each of them, share and share alike, as long as the natural life of my said wife, her widowhood, then both pieces or parcels of land, containing the said Ferry as above described, shall be sold by my executors hereinafter named, and the proceeds of the same divided equally between the heirs of Mary Jane Stuart and the heirs of Margaret Ann Richester and Joseph C. Gray & the heirs of William C. Gray respectively, share and share alike. I give, devise, and bequeath to 'New Hope' the Christian Church, five (5) acres of land in the North East corner of (the) North East quarter of section Eight, Township Nine, Range Twenty-three West in the County of Pike and State of Arkansas, to be measured off and established by my executors hereinafter named. All the residue of my land sold and divided equally among my heirs respectively, share and share alike. Lastly, I do nominate and appoint my said son Jefferson C. Gray to be executor and Martha C. Gray my wife, Executrix, of this my last Will and Testament." Witnesses, A.J. Crawford (and) James M. Noland. March 31st 1870. Before the Clerk in Vacation, came James M. (Noland), being duly sworn, says, that the Last Will and Testament of Nathaniel Gray which is hereto attached is the true and geniune Will &c. of said (Nathaniel) Gray, that the said (Nathaniel) Gray signed the same in his presence, and that at the request of said (Nathaniel) Gray, he subscribed the attesta(tive) to said Will as a witness and that the same was signed in Pike County, Arkansas. Also, Jas. H. Howard being duly sworn, says, that he is acquainted with (the) handwriting of A.J. Crawford one of the subsubscribing witnesses to the Will of Nathaniel Gray &c., and that he believes the signature of said (A.J.) Crawford to said Will is the true and genuine signature of said (A.J.) Crawford and that the residence of said (A.J.) Crawford is unknown to this affiant. ____________________________________________________________________________ Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890, page 310. ____________________________________________________________________________ HTML file and design by David Kelley, 1997. All rights reserved.