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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
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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.
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Abstract of Title Book Prior to 1890, page 310.
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