The Will of Nathaniel Tatum 1735

The Will of Nathaniel Tatum 1735 

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The Will of Josiah Tatum 1797

Who was  Josiah Tatum  ?

He was my GGGGG Grand Father.

What did he do to make a living ? He rented out servants !

By today's moral standards he would have been an evil man, 

 However by the standards of the mid / late 1700s he was a business man who served the needs of the area.

Why am I posting this ?

I have received a few E-Mails from people researching their ancestors who were slaves, with any luck I hope that the information in this copy of the will can help some one !

I did the best I could on trans scribing the written text, if anyone sees something I missed please  let me know !

 

Will of Josiah Tatum 1797

Will book #5 page 382 Chesterfield county VA.

In the name of God Amen.

" I Josiah Tatum of the county of Chesterfield VA.

Being in a deplorable state of health,but by the blessing of God of a perfect sound disposing mind and memory do make and declare, this my last will and Testament". 

 "First I give to my son Henry Tatum, all that tract or parcel of land lying in the east side of Middle Creek, adjoining my said son's land, also the following Slaves- (to wit)

Yorkie, Dan'l, Sam, Dick, Old Biddy, and all her grown Children now in the possession of my said son Henry , also Curry, Jenny, the Younger Lucy and her children. & their increase to him and his heirs forever."

2nd I give to my son Zachariah Tatum all that land or parcel of land  where I now reside  adjoining my said sons land , also the --

----Following Slaves (to wit) 

Doctor and Lincy, Dinah , Hanna, Bob, Betty, Aggy, Judy and all her children,

Jenny and all her children, and all their increase to him and his heirs forever.

3rdly I give to my Son in Law William Harrington, the following slaves (to wit)

Rachel, Eddie,Ned, Caesor, Phillie and their increase to him and his heirs forever,

4thly I give to my sons, Henry Tatum And Zachariah Tatum, the following slaves (to wit)

Use  and all her children.Sarah and all her children, Onnake and all her Children, together with all the property here to for lent or hired to my son in law Lewellin Hudson and my Daughter Rebeca Hudson and their children and edncating---

the some and my will and desire is that the profits and ??? of the said estate left to my sons Henry and Zachariah ,should be by them solely and applied to the purpose during the life of my said daughter Rebecca

and her death, my will and desire is all the said estate so left in trust to my sons Henry and Zachariah Tatum should be equally divided between all my daughter  Rebecca's children, them and their heirs forever.

5thly It is my desire that the crop of corn, wheat, and tobacco in hand, and that shall be growing at my decease be appropriated by my executors here after maintained to the payments of my just debts.

and the residence  and remainder if any be divided between my three children, Henry, Zachariah Tatum, and Rebecca Hudson , and the deficiency if any be made up by my two sons Henry and Zachariah only, and equally , my will and desire is that the rest and residence of my estate both real--- 

and ???? and revisions to be equally  divided between my two sons.

Henry and Zachariah Tatum, and their heirs forever.

And I hear by appoint my sons Henry and Zachariah my Executors of this my last will and Testament,

hereby annulling  every other will by me here to for made.

 In Witness where I have here ??? set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of 

January in the year of our lord Christ 

Josiah Tatum

Lee, Jackson Day / Jan 17th 2014

Ya won't see it on any calendars, it won't be announced on TV.

But Virginia still observes Lee, Jackson Day. Yep it's a state holiday !

I've already put in for the day off, I work at a state site, but I'm a contractor,
So I have to request the day off.  A fine holiday for all !

DT.

The Confederates " Infernal Machine"

The Confederates had to use a bit of imagination / creativity to fight the Yankees.
Having nowhere near the resources as the North, the South had to use what they had.

July 7th 1861 Capt. Rudd of the Steamer USS Resolute removed an ingenious device set adrift by the confederates form Aquia Creek.

 

The Infernal Machine was removed from the Patomac as it drifted towards the Pawnee.

This description was sent to the Navy Department ---

"Two large 80 gallon oil cask perfectly watertight, acting as buoys, connected by 25 fathoms of 3 and one half inch rope, buoyed with large squares of cork, every two feet secured to casks by iron handles, A heavy bomb of boiler iron fitted with a brass tap and filled with powder, was suspended to the casks six feet under water. On top of the cask was a large wooden box, filled with fuse in a gutta percha tube. In the center of the cork was a platform with a great length of fuse that coiled away, occupying the middle of the cask."

OH THEM CRAFTY CONFEDERATES !

The Other Battle of Iron Clads !

I'm sure we all have read about the battle between the CSS Virginia and the USS Monitor.
It happened just a few miles from where I live.

While I was looking around in my book collection I found this.

 

The Confederate RAM "ARKANSAS" vs The Union Gunboat Carondelete.

JULY 15th 1862.

 July 14th-15 miles above Vicksburs the union gunboats Tyler and Corondelete ( sent by Commorde Farragut to survey the Yazoo river and locate the ARKANSAS.

About 7:00 pm the union ships anchored for the night, the next morning they steamed up river.

Soon Capt Gwin of the Tyler saw a plume of smoke he assumed was from the ARKNANSAS which was rapidly advancing on the Tyler, A thunderous report was heard and a huge round of shot went howling over the deck of the Tyler. Capt. Walke of the Carondelete ordered the Tyler to steam at full speed to alarm the fleet and advise it to prepare for the Confederate Monster.

In Ten minutes the ARKANSAS and Carondelete were along side each other and the battle started.

The  two ships fought a desperate dual, The heavily clad ARKANSAS showed little effect from the direct hits, while shot from the ARKANSAS passed clear through the Carondelete.

Seeing his predicament Capt Walke ran along side the Confederate ship and Grappled her, The Union sailors quickly boarded the ARKANSAS but could find no way to engage their foe. The Confederates had gone below and sealed the hatches. 

This battle is reported to have been a draw, just as with the Virginia and Monitor.

This is what it's all about !

 

June 11 1863, Confederate forces cross the Potomac !

A lot of people seem to know what is in the hearts and minds of we who choose to fly the Battle Flag to honor our ancestors. They seem to think we have a hidden agenda, calling us the Klan, Neo Confederates, or whatever other convenient derogatory term comes to mind.

As for me and many others, THIS IS WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT !

It's the Soldiers Flag ! Not the KKK, or Neo-Nazis !

It's the flag our ancestors followed into battle and rallied around.

Makes me Damn Proud to be from the South !

And you can quote me on that !!

DT.

The Will of Obedieance Tatum 1821

Wow talk about inflation !
My Great Grandfathers aunt, Obedieance Tatum left a will that list everything she owned!

I guess by the standard of the times she was very well off.

If you download the pictures and put them in Windows Picture viewer you can zoom in and easily read the list. 

JC Tatum made this copy of the will !