Primary Sources: Gift Deed of Theophilus Edwards to Benjamin S. Edwards, 1820

The Edwards family was one of the wealthiest in Greene County during the 19th Century, and there are a series of North Carolina Supreme Court cases involving the family, centered on what happens to your stuff if you die without a will. This primary source is more mundane in task, if not content. Theophilus starting giving his property to his children before he died. I believe that Benjamin S. Edwards fathered two children with the enslaved person Eliza “given” to him by his father. She was 2 years old when this document was executed. This primary document has been digitized. (This use complies with the use statement below).

GREENE COUNTY, NC - DEEDS - Theo. Edwards  to Benjamin S. Edwards

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ruth Fentress		 ruthbf@erols.com

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N.C. Supreme Court  Original Cases 1800-1909, Case #7431, N.C. Archives.

Exhibit in Court Case:

Deed of Gift. THEO. EDWARDS  to BENJAMIN S. EDWARDS
Enrolled in the Register's Office of Greene County in Book H? page 195
by Williams, RG.

   For all to whom these presents shall come, I Theo Edwards of Greene
County in the State of North Carolina send greeting.  Know ye that I the
said Theo. Edwards for and in consideration of the natural love and
affection which I have and do bear to my son Benjamin S Edwards and for
his better maintainance and preparment and also for in consideration of
the sum of five pounds to me in hand paid by the said Benj. S. Edwards
have given granted sold and confirmed  and by these presents do give
grant bargain sell and confirm unto the said  Benj. S. Edwards and his
heirs & afsigns forever  one certain tract of land lying on Great
Contentia Creeke between forte Run and Nauhunty beginning at the mouth
of fort run and running up the same the various courses to the old Road
at the head of the Mill pond including the one  half of the Mill and
mill Seat then with the Road to a marked Holley on Nawhunty Run at or
near the old Bridge from thence down the various courses of Cotintea to
the begining.  Negroe Slaves  Dick  Sall  Dewey  Rose  hagen  Sam 
Simon  Jack  Abigail  & Eliza and their increase with their & every of
their future increase, and profits and each and every of them with all
my Estate right title interest claim and demand of what nature or
kindsoever of in and to the before mentioned land and Negroes and each
and all and every of them and the future profits to him and his heirs
and afsigns forever and I the said Theo Edwards  for myself and my heirs
the said Land and Negroes and the future increase and profits of them
and every one of them  to my said son  Benj. S. Edwards his heirs and
afsigns forever against me and my Heirs Executors and Administrators
shall and will warrant and forever defend by these presents  in witness
where of I the said Theo Edwards hath hereunto set my hand and seal and
hath put my said son Benj. S. Edwards  in full peaceble and quiet
pofsefsion of the aforesaid land and Negroes before the Sealing and
delivering there of done this Eight day of September in the year one
thousand Eight hundred and twenty

Executed sealed and delivery
made in presents of

John Taylor
John "V"(his mark) Vaughan		signed:  Theo. Edwards (seal)

State of N.C., Green County)  November term 1821
   Then was the within Deed from Theophilus Edwards to Benjamin S.
Edwards Exhibited in open Court and duly proved by the Oath of John
Taylor & ordered to be Registered
					Attest  Wm Williams  Clk


Benjamin Sheppard Edwards(b. 1800) was the son of Theophilus Edwards and
wife Elizabeth (Sheppard) Edwards of Greene Co., NC.