From "Western Carolinian" issue of 20 February 1828
Died: "In Mecklenburg county, on the 29th ult. Thomas Greer, Esq. In the
84th year of his age, a highly respectable and most valuable citizen."

WILL OF THOMAS J. GRIER
Mecklenburg County
North Carolina
1872

1. I Tho. J. Grier of the County of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina
do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following viz.
I will that all my just debts be paid out of my Estate by my Executors
2. I will to my beloved wife M.D. Grier one thousand dollars agreeable to a
contract entered into between her and myself Previous to our marriage to be
paid to her by my Ex. as soon as it can be made available out of my Estate.
I also will to her a small table I gave her to hold her sewing machine and
all the bedding and bed clothes she has made since our marriage. I also
will her the choice of my milch cows. I also will her a comfortable support
out of my estate from the time of my death to the end of another year when
such event may take place so that she may not be destitute until she can
have a support out of her own estate.
3. I confirm to each of any children all the property I have heretofore
given them or what money I have advanced to them for their benefit.
4. I will to my son Charles L. Grier two thousand five hundred dollares to
be held by my son James A. Grier as his. (Charles L. Grier) guardian for his
sole use and benefit during his life and at his death to be equally divided
between my sons James A. Grier and my son E.C. Grier. It is my special
request that James A. take his Brother Charles L. Grier into his family and
keep him during his life. As regards to the property from Tho P. Grier to
me by will which amounted to over eight thousand but in consequence of the
war and the disasters that followed it has nearly all become useless by
being invested in Confederate Bonds and the insolvency of a great many
debtors to the estate. There is scarcely anything left of it but the
storehouse and lot. I have already given to my Daughter Mary I. Ross in
1863 about twenty seven hundred dollars out of this said Tho P. Grier Estate
which will more fully appear by re__ing to Ross filled - in consequence of
the disasters before alluded it is not in my power to partition out the
Estate as fully as requested by my son Tho P. Grier but I will as far as I
can.
I will to my daughter Mary J. Ross in trust for her children the store house
and lot whereon John Gullants now resides which together with the
improvements I put on it I think is worth near two thousand dollars to be
divided between her children as follows viz, to Tho P. Ross her son eight
hundred dollars, to her daughter Alice Ross two hundred dollars, to her
daughter Mary Ross two hundred dollars, to her son James Ross two hundred
dollars, to her son Charles E. Ross two hundred dollars.
I will to my grand Daughter Melvina Elms one hundred dollars I have
heretofore paid her one hundred dollars and have some notes she paid out
which notes I don't hold her liable to pay to my Ex.
I will to my grand Daughter Fanny B. Grier one hundred dollars I have
already sent her to school and other expenses amounting to over one hundred
dollars.
I will to my grandson John L. Grier and Tho. Grier two hundred dollars each.
Lastly, I will to my Daughter Mary J. Ross the balance of my estate after
the foregoing legees are paid off - to be divided among her children as she
may think best. It is further my will that my Exr. sell on a credit of
twelve months all my estate both real and personal to enable him carry out
this my last will and testament.
Lastly I hereby appoint my Nephew Alex. G. Neel - the sole Exr. of this my
Last will and Testament--

Signed and sealed in Presence of us the ______? witnesses. [None signed
before his death on 10 April 1872]

April 6, 1872
==============================

Note: Thomas I or J Grier, son of Thomas, Sr., married Mary Harris. Their
son, John Harris Grier was the father of Melvina Grier who married Jackson
J. Blankenship first, and James A. Elms second. Their children were Martha
Eulelia and William Albert Elms (b. March 1862). James died of disease on
June 20, 1862, at Camp Davis during the War Between the States. William was
only three months old at the time of his fatherÂÙus death.

• Married: 18 Dec 1810

1. John Harris GRIER b: 25 Sep 1811 in Mecklenburg Co., NC
2. James Alexander GRIER b: 14 Sep 1814
3. Martha Hannah Emmeline GRIER b: 26 Oct 1817
4. Thomas Pringle GRIER b: 12 Dec 1819
5. Ebenezer Clarkson GRIER b: 11 Dec 1821
6. Mary Jane GRIER b: 8 May 1826
7. Charles Strong GRIER b: 6 Jun 1828
8. Anderson GRIER