WILL OF JAMES GODWIN

Johnston Co., NC Will Book 5, page 73

I James Godwin of the county of Johnston state of N.C. being of sound mind & memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make & declare this my last will & testament in manner & form following -

1st - That my executor hereinafter named shall provide for body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relations & friends and pay all expenses together with my just debts however & whomsoever owing out of the money first come into his hands as part or parcel of my estate -

Item - I give my beloved wife Sally all of my perishable property of inheritance to have and hold during her natural life and at her decease be equally divided between her 4 daughters Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Margaret.

Item - I give my eldest son Stephenson fifty cts current money.

Item - I give my son Willie 50 cts current money.

Item - I give my son Peter 50 cts current money.

Item - I give my son Benjamin 50 cts current money.

Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friend Benj Woodard my lawful executor to this my last will & testament, hereby revoking & declaring utterly void all former wills by me heretofore made. In witness I hereto set my hand & seal this 22nd day of July A. D. 1857.

James X Godwin (Seal)

(Wit)
A Coates
J. R. Tarlington
Johnston County Court Feby Term 1855



Source: Book "North Carolina Century Farms - 100 Years of Continuous Agricultural Heritage" by North Carolina Department of Agriculture

THE GODWIN FARM (JOHNSTON)
The beginning crops were cotton, corn and peas. To get seed for the new cotton crop, each person picked out their shoe full of seed, both children and adults. The family made shoes from deer hides and cloth from cotton produced on the farm. The crops were grown on lowland without any fertilizer.

The original home built in the 1830s was for Jordan Godwin. The J. J. Godwin (Richard) old house which was built in 1899 is still being used as a home. The 1907 house was built for Moose Godwin, and is now used for storage.

During the Civil War the family kept a lookout from the upstairs porch for Yankees. They would hide the horses and mules in the woods and also bury their meat so the Yankees could not find it. An old slave lady told that the Yankees tore down the local church and used materials to build a bridge over the little river. After the war, the people rebuilt the church (Old Beulah) which exists and is used today.

The original owner, James Godwin, was born in 1775. Jordan Godwin was born on April 26, 1806. Ransom Godwin was born in 1836. Jordan (J.J. or Richard) Godwin was born in 1861. The present owner is William Paul Godwin, born August 15, 1911.

Jordan's homeplace was built in 1830. The house consisted of two rooms with two fireplaces downstairs, two rooms with two fireplaces upstairs and one room with one fireplace out back. The family cooked in the fireplace. The home had a porch on the front and on the front of the second story. Vandals
destroyed the homeplace in December 1986 by fire. Submitted by William Paul Godwin

• Married:

1. Mary GODWIN b: ABT 1805 in Johnston County, North Carolina
2. Stephenson A. GODWIN b: 1810 in Johnston County, North Carolina
3. Elizabeth GODWIN b: ABT 1812 in Johnston County, North Carolina
4. Sarah GODWIN b: ABT 1814 in Johnston County, North Carolina
5. Margaret GODWIN b: ABT 1816 in Johnston County, North Carolina
6. Willie GODWIN b: ABT 1816 in Johnston County, North Carolina
7. Peter GODWIN b: ABT 1819 in Johnston County, North Carolina
8. Benjamin GODWIN b: 1821 in Johnston County, North Carolina