Will of Samuel Odell Jr, 1788 - Green Co, North Carolina (now in Tennessee)

July the 5th 1788. 

In the name of God amen. I, Samuel Odell of the State of North Carolina and Green Co., being infirm in body; but of sound understanding do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in order following that is to say, I give and recommend my soul into the hand of almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be decently intered at the discresion of my Executrix and touching such worldly Estate which it hath plesed God to bless me with I will and bequeath in the following manner and form. 

I give to my dearly and well beloved wife Elizabeth Odell two parts of my estate, and to my beloved sons Enoch Odle, Solomon Odle & Jeremiah Odle, I give and bequeath the Land I am now possesd of lying on Crobeys Creek to equally divided at the decease of my wife Elizabeth Odle and to my beloved Daughters Sarah Odle Ratchel Odle I give and bequeath an equal part of all my movable goods and Chattels and to be ordered at the discresion of my Executors William Whitson and Enoch Job. and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former Testament and wills in any ways mentioned. 

As witness I have here set my hand and Test, 

John Denton, Isaac Odle, George Stevins Samuel Odle (his mark is written on either side of the seal)

Transcription source - Rootsweb ➚

FAMILY MEMBERS MENTIONED	PROPERTY GIVEN TO EACH
Elizabeth Odell (wife)	• two parts of his estate
Enoch Odle Solomon Odle Jeremiah Odle (sons)	• his land on Crobeys Creek, to be divided among them after their mother's death
Sarah Odle Ratchel Odle (daughters)	• equal parts o fhis movable goods and chattels at the discretion of the executors
William Whitson	• co-executor
Enoch Job	• co-executor (Elizabeth's brother)

Background Information:

Samuel Odell, son of Samuel and Elizabeth Odell, was born 16 Jan 1750 in Dunmore (later Shenandoah) County, Virginia. It is suspected that his father, French and Indian War veteran and one of the first settlers of the Shenandoah Valley, came to the area near Powell's Fort in Old Augusta County (later became Dunmore County) because of a land grant received.  and died in Greene County, North Carolina (now Greene County, Tennessee). He is believed to be the first settler in the Cosby Creek Valley in what is now Tennessee. Wikipedia ➚ states that he settled at the junction of Pigeon River and Cosby Creek in the 1780's. 

This area was in the temporary State of Franklin around the time of his death, although there were parallel governments in operation. Samuel passed away at only about 38 years of age. Perhaps he had participated in the Battle of Franklin in February of 1788, in which a number of men on both sides were injured and three killed. Or, maybe, he fell victim to one of the frontier Indian attacks later that year and was mortally wounded.

Will of William Odell, 1676 - Fairfield, Connecticut Colony

Abstract:
"Will: dated 6 Jun 1676; son William; grandchild Samuel Morehouse, son of dau Rebecca, and brothers Thomas and John Morehouse; grandchild John Odell, son of John; to Goody Knap, four yards of new red cloth; daughter-in-law Mary Odell; son John Odell and dau Rebecca Morehouse; son-in-law Samuel Morehouse and son John Odell, executors. Inventory 12 Jun 1676"

Source location - unknown

The History of Fairfield, Fiarfield County, Connecticut, from the Settlement of the Town in 1639 to 1818: 1639-1700, by Elizabeth Hubbell Godfrey Schenck, 1889 ➚ (pages 399-400) gives the following summary of his will or probate:

"WILLIAM ODELL was at Concord in 1639, & was perhaps from the Parish of Odell in England, which which the Rev. Peter Bulkley came. His s. James was b. in 1640 at Concord, & died the next year; also d. Rebecca b. 17 July 1642. Savage says he removed from Concord to Southampton L. I. in 1642 & soon after settled at Pequonnock, where he occupied a considerable land at Greenlea. He died in 1676; the same year June 6 his will is dated, in which he gave his s. William, who had settled at Greenwich, Connecticut, his horses, cattle, swine & sheep, & 1/3 of his movable estate; to his grand-son Samuel Morehouse, s. of his d. Rebecca, he gave all his land near Uncoway River, called Rossiter's field; 2 acres in the great meadow before the town; land in Concord field called "poor man's lot;" building lot, pasture-lot, long lot, all his land dividends in Compo, all his housing & half of his house lot in F., out of which legacies said Samuel Morehouse was to pay to his brothers Thomas and John 5£ each, when 21 years of age. To his grandson John Odell, all land on the other side of the creek, & the half of his home lot; to Jonathan Morehouse 2 sheep; to Goody Knap 4 yards of red cloth; to daughter in law Mary Odell, his wife's red broadcloth cloak. All remaining estate he gave his s. John Odell, and his daughter Rebecca Morehouse. He made his son in law Samuel Morehouse, & John Odell his executors."

Summary:

FAMILY MEMBERS MENTIONED	PROPERTY GIVEN TO EACH
William Odell (son)	• his horses, cattle, swine & sheep • 1/3 of his movable estate
Samuel Morehouse (grandon, son of Rebecca)	• all his land near Uncoway River, called Rossiter's field • 2 acres in the great meadow before the town • land in Concord field called "poor man's lot" • building lot, pasture lot, long lot • all his land dividends in Compo • all his housing & half of his house lot in F [sic Fairfield] • had to pay brothers money from this when they turned 21
Thomas/John Morehouse (grandsons)	• 5£ each when 21 years old age, paid from what was given    to Samuel Morehouse
John Odell (grandson)	• all land on the other ide of the creek • half of his home lot
Jonathan Morehouse	• 2 sheep
Goody Knap	• 4 years of red cloth • She might have been a relation of the Goody Knapp that was hung as a witch. William Odell's wife, Rebecca, was one of the judges.
Mary Odell (daughter-in-law)	• his wife's red broadcloth cloak
John Odell (son) Rebecca Morehouse (daughter)	• remainder of his estate, John made co-executor
Samuel Morehouse (son-in-law)	• made co-executor

Will of Richard Odell, 1636 - Buckinghamshire, England

Will of Richard Odell of Newport Pagnell, (Bucks.) miller, dated 21 November, 1636:
To William Odell my eldest son, my freehold land in Cranfield, co. Beds. Mary Odell my daughter £20 at marriage or 21. Elizabeth Odell, daughter of John Odell my brother, 10 shillings. Residue to Martha my wife, whom Extrx. and John Odell and Robert Markes of Newport Pagnell, blacksmith, Overseers.

Witnesses:
Richard Hull
Thomas King
Robert Bitchnoe
Proved 10 January, 1636/7, by the Extrx. named
(Source - Arch: Buckinghamshire Will Book 36, folio 80)

Family Members Mentioned	Property Listed
Martha Odell (wife)	• residue of estate • made co-executor
William Odell (eldest son)	• freehold land in Cranfield, Bedfordshire England
Mary Odell (daughter)	• £20 when she marries or turns 21
John Odell (brother)	• made co-executor
Elizabeth Odell (niece) *daughter of brother, John	• 10 shillings

Background Information:

Richard Odell was born 1576 in Pagnall, Buckinghamshire, England. He married Martha Nicholls in about 1601 in Pagnall and died there in 1637. Richard might have been the son of Richard Odell (born ca. 1540 in Bedfordshire, England and died 31 Mar 1611 in Salford, Bedforedshire, England) and Elizabeth Perst/Pierce/Pierde (1550-1580), who were married 12 Sep 1565 in Bedfordshire.

My direct ancestor, William Odell (1602-1676), might have been the above mentioned "eldest son" of Richard Odell (1576-1637), who was willed the land in Bedfordshire. My William Odell was christened in the Cranfield Parish Church in Bedfordshire, England 24 Feb 1602. Note that Cranfield is the very place in which the land was located. He is believed to be a direct descendant of Walter Flanrencis, the Count of Flanders, who may have fought alongside William the Conqueror in 1066.

William Odell immigrated to America in the 1630's from England. William, a Puritan, was a Concord Planter who came to the Massachusetts Bay Colony with Winthrop's Fleet on a ship called the Susan and Ellen, likely with the congregation of Reverend Peter Bulkeley's All Saints Church. Concord was the first inland settlement in what was then Massachusetts, and William purchased land there from the Indians. 

Probate Record of Riley Britton (1814-1873)

1876

Now on this day Julia A Eads formerly Julia A Britton and presents her petition verified by affidavit and the court proceeds to hear the evidence in said cause and the court finds from the petition and evidence here-in that Riley Britton died intestate on the 8th day of Feb 1874. That he was the head of a family consisting of Julia A Briton, his widow, and Martha C Britton and Caroline Britton his minor children that the said Riley Britton died. Signed in fee of the following lands situate in Wright County Missouri. The South half of lots one and two of the northwest quarter of section thirty-one in township thirty two of range fourteen. That Julia A Eads is a the widow of said Riley Britton and is entitled as such to a homestead in fee in said real estate subject to the rights of the minor children. Children of the said Riley Britton deceased as here-in after stated. She being the head of family and housekeeper of the said Riley Britton at the time of his death. That Martha C Britton is a daughter of said Riley Britton now 16th years of age is entitled to the use of said as tenant in common with her mother and her brothers and sisters here-in after named until she attains the age of eighteen years. That Caroline Britton is daughter of said Riley Britton and is now 14 years of age and is entitled to the use of said lands as Tenant in common as afore said until she attains the age of eighteen years. That after all of said heirs shall attain their majority as here-in before stated the said Julia A Eads is entitled to the whole fee in said land unencumbered by the claims of said children and during their minority to fee in said lands subject to the use of said heirs during their respective minorities and the court finding it necessary to appoint three commissioners to set out said homestead here-by appoints GC Claxton, JW Claxton & WJ Adams as said commissioners. Order decree and set out to the said Julia A Eads, the lands here-in before described in fee simple as her right of homestead. Subject to the use of said heirs of Riley Britton deceased during their minority as respectfully found and set fourth int his order. It is further ordered that the said Julia A Eads pay the cost of this proceeding and that she may on demand have a copy of this order properly certified for record and to be recorded by the recorder of deeds in ad for the County and State aforesaid."

Probate Court Record

Volume C, Page 387, 1871-1880, Hartville, Wright, Missouri

Regular November Term 1876 13 Nov 1876

Notes:

* Julia Ann Strong Britton Eads mentioned above is my 3 greats grandfather and is believed to be half blood Cherokee Indian.  She was born in Tennessee.

* A huge thank you to a relative, Ron Johnston, who submitted this transcription to The Brit's are Back, a site which I have lately been unable to locate.