Will of Gavin Alves

Gavin Alves freed John and Esther, whom he held enslaved, ordered Esther's son bound to a trade and freed at 21, and left legacies to them and his family.

Kind of paper

Will

Testator

Gavin Alves (printed GAVIN ALVES)

Dated

3 January 1812

Proved

Date not given

Family named

Walter Alves (brother); Hellen Caldwell (sister; Mrs.); Robina Norwood (sister; Mrs.); Ann Alves Webb (niece); Anne Henderson (niece; Mrs.); Elizabeth Alves (niece); Elizabeth Norwood (niece); John Huske (nephew); William (nephew); James (nephew); Thomas Hooper (nephew); James Alves (nephew); William Alves (nephew); Jane Burgess (cousin); Amelia Alves (sister-in-law; Mrs.); Elizabeth Hogg (aunt); Jean Hogg (aunt)

Also left something

Joseph Caldwell (friend; the Rev.); James Webb (friend; Dr.); Richard Henderson (friend; Esq.); Wm. Norwood (friend; Esq.); Catlett Campbell (friend; Esq.)

Executors

Walter Alves (brother); James Webb (friend; Dr.)

Witnesses

James Child; A.B.Bruce

Enslaved people named

• John (freed by this paper)
• Esther (freed by this paper)

Enslaved people not named

An enslaved boy, son of Esther

In the records of enslaved people

• John, Esther (this paper)
• Esther, Stephen (a record that may concern the same person; a shared first name alone does not show that)

Names and places are given as the abstract writes them, spelling and all. This record has not been checked against the will book.

Where to find it

• Orange County Will Book D, pages 352–358.
• Abstract: Ruth Herndon Shields, Abstracts of Wills Recorded in Orange County, North Carolina, 1800–1850 (1958), page 52.
• Also listed in Mark Chilton, “Wills Recorded in Orange County, NC 1756–1893” (Wandering through the NC Piedmont, 2019), an index of the will books with references to the court minutes.
• Microfilm at the Orange County Public Library, Wall Local History Collection: reel 80002, “Record of Wills, 1794–1822, Vols. C, D” (State Archives film).