Amanuensis Monday~Last Will and Testament of George Dry

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.

His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today’s subject is the Last Will and Testament of George Dry, 1856.¹

 Transcription:

George Dry Will

In the name of God Amen.
I George Dry of the County of Stanly and State of North Carolina do this 26th day of December 1856 being of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for the same, but calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die. I make and ordain this my last will and testament (viz) First, I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried in a Christian like manner.
2nd As to my worldly affairs I leave my tract of land to be sold to satisfy my just debts, also I give and bequeath unto my youngest son, Alexander Dry my young bay mare which he is to have free by age her colt excepted. I now give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Dry all the rest of my property during her natural lifetime or widowhood except such property as she does not need that to be sold by her consent for the use of her and family with or as her years provision at her death I will unto my two daughters Elizabeth Dry and Evy C. Dry first to receive fifty dollars each then the balance if any to be sold and equally divided amongst my six children namely, Adam Dry, Daniel Dry, Christopher Dry, Alexander Dry, Elizabeth Dry & Evy C. Dry.
I also make and ordain my son, Adam Dry Executor to this my last will and testament in witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal to this my last will and testament the day and date
George Dry Will Continued
Above written Signed  Sealed in the presence of us who were present at the time of signing and sealing thereof.
Witnefs                                                         George Dodd {Seal}
J. H. Fooks
McG. Rufsell

North Carolina}
Stanly County} February Sefsions 1857
Then the foregoing last will and testament of George Dry was produced in open Court and offered for probate and the execution thereof was duly proved on the oath of oath of John H. Fooks and McG. Rufsell the subscribing witnefses therein and Adam Dry the Executor therein named was duly sworn as Executors wherefore Letters Testamentary ifsued to him and the said last will and testament was ordered to be recorded and filed.                 R. Harris Clk

George M. Dry (23 Apr 1799-6 Jan 1857) married Mary "Polly” Sides on 11 November 1822. To this union were borne 8 children; the first 5 were Sons and the last 3 were daughters. Two of theirs sons died in or during the Civil War and one died rather young (age 17). Only Adam lived into his golden years. Also, one daughter died at age 4 years 9 months and 5 days.    

George M. Dry is my 3rd Great Grand Uncle.






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[1] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:SQWF-XM34-9?i=82&wc=32L2-PTG%3A169988501%2C170045501&cc=1867501

It’s Family Time~George M. Dry and Mary ‘Polly’ Sides

On 11 November 1822, George M. Dry, age 23 and Mary ‘Polly’ Sides, age 14 were married in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. 

George M. Dry was  the son of Johan Martin Dry and his wife Catherine Keppel. Mary ‘Polly’ Sides was the daughter of  Christopher Sides and Mary Esther Lipe.

Over the next 22 years George M. and Mary ‘Polly” would grow their family adding first, 6 sons one after another and then 3 daughters one after another until there was 9 siblings.

George M. Dry and Mary Sides had the following children:
        i.    Moses M. Dry, born on 10 Mar 1824.
         ii.    Adam Dry, born 20 Sep 1826, Stanly County, North Carolina; married Elizabeth Layton, abt 1850; married Mrs. Sarah Eudy, 11 Sep 1906, Albemarle, Stanly, North Carolina; died 19 Jan 1914.
         iii.    Daniel Dry, born on 23 Nov 1828; died 12 Nov. 1862..
             DRY, DANIEL, Private
Born in Cabarrus County and resided in Stanly County where he was by occupation a day laborer  prior to enlisting at age 34, April 28, 1862, for the war. Killed in camp on the Blackwater Rivers, near Franklin, Virginia, November 12, 1862, “by the accidental discharge of a gun.”  [Volume 8. Page 440]
         iv.    Christopher Dry, born 27 Mar 1831; married Martha , abt 1852; died 3 Jul 1863, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
         v.    Martin Dry, born on 6 Nov 1833 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina; died  Jan. 5, 1851 in Cabarrus County.
         vi.    George Alexander Dry was born on 9 Jul 1836 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.  He died on 22 Dec 1863 at the age of 27 in Fort Delaware, Delaware City, Delaware.
DRY, GEORGE A., Private
Born in Stanly County* where he resided as a farmer prior to enlisting in Stanly County at age 25, March 25, 1862. Captured at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania,July 3, 1863. Confined at Fort Delaware, on or about July 10, 1863. Died at Fort Delaware on December 22, 1863 of “bronchitis chronic.”   [Volume 8. Page 440]
         vii.    Easter Catherine Dry, born on 2 May 1839 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.
         viii.    Sara Ann Elizabeth Dry, born on 16 Jun 1841 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. 
         ix.    Eve Caroline Dry, born on 22 May 1844 in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.

George M. Dry died on 6 January 1857 in Stanly County, North Carolina. He is buried in Palestine Cemetery but his tombstone is weathered to the point of almost illegibility.

His wife Marry ‘Polly Sides Dry is enumerated in the 1870 Census With daughter Elizabeth Ingram but, I have been unable to find any additional information after 1870 for her. No tombstone has been found for her. If you have information on Mary ‘Polly’ Sides Dry please contact me by posting comments to this blog post.

George and Mary Dry are my 3rd Great Grand Uncle and Aunt.