| Name | Age | Color or Race | Sex | Role in document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Harriss | Male | trustee of grantor | ||
| Elizabeth Gardner | Female | grantor | ||
| John Gardner | Male | former owner | ||
| Philip Gardner | Male | executor of grantor | ||
| Isaac | """boy""" | Black ("negro") | Male | enslaved |
Deed of Trust. John Gardner has died, and Philip Gardner is Executor of the estate. Apparently several people have claim on assets of the Estate. By the oddities of North Carolina marriage laws, John’s widow, Elizabeth Gardner, has had to borrow $124.65 from Philip Gardner, in his role as Executor. George Harriss is security on that loan. In order to protect Harriss from financial liability, Elizabeth G. places in Trust with Alexander Frank her dowry interest in her deceased husband’s real estate (which included a mill), furniture, farm tools, livestock, etc. and “…my interest in a negro boy Isaac Slave belonging to the heirs of John Gardner, dec’d all in the Possession of Elizabeth Gardner…”. No further information about Isaac or his relationships. If Elizabeth does not repay her deceased husband’s estate before October 1, 1840, Trustee Harriss is authorized to sell Elizabeth’s share in the land, Isaac, and other named items, but she is allowed to keep and use whatever is in the Trust until then. The document was signed July 16, 1840, presented to the Clerk of Court July 17, 1840 and registered July 23, 1840. (Abstractor’s note: Davidson County Deed Books 6 and 7 were microfilmed
