Captain Peter SUMMERS ^{1 2}

  General Notes:

MILITARY: He served as a Captain in the 1st North Carolina Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. The 1st North Carolina Regiment was raised on September 1, 1775 at Wilmington, North Carolina for service with the Continental Army. The regiment would see action at the Battle of Brandywine, Battle of Germantown, Battle of Monmouth and the Siege of Charleston. The regiment would be captured by the British Army at Charlestown, South Carolina on May 12, 1780. The regiment was reformed in the summer of 1781, furloughed April 23, 1783 at James Island, South Carolina and disbanded on November 15, 1783. Capt. Peter SUMMERS is referenced in the list of the Prisoners of War, under American Major General Lincoln. Several family sources say that Capt. Peter SUMMERS was part of the entourage that escorted President George Washington when he visited the Guilford Court House Battleground, when he was on his Southern Tour.

FAMILY: Married four times, Capt. Peter SUMMERS had a total of nine children.

NOTES: Capt. Peter SUMMERS reportedly built the first brick house in Guilford County. The Greensboro Record says it burned in May 1962.

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Last Will and Testament -- Capt. Peter Summers, Dated 1825, Transcribed by Myrtle Bruton Fitzgerald, provided by Paul Foust Fitzgerald, Sr. State of North Carolina Guilford County

I, Peter Summers, of the County of Guilford, and the State of North Carolina, do make an publish this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other Wills by me made:

1st: I give unto my son Jacob Summers, and his heirs forever, all that tract of land, with its appurtenances, whereon he now lives, including the mill and mill-seat on Haw River, and the island adjoining the mill dam. I also give him another tract lying on the county of Orange, which was conveyed to Anthony Coble and myself jointly, from Israel Holt, and afterwards from the said Coble to me, containing on hundred and seventy-five acres, in addition to which, I have heretofore given him one hundred and twenty five dollars in cash, making in all, three thousand, one hundred dollars. I now give unto my said son Jacob Summers two thousand dollars more.

2nd: To my son Ludwick Summers, and his heirs forever, I give the mill and tract of land on Reedy Fork, and on which he now lives, containing about one hundred and ninety-four acres, the same being made up of three different tracts,(to wit): One which I purchased of John Brown, another of Lewis Morgan and the third of Shadrack Allen. I also give him another tract, which I bought of Benjamin Allen, together with one hundred dollars, heretofore given him by me in cash, I estimate at three thousand one hundred dollars; I now give to my son Ludwick Summers two thousand dollars more. I own one thousand and ten acres of land in the western district of Tennessee, which I purchased of A. D. Murphy, all of which land I give unto my son Ludwick Summers, in consequence of services rendered by him in attending to, and the management of my estate heretofore, and other businesses. And whereas the said land is involved in a suit of laws, and the title litigated, now, if the said land shall be finally lost, it is my Will, and I hereby direct that all the cost which shall accrue and attend the same, shall be paid out of my estate.

3rd: To my son Peter Summers, I give the tract of land whereon I now live, with all the buildings and appurtenances thereunto belonging, it being the tract I got of my father, together with all my other lands adjoining the same, and which lay in the County of Guilford, being a tract I purchased of Valentime Summers. I also give him the tract I purchased of George Christman, a part of which lies in Orange, and part in Guilford. I likewise give him the tract of land I purchased of Crowder, with the exception on one hundred acres thereof, which I reserve for my son Joshua. The line dividing it commencing a stone, and running thence North 25 chains to where it crosses the north bounding line, running thereunto a _____[not readable]___ in the tract which I purchased of Anthony Coble____[not readable]___ all of which said Coble land lying west of the above mentioned line , I also give him, it being about seventy acres. These lands, together with three hundred dollars which I have heretofore given him, I estimate at three thousand six hundred and eighty dollars. I now give to my son Peter Summers, fourteen hundred dollars more.

4th: I have heretofore given to my son Abel Summers, three thousand one hundred dollars, which is equal to the portion heretofore given to my other children. I have also given to him one Still. I now give to my sons, Jacob and Ludwick Summers, and their heirs and assigns, the tract of land that I purchased of James Lucuz [sic Lucas or Lewis] on the waters of Reedy Fork, containing about___[not readable]___acres, to have and to hold the said land to them___[not readable]___the said Jacob and Ludwick Summers, their heirs and assigns in trust __[not readable]___ nevertheless, for the sole and exclusive use of my son Abel Summers' children. That when they shall become of age, at the age of twenty-one, it is my Will and desire that said tract of land shall be sold, or equally divided betwixt the children of the said Abel Summers, as the said Jacob and Ludwick Summers Trustees may be advised, or think to be the most advantage to the said children. Nevertheless, if, and upon condition, the said Abel Summers would entirely forsake and abandon all the habits of intemperance and dissipation, and should practice and live a regular, temperate, and economical life, that then, the trustees shall permit and suffer the said Abel Summers to use and enjoy the said land, and from the use thereof to provide a support and living for himself and family. Though, the said trustees, Jacob and Ludwick Summers shall, and may, at any time resume the management and control of the said land, and deprive the said Abel Summers of the use and management thereof, whenever the trustees shall be of the opinion that the circumstances and condition of the said Abel Summers shall require it. And out of the proceeds, the said trustees shall receive reasonable compensation as trustees. And, in case either the said trustees should not act, then it is my Will and desire that the one acting, shall receive all the compensation. I estimate the above land and Still at fifteen hundred dollars.

5th: I give unto my son Joshua Summers all the tract of land, that I bought of Anthony Coble, with the exception of about seventy acres, which I have given to my son Peter Summers, it being two hundred thirty eight acres, also one hundred acres of the Crowder tract, which I have mentioned and reserved. Which together with seven hundred dollars, heretofore given him in money, Stock, etc, make in all, two thousand three hundred and ninety dollars. I give to my son Joshua Summers, one negro boy, by the name of Ned, which I value at two hundred dollars, making the above amount, two thousand five hundred and ninety dollars. I now give to my son Joshua Summers, eighteen hundred dollars more.

6th: As to my daughter Barbara, I have advanced her in life with eleven hundred and fifty dollars in money, and also in Stock, and other things necessary for keeping house, and likewise two negroes, amounting in all to twenty-two hundred and fifty dollars, making her equal to the rest of my children. I now give her, in addition to what she has already received, all the money, or Legacy, given to me by Anthony Coble, of Rock Castle County, Kentucky in his last Will and Testament, And I do hereby authorize and empower my said Executors of Mr. Coble, to give receipts for, and hold the same to her own use. I give to my daughter Barbara, one thousand dollars, to be paid to her in such sums as my Executors may think her necessities shall require.

7th: As to my daughter Rosa, wife of Jacob Clapp, I give to my son Ludwick Summers, his heirs and assigns, one negro girl, named Nancy, and the tract of land conveyed to me by the said Jacob Clapp, and which is adjoining the mill tract on the Reedy Fork, excepting what I have sold thereof to my son Ludwick Summers, and containing about one hundred acres, to have and to hold the said land, and negro girl, Nancy, to train. The said Ludwick Summers, his heirs and assigns in trust ___[not readable]___. Nevertheless, for the sole and exclusive use of my said daughter, Rosa, during her natural life, and for her children that shall be living at the time of her death, and under the age of twenty-one years. And it is my Will and desire that all the issue, profits, and proceeds arising from the said land, and negro girl, shall be appropriated to the sole use and benefit of my daughter Rosa, and to her children, which shall be minors, and under the age of twenty-one years. And after the death of my daughter Rosa, and all of her children shall have arrived at the age of twenty-one years, I then give the said land and negro girl to her children to have and to hold the same, to them and their own proper use. The land and negro, aforesaid, I estimate to be worth thirteen hundred dollars, which together with other monies, Stock, etc, that I have heretofore given to her and her husband Jacob Clapp, makes the sum to twenty-three hundred dollars, my son-in-law, Jacob Clapp, having become largely indebted to me for monies borrowed, and which I loaned him at various times. And to secure the payment thereof, he, on the 26th of May, 1821, conveyed to Ludwick Summers, in trust, the tract of land whereon he now lives, containing three hundred acres, lying on the waters of Irish Creek, in the County of Guilford. Now, if the said Jacob Clapp, shall at any time during his life, pay the debts and monies due me, with the interest, and shall fully discharge the trust, and all the purposes therein mentioned, I then direct the trustee, Ludwick Summers, and it is my Will and desire, that the recovery to the said Clapp, all the said land, and all of the said money arising therefrom, (i.e.), from the payment of debts, as aforesaid and the discharge of the trust. And I do hereby give unto the said Ludwick Summers, his heirs and assigns, in trust, for the sole use and benefit of my daughter Rosa, to be paid to her in such quantities and manner, and at such times as he, the said Ludwick, shall think that the situation and necessities of herself and family may require, and that all, or so much then of it as shall be remaining, and unexpended of the use and management thereof, whenever he shall think fit___[unreadable]___ and be of the opinion, that the circumstances and condition of my said daughter Rosa and her family shall require it. And it is also my Will that at the death of my said daughter Rosa, and my son-in-law Jacob, that the said lands be equally divided betwixt her children, or their legal representatives, and that the representatives of each shall be entitled to the share, or shares, of their respective parents. I now give to my daughter Rosa, and her children, thirteen hundred dollars, as follows,(viz.): One hundred dollars, to be paid to each of her children upon their becoming married, or arriving at the age of twenty-one years, excepting her son Peter Clapp, to whom I have given heretofore, one hundred dollars cash. The residue to remain in the hands of my Executors, for the use of my said daughter Rosa. And if either, or any of her children should die, be unmarried, and without having arrived to the years of twenty-one, then their respective share, or shares, to remain in the hands of my Executors, for the use and benefit of my daughter Rosa, to be given and applied to her use as they may think proper and fit and her necessities may require. It is my Will and desire, that my son Ludwick Summers shall be compensated out of the money and land left him as trustee for his trouble, or services, in that part of my estate.

8th: As to my daughter Peggy, wife of Boston Gerringer, I have heretofore advanced her in life, with money, negroes, Stock, etc, for living, amounting to three thousand dollars, I now give to my daughter Peggy, wife of Boston Gerringer, to their children, fifteen hundred dollars, to be divided equally betwixt them.

9th: To my daughter Lucy, wife of David Clapp, I have heretofore advanced her in life with money, negroes, Stock, and other things necessary for living, which together with the Legacy she has received from her Grandfather Whitsett, I estimate at two thousand four hundred dollars, I now give unto her during her natural life the use of fifteen hundred dollars, and at her death, to her children. And if she dies without having any children living, being an heir of her body, I then give the said fifteen hundred dollars to all of my children to be equally divided among them.

10th: I leave in the hands of my Executors, fifty dollars to be paid out from time to time for the purpose of keeping in decent repair, the graves of my family. I also leave a sufficient amount in the hands of my Executors, for the purpose of creating a Tomb over myself, as a memorial to my children.

11th: As to the residue of my estate of every description whatever, whether personal, or real, I desire to be sold at public auction at such time and times and upon such credits as my Executors shall be advised, and they shall think proper and fit, they being hereby vested with entire discretion in the management of this part of my estate. And it is my Will and desire, and my Executors are hereby empowered to bid for and become the purchaser of any property belonging to, and being a part of my estate, which shall be sold at public auction, as aforementioned and directed. And all monies and proceeds arising from the sale and auctions of my property and goods, as aforesaid, as well as other monies or property of any description whatsoever, and not otherwise disposed of, I desire to be equally divided among my children, excepting my son Abel Summers. And I do hereby give the same as follows (viz): I give one equal share to each of my sons, Jacob, Ludwick, Peter, and Joshua. To my son Abel, I give five hundred dollars in cash, and no more of my estate.

(signed) Captain Peter Summers
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  Research Notes:

-- U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications (1889-1970) -- great, great-grandson William Thornton Whitsett's application
-- My Carolina Cousins Family Tree (http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=pbruckner)
-- Find A Grave, Memorial # 18155295

Peter married Rosa Ann CLAPP, daughter of Daniel CLAPP and Mary Elizabeth BETTS, in 1784 in Guilford County, North Carolina. (Rosa Ann CLAPP was born on Jan 23, 1761 in Guilford County, North Carolina, died on Dec 14, 1789 in Guilford County, North Carolina and was buried in Friedens Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gibsonville, Guilford County, NC ³.)

Peter next married Barbara COBLE, daughter of Anthony COBLE and Anna Maria AMICK, about 1792 in Guilford County, North Carolina. (Barbara COBLE was born on Jul 19, 1773 in Alamance County, North Carolina, died on Aug 26, 1807 in Guilford County, North Carolina and was buried in Friedens Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gibsonville, Guilford County, NC ³.)

Peter next married Elizabeth WHITESELL about 1808. (Elizabeth WHITESELL was born on Feb 7, 1776, died on Feb 27, 1812 in Guilford County, North Carolina and was buried in Friedens Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gibsonville, Guilford County, NC.)

Peter next married Philipina CHRISTMAN on Jun 12, 1820 in Stokes County, North Carolina. (Philipina CHRISTMAN was born on Oct 28, 1783 in Salem, Burke County, North Carolina, died on Aug 12, 1822 in Guilford County, North Carolina and was buried in Friedens Lutheran Church Cemetery, Gibsonville, Guilford County, NC.)