Grace (Halley) Cartwright Worden

Disowned by Quaker MM Disowned for allowing her daughters to Marry out of Society
Apr 21 1716

 Pasquotank MM, Pasquotank, NC

Grace Halley was born about 1672 probably in Pasquotank, Carolina.

Grace married Thomas Cartwright in the Pasquotank Friends Meeting on 4 April 1693, and they were members in good standing of the Friends Society until his death in 1707.

Thomas passed away after signing his will on 4 March 1707 and before 15 April 1707 when the will was probated. The will is a real mess with poor handwriting and unclear intentions.

Grace is left to bring up their nine children on her own.

On 27 January 1714 the Trueblood brothers, Amos and John married the eldest two Cartwright daughters it is in a double civil ceremony "before a Justice". Elizabeth married Amos and Catherine married John.

In April of that same year, tragedy struck with the death of her eldest son, John, aged only 18 or 19.

While the Cartwrights were Quakers in good standing the two young men were not. The marriage to men outside the Society led to a split. After the usual procedure of visiting Grace and the girls, the Friends formally disowned them. Catherine and Elizabeth on 18 June 1715, and Grace on 21 April 1716[1].

She passed away in 1729 and left a detailed will. Several of her children mentioned in her husband, Thomas's will of 22 years before are not mentioned in hers and have presumably passed long before.

Research Notes
Last Will and Testament

In the name of God Amen. I, Grace Cartwright, of Pasquotank precinct in the province of North Carolina being low and weak of Body, But of a sound and perfect mind and memorypraise be therefore given to Almighty God do make and ordain this my profound last will and Testament in the manner and forme following (Viz) First and principally I commend my soul into the hand of Almighty God hoping through the

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Death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and --- pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life. And my body I commit to the Earth to be definitely buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and attending the disposition of all such Temporal Estate as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me, I give and dispose Thereof as followeth: Imprimis I will that my debts and Funeral Charges shall be paid and discharged. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Trueblood one great chest and a new feather Bed and a new blue Rug and a pair of sheets and two cows and calves and a Linnen wheel. Item I give to Josiah Trueblood one two year old heifer. Item I give unto Joshua Trueblood one cow calfe , one pewter dish and a couple of plates and an iron kettle. Item I give and bequeath unto John Trueblood ten shillings in publick Bills of Credit. Item I give unto my grandson John Trueblood, the son of the aforesaid John Trueblood, one two year old heifer. Item I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Elizabeth Trueblood, the daughter of the aforesaid John Trueblood, my best bed and a Coverlett and a Bolster and one Cow and Calfe. Item I give unto her sister Miriam Trueblood a pair of new Gloves. Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Murdon, the daughter of Jeremiah Murdon, the newest pewter dish and a small chest. Item, I give and bequeath unto Mary Murdon a new set of Clothes and my Cloak and a great chair, likewise I will that all my wearing Clothes excepting what I before specified be equally divided between my daughters Elizabeth Trueblood and Eliza Cartwright. Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Murdon one year old mare colt. Item I give and bequeath unto job Cartwright, Son, one cow and calfe. Item I give and bequeath unto Benjamin Cartwright, the son of Joseph Cartwright two cows and calves. Item I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Cartwright the daughter of the aforesaid Joseph Cartwright two cows and calves and a little iron pott. Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas Cartwright the son of Thomas Cartwright one two year old heifer. All the rest and residue of my personal Estate Goods and Chattles whatsoever I do give and bequeath unto my loving son Joseph Cartwright full and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby revoke, disannul and make void all former wills and Testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said Grace Cartwright to this my last will and testament have set my hand and seal this Thirtieth day of December in the year of our Lord God, one thousand Seven hundred and Twenty Eight. (Probated 3 June 1729)

Sources
↑ Quaker North Carolina Meetings Vol I p134
The Trueblood family in America, 1682-1963 : John Trueblood of Shoreditch, England, and his descendants: additions and corrections to the 1964 edition / by Bula Trueblood Watson ; with the editorial assistance of Felicity Trueblood