These are arranged chronologically, by the date the will was written, rather than alphabetically. Please use your browser’s search function to find any particular surname. Also, see main “Wills” page for links to other sources.
Jacob Riley
In the name of God amen. I Jacob Riley senior being now of sound and disposing memory do constitute and ordain this my last will and testament in manor and formas follows.
I give and bequeathe to my son Jacob Riley the land whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever and as a consideration I hereby direct and request that he shall pay to his sister my daughter Dianna Riley ten pound a year for ten years making in the whole one hundred pound.
I further give bequeathe to my daughter Dianna Riley a sadle called hers and a set of drawers now in the house and two beds that are called hers and the furniture belonging to them and two cows and a large walnut table.
And after paying all my just debts I give and bequeathe to my son Jacob Riley all the residue of my property whether real or personal of whatever kind. except as herein directed
(viz) I give and bequeathe to my son Peter Riley one shilling
I give and bequeathe to my son John Riley one shilling
I give and bequeathe to my daughter Caty Lindley wife of Jacob Lindley one
shilling
I give and bequeathe to my daughter Mary Gray wife of James Gray one shilling
I hereby appoint constitute and ordain my two sons Peter Riley & Jacob Riley my Executors to this my last will and testament.
Further as my son Peter gave me a note of fifty five pound ten shillings for the land which I intended to give him I hereby direct that it be given him. As it is not intended it should be paid given under my hand and seal this 31st of August 1812.
Wit: James Webb, [?] Faucett
Jacob Riley seal, by James Webb
Edward Wortham
Orange County, NC
Wife, Mary
Dau. Elizabeth, $1.00. She had had her share.
Son Charles, all that I gave him when he left me
Dau. Sarah Hall, gets a mare.
Son William, all that he had when he left me.
Dau. Nancy, $10.00 and what she had when she left me.
Son John, all that I gave him when he left me.
Son Alfred, plantation I now live on known as the Walker tract…he is to have
full possession after the death of Mrs. Sarah Dunnagin
Son Samuel, tract where Mrs. Sarah Dunnegan lives.
Executors: Wife and son Samuel
Witnesses: Joseph and Peggy Armstrong
Orange County Will Book D, Page 535, Dated: 28 Jan 1813, Proved: August Court, 1817
Moses Hutchins, 1813
In the name of God Amen. I Moses Hutchins of the State of North Carolina , County of Orange being of perfect mind & memory do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament & after recommending my soul to Almighty God who gave it & my body to be buried in a decent & Christian like manner I give bequeath to dispose of my worldly goods in the following manner,
Viz: Item to my son Thomas Hutchins I give & bequeath all & singular my real Estate including the plantation on which I now live to him & his heirs forever & to be entitled to the possession thereof immediately after my death.
And my further will & desire is is that after all my just debts are paid which is to be made out of the moveables or perishable part of my property so as not to infringe on the Land the balance or residue that shall then remain, it is my will & desire that be equally divided between my four Daughters – Viz Nelly Herndon, Hannah Herndon, Elizabeth Evans & Peggy Turner to them & their lawful heirs – to be distributed among them as early after my decease as circumstances will admit & I do hereby nominate & appoint my son Thomas Hutchins & C. P. Patterson Executors together with William Trice to this my last will & testament & revoking all others whereunto I have set my hand & affixed my seal this 8th day of March in the year of our Lord 1813.
Moses Hutchins (“X” his mark)
Test
C. P. Patterson
Sarah Patterson, Jurat
Orange County, NC, Will Book E, Pg. 13
Orange County, May Term 1822
The Execution of the foregoing last Will & Testament of Moses Hutchins was duly proved in open Court by the oath of Sarah Patterson a subscribing Witness thereto ordained to be recorded.
Test.
Henry Evans – 1815
In the name of God, Amen. I Henry Evans of Orange County and State of North Carolina being sick and weak in Body but of perfect soundness of mind & memory. Thanks be to Almighty God And knowing the mortality of my body, and that it is appointed unto all men to die, I do make constitute & ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following, Viz;
First & principally, I recommend my Soul to God who gave it and my Body to be decently buried at the discretion of my friends & Executors trusting through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ for a Joyful resurrection at the last day. And as touching such Worldly Estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give devise and dispose of as follows
Item. I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth Evans during her lifetime or widowhood one Negro Woman and Child namely Sylvia & Kimbro also three feather beds with all my Household & kitchen furniture, also one Mare & Colt, also as many of my Hogs as my Executors shall think proper for her use, also four head of Sheep, also three head of Cattle, also as much corn fodder as my Executors shall think is sufficient, also one hundred Acres of Land lying in Wake County to live on if she pleases if not to be rented by my Executors and money arising, therefrom to go to the support of my Wife and family. Also it is my Will that my Negro man Gabriel be hired out by my Executors. Also it is my Will that my pocket Watch, and one Hourse and four head of Sheep and the balance of my Hogs and Corn & fodder be sold. Also it is my will that if the child my wife is big with should be a girl, it shall be entitled to one third part of Estate except my Land, and if it should be a boy it is entitled to one half of my Estate except my Land. Also I give to my beloved son ASA one hundred acres of Land lying in Wake County, also half of my other Estate. It is my Will that my son Asa be put to school at nine years old and kept at School till he is fourteen years old, then to be bound to some trade trade as my Executors shall think most profitable for five years. It is my will that the other two minor years he be kept at his Trade or School as my Executors shall think most proper. Also it is my Will that if the Child my Wife is big with should be a boy, that it be schooled and bound to some Trade the same as my son Asa, and if it should be a girl, it shall have such schooling as my Executors shall think best and to continue with her mother, also it is my Will that Archelus M. Thompson be sent to school Eighteen Months also that the said Archelus M. Thompson continue with my wife if they can agree, and if not that he be hired out by my Executors till he is twenty one years of age. Also I give to said Archelus M. Thompson twenty five pounds. It is my will that all my just debts be paid first out of the notes that is now on hand, and all the rest of my money to be put out on Interest for the use of my children. My will is that when my children comes of age that all the money that the Executors has on hand at that time, and Gabriel be divided as before mentioned. Also my Will is that my Negro Woman Sylvia & Kimbro and her increase if any and all the property I left my Wife shall be divided between the children as before mentioned after my Wife’s death or Widowhood.
Furthermore I do hereby nominate & appoint my trusty friends Chesley P. Patterson, William Rhodes & Benjamin Rhodes Executors to this my last Will & Testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my Hand and Seal the twentieth day of September in the year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred & fourteen.
Henry Evans
Test
John Rhodes
Thomas Hutchings (“X” his mark)
Orange County, NC, Will Book D, Page 427-429
Orange County February Term 1815
The Executors of the foregoing last Will and Testament of Henry Evans dec’d was duly proved in open Court by the oath of John Rhodes & Thomas Hutchings subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, at the same time Chesley P. Patterson one of the Executors therein named qualified.
Contributor’s Note: Henry Evans, b. 1781, was the son of Gilbert Evans & Phoebe Lumley of Wake Co.,NC. He was married 1st to Martha Phillips on May 27, 1800, and 2nd to Elizabeth Hutchins on July 5, 1810. He and Elizabeth had 1 child, Asa H. Evans, since the other child mentioned in Henry’s will who was unborn at the time of his death, apparently did not survive. Elizabeth remarried to Andrew Cole in 1817, and they moved to Weakly County, TN. Asa married Elizabeth Jenkins in 1826 Wake County, but he died sometime early in 1837, after having 3 children with Elizabeth – Joel, William and Nancy Evans. Elizabeth remarried to Thomas Copeland of Wake Co. in October 1837.
Ephraim Carrington
8 December 1818
In the name of God Amen, I Ephraim Carrington being of sound and perfect mind and memory do this Eighth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred eighteen make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say – First I give and bequeath to my wife Priscilla one third of my land including the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life and at her decease all my lands to be equally divided between my three sons Morgan, Sihon and John – I give to my wife one Horse, (?) – two cows, (?) four head of sheep, five killing hogs, one saw, (?) all the geese, two beds and furniture, six chairs, two tables, two pewter dishes, six plates, four basins, one case knives and forks, one (illegible) and (illegible), two hoes, one ax, the loom and gear, fifteen barrels of corn one blade stack and oat stack and also fifty dollars out of the (illegible) of the sale to be hereafter mentioned. All the residue of my horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, (illegible), labor tools and tools of all kind – house hold furniture, waggon and gear and every thing of every description to be sold at twelve months credit and the money arising of such sale after paying all my just debts to be equally divided between my children to wit Morgan, Sihon, John, Charlotte, Dicey, Polly they must all inventory and account for what they have had except their horses – it is my will that at my wife’s decease that all the property of every description should be sold on twelve months credit be equally divided amongst the above named children Morgan, Sihon, John, Charlotte, Dicey and Polly. And I hereby make and ordain my friends, Herbert ? and John J. Carrington Executors to this my last Will and Testament In Testimony whereof I the said Epraim Carrington have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and date above written.
Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence
E. Carrington (seal)
of L. Harris Jurat
Thomas (illegible)
Orange County, North Carolina, Will Book E, Page 17-18
Orange County May Term 1822
The Execution of the foregoing last Will and Testament of Epraim Carrington was duly proved in open court by the oath of (illegible) Harris a subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be recorded. At the same time John J. Carrinton qualified as Executor.
contributed by Brian Clay Johnson
