CALEB GRAY (1823 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

CALEB GRAY

August 28, 1823

In the name of God Amen! I CALEB GRAY of the State of North Carolina, Camden County being of sound & perfect mind & memory blessed be God do this 28th day of August 1823. make & publish this my Last Will & Testament in manner following that is to say.

I leave the use of my maner plantation to my Loving Wife MEKEL GRAY during her natural life it being land whereon I now live containing forty three acres be the same more or less, binding on DEMSEY GREGORY’S, PETER FORBES heirs land and Deep Branch.

I also leave the use of all the remainder of my land to my loving Wife MEKEL GRAY during her widowhood or life for the supporting of my children. My will that the above land only half to be attended in a year in each tract & to be shifted every year.

I also leave the use of as much of my perishable estate as my Wife MEKEL GRAY needs for the supporting of my children during her widowhood or life & no longer.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son JOSHUA GRAY one tract of land I bought of THOMAS STAPLES formerly called the SIKES Tract containing twenty four & half acres be the same more or less binding JOHN FERRELL, WILLIAM ETHERIDGE, and JOHN BAMARY(?) (BARRARY?) and the heirs of JAMES GREGORY to him & his heirs forever and the said JOSHUA GRAY is to have posesion at the death or marriage of his Mother and the said JOSHUA GRAY is bound to pay unto my two Daughters POLLY JEAN GRAY fifty dollars apiece for their interest in said land.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son BAILEY GRAY & my Daughter SUCKY GRAY one tract of land I bought of WILLIS UPTON to be equally divided between them beginning at the main road thence runing across the plantation so as to make an equal division of clear a land also beginning at main road thence across the plantation so as to make an equal division of cleared land, also beginning at main road thence running across the wood so as to make each hare an equal share to them & their heirs forever. The said BAILEY GRAY & SUCKY GRAY is gave posession of the said land when the said BAILEY GRAY comes to the age of twenty one years. Also the said BAILEY BRAY & SUCKY GRAY is bound to pay unto POLLY GRAY fifty dollars & JEAN GRAY fifty dollars for their interest in said land.

If my Wife MEKEL GRAY should die or marry before the said BAILEY GRAY should arrive at lawful age the rent of said land shall go to my two Daughters POLLY & JEAN GRAY.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my two Daughters POLLY & JEAN GRAY after the death or marriage of my Wife all the perishable part of my estate which my Wife held at that time. Also I give to my two Daughters POLLY & JEAN GRAY all the perishable part of my estate which my Wife MEKEL do not need at this time to them & their heirs forever. Also I give all my crop to POLLY & JEAN GRAY after taking out my Wife’s & family’s one year provisions, also my debts either due by notes or accts to them & their heirs forever. The above property to be sold on a credit of six months. If POLLY or JEAN should die under twenty one the survivor shall their legacies.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter SALLY GRAY one tract of land which I now live on that I bought of MALACHI W. BOUSHALL, binding DEMSEY GREGORY, PETER FORBES heirs & Deep Branch, containing forty three acres be the same more or less to her & her heirs forever.

And I hereby make & ordain my worth friend BAILEY BARCO Executor of this my Last Will & Testament in witness whereof I the said CALEB GRAY to this my Last Will & Testament set my hand & seal the day & year above written.

CALEB GRAY seal

Witness

JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT

THOMAS WALSTEN

His x mark


N. B. Also make & appoint my friend BAILEY BARCO Guardian to my children. August 28, 1823.

CALEB GRAY seal

JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT

THOMAS WALSTEN

His x mark


State of North Carolina

Camden County

November Term 1823

This Last Will & Testament of CALEB GRAY was exhibited and proved in open Court by the oath of JOSEPH CARTWRIGHT one of the subscribing witnesses, thereto at the same time BAILEY BARCO the executor therein named appeared & qualified according to law. Ordered to be Recorded.

Tests.

M. S. LEWIS CLK.


Will Book C

Pages 25-27

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse


 

LEMUEL JONES (1825 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

LEMUEL JONES

July 1, 1824

In the name of God Amen, I LEMUEL JONES of the State of N.Carolina and the County of Camden being of sound mind and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do make this my Last Will and Testament in way and manner following to wit.

Item. I give and bequeth unto my beloved Wife MARY one bed and furniture her choice, one beaufatt and crockery which it contains, two hogs her choice and one cow and calf her choice, to her and her heirs forever. I also leave the use of negro Phipe to her during her natural life.

Item. I give and bequeth unto my Son JOSIAH JONES the plantation which I bought of SAMUEL TUMBLIN and also seven acres of the wood land atched to the land where I now live to be set of from the North end of this tract of land to him and his heirs forever, with the exception of two and fifty dollars to be paid out of said lands to my Daughter CHLOE JONES to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeth unto my Daughter BETSEY JONES the plantation whereon I now live and negro Dhiue(?) reserving the use of her to my Wife to her and her heirs forever with exception two hundred and fifty dollars to be paid out of said lands to my Daughter CHLOE JONES to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I leave the residue of my estate not allready given away to be sold for six months credit and after paying of just debts the balance I give and bequeth unto my Daughter CHLOE JONES to her and her heirs forever.

I also nominate and apoint my son JOSIAH JONES and my friend READING BROCKETT Executors to this my Last Will and Testament, This 1st day of July 1824.

LEMUEL JONES seal

His x mark

Sign’d sealed in the presence

Of Witness

THOS. TILLETT jurat

ELIJAH S. STAPLES

JOSIAH JONES qual’d

Pd. 3 of


Camden County Court

February Term 1825

This was exhibited in open Court and proved as the Last Will and Testament of LEMUEL JONES dec’d by the oath of THOMAS TILLETT a subscribing witness thereto in due form of law, and JOSIAH JONES one of the Executors therein named appeared and qualified as Executor thereto. Ordered that letters Testamentary issue

(Note: no clerks name given)


Will Book C

Page 44

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse


 

JOSEPH MORIS (1825 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT

OF

JOSEPH MORIS

June 4, 1824

State of N. Carolina Camden County, June 4th 1824 I JOSEPH MORIS doth this day make my Last Will and Testament, first of all I recomed my soul to God, who give it me and my body to the earth, from whence it came, and as touching such worldly good and as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give in the following manner, to wit.

I lend the use of all my land and plantation to gather with all my stock of horses, hogs, sheep and cattle, househould and kitchen furniture and one negro woman Giny and girl Gin’s Daughter unto DINAH SMITH for and during her natural life, but it is my will and desire that the negroes shall not be carried aught of the County of Camden, nor none of the other property lent her, but for her to sell sufficient for her support.

I give unto my Son JOSEPH MORIS after the death of MISS SMITH the land and plantation lent to DIANAH SMITH and also Giny and her Daughter togather with all the chattel property which may be left at her death unto him and his heirs forever, but it is my will and desire that my Executor hereafter be appointed to sell as much of my property as will be sufficient to pay all my just and lawful debts aught of such property as he may think best,

Lastly I nominate my friend CALEB PERKINS my whole and sole Executor to this my Last Will and Testament the day and date first above written.

JOSEPH MORIS seal

Signed, sealed and delivered

In the presence of

ELIJAH STAPLES

ABRAHAM DAVIS

His x mark


Camden County Court

February Term 1825

This was exhibited in open Court and proved as the Last Will and Testament of JOSEPH MORIS dec’d by the oath of ELIJAH STAPLES a subscribing witness thereto in due form of law and CALEB PERKINS the Executor therein named refusing to qualify, it is ordered to be recorded

Test.

(Note: no clerks name given.)


Will Book C

Page 45

Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse


 

WRIGHT, THOMAS


Camden County N.C. Deed Book “S” page 326 Division of Land 1826


We the undersigned commissioners being duly gradified have in obedience to the annexed order of the county court of Camden and state of North Carolina this the 3rd day of August AD one thousand eight hundred and twenty six to set apart and divide the lands of Thomas Wright dec’d son of Austin Wright dec’d among his legal heirs in the following manner.

Lot No. 1 to Edmund Barco in right of his wife beginning at a delombardy poplar thence S 50 W one chain, thence N 41 ½ West 2 chains 30 links then N 50 E 1 chain thence S 41 ½ E 2 chains 30 links to the first station containing 37 poles.

Lot No. 2 to Stephen S. Snowden beginning at the corner of the first lot then S 50 W 30 links then N 41 ½ W 3 chains 20 links then N 43 W 1 chain 40 links then S 41 ½ E 1 chain 45 links then S 50 W 1 chain containing 37 poles.

Lot No. 3 to Elizabeth Wright infant of William Wright dec’d beginning at the corner of the 2nd lot N 41 ½ W 320 links then S 30 W 80 links then S 43 E 285 links then N 50 E 60 links to the first station containing 37 poles.

We further order that Lot No. 1 pay over to Lot No. 2 & 3 sixty eight dollars to be equally divided between Staphen S. Snowden & Elizabeth Wright.

Given under hands & seals day & date above written.

Padrick Gallop

Elijah S. Staples

W. Mercer

FORBES, JACOB FOSTER – (d. 1946)

JacobForbes

 

JACOB FOSTER FORBES-—– Jacob Foster Forbes 57 prominent  Camden farmer and former sheriff of Camden county, died suddenly last night at 10;40 0’clock at his home in Riddle. Mr. Forbes was the son of  the late Elijah and Susan Foster Forbes. He served as sheriff of Camden co. for twelve years. He was a member of hall lodge No. 53 of Indiantown and a member of Shiloh Baptist church. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Ida Dozier Forbes; two daughters, Mrs. Ansell Staples and Mrs. J. Douglas, one son., Wilbert Forbes and a foster son, Clifton Williams; one sister, Mrs. Lydia  Forbes of South Norfolk; two brothers, S, F. and H. F. Forbes, both of Riddle; Six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted at the residence Sunday afternoon at 3;00. Burial will follow  in the family plot near the home.  He was born Aug. 22, 1888 and died Mar.29, 1946.


Contributed by: Linda Mansfield


 

BURGESS Family Bible (ROBERT T. & MARGARET ANN KIGHT BURGESS)

This Bible record has not been seen for, as I understand it, about 30 years or more. It belongs to the Ella Hubbard Burgess Riggs (born 1902 and still living in Camden), listed in this Bible record. It has been transcribed by me as written.

This particular text has been cited numerous times in the past, most often in reference to the wife of Zachariah Kite (Kight) and the date of birth of Zephaniah Kite (Kight). She, Claypia (Clarpalia), wife of Zachariah Kite (Kight), has been frequently cited as having been an Indian. This Bible alone has always listed as the reference for this statement. As you see, there is no information regarding her, other than her relationship as the wife of Zachariah Kite (Kight). As far as I know, the only other reference to her is in a deed. With that, there is no evidence to support the long-standing tradition that she was an Indian. I must state, however, that her name, regardless of spelling, is nothing like any other name I have seen in the region. Some of the Kight family did live close to the Indiantown area on the border of Camden and Currituck Counties. The Indians that resided in the area were not for the most part, as many people have assumed, members of the Pasquotank tribe. The Pasquotanks had long since dispersed from the area or had been absorbed into the settling population, both white and slave. The vast majority of the Indians in Camden County, if not all of them, by the mid-1700s were of the Yeopim tribe that was placed on a 10,000 acre reservation in the Indiantown area in about 1704 as noted in a deed from Lord Granville to the Yeopim Indians. The Yeopims had previously lived in the southern part of Perquimans County and parts of Chowan County. If Clarpalia was an Indian, she was more than likely a member of this tribe.

I can not comment definitively on her origins. I can, however, state that, given her name, location, and dates, there is a good possibility that she was indeed an Indian as according to family tradition. Still, I think that every Camden County, NC Kight family researcher should examine the scant references to her, take into account the history of Camden County during the time period in which she lived, and draw their conclusions based on that information, not strictly on family tradition.

The above note is include here with the authors permission: Harvey Benton Harrison, III.


(Page with Copyright information not provided. Design and style common to late 19th century large “family”-type Bibles. All handwriting appears to be the same.)

(Bible formerly belonging to Ella Hubbard Burgess Riggs.)
(Transcribed as written by Harvey Benton Harrison, III.)

(Marriage Certificate page)

THIS IS TO CERTIFY
That Robert T. Burgess
and Margaret Ann Kight
WERE UNITED IN THE BONDS OF
HOLY MATRIMONY
At Shiloh Camden County on the 29th day of
December in the year of our Lord 1878
in Presence of Bailey Needham & Lydia Burgess
Signed Ceremony was performed by
Gideon Barker, Justice Peace

(Births page)
BIRTHS

Caleb Kight Burgess – Born Apil 26, 1880
Addie Kight Burgess – Born April 21, 1881
Aby Kight Burgess – Born June 6, 1882
Paul Kight Burgess – Born September 22, 1883.
Willie Kight Burgess – Born June 3, 1885
Joseph Walston Burgess – Born October 22, 1886
Mary Christian Burgess – Born May 24, 1888.
John Wesley Burgess – Born September 20, 1889.
Caleb Kight Burgess – Born July 15, 1891.
Robert T. Burgess – Born June 4, 1893.
Margaret Ann Burgess – Born September 25, 1894.
Robert T. Burgess – Born September 30, 1895
Nellie Kight Burgess – Born January 19, 1902.
———-
Ella Burgess Was Born June 11, 1902.

(Marriages page)
MARRIAGES

Paul K. Burgess to Laura J. Burgess – November 17, 1906.
Willie K. Burgess to Annie S. Staples – May 24, 1908.
John W. Burgess to Elizabeth Forbes – October 10, 1908
Addie K. Burgess to Frank Baker – March 25, 1913.
Ella Burgess to Charlie S. Riggs – July 17, 1916

(Deaths page)
DEATHS

Caleb Kight Burgess – Died May 14, 1880.
Aby Kight Burgess – Died August, 1883.
Mary Christian Burgess – Died June, 1889.
Joseph Walston Burgess – Died July, 1889.
Robert T. Burgess – Died June 6, 1894.
Margaret Ann Burgess – Died September 25, 1894.
Robert T. Burgess – Died June 15, 1896.

(Written on a blank page)

Margaret Ann Kight, daughter of Caleb and Aby
Kight, was born July 3, 1865.
Robert T. Burgess, son of Hezikiah and Polly Burgess,
was born October 22, 1856.
———-
Caleb W. Kight, son of Dempsey and Elizabeth
Kight, was born October 2, 1835.
———-
Aby Burgess, daughter of Simeon and Elizabeth
Burgess, was born December 30, 1829
———-
Hezikiah Burgess was the son of Hezakiah
and Lydia Wright Burgess.
Polly Burgess was the daughter of Dempsey
and Elizabeth Kight
———-
Dempsey Kight, son of Zephaniah and Margaret
Brown Kite, was born May 8, 1795.
Elizabeth Griffin, daughter of Macy and Sallie
Griffin, was born October 18, 1811.
———-
Zephaniah Kite, son of Zachariah and Claypia
Kite, was born June 25, 1766.