Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
Tag: Torksey
ELIZABETH TORKSEY (1758 Will)
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
Jeneniry 25, 1758
In the name of God Amen I ELIZBETH TORKSEY being very sick but of perfeck mind and memory thanks be to almity God for it dow make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in ???? and form as folloeth that is to say. I recommend my sole in to the hand of almighty God that gave it and my body to the grave to be buried at the deseceshiun of my Exec. Herto after menthuned–
Itom. I give and bequive to my be loved Son JOHN TORKSEY all my esteate both reel and paneel to him and his harse for ever after debts paid (?)
And I apint and consecute my trusty friend ABEL GALLUP my hole and sole Exec. Of this my Last Will and Testament and dow utterly desulot all others wills before by me maid in witness my hand and seal this 25th day of Jinuiry Jeneniry 25ththen upered and FRANCES BROCKET and JUDAH WHITE and took Oath on the Holey Evengliust that the desist the above sd. ELIZBETH TORKSEY is that GELLEP shuld have lie curop her ??? and sd. and that the will as it stands was her bequist and was in her purfet senses ???? before me
(NOTE I see no signature of Eliabeth)
FRANCIS BROCKET
Her X mark
JUDAH WHITE
Her X mark
WM BURGESS (I see nothing that show this person in the probate but I still believe he was present)
North Carolina
Pasquotank County
March Court Anno Dom 1758
Present His Majestis Justies
These may ????? that FRANCIS BROCKET and JUDITH WHITE came into Opon Court and made Oath on the Holy Evangelist that they ware present and heard ELIZABETH TORKSEY as is within written. Then ABEL GALLOP appeared and took the oath of an Executor ordered that the Hon. RICHARD SPAIGHT Esq. Secretary hereNotree that letters issued
Test. Tho. Taylor
A Nuncupative Will of Eliz. Torksey
Was proved in Open Court by the Oath
Of FRANCIS BROCKET& JUDAH WHITE
Letter iss’d the first day of April 1758
Book N. 10
Page 139
Copied from NC State Archives
Probate of Wills
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
PHILLIP TORKSEY (1755 Will)
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
February 25, 1755
North Carolina Pasquotank County
I PHILLIP TORKSEY being very sick and weak of body but of perfet sence and memory thanks be to God for it do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in maner form as followeth that is to say first I recominend my soul to God that gave it and my body to the earth to be buried at the descreution of my Exect. Hereafter mentioned.
Itom. I give and bequeth to my beloved Brother —— TORKSEY one two year old hefer.
Itom. I give and bequeth to my beloved Brother JOHN TORKSEY one two year old heiffer.
Itom. I give and bequith to my beloved Cosen MAIGIL(?) REED(?) one negro boy Daniel at the decese of my Wife to her and her haire for ever.
Itom. I give and bequeth to my well beloved Wife (blacked out) of my estate both rail and pal?????.
And I appint and ordain my beloved Wife ELIZEBETH to be my whole and sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and do utterly disannul all other Wills by me made and acknowledge this to be my Last Will and Testament as witness my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of Feb. 1755. Elizbeth and ???? was underlined before sined.
PHILLIP TORKSEY seal
Sined seled and published
In presence of
W. BURGES
ABEL GALLOP jurat Exe. Qualifed
His “A” Mark
Benjeman Torksey
His X Mark
North Carolina
Pasquotank County
June Court Anno Dom 1755
Present His Majesties Justices
These may Cortesie that Abel Gallop one of the Evidonce to the within Will appeared in open Court and made Oath that the said PHILLIP TORKSEY sign seal publish and declard the within ??????? this Last Will and Testament and that the said PHILLIP TORKSEY was at that time of sound and disposing memory and that —– said the other evidonce sign ????? ???? Then appeared ELIZABETH TORKSEY Executrix and duly qualified as the said ?????? that the Honorable Henry McCullock(?) Esq. Secretary Notary(?) that letters ?????????
Test. Thos. Taylor
PHILLIP TORKSEY WILL
Letters issued
30th of June 1755
in Pasquotank County
Copied from NC State Archives
Probate of Wills
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
JOHN TORKSEY (1747 Will)
THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
November 10, 1745
In the name of God Amen I JOHN TORKSEY of Pasquotank County in the Province of North Carolina being sickly and weak of body but of perfet mind and memory thanks be given unto God for it calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is apinted for all men to die do mak and ordain this my Last Will and Testement that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul in to the hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried at the descration of my executers and as tuching such worldly estate whore with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I dispose of in the following manner and form—–
Itom. I give and bequith to my well beloved THOMAS TORKSEY one negro man named Bossen and eight burels of pork thet he owes me and one feather bed to him and his heirs for ever.
Itom. I give and bequeath to my well beloved Son BENJAMAN TORKSEY the plentation that I now live on and all the land thar unto belonging and one feather bed to him and his heirs for ever.
Itom. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Daughters ELIZABETH and SUSANE — negros if there be to many of my negro woman named Jeane with ??? self and her two childern Pegg and Wappen and thare encrease betwn this and tim of delivery and if not to memey what there is liven at the time and if thare be more then fore of the sead negros my said Dafters to have which fore thay please to them and hares lawfull begotten of thare one bodys and if my childern that are liven and my will and desire is that shall not recive thare said negros nor devide them tel such time my youngest Dafter SUSANE arrives to the age of eighteen years or the day of marrye only my will and desir is that my Daughter ELIAZBETH shall have the use of the sd. negro garl Pegg at the day of marrye tel the time of devition then to be equelly devided between them likewise I give and bequeath my two Daughters each of them a good ??? furniture and a stone jugg at the day of mariage likewise my will and desir is that if ?? are be a negro or negros of the sd. Jeane and her childern and theire in creese then the fore apinted for my two Daughters to be equilly devided between my two Sons THOMAS and BENJAM and the rest of my estate to be equally divided among my four childern above named likwise I constitute make and ordain my two Sons above named my hole and sole Executere of this my Last Will and Testement and I do utterly dissalow ?????(to dark) testament heretofore as witness my hand and seal above written
JOHN TORKSEY
His “E” Mark
(the E is backwards)
sined sealed and acknowledge
in presents of us
A BURGES
JOHN WRIGHT
His Mark
ABASANA PURKENS
His Mark
North Carolina
Pasquotank County
April Court Anno Dom 1747
Present His Majesties Justices
There may ???? Wm. Burgess(?) Wright(?) two subscribing Evidones to the within Will appared in Opon Court and made Oath upon Holy Evangelist that they ware presant and saw JOHN TORKSEY sign seal publish (too dark) to be his Last Will & Testament, and that the said JOHN TORKSEY was at said time of sound disposing memory and that they also saw Abasana Perkins the other subscribing ??? sign his name thereto at the same time.Then also approved BENJAMIN TORKSEY Executor and took the Oath appointed for his qualification & ordered (too dark) Honorable N. ????? Esq. Secretary —– Notice that letters may issue
Witness Thomas Taylor Clerk of County Court at Broomfwtosthe (Broomfield?)
Thos. Taylor Clerk
5th day of July 1747
Copied from NC State Archives
Probate of Wills
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
SAWYER BOOK A
Camden County, North Carolina
BOOK A
page 13. John Sanderlin of Pasquotank…110 pds. to Joshua Sawyer… tract of land situated on N.E. side of Pasq. River bounded as follows…Brockett’s corner tree at head of swamp,..Wright’s line, Faircliff (Faircloth?) line.. 50 a. of land that Thomas Faircliff gave to Edward Faircliff..afterward belonging to William Bray then conveyed to John Sanderlin. Nov.6, 1775. Witts. Adam Forbes and Thomas Rhoades.
15. Joshua Sawyer Of Pasquotank for 40 pds. to Joseph O’Daniel…..50 a. tract N.E. side of Pasq.River….Mouth of a branch that forks out of a Beaver Dam and up branch to Abel Gallop’s line to Charles Britians corner to 1st station. Oct. 15, 1775..Camden Court 1777
16. Joshua Sawyer of Pasq. for 100 pds to Thomas Upton of Pasq….tract of land on the N.E. side of Pasq. River…granted by Bailey Needham to Cornelious Jones….butted and bounded as was divided to Thomas Needham by his brother….all that part except 5 a. that was conveyed to Phillip Torksey. The remaining land contained by and in begining at the river binding said Torksey’s line to Abel Gallop’s line to a corner pine of Joseph ? to 1st station. 70 a. Oct 18, 1775
23. Sept. 15, 1777….Robin (Robert) Gray of Camden to Silvanus (Sylvanus) Sawyer for 100 pds. a tract of land begining at a gum in Luke Lamb”s Mill pond thence W. Nw. course to Joseph Sawyer’s line thence along line to the branch thence to Creek Swamp, then binding the Mill pond to the 1st station. witts. James Sanderlin & Cornelious Sawyer.
24. Sept 11, 1777…Robert Gray to Corneilous Sawyer for 100 pds…..land begining at the branch along Creek Swamp to a branch joining Sill’s (Sylvanus) line & Lisha (Elisha) Sawyer’s branch. witts. James Sanderlin& Silvanus Sawyer
33. Sept 10, 1777..Robert Gray & Mary Gray for 50 pds. to Joel Sawyer…tract of land, N.E. side of Pasq. River joining Tull Sawyer’s line, Joseph Jones line to River Swamp. It being the same tract that Nathaniel Gray Pattened. 50 a. . witts. Jeremiah Leake, Maxey Leake and Thomas Gray.
65. Oct 18, 1777 James Sanderlin, wheelwright of the county of Camden& Joshua Sawyer, planter of said county for 100 pds..100 a. pattened by Thomas Taylor and bounded by David Spence’s corner at the river side thence along line to Joseph O’Daniel’s line to 1st station. witt. Henry Forbes, Joshua Burnham & Rebecca Curlin.
67. Joshua Sawyer, planter to James Sanderlin, wheelwright , for 110 pds….tract of land bounded as follows…begining at a pine formerly Brockett’s corner near the head of the swamp…thence to Wright’s line..to Faircliff’s line down to the swamp..to the Run. Being the 50 a. Thomas Faircliff gave in a deed to Edward Faircliff, afterward belonging to William Bray, then John Sanderlin to said Joshua Sawyer togeather with all houses, cleared land and woodland. Oct. 18, 1777
68. Dempsey Sawyer of Pasq. to Joseph Jones of Pasq., May 6, 1773 , for 90 pds…..land that was once granted to James Mc Daniel & by his assigned to Thomas Sawyer & by Thomas Sawyer & Robert Spence conveyed to Caleb Sawyer who died and fell to his son John Sawyer & by John Sawyer conveyed by deed of gift to said Dempsey Sawyer and now sold..to Joseph Jones 100 a. Beginning at a tree formerly Koen and now Ammon Grandy’s corner binding east to a line formerly Richards, thence southerly to a line formerly Edward Williams. witts. William Burgess, James Ferebee
79. Mar.7, 1778, Truman Sawyer planter to Levi Sawyer for 400pds. 50 a. binding Ross’s line to Solley’s thence to swamp. witt. James Sanderlin & Costen Sawyer
80. James Sanderlin, mariner, to Truman Sawyer, planter, for 400 pds. 60 a. N.E. side of Pasq. River . Beginning at a corner known by the name of John Scott’s corner to a beech on the Lakeside binding on a oak at Richards corner to the 1st station…home,garden,orchard…ect…witt. Caleb Sawyer & Costen Sawyer
82. March 7, 1778 Lewis Sawyer,planter to James Sanderlin, marriner for 400pds…tract of land 50 a. N.E. side ofPasq. River on the head of Arenuse Creek. ..It being part of a tract of land formerly belonging to John Winn & conveyed from Howard to Albertson & from Alberson to Williams & from Williams to Sawyer & from C. Sawyer to Lewis Sawyer..and bounded as follows. Begining at a gum in the Milldam Swamp thence to a line of trees that divide C. Sawyer & his son Lewis to a branch on William Humphries line thence to John Jones line to 1st station. signed Lewis Sawyer & Sophyer (Sophia) Sawyer, wife.
88. October 31, 1776 Joseph Relfe of Pasq. to Lemuel Sawyer for 280 pds 150 a. tract on N.E. side of Pasq. River. Begining at John Relefe’s landing on Sawyer’s Creek thence running a small distance down the creek to Joseph Jones line thence binding Jones line a northerly course so as the lane runs to William McCoys corner at Horn Ridge thence easterly to James Ferebee’s line thence westerly along said Ferebee’s Plantation then westward along causeway or road to the foot of a lane then binding the swamp& creek to the landing.
90. Joshua Sawyer & Mary Sawyer, his wife , for 400 pds. to Isaac Gregory…on the fork of Arnuse Creek 150 a. on the main road bounded by Job Sawyer, Dempsey Sawyer’s line near an old field called the “New Ground” thence along branch to the main road at a bridge thence down the main swamp to the mouth of a branch laying where Willie Wilson’s old bridge is, thence running up the eastside of the branch to the main road. Witt. Christopher Snail & Malachi Grandy
91. Malachi Grandy & Dorothy, his wife, of Camden to Joshua Sawyer, a tract of land granted by pattent to Joseph Gilford. Begining at a branch before Jacob Gilford’s door, thence up said branch to pattent line to a lane that was made for William Andrews thence to the pocoson to the branch. 80 a. Feb. 9, 1778. witt. Isaac Grandy & Christopher Snail
107. Joshua Sawyer to Job Sawyer for 60 pds a part of the plantation that fell to said Joshua Sawyer by the death of his father…begining on the road side of Lenard Williams corner to Dempsey Sawyer line to 1st station 15 a. Joshua Sawyer & wife Mary. Oct. 1, 1777 witt. Theophilius Gregory & Joshua Godfrey. 121. Aug. 19, 1778 Charles Grandy to Tully Sawyer 150 pds. ..land that I bought of Samuel Ferill that was formerly the property of Isaac Albertson decs. & the land that was formerly Elias Albertson decs. bounded on the eastmost by Col. Isaac Gregory & on the north by the Mill pond branch and swamp…
123. Coston Sawyer & Rhoda, his wife, to Thomas Nickols for 25 pds…land bounded by swamp near Sawyer’s house to Col. Dauge’s road near William Humphries line. 14 a. formerly belonging to John Jones and conveyed to Coston Sawyer Sept.14, 1778.
Abstracted and Contributed by: D. G. Owens
WILLIAMS, PATRICK HENRY (d. 1959)
P. H. Williams (Patrick Henry) former state Senator, dead.———–Mr. Williams was native of Camden County; Served two terms in the State Senate in 1923-25. Patrick Henry Williams, former state senator from this district died at his home on Pennsylvania ave. this morning at 3;30 following a heart attack. Mr. Williams, son of the late Robert and Marenda Torksey Williams, was born in Camden County in 1869. He attended Elizabeth City schools until 1886, went to Davis Military school at La Grange, then entered the university of North Carolina in 1888. In 1889 he entered Smith’s Business School at Lexington, Kentucky. He took his bachelor of arts degree at Randolph Macon College and entered the law school of the university of North Carolina in 1897.
Contibuted by: Linda Mansfield Date Hand written on Newspaper April 2, 1959
MATHIAS WRIGHT (1836 Will)
Will of
MATHIAS WRIGHT
1836
State of North Carolina, Camden county
In the name of God amen. I Mathias Wright being of sound mind and memory bless be God and calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time hereof do make, publish and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
Item: I lend to my wife Susan Wright during her natural life, the tract of land I bought from Arthur Gregory also a piece of land I bought from Batson Berry. I also lend her during her natural life negro man George, negro woman Fannah, negro boy Andrew and negro girl Jane, one gray mare, six stool chairs, one large table, one yoke of oxen and ox cart, two new bed stand. My will is the negroes I lent to my wife shall not be moved out of the county during her life.
Item: I give to my wife three feather beds and furniture her choice, one horse and gigg and the harness belonging thereto, one desk, two tables, two stands, one case of knives and forks, one pair hand irons, one case, six flaged bottom chairs, one loom and harness belonging thereto, two powdering tubs, two hogs heads, one large iron pot, one small iron pot, one spider, one pair smothing irons, one dutch oven, two chests her choice, three linnen whereis hr choice, one horse cart, two cows and calves her choice, eight head of sheep her choice, pne pair of working bars and screws. Eight head og hoggs her choice, one plow and harness her choice, two weeding hoes her choice, two axes her choice, four empty barrels, two metal tubs, one pair of tongs and shovel, one coffee mill, one beaufat and all the crockery ware, one looking glass, two iron pot trammels, one hand mill her choice, two sows and their pigs her choice, one dennijohn, one heiffer, two steer yearlings which was hers before I married her. I also save for my wife to have her years provisions set off to her out of my estate. I also give her all the poultry on hand and one pair of stilyards.
Item: I leave the bricks and lime I have on hand and all the cypress and juniper plank I have on hand, also for my executor to purchase three thousand shingles for the repairs of my buildings where I now live. Also for my executor to pay over to my wife fifty dollars, to pay the expense of the repairs of said buildings.
Item: I leave negro boy Joseph to be sold by my executor.
Item: I give to my grand daughter Margaret Wright at my death negro woman Bridgett and her increase. Also at my wifes death I give the lands I bought from Arthur Gregory and Batson Berry to my grand daughter Margaret Wright and one turned bed stand.
Item: I give Delphy Daley at my wifes death one of the bed stands I lent to my wife/
Item: I give to my grand daughter Maragret Wright one bed stand, one bed and furniture and one chest.
Item: I give to my son Benjamin Wright the following piece of land that is to say beginning at the main road at the corner of the fence near where my son Gamiel Wright made bricks thence running down the road fence a westwardly course, a straite course until it strikes the main road near where my son Benjamin Wright had a garden. I also give him all the lands I bought from Benjamin Wilson and Jess Torksey, one negro boy Harry, one half of negro man Simon and at my wifes death one half of negro man George.
Item: I give my son Gamiel Wright all the lands I bought from Leonard Martin except what I have already given away to my son Benjamin Wright. I also give him negro man Isaac, one half negro man Simon and at my wifes death I give him half of negro man George, at my death I give him negro boy Grandy.
Item: I give to my daughter Chloe Poter, negro woman Rhody and her youngest child.
Item: I lend to my daughter Francis Garrett, negro girl Venis during her natural life and at her death I leave her to be divided between her children.
Item: I lend to my daughter Presilla Standly during her natural life, negro woman Isabelle and her increase and after her death I give them to her children to be equally divided between them and my grand daughter Lydia Standly.
Item: The negroes that I have not already disposed of in this will I leave in the following manner that is to say, one fourth of them I lend the use of to Presilla Standly during her natural life, one fourth I lend the use of to Francis Garrett during her natural life and the other two fourths I give to my grand daughter Margaret Wright and my daughter Chloe Poter to be equally divided between them at my death.
Item: The negroes that I have lent to Presilla Standly I give at her death to her children and Francis Garrett my grand daughter, to be equally divided between them.
Item: The negroes that I have lent to Francis Garrett my daughter, I give at her death to be equally divided between her children.
Item: The negroes that I have lent to my daughters Presilla Standly and Francis Garrett, my will is for them not to be removed out of the county until their death.
Item: The property I have not already given away in this my last will I leave to be sold to pay my just debts and should there be any money left in the hands of my executor I wish to equally divided between Presilla Standly, Francis Garrett, Chloe Poter and my grand daughter Margaret Wright.
Lastly I appoint my worthy friend Joseph G. Hughes as executor to this my last will and testament and should he fail to qualify I leave Noah Hughes as executor, this July 8, 1835.
Mathias Wright
Signed, sealed and delivered in the present of us
Noah Berry
A. Walston
Wm. Berry
Camden county court Feb term 1836
This last will and testament of Mathias Wright dec’d was exhibited and the executor thereof was proven in open court by the oath of William Berry one of the subscribing witnesses thereof in due form of law and Joseph G. Hughes the executor therein named appointed in open court and qualified as such and on motion it was ordered recorded.
Test C.G Lamb, clerk
Contributed and transcribed by Harry Schoettle
HENRY BRAY, SR. (1833 Will)
Will of
HENRY BRAY, SR.
1833
In the name of God amen I Henry Bray Senr. of the County of Camden and State of North Carolina being weak of Body but of perfect Sound mind & memory Calling to mind the mortality of my Body Kowing [knowing] it is appointed for all men once to die in the first place I Reccommend my body to the Grave to be buried in a decent christain burial & my Sole to God that gave it as touching my worly [worldly] Estate I give and bequath in the following manner Item–I give and bequath unto my Dearly beloved Grand Son Maning bray one Cow and Calf to him and his heirs
Item–I give and bequath unto my last wife children as follows one feather Bed and Furniture one puter Bason one pr of Fire Dogs one Spining wheel one iron Tea Kettle one Coffee mill and chest this I give unto my last wife Mary Brays Children and Grand children that she had before I married her Then the rest of my Estate I give and bequath in the following maner. I give and bequath unto my Six Daughters to be Equily Divided between the heirs thats liveing and the children of them that are dead Viz Each Daughters Children to heir there mothers Shear these are the heirs hereafter named that are liveing, Margaret Torksey, Mary Gallop, Batsheba Forbes, these are the Daughters that are dead that is to Say Abigail Hunings, Sarah Whitehall, Mariam Right [or Kight?] to them and there heirs
Last of all I recomend and appoint my faithful and Trusty Friend Noah Torksey to be my whole and sole Executor of this my Last will and Testament and I the said Henry Bray do disanull all former Wills & Testaments and do Ratify and Confirm this to be my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this 30th day of June in the year of our Lord 1833.
Henry Bray
Signed & Sealed in Presents of
Silas Forbes
Alman Moriset
Camden County Court August Term 1833
The Last Will and Testament of Henry Bray Decd. was Exhibited in open court & proved by the oath of Silas Forbes and Judith Gregory subscribing witness thereto & Noah Torksey the Executor therein named appeared and Qualified as Executor thereto. Ordered that Letters Testamentory Issue &c. and that the said will be recorded
Test. C. G. Lamb Clerk
Camden County Record of Wills, Vol. 1833, p. 136-138
NC State Archives microfilm reel #C.018.80001
Contributed and transcribed by Marty Holland