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State of North-Carolina
By the Justices of the County Court of Pleas and
Quarter-Sessions; for the County of (Blank)
It being certified unto Us, That Abiah ETHERIDGE late
of Currituck County is dead, and hath made no last Will or Testament in
Writing and Willis ETHERIDGE Esquire Husband prayed Administration on the
said Estate the Same is accordingly Granted. The Administration Qualified by
taking the Oath by Law appointed, and Returned a Inventory, a Copy of which
is hereunto annexed.
These are therefore to impower the said Willis
ETHERIDGE Esquire to enter into, and upon all and singular the Goods and
Chattels, Rights and Credits of the Deceased; and the same into his
Possession take, wheresoever in this State to be found; and an Inventory
thereof to return according to Law; and all the just Debts of the Deceased
to pay and the Residue distribute agreeable to Law in Such Case made and
provided.
Witness Hollowell WILLIAMS Clerk of the said Court, at
Currituck the XXVII Day of November in the XVII Year of the
Independence of said State, Anno Dom. 1793.
/s/
Hollo WILLIAMS CCC
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State of
North Carolina
This Instrument of Writing contains a true and
perfect Inventory of all the Goods Chattels Rights and Credits of the Estate
of Abiah ETHERIDGE late of Currituck County Deceased, so far as is come to
my hands, or I know of Viz., To Negroe called Kate Ship & child, November the 23th
1793.
/s/ Willis ETHERIDGE
Copy examined
Test. Hollo WILLIAMS CCC
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State of North-Carolina}
February Term 1794
Currituck County
}
James MORSE by William BLAIR his Attorney, complains of
Willis
ETHERIDGE late of Currituck County Esquire.
For that whereas the said James MORSE on the twenty
fifth day of (blank) in the Year of our Lord One Thousand, Seven Hundred and
Ninety One at Currituck County, was Possessed of the Goods and Chattels
following, To wit. One negroe female slave named Katy SHIP of the price of
One Hundred & Fifty Pounds & a Negroe Boy slave named Jehu of the Price of
One Hundred Pounds as of his own proper Goods and chattels and being so
possessed thereof he the said James MORSE afterwards that is to say, on the
same Day and Year, at the County aforesaid casually lost the said Goods and Chattells, and the said Goods and Chattels afterwards, that is to say, on the
same Day and Year, at the county aforesaid, came to the hands and possession
of the said Willis ETHERIDGE by his finding the same, whereby the said
Willis ETHERIDGE then became and now is possessed thereof;
nevertheless the
said Willis ETHERIDGE though often required hath not yet delivered the said
Goods and Chattels to the said James MORSE but hitherto hath refused, and
still doth refuse to deliver, and now unjustly detains the same. Whereupon
the said James MORSE says that he is injured, and hath sustained damage to
the Value of Two Hundred Pounds. And thereof he brings suit, and prays the
Aid and Assistance of this Worshipful Court.
/s/
Will BLAIR Plts. Atto.
Pledges of Prosecution
John DOE And
Richard ROE
[On the back of this page is written: MORSE vs
ETHERIDGE; Currituck County; Febry Term 1794]
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I
Edward Mack MOSELEY Clerk of the Court of the County
of Princess Anne in the Commonwealth of Virginia do hereby Certify that the
Deed of Gift hereto Annexed from Abia MORSE to her children, Mary Mackie,
Rebecca, Lydia and William is a true copy from the Record of the said
County, In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal
of the said County this 22d day of August 1795.
/s/ E.M. MOSELEY Clk
Page 5 [Annexed
Princess Anne Co., Va. Deed of Gift]
To all to whom this present Writing shall come I
Abia
MORSE of Princess Anne County send Greeting. Know Ye that I the said
Abia
MORSE as well for and in Consideration of the natural Love and Affection
which I bear to my well beloved Children to wit. Mary Mackie, Rebecca,
Lidia
and William of the County aforesaid also for divers other good causes and
Considerations me hereunto Moving hath given and granted and by these
presents do give and Grant and Confirm to my following Children as hereafter
Named. I give to my Daughter Mary Mackie One Negro girl named
Keziah after
my decease to her and her Heirs forever. Also give to my Daughter Rebaca
one Negro Girl Named Cloe to her and her Heirs for ever To be delivered to
her when ever demanded. Also give to my Daughter Lidia One Negro
Girl named Katty SHIPP after my decease to her and her Heirs for ever. Also give to my
Son William one Negro Boy named Argil after my decease to him and his Heirs
for ever. To have and to hold the aforesaid Slaves to my said
Children as above mentioned to them and their Heirs for ever, Excepting as
before Excepted, to the only proper Use and Behoof of the aforesaid Children
and to them and their Heirs for ever against the lawful Claim of me and my
heirs, and all Person or Persons whatsoever shall and will warrant and for
ever Defend by these Presents. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and Seal this 18th day of May 1772.
/s/ Abia [Her x mark] MORSE seal
Signed Sealed And Dd In Presence of us
John ACKISS
Eras HAYNES
Peter SIMMONS
At a Court Held for Princess Anne County July the 8th
day 1773 This Indenture of Gift from Abia MORSE to her Children Mary Mackie,
Rebecca, Lidia and William, was proved by the Oaths of the three Witnesses
hereto and ordered to be Recorded.
Copy Test
E. M. MOSELEY Clk
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Princess Anne County State of Virginia
I John HANCOCK SEN. Chief Justice of the said
County do hereby certify, and make known, that Edward M. MOSELEY is Clerk of
the Court of said County, that the seal hereto annexed is the Seal of the
Said County that the attestation of the said Edward M. MOSELEY to the within
Deed of Gift is in due form, and that full faith and Credit ought to be
given to it given under my Hand & Seal this 23d day of August 1795.
/s/ John HANCOCK SEN.
On Considering the acts of the General Assembly of the
Commonwealth of Virginia passed in the year 1705 & 1727 respecting Slaves I
am of opinion that the Negroe slaves given by the within Deed of Gift to
those Children of the Donor who died intestate Unmarried & without issue
will go to the Heirs at law in the same manner they would have discended had
the property have been land instead of slaves provided the children did
previous to the first day of January in the year 1787 and that the other
Brothers & Sisters are not entitled to a distributive share of the value of
such slaves the acts of Assembly making the Heir at law accountable to the
other Brethren only where the slaves descend to heir from the Father or
Mother of the said Heir but in this case the descent being out on the
Heir by the death of two of her Sisters does not come within the Act
of Assembly and cannot retain that part of it which declare Negroes shall
descend as Landed property.
/s/ William MARSHALL
Returned? 8th July 1792
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At a Court held at the Court House for the County of
Princess Anne the 2d day of February 1795 in the 19th Year of
Commonwealth of Virginia.
On the Motion of Anne MORSE who made oath according
to Law Certificate is granted her for Obtaining Letters of Administration on
the Estate of James MORSE Decd in due form giving
Security, and thereupon she together with William HUTCHINGS Henry SALMONS and
Anthony MURPHY her
Securities entered into and acknowledged a Bond in the penalty of Six
Hundred Pounds for her due and faithful Administration of the said
--------------
I Edward Mack MOSELEY Clerk of the Court of the County
of Princess Anne hereby certify that the above in a true copy of the Letters of
Administration granted by the said Court to Anne MORSE on the Estate of her
deceased Husband James MORSE. In Testimony whereof I have hereto Set my Hand
and Affixed the Seal of the said County the 21st day of May 1795
and in the 19th year of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
/s/ E. M. MOSELEY C.S.A.C.
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Princess Anne County State of Virginia
I John HANCOCK SEN. Chief Justice of the said
County do hereby certify, and make known that Edward M. MOSELEY is Clerk of
the Court of said County, that the seal hereto annexed, is the Seal of the
said County, that the within Letters of administration, and attestation of
the said Edward M. MOSELEY are in due form, and that full faith and Credit
ought to be paid of them. Given under my Hand and seal this 22d day of August
1795.
/s/ John HANCOCK
[On the back of this page is written: Copy of Letters
of Administration on Js MORSE's Estate]
[SOURCE: Manuscript and Archives
Reference System (MARS);
Edenton District
Superior Court Estates Records 1756-1806; MARS ID: 398.6.204 (Box);
Microfilm: C.201.1905430]
NOTE:
According to Ancestry.com a James Morse married Anna
Ward in Princess Anne Co., Va. on March 6, 1779. I have no idea
whether this is the same James Morse mentioned in the above documents or an
entirely different James Morse. [kms] | 