Currituck County Wills
Sophia B. Berry
Nov. 2, 1898 - Sept. 18, 1908
Currituck Co. Will Book 5; pg. 393-395
State of North
Camden CountyI Sophia B. BERRY of the aforesaid County and State, being of sound mind memory and discretion but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament.
First my executor hereinafter named shall give my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my friends and relatives and pay all funeral expenses together with all my just debts out of the first money which may come into his hands belonging to my estate.
Second. I give and devise to the children of my daughter Penelope B. STEVENS wife of Noah N. STEVENS one half of my interest in a tract of land situated in the County of Currituck and State of North Carolina near Snowden’s Station and known as the Sam FEREBEE tract. To have and to hold the one half of my interest in said tract to the said children in fee simple, my interest in the said tract being one third of the said tract.
Third. I give and devise to the children of my son Geo. L. BERRY in fee simple the remaining one half of my interest in that tract of land situated in the County of Currituck and State of North Carolina near Snowden’s Station and being the tract of land whereon my father Branson C. BELL dec’d resided at the time of his death. My interest in the said tract of land being one fourth interest subject to the life estate of Louisa BELL the widow of the said Branson C. BELL dec’d.
Fifth. I give and bequeath to my grandson Robert STEVENS son of my daughter Penelope STEVENS my bible and the stand for the same.
Sixth. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Mary L. STEVENS daughter of Penelope STEVENS my bed, bedstead, and washstand.
Seventh. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Minnie STEVENS daughter of Penelope STEVENS my wardrobe.
Eighth. My will and desire is that all the residue of my estate after taking out the devises and legacies above mentioned both real and personal and wherever found and however acquired shall go to my grand daughter Sophia BERRY daughter of my son Geo. L. BERRY and I hereby give devise and bequeath the same to her.
Ninth I hereby constitute and appoint my son Geo. L. BERRY my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my according to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me hereto fore made.
In witness whereof I the said Sophia B. BERRY do hereunto set my hand and seal, this 2nd day of November 1898.
/s/ Sophia B. BERRY seal
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Sophia B. BERRY to be her last will and testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.
T.B. WILSON
P.H. WILLIAMS
State of North Carolina } In Superior
Court
Currituck County } Before E.W. ANSELL Clerk
In Re Estate }
of } Order for Probate of
will
Sophia B. Berry, deceased }
A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of
Sophia B. BERRY dec’d is exhibited in open Court for probate by Geo.
L. BERRY executor therein named; and the due execution thereof by the said
Sophia B. BERRY dec’d is duly proven by the oath and examination of
T.B. WILSON and P.H. WILLIAMS subscribing witnesses thereto and it is
further shown to the satisfaction of the court by said witnesses that the said
Sophia B. BERRY was at the time of making said will of sound mind and
memory of full age to execute a will and under no restraint to their knowledge
information or belief.
It is thereupon considered adjudged and decreed that
said proof is sufficient and according to law and that said paper writing is and
contains the last will and testament of Sophia B. BERRY dec’d and it is ordered that said will
be admitted to probate and recorded in the Book of Wills of Currituck County and
as such filed as provided by law in the Office of the Clerk of Superior Court of
said County. Dated this the 18th day of September 1908.
/s/ E.W. ANSELL, Clerk Superior Court
Currituck County In Superior Court
} Before E.W. Ansell C.S.C.
In the matter of the will of Sophia B. BERRY
deceased }
Geo. L. BERRY being duly sworn doth say: that
Sophia B. BERRY late of said County is dead having first made and published
her last will and testament and that Geo. L. BERRY is the executor named therein.
Further that the property of the said Sophia B. BERRY
consisting of bed & bedstead washstand, wardrobe, bible and stand is worth about
$25.00 so far as can be ascertained at the date of this application and that
Robert STEVENS, Mary R. STEVENS, Minnie STEVENS, Sophia BERRY Camden,
N.C. are the parties entitled under said will to the said property.
/s/ Geo. L. BERRY
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 18th day
of September 1908.
/s/ E.W. ANSELL, Clerk Superior Court
Geo. L.
BERRY
having qualified as executor as aforesaid. Letters Testamentary was issued
accordingly this 18th day of Sept. 1908.
/s/ E.W.
ANSELL, C.S.C.
[NOTE: Cemetery records indicate that "Sophia Bell, wife of Robert H. Berry" was born in 1838 and died in 1908. Robert H. Berry was born May 15, 1829 and died Jan. 23, 1891. Robert & Sophia, as well as many of their infant children, are buried in Snowden on property that was owned by the James Thomas Gregory heirs in 1988.
This will was contributed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information. Thank you!
© 2011 Kay Midgett Sheppard
