In the Name of God Amen.

I Ann V. WARD of Knotts Island Currituck County North Carolina do make and publish this my last will and testament Revoking all former wills by me made.

At my death it is my desire that Will My son William KELLEY shall be paid forty Dollars.  Nancy NEWMAN My daughter shall be paid forty Dollars.  Minerva BEASLEY My daughter shall be paid Thirty Dollars.  And the remainder of my money shall be equally divided between Alice FENTRESS, J.J. WARD, and J.E. KELLEY.  further it is my desire that my daughter Alice FENTRESS shall have my best bed and Bertie KELLEY shall have my Bureu, Large table and Rocking Chair.  I hereby Appoint Nancy NEWMAN to settle and distribute my money and property as aforesaid without any bond.  [Inserted vertically in the left margin was written: Also J.J. WARD shall have my best quilts.]

In testimony I do hereby set my hand and cause my seal to be made this 14 day of Sept. 1903 in presence of
Witness
    E.D. BOWDEN
    W.J. BEASLEY

    /s/ Ann V. [her x mark] WARD        Seal

PROOF OF WILL AND EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES THERETO

State of North Carolina}    SS.  In the Superior Court
    Currituck County     }
     A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Ann V. WARD, deceased, is exhibited before me, the undersigned, Clerk of the Superior Court for said County, by Nancy NEWMAN the execut__ therein mentioned, and the due execution thereof by the said Ann V. WARD is proved by the oath and examination of E.D. BOWDEN and W.J. BEASLEY the subscribing witnesses thereto, who, being duly sworn, doth depose and say, and each for himself deposeth and saith that he is a subscribing witness to the paper writing now shown them purporting to be the last will and testament of Ann V. WARD that the said Ann V. WARD in the presence of this deponent, subscribed her name at the end of said paper writing, now shown as aforesaid, and which bears day of the 14^th day of Sept. 1903.
     And the deponent further saith, that the said Ann V. WARD the testator aforesaid, did, at the time of subscribing her name as aforesaid, declare the said paper writing so subscribed by her and exhibited, to be her last will and testament, and this deponent did thereupon subscribe his name at the end of said will as an attesting witness thereto, and at the request and in the presence of said testator.  And this deponent further saith, that at the said time when the said testator subscribed her name to the said last will as aforesaid, and at the time of deponent's subscribing his name as an attesting witness thereto, as aforesaid, the said Ann V. WARD was of sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a will, and was not under any restraint to the knowledge, information or belief of this deponent: And further these deponents say not.
     /s/ E.D. BOWDEN                 Seal
         W. Johnson BEASLEY      Seal

Severally sworn and subscribed this 3 day of April 1905 before me
    /s/ E.W. ANSELL, Clerk Superior Court

APPLICATION FOR LETTERS TESTAMENTARY

State of North Carolina}    In the Matter of the Will of Ann V. WARD, dec'd.
     Currituck County    }    Before E.W. ANSELL, Clerk Superior Court

    Nancy NEWMAN, one of the devisees, being sworn doth say that Ann V. WARD, late of said county is dead, having first made and published her last Will and Testament: and that no executer is named in the said will.  [It appears to me that Nancy was named but not specifically as an "executrix".]
    Further, that the property of said Ann V. WARD consisting of money, household & Kitchen furniture is worth about $200.00, so far as can be ascertained at this date; and that William KELLEY, Nancy NEWMAN, Minerva BEASLEY, Alice FENTRESS, P.O. Knotts Island, N.C., Menerva BEASLEY, Norfolk, Va., J.J. WARD, Norfolk, Va., J.E. KELLY, Munden, Va. are the parties entitled under said will to the said property.
    /s/ Nancy [her x mark] NEWMAN

Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 3^d day of April 1905.
    /s/ E.W. ANSELL, Clerk Superior Court

ORDER FOR PROBATE OF WILL

State of North Carolina}    In Superior Court Before E.W. ANSELL, Clerk
     Currituck County    }    In Re Estate of Ann V. WARD deceased
    A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Ann V. WARD, dec'd, is exhibited in open court for probate by Nancy NEWMAN one of the heirs there being no executor named in the will; and the due execution thereof by the said Ann V. WARD, dec'd is duly proven by the oath and examination of E.D. BOWDEN and W.J. BEASLEY subscribing witnesses thereto and it is further shown to the satisfaction of the court by said witnesses that the said Ann V. WARD 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 Ann V. WARD 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 3^d day of April 1905.
    /s/ E.W. ANSELL, Clerk Superior Court

[Source: Microfilm G.030.1548672 - Currituck Co., NC Wills (original) 1841-1924; Vol. Ansell-Woodhouse]

This will was contributed by Kay Midgett Sheppard. 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!

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