Return to Dare County

I Truxton Creef of the County of Dare and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say:

First: That my executor, H.J. Creef, Shall provide for my body a decent burial Suitable to the wishes of my relations and friends and pay all funeral Expenses together with my just debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys that may first come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate.

1^st Item: I give and devise to my beloved wife Polly, all and singular, everything that I possess so as to include my dwelling house, all out houses and other improvements, the land whereon I now live, one gray mare, all my cattle, hogs, poultry, farming implements, and two canoes and such other things as may be on the premises, including my household and kitchen furniture, to have and to hold to her, the said Polly, for and during the term of her natural life in satisfaction for and in lieu of her dower and thirds of and in all my
real estate to dispose of at such times and opportunities as may seem best to her for her personal benefit.

2^nd Item: I give and devise to my nephew, Charles T. Creef, thirty five acres of land beginning at a Cedar post and running north west & South East thence South and East to have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple forever.

3^rd Item: I give and devise to my brother, H.J. Creef, five acres of land running with the Edmond Sawyer's Road and back Side line to have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple forever.

4^th Item: I give and devise to Joseph Henry Pinner all the remainder of my land after the death of my wife Polly, to have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple forever, but should the said Joseph Henry Pinner die without an heir, then the said land I give and devise to my niece Margaret Ann Creef, and should she likewise die without an heir I then give and devise said land to my niece Nancy Alice Creef, to have and to hold to her and her heirs in fee simple forever.

5^th Item: I give and devise to Ann E. Culiver [Cullifer / Cullipher] at the death of my wife Polly, all of my beds and furniture of all descriptions and stock of all kinds and all the furniture, if any, that may be on hand at the time of her death, to have and to hold to her and to her heirs in fee simple forever.

6^th Item: I give and devise to my brother, H.J. Creef, my double barrel gun to have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple forever.

7^th Item: I give and devise to my wife, Polly, the crop of every description that may now be growing upon the land, to house and dispose of as may seem best to her, to have and to hold to her and her heirs in fee simple forever.

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friend, H.J. Creef, my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true interest and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof, hereby revoking and declaring utterly void, all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. in witness whereof, I, the said Truxton Creef, do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 18^th day of June 1877.
    /s/ Truxton [his x mark] Creeff

Wit: A.W. Jones, W.W. Twiford, J.B. Holmes

Dare County:    In the Probate Court
    A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Truxton Creef deceased is exhibited before me, the undersigned Judge of Probate in and for Said County by H.J. Creeff, the Executor therein named and the due Execution thereof by the Said Truxton Creef by the Oath and Examination of A.W. Jones and W.W. Twiford 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 him purporting to be the last will and testament of Truxton Creef.  That the Said Truxton Creef in the presence of these deponents subscribed his name at the end of said paper writing which is now Shown as aforesaid, and which bears date on the 18^th day of June 1877.
    And the deponents further Saith that the Said Truxton Creef, the testator aforesaid did at the time of Subscribing his name as aforesaid, declare the Said paper writing So subscribed by him and exhibited to be his last will and testament and these deponents did thereupon Subscribe their names at the end of Said will as attesting witnesses thereto, and at the request and in the presence of the Said testator, and these deponents further Saith that at the Said time, when the Said testator Subscribed his name to the Said last will as aforesaid and at the time of the deponents Subscribing their names as attesting witnesses thereto as aforesaid, the Said Truxton Creef 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 these deponents.  And further these deponents say not.
    /s/ A.W. Jones, W.W. Twiford

Sworn and Subscribed before me this 5th day of May 1879.
    /s/ Jno. W. Evans, Probate Judge

Source: Dare Co., NC Record of Accounts (1870-1902) pg. 137 (Microfilm #C.031.50001)

An inventory of the chattle property belonging to the estate of Truxton Creef, dec'd., taken on October 15, 1879 by H.J. Creef, executor. Property was valued at $242.00.

NOTE:  Truxton Creef, son of Joseph Creef and Mary Amanda Holmes, married Mary "Polly" Basnight in Tyrrell County on July 24, 1848.  They had no children.  H.J. Creef, listed as the executor and Truxton's brother, was Henry Jordan Creef.  Charles T. Creef was Charles Truxton Creef, son of Josiah Creef and Mariah G. Holmes. Nancy Alice Creef was also the child of Josiah & Mariah.  Margaret Ann Creef was the daughter of Henry Jordan Creef and Eliza J. Holmes.  Joseph Henry Pinner was the son of James H. Pinner and Mary Amanda Creef.  Ann E. Culiver [Cullifer] was the daughter of Benjamin F. Cullifer and Dorcas Ann Elizabeth Basnight.