Return to Dare County

I – Joe Tom Daniels of  Wanchese North Carolina do hereby  make and declare this my last Will and Testament.

Item 1, I give desire and bequeath to my beloved wife Florence Daniels my home place at Wanchese N.C. during her life time.  At her death said home place shall revert to my youngest son Robert H. Daniels who shall see that my daughter Louise Cudworth remains in said home so long as she actually is in need of house.

Item 2, I give and devise to my sons George Albert Daniels and Arnold L. Daniels two shares or more stock in the Peoples Ice and Storage Plant in Manteo, NC to be equally divided between them.

Item 3, I give and devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Florence all the rest and residue of my property both real and personal of whatever nature and kind during her natural life time.  At the death of my said wife the said rest and residue mentioned in this item shall revert to my two sons George Albert Daniels and Arnold L. Daniels share and share alike.

I do hereby appoint and constitute my three oldest sons or as many of them as be living at my death as Executors to this last Will and Testament to carry out the true meaning and lawful intent as I have herein provided and I hereby declare all other Wills previously made by me to be revoked.

Signed in the presence of the Witnesses hereto this the 15 day of August 1925.
    /s/ Joe Tom Daniels

Witnesses:
    C. J. Forbes
    Theof L. Wescott
    E. Y. Etheridge

NOTE:  Joseph Thomas Daniels, son of Joseph Mann Daniels & Sarah M. Tillett, was born in Wanchese on Dec. 18, 1867 and died there on September 17, 1925.  He married Florence E. Ward in Manteo on June 17, 1888 and to them were born 9 children.  The following letter from Rev. Louis DeMaro Hayman was postmarked September 25, 1925 and was written to Thelma Daniels [Mrs. Walter E. Jones], daughter of Joe Tom & Florence.

Joe Tom Daniels was born 58 years ago at Wanchese, N.C. and was the youngest son of a prominent family whose ancestors were among the early settlers of Roanoke Island. This good man passed to his reward on September 17, 1925. It had been my good fortune to know Joe Tom (as he was familiarly known at home) for 20 years. And for all this time in a most intimate way. He was more than a friend to me. In my college days he was to me what any kind-hearted father would have been to his son. It was he who in deed and with encouragement kept my face towards the goal which I set out to attain in those days, after living under his roof as one of his family for more than 10 years. But it is not of these personal things that I wish to write so much as to say a word concerning the real worth of the man to his home, his community, and to the Church which he loved with all his heart. He was a good father and a kind husband. God was feared in his home. Prayer was a familiar thing, and the religious influences of Joe Tom have borne fruit in the good family of children, all of whom are lovers of the Church of God. In the community he was a leader in all good causes: school and civic matters. He believed in his people and loved to work towards their interests. He was a helper in the time of need, and no one has ever heard him to ask for alms, that this good man did not respond liberally, and urge his neighbors to do likewise. He was a faithful steward for many years and one who had the preacher and the people at heart, never discriminating against either. No man will be missed more from these circles than Joe Tom. He had been in failing health for a long time but not until the last few months did his case become serious. He realized that he would go soon and accordingly he "set his house in order". At noon on September 17th he sat down to dinner with his family. In a minute he complained of hurting in his breast and 15 minutes later he was gone to be with the Lord whom he had followed all these years. The writer was notified of his death immediately and went to be with his family in their sadness to mingle his sorrow with theirs. Joe Tom Daniels left to mourn his loss, a faithful wife, Florence Ward Daniels, and the following children: Lynton R., Basil, Hubert, George, Arnold, Robert, Mrs. Walter Jones, & Mrs. Louise Cudworth. One other child was born to this union, dying in infancy. He bore the name of George also. Joe Tom was laid to rest with the funeral service conducted from his home by his pastor, W.R. Hardesty, and a much beloved former pastor, Rev. W.A.Price. The Masonic rites were administered at the grave.