Return to Dare County

State of North Carolina
       Dare County

Know all men by these presents that I, James William Gray being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding and considering the uncertainty of life; do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare, this to be my last will and testament; in manner and form following to wit:  I give my Soul to Him the great Creator; He gave it to me and I hope that He may receive it.

First:  I desire to be buried with as little ostentation as possible, and that my funeral expenses shall not exceed one hundred dollars.

Second:  Debts I have none.

Third:  I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Emily Meekins, one thousand dollars, should she die before the probate of this my will, then the said bequest shall be null and void.

Fourth:  I give and bequeath to Rebecca Rosy Meekins, one thousand dollars with interest from the date of my will.
    /s/ James William Gray

Fifth:  I give and bequeath to  J. Franklin Meekins, one thousand dollars.

Sixth:  I give and bequeath to Asa Edson Meekins, one thousand dollars.

Seventh:  I give and bequeath to Alma Allen Meekins, one thousand dollars.

Eighth:  I give and bequeath to Ernest E. Meekins, two thousand dollars.

Ninth:  I give and bequeath to Theodore Meekins Jr., one thousand dollars.

Tenth:  I give and bequeath to Rosa P. Meekins, two thousand dollars.

Eleventh:  I give and bequeath to Percy W. Meekins, five thousand dollars.

Twelfth:  I give and bequeath to Lessie Hooper at Stumpy Point, Dare Co. No Car. Twelve hundred dollars to be paid in four annual payments of three hundred dollars, this bequest is to be devoted for her college expenses and for no other purpose. Should she die or do not attend college then this bequest shall be null and void and no part of the said bequest shall be paid until she has finished high school.
    /s/ James William Gray

Thirteenth:  I give and bequeath to Theodore S. Meekins, five thousand dollars Should the said Theodore S. Meekins not be living at the time of the probate of this my will then the said above mentioned bequest of five thousand dollars shall be paid to Rosa P. Meekins.

Fourteenth:  I give and bequeath to Theodore S. Meekins in addition to the bequest as per paragraph 13, the sum of one thousand dollars yearly from the first day of May A.D. 1922, up to the day of my death.

As to the bequest to Theodore S Meekins as mentioned in paragraph 13 and 14 shall not be included in any award made to him by any count of competent jurisdiction for acting as Executor of my will.

Fifteenth:  And as to the rest reside, and remainder of my estate, real, personal and mixed of whatsoever or kind, and wheresoever located or situated at the time of my death, I give and bequeath that the same shall be divided unto three equal parts, one part to each of the following: my son Percy O. Gray and his daughter Florence A. Gray and Gaston Lee Meekins.  Should Gaston Lee Meekins not be living at the time of my death then his bequest shall go to Rosa P. Meekins.
    /s/ James William Gray

And lastly I do make constitute and appoint Theodore S. Meekins and Ethan F. Wise as Executors of this my last Will. Should one or both of my Executors die before the probate of this my will then or fail to qualify then I require the Superior Court Judge residing in the first Judicial district of North Carolina to appoint suitable executors.  I hereby revoke all former will. I hereby certify that I have not been influenced by any person or persons in the making of my will.  In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 12^th day of February A.D. 1924 at Manteo, Dare County, North Carolina.
    /s/ James William Gray     (Seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator above named as his last will and testament in the presence of us who hath hereunto at his request signed our names in his presence and in the presence as witnesses hereto this 12^th .February 1924.
    George T. Wescott
    C.P. Midgett

State of North Carolina}       SS: In the Superior Court
        Dare County        }
    A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of James William Gray, deceased,  is exhibited before me, and undersigned Clerk of the Superior Court for said County by Theo S. Meekins and Ethan F. Wise, the executors,  therein mentioned, and the due execution thereof by said James William Gray by the oath and examination of G.T. Wescott  and C.P. Midgett, the subscribing witness 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 James William Gray, that the said James William Gray in the presence of this deponent, subscribed his name at the end of said paper writing, which  now shown as aforesaid, and which bears date of the 12th day of February, 1924.
     And This Deponent Further Saith, That the said James William Gray 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 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 same time when the said testator subscribed his name to the said last Will as aforesaid, and at the time of the deponents subscribing his name as attesting witness thereto, as aforesaid, the said James William Gray 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.
    George T. Wescott
    C.P. Midgett

Severally sworn and Subscribed, this 11^th day of April 1931, before me.
    C.S. Meekins     Clerk Superior Court

North Carolina}             In the Superior Court
  Dare County }
    It is therefore considered and adjudged by the Court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last Will and Testament of James William Gray, deceased. Let said Will, together with the probate, be recorded and filed.  This 11 day of April 1931.
    C.S. Meekins     Clerk Superior Court