Return to Hyde County

I, Ephraim O'Neal of the County of Hyde 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 hereinafter named shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wished 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.

1st: I lend to my beloved wife a certain piece of land during her life time or widderhood beginning at the main road running with the old ditch that runs by the old well in the yard down to the new barn and then strait course one hundred corn hills to another ditch that leads to the Swamp and then wit the line to the public road and with the public road to the beginning. One little mare & buggy and three yewes & lambs, one plow and harness, one ox cart, one feather bed, one linen wheel, one big wheet, ten head of hogs and old Parker & Lettice and furniture for the bed above mentioned and bedstead and all of the chairs, one pot & tea kettle & spider & lend all my crockery ware I have on hand, fifty barrels corn, eight hundred pounds of bacon, three barrels of flower, forty head of poltry such as she wants, thirty pounds gin cotton, twenty pounds of flax, twenty-five gallons molasses, one pair cotton cards, sixty-five pounds lard, two bushels salt, five lbs. wool, two stocks of bees, one pair fire dogs.

2nd: I give to my daughter Liza Ann Cox, a certain piece or parcel of land lying northwest side of my land where I now live beginning at the N. west corner running with the main road easterly to a little old ditch that runs through my yard by the old well and with that ditch down near the new barn then straite course with that ditch one hundred corn hills to the second ditch from the main road then from the second ditch such course as will make an equal division to John B. Smith line then Westerly with my lines to the North West corner as will make the lands equal between Liza Ann Cox and Missoura O'Neal.

3rd: I give to my daughter Missura O'Neal a certain piece or parcel of land lying on the South East side of my plantation where I now live beginning at the main road at a little old ditch that runs through my yard by the old well down near the new barn then a strait course with the old ditch one hundred corn hill to the second ditch from the main road then from the second ditch such course as will make an equal division to John B. Smith's line and Z. Bell's land and with Hanabel H. Watson's line and with that line to the canal and with the canal westwardly to my deeded ground ten feet eastly of the little ditch that leads to the main road near the school house then with the main road to the beginning at a little old ditch as will make the lands equal between Missura O'Neal and Liza Ann Cox and I give Missura O'Neal two cows and calf, one bed and bedsted furniture, one clock & looking glass.

4th: I give to my grandson William O'Neal a certain piece or parcel of land lying south east of my plantation where I now live beginning at the main road running Southerly with Missura O'Neal's line along my deeded land to my canal and Easterdly with the canal to the public road and with the public road Northly to the beginning. And one Negro boy Peter to William O'Neal.

5th: I give to my Grand daughter Brittana O'Neal a certain piece or parcel of land lying on Mount Pleasant in the County of Hyde in Wall's patian [patent], an undivided tract of land, And one Negro girl Elly to Brittana O'Neal.

I Ephraim O'Neal futher give to all of the above described lands all of drain ways that belongs to the said land and for all to help keep them in good order.

7th: I further give my beloved wife liberty to get firewood & rail timer of of Missura O'Neal's land during her life time or widderhood and her life time estate is excepted on said Missura O'Neal's land during her life time or widderhood.

8th: The property that I give to William O'Neal & Brittana O'Neal if either of them should die without lawful heir from their body then property I give them returns back again to my heirs.

9th: I give D.P. O'Neal's children & Liza Cox and Isiah O'Neal and Missura O'Neal all of my property that I have not deeded of and willed of to be equally divided between the aboved mentioned children that is to say, D.P. O'Neal's heirs, Liza Cox, Isiah O'Neal and Missura O'Neal.

10th: And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friend William S. Cox my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament 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 heretofore made.

In Witness whereof I the said Ephraim O'Neal do hereunto set my hand and seal this January 12^th 1865.

Ephraim [x] O'Neal
Signed, sealed, delivered in the presence of us:
H.B. Ross
Thos. F. Credle

Mar. 22, 1865 - Inventory of notes taken by William S. Cox, administrator.  Total notes amounted to $5500.00

June 2, 1865 - Account of Sales sold by William S. Cox--the widow (not named) bought several articles. Total of this sale $1522.22

Dec. 28, 1865 - Account of Sales sold by William S. Cox. Total of this sale $584.20.  [Several suits and counter suits in this record]

Hyde Co., NC Court Minutes
May Term 1865 - The last will & testament of Ephraim O'Neal was exhibited for probate by Wm. S. Cox, the executor named therein.
August Term 1866 - An account of sales of the estate of Ephraim O'Neal, dec'd., was returned by Wm. S. Cox, adm'r.

NOTE: Ephraim O'Neal was born Aug. 4, 1791 and died Feb. 28, 1865.  He was 1^st married to Brittania Selby who died between 1847-1850.  He married 2^nd Mrs. Rebecca (Clark) Mason on March 19, 1851.  Rebecca was the widow of Joshua Mason.

This will & estate 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!

© 2010 Kay Midgett Sheppard