Source: NC
Archives in Raleigh
Written: December 29, 1917
Recorded: February 9, 1918
North Carolina
Cleveland County
This is to certify that the records of this office disclose that:
1. Eliza J. Ward and Eva Ward Loy qualified as executrix of the will of
Dr. R. W. Ward on February 25, 1918.
2. That they were discharged upon filing final settlement on February
25, 1919, said final settlement being of record in Book of Final
Accounts No. 4, page 15.
3. That the will of Dr. R. W. Ward was admitted to probate and recorded
on February 9, 1918 and is of record in Book of Wills No. 4, Page 219.
This the 29th day of September, 1941.
E. A. Houser, Jr. (Signed) (Seal)
Clerk Superior Court.
I, Dr. R. W. Ward of Shelby, Cleveland County, State of North Carolina,
being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last will and testament
revoking all other wills made by me, to wit:-
I will, devise and bequeath all my real estate property that I own in
Cleveland County, State of North Carolina, and also my Verona Farm
situated on the South West Creek in Stump Sound Township, in Onslow
County, State of North Carolina, together with all the stock and
farming implements on said Farm to my daughter, Mrs. Eva Ward Loy,
subject to the life estate of my beloved wife Mrs. Eliza J. Ward.
I will, devise and bequeath all my interest in the Ward-Loy Drug Store
both personal and real, situated in the town of Jacksonville, Onslow
County, State of North Carolina to my son-in-law, H. M. Loy, and I
will, devise and bequeath the store property, both personal and real,
adjoining the aforesaid Ward-Loy Drug Store property to my grand
children William Ward Loy and Mary Ward Loy, all property subject to
the life estate of my beloved wife, Eliza J. Ward.
I will, devise, and bequeath my undivided interest in the two store
buildings adjoining the aforesaid store building, and now owned by J.
W. Burton and myself, to my grandson, Henry Milton Loy, Jr., subject to
the life estate of my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Ward.
I will, devise and bequeath the two story brick building and lot
situated in the town of Jacksonville, Onslow County, State of North
Carolina, and now occupied by Fletcher Marine, and also the two story
dwelling adjoining the property of the Jarman Hotel in Jacksonville, in
said County and State to my grand daughter Miss Eliza Ward Morton who
is the only living heir at law of my daughter, Mrs. Eliza Ward Morton,
deceased, subject to the life estate of my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J.
Ward, and I will, devise, and bequeath, also all the money that I now
have in People’s Savings and Trust Company, of Wilmington, N. C. to my
said grand daughter, Miss Eliza Ward Morton.
I will, devise and bequeath all my property, both personal and real
that I have not already herein disposed of in this my last will and
testament, wherever situated to my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Ward
during her natural life, and at her death, I will, devise and bequeath
all this said property, both personal and real, contained in this item
No V to my daughter, Mrs. Eva Ward Loy, and I further will, devise and
bequeath that my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Ward and my said daughter,
Mrs. Eva Ward Loy shall herein have the authority to sell any of the
property, both personal and real, contained in this item No. V and
execute titles and deeds for said property.
In consideration of the fact that I have heretofore deeded a just and
realonable share of my estate to my daughter, Mrs. Annie Ward Murrill,
deceased, as the records of Onslow County show, for her benefit and for
her
heirs at law, and, therefore, I desire that her said heirs at law,
shall share in my estate no more property than is herin after specified
consequently, I will, devise, and bequeath ten dollars to each of my
following grand children: Mrs. Annie Ward Price, Richard E. Murrill,
Mrs. Mildred Lucile Warlick, Mrs. Eliza Bordeaux and Mrs. Ruth Jennings
Horne, heirs at law of my said daughter, Mrs. Annie Ward Murrill,
deceased, and I further will, devise and bequeath to my said grand son,
Richard E. Murrill all the notes and mortgages which I hold against his
property.
I hereby make, constitute and appoint my beloved wife Mrs. Eliza J.
Ward, and my trusty daughter, Mrs. Eva Ward Loy my Executrix of this my
last will and testament to carry out the full intent and purpose herein
expressed, and that they qualify as my Executrix without giving bond.
Witness my hand and seal, this 29th, day of December 1917
R. W. Ward {Seal}
Signed and sealed in the presence of these my witnesses
W. B. Turner
T. G. Hamrick
J. A. Anthony
North Carolina, Cleveland County
I, F. L. Hoyle, Clerk of the Superior Court, in and for the above named
County and State, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true
and correct copy of the last Will and Testament of R. W. Ward,
deceased, which has been duly admitted to probate by me, and been duly
recorded in my office according to lay.
Witness my hand and official seal, this the 9th, day of February, 1918.
F. L. Hoyle {signature}
Clerk of Superior Court.
Recorded in Will Book #5 295
Additional Comments:
Dr. Richard Williams Ward was the son of George J. Ward and Ann
Humphrey. He was born about 1838 and died (according to one source) on
30 Jan 1918 in Cleveland County, NC. His wife, Eliza Jane Foy, was the
daughter of Stratton B. Foy and Rebecca Ward. One daughter, Ann Ward,
married Walter Barry Murrill. A second daughter, Eliza Ward, married
George Lee Morton, son of Stephen Henderson Morton (originally of
Onslow County and then Wilmington, NC). They were married at her
father’s home. Eliza Ward (Morton) died 30 Dec 1893, of pneumonia,
after the birth of her daughter, Eliza Ward Morton (source Mary Alice
Woodward Logan [2006], daughter of Mordecai Levi Woodward & Eliza
Ward Morton). A third daughter, Eva Ward, married Henry Milton Loy.
There is a “Richard William Ward, 1st Lieut. 3rd NC Cavalry”, which I
presume to be the same, Dr. R. W. Ward. Stephen Henderson Morton was a
2nd Lieut. in the 3rd NC Cavalry and approximately 5 years older than
R. W. Ward.
The Dr. Richard Ward Home is listed under the National Register of
Historic Places:
Mill Avenue Historic District (added 1990 - District - #90000439)
Roughly bounded by Bluff, College, Court, W. Railroad, Wantland,
Mill, and First, Jacksonville (NC)
Historic Significance: Person, Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown
Architectural Style: Bungalow/Craftsman, Other
Historic Person: Ward, Dr. Richard
Significant Year: 1890
The home still appears to be occupied, however because of it's
condition, I would guess that it is currently rental property (2006).
