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Will of Maple Jones Wise

Oct. 22, 1858 / Dec. 2, 1865
[Transcribed from two photocopied pages by Donita Hamilton]

In the name of God Amen!

I Maple Wise of Bay River in the county of Craven and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory do thereupon make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, that is today.

First, after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged the residue of my estate real and personal I give and bequeath and dispense of as follows.

Second I give and bequeath unto my four children Viz.:  Jane, Freeman, Emeline and Lavenia all my stock of cattle in the following manner, Vis:  Jane to have those in her mark and two out of the old stock mark.  Emeline to have those in her mark.  Freeman and Lavenia all in the old stock mark except the two given Jane.

Third I give unto Jane, Freeman and Lavenia all my stock of sheep to be equally divided amongst them.

Fourth, I give unto my son Freeman all my sock of hogs and pigs.

Fifth I give unto my daughter Jane one bed, bedstead and furniture and one pin___ .

Sixth I give unto my son Freeman two beds and bedsteads and furniture.

Seventh I give unto my daughter Emeline one bed bedstead, bolster and one pillow.

Eighth I give unto my daughter Lavenia one bed, bedstead and furniture also three mahogany tables.

Ninth I give unto my son Freeman all the residue of my household and kitchen furniture also all the farming tools, also one cunt? also my Negro nurse by the name of Ben a Slave.

Tenth I give and bequeath all my tract or parcel of land lying and being on Jones’ Island so called to be equally divided between my four children Jane, Freeman, Emeline and Lavenia containing one hundred and fifty acres more or less.

I do here by make, constitute and appoint my son Freeman Wise to be executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.  In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 22 day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Eight.
     /s/   Maple [her x mark] Wise    seal

Signed, sealed and ordained in presence of 
    C.V. Swain
    Smith Wise

Craven County Court - December two AD 1865
    The foregoing paper writing purported to be the last will and testament of Maple Wise and is exhibited for probate in open court by Freeman Wise, the executor there in named and it is therefore found by the oath and examination of Smith Wise one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and it is also proved by the oath and examination of Willis J. Rouls that Constantin V. Swan the other subscribing witness thereto is dead and it is further proved by the oath and examination of the said Willis J. Rauls that he is well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Constantin V. Swain having often ______ him ______ and that the name of the said Constantin V. Swain subscribed as a witness to the said will it is the handwriting of the said Constantin V. Swan.  It is therefore considered by the court that [The rest was missing but the following is typed in the margin] Said paper writing and every part there of is the last will and testament of the said Maple Wise.  The same is ordered to be recorded and filed and therefore the said Freeman Wise, executor, as aforesaid, duly qualified as such by taking the oath required by law.
    Attest Wm. C. Bryan    Clerk

[NOTE: Maple Jones Wise, widow of Henry Wise, was the daughter of Josiah Jones and had inherited land on Jones Island in what is now Pamlico Co. from him.]