North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Original Will at N. C. Archives
December 9, 1823

In the name of God Amen I Rusel Armstrong of the county of Tyrrell in the state of North Carolina being in my sound mind and memory doth make this my last will and testement on the 9th of December in the year of our Lord 1823 in manner and form as follows.

First I give my sole to God and my body to the dust from whence it came, first my lawful debts to be paid by my executors - -

Item. I give unto my wife Thankful Armstrong her life estate in all of my land whereon I live I lend unto her one third part of all the perishable estate during her life allso all of the provision that I have thereon and my crop of wheat. All so my two nigros Pat and Parton during her life or widowhood.

Item. I give unto my daughter Charloty Clayton a (?) part of my perishable estate as to be equal in (?) with the lands that I divided to my sons.

Item. I give unto my four children Spencer Armstrong Charloty Clayton Silvinus Armstrong & Thomas Armstrong the balance of all my property real & or perishable to be equally divided between them after the legices is given of that is here in after named.

Item. I give unto Holloway Armstrong one nigro man Potor valued at three hundred dollars and if Spencer Armstrong Charloty Clayton Silvinus Armstrong & Thomas Armstrong each of those parts do not amount in pepotion Holloway shall pay out of the vallue said nigro to make them equal with him - -

Item. I give to my three gransons Carney Spencer Nathan Spencer & William Spencer one cow a peace or eight dollars to be delivered by my executors.

Item. I give to my gran daughter Sarah Spencer one bed & furniture one chest one lining whell and two cows and calfs.

Item. I give unto Martenbred Spencer one bed & furniture one trunk one hors name Liperd one cow & calf to be delivered by my executors if not reseived before.

Item. I give to my granson William Armstrong my old plantation to the Rush Branch If the said William should arive to the age of twenty one and have children and if he shold die leaving no child the land I give to my five bove named children.

Item. If my granson Rusel Armstrong should arive to the age of twenty one and have a child my desire is for him to have the plantation where I live to the Rush Branch and shold he die leving no child I give the land to Spencer Armstrong Charloty Clayton Silvenus Armstrong & Thomas Armstrong Holloway Armstrong All so the Rusell one bed and furniture.

And lastly to this my last will and testament I constitute and apoint my son Holloway Armstrong and my son in law David Clayton my executors to this my last will & testament where of I Russel Armstrong have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year abov written.

Russel(his mark)Armstrong

Sined seled in the presents of us
Test
Abram(his mark)Cohoon
Carney(his mark)Spencer
Elisabeth(her mark)Black

Jacket states "Holoway Armstrong qualified." No date indicated for probate.

Minutes
Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions

April Session 1824

A deed of gift from Russell Armstrong to Charlotte Clayton was proved in open court by the oath of Abraham Cahoon.

A deed of gift from Russell Armstrong to Martin Byrd Spencer was proved in open court by the oath of Abraham Cahoon, both which deeds were ordered to be registered.

A deed of gift from Russell Armstrong to Ashberry S. Clayton was proved in open court by the oath of Abraham Cahoon and ordered to be registered.

The last will and testament of Russell Armstrong was exhibited in open court and proved by the oaths of the subscribing witnesses viz. Abraham Cahoon, Carney Spencer and Elizabeth Blake, who all made oath that they saw Russell Armstrong execute the same and acknowledge it to be his last will and testament, at the same time appeared Holloway Armstrong and qualified as executor of the said Russell Armstrong. Ordered that letters testamentary issue.

July Session 1824

An inventory of the estate of Russell Armstrong deceased was returned in court by Holoway Armstrong his executor also an account of sales of the property of said deceased which was sold 23d Feby 1824 and an account sales of the property sold the 14th May 1824.

April Session 1826

Ordered that Wilson B. Hodges, Zeb. Tarkenton Joseph Ansley be appointed to audite & settle the estate of Russell Armstrong with Holloway Armstrong executor of Russell Armstrong.

July Session 1830

Ordered that D. N. Bateman, David M. Sergeant & Zebulon Tarkenton be appointed auditors to settle the estate of Russel Armstrong with the executor Holiway Armstrong & of Thankful Armstrong with the administrator Holiway Armstrong & report to next term.

January Session 1831

The audited account of Russel Armstrong was returned to court with a balance due the estate from Holway Armstrong the exeutor of three hundred and five dollars & 10/100 ($305.10). Also the audite account of Thankful Armstrong was returned into court with a balance due said estate from Holway Armstrong the administrator of $160.91.

North Carolina Archives
Loose Estate Papers
Tyrrell County (C.R.096.508.05), Box 5
Armstrong, Russell, 1824

The estate file contains five documents relating to a suit against the estate for recovery of debt, which are of no apparent genealogical significance.

Transcriber's Notes:
Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of Holloway Armstrong to Elizabeth Cahoon on 5 Oct 1810, William Armstrong security; also Spencer Armstrong to Rebeca Brickhouse on 14 Sep 1828, Matthew Brickhouse security; also Thomas Armstrong to Elizabeth Jones on 1 Aug 1812, Ebenezer Cahoon security; also Charlotte Armstrong to David Clayton on 4 Feb 1802, Bennett Armstrong security; also Mary Armstrong to Nathan Spencer on 5 Oct 1790, John Poole security.
The estate of William Armstrong in 1814 shows that he was the father of William and Russell Armstrong who are listed here as grandchildren of Russell Armstrong. Hence the William Armstrong who died in 1814 was a son of this Russell Armstrong. Further roof lies in the 1814 estate file of William Armstrong.
The will of Nathan Spencer in 1817 shows that all the Spencer grandchildren of Russell Armstrong listed in his will are children of Nathan Spencer.
The will of Ann Cahoon in 1793 establishes that Thankful Armstrong was her daughter.

Return to Tyrrell Co Wills Introduction & Table of Contents

Updated October 18, 2020
Charles W. Barnes