State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 4, page 360
Dated 22 December 1915
I William F. Bowzer of Tyrrell County, North Carolina being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare, this my last Will and Testament, in the manner and form following:
Item - My executor herein named shall give my body such burial as comforms with his wishes, pay all funeral expenses, any just debts by me owing at the time of my death and the expenses of administering on my estate, applying a sufficiency of my estate to such purpose.
Item - I give and devise to my daughter Brittie Liverman all of that tract of land known as the "Tom Twiddy Tract", which was given to me by my father, containing ten acres more or less, to have and to hold in fee simple, her and her heirs forever.
Item - I give and devise to my daughter Miranda Old that tract of land known as the "Cooper Tract" containing fourty five acres more or less, to have and to hold in simple fee, her and her heirs forever.
Item - I give and devise to my son Chester A. Bowzer that tract of land known as the "Bill Riley Place" containing four acres more or less. I also devise to him a tract of land taken from my home place and bounded as follows: Beginning at the north west corner of my home lot, and running easterly along the lot fence to the field path, thence north easterly along the various courses of the path to the second ditch; thence northernly along the said ditch to the back line, thence westerly along the said line to "Polly Morris" line. thence along the "Polly Morris" line back to the first station containing thirty acres more or less to have and to hold in fee simple, his and his heirs forever.
Item - I give and devise to my son James A. Garfield Bowzer the forerunning tract of land: Beginning at a lightwood stump at the "Polly Morris" corner and running northernly along the "Polly Morris" line to the northwest corner of my home lot, thence along the said lot fence to a path, then down the path easterly along the various courses of the path to the back field gate, thence a straight easterly course to the "Annie Holmes" canal, thence along the line of the canal to the main road, thence down the main road to the first station. I also will and devise to him all the produce from my farm which I now have or may have, togeather with the mule which I now have in my possession and which I now own.
Item - I give and devise to my wife Rhoda Bowzer a tract of land taken from my home farm and bounded as follows: Beginning at a ditch in my field adjoining the land given to Chester A. Bowzer as described above in this will on the path through the field, running the various courses of the path northerly to the back gate, thence the various courses of the fence to the second ditch, thence along the said ditch to the first station. I also give to her five acres of woodland adjoining the fence above described, to have and to hold during her natural lifetime or widowhood. Should she remarry then my desire is that all this tract of land go to my two daughters Brittie Liverman and Miranda Old, also that they or their heirs have said tract at her death.
Item - My further desire is that my two daughters Brittie Liverman and Miranda Olds shall have all the remainder of my lands which I have not heretofore disposed of, to share and share alike to be theirs in fee simple and their heirs forever.
Item - I further desire that J. G. Bowzer shall have the disposal of the house which I now own.
Item - I further devise to my wife Rhoda Bowzer and my son J. G. Bowzer all my personal property of every description, which I have not otherwise disposed of during my wife's natural lifetime or widowhood. Should she die or marry it shall all go to my son Jas. A. Garfield Bowzer. Also I give to my wife the house on my farm known as the " Jimmie Holmes" house.
Lastly - I hereby constitute and appoint my son James A. Garfield Bowzer, my lawful executor to all intents and purposes, to execute this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
In witness whereof, I the said William F. Bowzer do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 22nd day of December 1915.
William F. Bowzer (Seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said William F. Bowzer to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscibed our names as witnesses thereunto.
W. H. Bowzer
State of North Carolina
A paper purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of William F. Bowzer deceased, is exhibited before me by James A. Garfield Bowzer the executor therein mentioned and the due execution thereof by the said William F. Bowzer and thereupon proven by the oath and examination of W. H. Bowzer and Stanley Sikes the subscribing witnessess thereto: who being duly sworn, doth depose and say, that each for himself, that the said W. F. Bowzer, the testor, signed said paper-writing in the presence of each and declared the same to be his last Will and Testament. The deponents futher said that at the time the said W. F. Bowzer subscribed his name he was of sound mind and memory and of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint to the knowledge, information or belief of this deponent. And futher these deponents say not.
W. H. Bowzer
Severally sworn and subscribed this 10th day of July 1917 before me.
W, W. Norman
State of North Carolina
A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of William F. Bowzer deceased, is exhibited in open court for probate by James A. Garfield Bowzer Executor therein named, and the due execution thereof by the said William F. Bowzer, deceased is duly proven by the oath of W. H. Bowzer and Stanley Sikes, subscribing witnesses thereto; and it is further shown to the satisfaction of the court by said witnesses that the said William F. Bowzer was at the time of making said Will of sound mind and memory. of full age to execute a Will and under no restraint to their knowledge, information or belief:
It is thereupon considered adjudged and Decreed that said proof is sufficent and according to law, and that said paper writing is and contains the last Will and Testament of William F. Bowzer deceased. And on motion it is ordered that said Will be admitted to probate and recorded in the Book of Wills of Tyrrell County and as such filed as provided by law in the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court of said County.
It is further Ordered that said James A. Garfield Bowzer be allowed to qualify as executor as provided by law and enter upon the discharge of the duties imposed by said trust.
Dated this the 10th day of July, 1917
W. N. Norman
Stanley Sikes
Tyrrell County
Superior Court
Stanley Sikes
Clerk Superior Court
Tyrrell County
Superior Court
Clerk of Superior Court
Return to the Tyrrell County Probate Records
Updated November 1, 2001
William E. Gray