North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Original Will at N. C. Archives
January 21, 1817

In the name of God Amen I Asa Etheridge of the county and state aforesaid being very sick but of perfect mind and memory knowing it is appointed for men once to die do make and ordain this my last will & testament in manner and form hear after named and as touches such worly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and dispose as follows viz. - -

I lend to my beloved wife Olif Etheridge all my land except the land contand in the Stafford Patten during her natural life or widowhood for all my children to be kept to gether on said land without any ? to my wife what ever - -

Item I have ? of all my negroes to my wife (about five or six words unreadable) to be hired out yearly namely one negro man Cusey one girl Rachel one boy Obed and one girl Lilley and such money arising from hire of said negroes to be at my wife own dispartial (disposal ?) for the use of rasing my children and maintaining her self - -

Item I give and bequeath to my son William Etheridge all the land containd in the patten cald the Stafford Patten - -

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Sally Etheridge wife of Silas Etheridge one feather bed and furniture one linnin wheal and one negro girl called Citty during her natural life and at her decease to be equally divided between her two sons Daniel Etheridge and Asa Etheridge

I give and bequeath to my daughter Fanny Etheridge one feather bed and furniture one linning wheal and one chest

I give to my daughter Elizabeth Etheridge one feather bed and furniture one linning wheal and one chest

I give to my daughter Patsey Etheridge one feather bed and furniture one linnin wheal and one chest

I give to my daughter Olif Etheridge one feather bed and furniture one linnin wheal and one chest

I give to my daughter Polly Etheridge one feather bed and furniture one linnin wheal and one chest

I give to my daughter Brittany Etheridge one feather bed and furniture one linnin wheal and one chest

Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Oliff Etheridge (five or six words unreadable) one yoke of oxen with all my ploughs and all my house hold furniture that is not before mentioned during her natural life or widow hood and at her death or marrage to be sold twelve months credit and the money to be equaly divided between all my children

And all the residue of my estate to be sold at twelve months credit and after my debts is paid to be eqully divided among my children Sally Etheridge William Etheridge Fanny Betsy Patsey Polly Oliff and Brittany Etheridge

Constitute and appoint my friend Jesse Alexander and my beloved wife Oliff Etheridge executor and executrix of this my last will and testament and do revoke all other wills and testaments this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness I have here unto set my hand and seal this the 21st day January 1817

Asa (his mark) Etheridge

Signed sealed & published
in presents of us

Tho. Weatherly
Eliz. (her mark) Weatherly

And further my will and desire is that my negro boy Obed be equally divided between my daughters Fanny and Betsy Etheridge at the death or marrage of my wife and that Lilly be equally divided between my daughters Patsey Etheridge and Oliff Etheridge at the death of my wife and my will is that one hundred and fifty dollars be laid out to buy a small negro for Polly Etheridge and one hundred and fifty dollars be laid out to buy a small negro for Brittany Etheridge out of the money arising from the sale of my property

Asa (his mark) Etheridge

Witness

Tho. Weatherly
Eliz. (her mark) Weatherly

Will filed for probate April term 1817

Minutes
Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions

April Session 1817

The last will & testament of Asa Etheridge was exhibited in open court & proved by the oath of Thomas Weatherly & filed.

Olif Etheridge came into open court & quallified as executrix to the last will & testament of Asa Etheridge deceased.

An inventory & account of sales of the estate of Asa Etheridge was returned to court on oath by Olif Etheridge executrix of said deceased & filed.

October Session 1819

Ordered that Col. Richard Howett Edmd. Alexander Esqr. Thomas Weatherly Senr. & Robert Webster audite & settle the estate of Asia Etheridge deceased with the administrator & make report to next term.

Ordered that the administrator of Asia Etheridge deceased sell the real & personal estate of Asia Etheridge agreeable to his last will and testament & make report to next term.

Ordered that Silus Etheridge be & appear at the next term in order to enter into bond for the guardianship of Patsey & Oliff Etheridge orphans of Asia Etheridge deceased.

William Etheridge was appointed guardian to Polly Etheridge orphan of Asia Etheridge deceased & entered into bond with approved security ordered that he receive the estate of said orphan into his possession and account for the same as the law directs.

William Etheridge was appointed guardian to Britanna Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge deceased & entered into bond with approved security ordered that he receive the estate of the said orphan into his possession & account for the same as the law directs.

January Session 1820

William Etheridge returned in open court on oath an inventory & account of sales of the residue of the estate of Asa Etheridge deceased amount acount sales $925.51 amount notes & accounts on inventory $152.69 & filed.

April Session 1820

William Etheridge was appointed guardian to Patsey Etheridge who entered into bond with approved security. Ordered that he receive the estate of the said orphan into his possession & account for the same as the law directs.

July Session 1820

Poly Etheridge Patsey Etheridge Oliff Etheridge & Britanna Etheridge orphans of Asa Etheridge came into open court and chose Silus Etheridge for their guardian who entered into bonds with approved security ordered that he recive the estates of the said orphans into his possession & account for the same as the law directs.

January Session 1821

Ordered that Wilson B. Hodges John Haughton Henry Alexander & Richard Davis or any three of them audite & settle the estate of Asa Etheridge deceased with his executor & make report to the next term.

April Session 1821

Ordered that Richard Davis Thomas Leigh & Edmond Alexander be reappointed to audite & settle the estate of Asa Etheridge with his administrator & make report to next term.

July Session 1821

Ordered that Richard Davis Henry Alexander Thomas Leigh & Edmond Alexander or any three of them be appointed to audite & settle the estate of Asa Etheridge deceased & make report to the next term.

October Session 1821

Ordered that Henry Alexander Thomas Leigh & James Wood be appointed to audite & settle the estate of Asa Etheridge deceased & make report to the next term.

January Session 1822

Ordered that Richard Roughton be allowed forty dollars for board & clothing Britanna Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge fourteen months up to 1 January 1822 as per account allowed by the court & filed.

Ordered that Silas Etheridge guardian to the heirs of Asa Etheridge decased be allowed the sum of thirty four dollars & fifty five cents for clothing etc. furnished said heirs as per account allowed by the court & filed.

April Session 1822

The following persons appeared in open court and renewed their guardian bonds as the law requires viz. - Joshua Spruill guardian to James S. Spruill Joshua Spruill guardian to Franklin Spruill Silby Wynne guardian to Mahala Wynne Richard Lucas guardian to Harriate Fuller Patsey Etheridge to Elizabeth Etheridge Spencer Midyett guardian to Franklin, Jordan & Spencer Alexander - all of whom entered into bonds with approved security & their several bonds filed.

July Session 1822

Ordered that Patsy Etheridge guardian to Eliza Etheridge be allowed forty eight dollars for board & clothing the said Eliza Etheridge up to 8 June 1822 as per account allowed & filed.

January Session 1823

Silus Etheridge appeared in open court & renewed his bond as guardian to the orphans of Asa Etheridge with approved security & filed.

January Session 1825

On motion ordered that Enoch Hassell, Richard Howitt and Matthew Brickhouse Junr. be appointed auditors to audite and settle the accounts between Silas Ethridge former guardian of the heirs of Asa Ethridge and Pledger Melson present guardian.

April Session 1825

Ordered that Enoc Hassell, Richd. Howett & Matthew Brickhouse Esqr. be appointed auditors to settle the accounts between Silas Ethridge former guardian of the heirs of Asa Ethridge & Pledger Melson the present guardian.

January Session 1829

Ordered that Enoch Hassell, Richard Howett & Matthew Brickhouse Esqr. be appointed auditors to settle the accounts between Silas Ethridge former guardian of the heirs of Asa Ethridge & Pledger Melson present guardian.

Ordered that Isaac Meekins be appointed guardian to Polly & Brittania Etheridge in the room of Pledger Melson removed.

April Session 1829

Ordered that Isaac Meekins be appointed guardian to Polly & Brittania Ethridge.

Ordered that Enoch Hassell, Math. Brickhouse & Richd. Howett audite & settle the estate of Polly & Brittania Ethridge between Pledger Melson former guardian & Isaac Meekins present guardian.

North Carolina Archives
Loose Estate Papers
Tyrrell County (C.R.096.508.19), Box 19
Etheridge, Asa, 1817

Bond dated 12 Oct 1819 in the amount of one thousand dollars appointing William Etheridge guardian of Britanna Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge deceased, Richd. Roughton & Arthur Etheridge securities.

Bond dated 4 Apr 1820 in the amount of 250 pounds appointing William Etheridge guardian of Patsey Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge deceased, Allen Howett & Zebulon Kemp securities.

Bond dated 3 Jul 1820 in the amount of 500 pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Olliff Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge deceased, Enoch Hassell & Allen Howett securities.

Bond dated 3 Jul 1820 in the amount of 500 pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Polly Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge deceased, Enoch Hassell & Allen Howett securities.

Bond dated 3 Jul 1820 in the amount of 500 pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Patsey Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge deceased, Enoch Hassell & Allen Howett securities.

Bond dated 3 Jul 1820 in the amount of 500 pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Brittanna Etheridge orphan of Asa Etheridge deceased, Enoch Hassell & Allen Howett securities.

Summons issued 20 Aug 1822 for Silus Etheridge to appear at the next session of court and renew his guardian bonds for Britanna Etheridge, Polly Etheridge, Patsey Etheridge & Ollif Etheridge.

Bond dated 31 Dec 1822 in the amount of five hundred pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Patsey Etheridge a minor orphan, Saml. Leigh & Richd. Howett securities.

Bond dated 31 Dec 1822 in the amount of five hundred pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Olliff Etheridge a minor orphan, Saml. Leigh & Richd. Howett securities.

Bond dated 31 Dec 1822 in the amount of five hundred pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Polly Etheridge a minor orphan, Saml. Leigh & Richd. Howett securities.

Bond dated 31 Dec 1822 in the amount of five hundred pounds appointing Silus Etheridge guardian of Britanna Etheridge a minor orphan, Saml. Leigh & Richd. Howett securities.

Petition January term 1821 by Silas Etherage & Sally his wife & Patsey, Oliff, Polly & Britaney Etherage infants by their guardian Silas Etherage & Richard Routen and wife Fanny Richard Routen administrator of William Etherage. Petitioners state that Asa Etherage, their father, made and published his last will & testament on 21 Jan 1817 and died soon thereafter without revoking it and therein appointed his wife Oliff Etherage & Jesse Alexander executrix and executor of his estate, of which only Oliff Etherage qualified and assumed the burden and received into her possession the whole of the estate valued at $3,000 or upwards. In August 1819 Oliff Etherage intermarried with Zebulon Kemp of Tyrrell County who also received said property into his possession as executor in right of his wife Oliff. Petitioners charge that by the will of the said Asa Etheridge his said widow Oliff was entitled to the use of all the land of the said Asa during her life or widowhood except the Stafford Patent for the purpose of raising your petitioners & for her own use & also the use of all the negroes of the said Asa was given to the said widow during her life or widowhood to be by her hired out yearly for the same purpose viz. Gusey, Rachel, Obid, Lilly. And the said Asa by his will gives to his said wife Oliff one white horse & harness one yoke of oxen with all his ploughs & household furniture during her natural life or widowhood and at her death or marriage to be sold at twelve months credit & the money to be divided among all his children & then directs that his estate be sold at twelve months credit and after payment of his debts to be equally divided between all his children and directs that one hundred and fifty dollars of the proceeds be laid out for each of his daughters Polly & Brtianey to purchase a small negroe for cash and directs that Obid be divided between his daughters Fanny & Betsy & that Lilly be divided between his daughters Patsey & Oliff and gives by his said will to his daughters each one bed & furniture chest & linen wheel. Your petitioners charge that Betsy Etheridge died intestate and under age & without issue & Silas Etheridge duly administered upon her estate & that Wm. Etheridge died in May 1820 intestate without issue & without receiving his distributive share of his father Asa's estate & Richard Routen one of your petitioners duly administered upon his estate. Your petitioners charge that Oliff Etheridge executrix of the said Asa sold a part of the property of her intestate before her intermarriage and after her intermarriage with the said Zebulon Kemp he sold the balance of the property of the said Asa Etheridge and particularly one half of negroes Obid, Caser & Rachel horse & chair & oxen & cart two beds & furniture & the manor plantation & many other things belonging to said estate to the amout of $2000 and upwards & now refuses to settle with your petitioners or account unless your petitioners will allow the said Zebulon Kemp nearly one half that is due your petitioners all which actions and doings of the said Zebulon are contrary to equity and good conscience. Your petitioners therefore pray that a copy & summons may issue & be served upon the said Zebulon to appear at next term of this worshipful court and answer all the several charges in this petition generally & particularly upon his corporal oath & that he set forth an accurate account of all the roperty given away or loaned his wife & by him or her either sold or converted to either of their use which of right belonged to any one or all of your petitioners and that the said Kemp account fully under the will of the said Asa Etheridge and pay to each of your petitioners their respective shares due from him under the said wiil.
Richd. Roughton & Wm. Etheridge by way of amendment to his petition state the receipts which they gave to Zebulon Kemp and wife were intended only to be in full payment for their share of $1085 that being the amount of property sold by the widow of Asa Etheridge deceased & no more & if Roger Snell who wrote said receipt expresses anything to the contrary it was wrong & not intended & understood by these petitioners & further note that the property sold to the amount of $982.80 & $84.35 as admitted by the defendant Zebulon Kemp all took place after said receipts & no part has been received by these petitioners - - and pray that a copy of this amendment & summons may issue and be served upon Zebulon Kemp.

Bond dated 27 Oct 1824 in the amount of one thousand pounds appointing Pledger Melson guardian of Polly Etheridge & Brittany Etheridge minor orphans, Silas Etheridge & John Roughton securities.

Case extract showing there was a judgement on 14 Jul 1825 in favor of William R. Norcom to the use of Pledger Melson guardian to the heirs of Asa Etheridge deceased.

Bond dated 27 Apr 1827 in the amount of five hundred dolars appointing Isaac Meekins guardian of Polly & Brittanna Etheridge minor orphans, George H. Alexander & Thos. Meekins securities.

Summons issued 21 Aug 1828 for Pledger Melson to appear at the October Term of court to renew his guardian bond for Polly Etheridge & Brittany Etheridge children of Asa Etheridge and exhibit his accounts. He was last appointed guardian to them at October Term 1824.

Summons issue 27 Mar 1837 by virtue of a judgement obtained October Term 1824 by Silas Etheridge and wife Sally, and Sally, Oliff now intermarried with Isaac Meekins and Brittanna Etheridge intermarried with Wm. Cahoon infants by their guardian Silas Etheridge & Richard Roughton and wife Fanny said Richard having died and his wife married to Benjamin Alexander & Richard Roughton administrator of Wm. Etheridge, obtained a judgement against Zebulon Kemp executor of Asa Etheridge for the sum of $1706.65 with interest until paid and although judgement being had and execution having issued the money still appears to be due and unpaid and it appearing said Silas is dead and his wife Sally has intermarried with Jno. Alexander, we being applied to in their behalf and being willing to do those things that appear to be just and right, hereby summon Gilbert Brickhouse executor of Zebulon Kemp to appear in court at April Term next to show cause, if any he has, why judgement should not be entered against him for the aforesaid sum of $1706.65 with interest from October Term 1834.

Transcriber's Notes:

Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of Olive Etheridge to Zebulon Kemp on 13 Aug 1819, Silas Etheridge security; also Fanny Etheridge to Richard Routen on 10 Mar 1819, Wm. L. Etheridge security; also Frances Roughton to Benj. Alexander on 5 Mar 1833, Abraham Pledger security; also Ollef Etheridge to Isaac Meekins on 8 Nov 1823, Richd. Roughton security; also Brittania Etheridge to Wm. Cahoon on 21 Jan 1837, Burton Phelps security; also Sally Etheridge to John Alexander on 17 Jan 1828, Enoch Hassell security; also Patsey Etheridge to Gilbert Brickhouse on 6 Feb 1826, James Ambros security.

Return to Tyrrell Co Wills Introduction & Table of Contents

Updated September 6, 2020
Charles W. Barnes