Return to the Tyrrell County Probate Records State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 4, page 222
Dated 24 November 1904
I, Edmond Hopkins, Of Tyrrell County, North Carolina, being of sound mind and disposing memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my last will and testament:
1st My executor hereinafter named shall give my body a decent burial and pay all funeral expenses, together with all my just debts, out of the first moneys coming into his hands belonging to my estate.
2nd I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha Hopkins, all of my chattle property, personal effects and personal estate for that period of her lifetime only, but with the power to use consume, and dispose of so much of the same as may be necessary for her support and comfort. I also give and devise to her for the period of her lifetime only, all of my real estate, my real estate consisting of the farm whereon I now reside, situated on both sides of the Sound Side public road, In Tyrrell County, N. C.
3rd Subject to the life estate above devised to my wife, I give and devise to my beloved son, Ambrose Hopkins, that part of my home place whereon I now reside, which lies on the North Side of the Sound Side Road.
4th Subject to the life estate above devised to my wife, I give and bequeath to my son Dennis Hopkins, that part of my farm whereon I now reside, which lies on the Southern side of the said Sound Side Road. These devises to my sons, Ambrose and Dennis, are in fee-simple to them and their heirs forever, and the dividing line between them shall be the Sound Side public road.
5th At the death of my beloved wife, Martha Hopkins, I direct and empower my executor hereinafter named to sell all my chattle property and convert all my personal estate into money, and after paying the cost of settling my estate, to pay the money there realized, in equal parts to the following children, to wit: Clarky Ann Brickhouse, E. B. Hopkins, W. T. Hopkins, Josiah Hopkins, Philena Bourne, Alice Hipkins, Martha C. Nichols and Susan Ellen Snell. He will pay nothing to my sons, Dennis and Ambrose, I havins devised to them land in full of their share of my estate.
6th I hereby constitute and appoint my beloved son W. T. Hopkins, my lawful executor to all intents and purposes, to execute this my last will and testament, according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and every part and clause thereof.
In witness whereof, I the said Edmond Hopkins do hereby set my and seal, this 24th day of November 1904.
The word "which" on first page hereof, and the words "of my estate" on second page hereof, were underlined before signing.
Edmond x Hopkins (seal)
Witness. W. M. Brickhouse.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Edmond Hopkins 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, do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.
W. M. Brickhouse
Mark Majette
North Carolina, Tyrrell County, In the Superior Court.
Before His Hon. G. W. Ward, one of the Judges of the Superior Court of North Carolina. 1st district:
In the matter of the Will of Edmond Hopkins, Dece'd.
The paper- writing hereto attached and purporting to be the last will and testament of Edmond Hopkins, deceased, is exhibited before me the undersigned Judge of the Superior Court of North Carolina, 1st District, by W. T. Hopkins, the executor therein named, the Clerk of the Superior Court of Tyrrell County, W. M. Brickhouse, being one of the subscribing two witnesses to said will of said Edmond Hopkins, and thereupon the following proof thereof is taken by the oath and examination of W. M. Brickhouse and Mark Majette, the two subscribing witnesses thereto, as follows,,
North Carolina}
Tyrrell County}
W. M. Brickhouse and Mark Majette being duly sworn, depose and say, and each for himself deposes and says, that he is a subscribing witness to said paper- writing now shown him purporting to be the last will and testament of Edmond Hopkins, and that he saw said Edmond Hopkins, now deceased, sign and execute this writing as his last will and testament, and that affiant attested it in the presence and at the request of said Edmond Hopkins, deceased and in the presence of each other; and at the time of its execution said Edmond Hopkins was of sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a will, and was not under any restraint to the knowledge or information of this deponent.
W. M. Brickhouse
Mark Majette
Superior Court Tyrrell County,
July Special Term 1908
And hereupon, in open court, it is considered and adjudged by the Court that the said paper-writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of Edmond Hopkins, deceased, and it is ordered that the same, with the foregoing examination and this certificate, is recorded and filed.
This 25th day of July 1908.
G. W. Ward
Judge Superior Court.
It appears that W. M. Brickhouse is now the clerk of Superior Court of Tyrrell County.
Ward
Judge
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