State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 4, page 196
Dated 22 May 1904

I B. F. Hassell Sr., the State and County aforesaid, being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and declare this my last Will and testament:

First: My executor hereinafter named Shall give my body a decent burial Suitable to the wishes of my family and pay all funeral expenses together with any debts I may owe at the time of my death out of the first moneys which may come into his hands belonging to my estate:

Second: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha E Hassell my black mare and top buggy and Three Hundered Dollars in money in full satisfaction of her years allowance.

Third: I authorize, direct and empower my executor hereinafter named, to sell at either public or private Sale for cash or on time all of my chattle property not otherwise herein disposed of. and all my lands and real estate wherever situated including the place whereon I now reside, and to collect all debts owing to me, and convert into money my entire the estate, and after paying the said Three hundred dollars to my wife, burial expenses, my debts and the costs of settling my estate, to pay to my beloved wife Martha E. Hassell, Two Thousand ($2,000 Dollars), and the balance pay to my children in equal Shares, share and share alike, as follows: Doctor Starke Hassell, B F Hassell , Jr., G. C. Hassell, Mrs. Lydia Owens and George W. Hassell and S. W. Hassell.

Fourth: I hereby constitute and appoint my son Doctor Starke Hassell, 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. Hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made- In witness whereof I the Said B. F. Hassell Sr. so hereunto set my hand and Seal, this 22nd day of May 1904.

B. F. Hassell Sr (Seal)

Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the Said B. F. Hassell, Sr. to be
his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request, and in
the presence, and in the presence of each other, do Subscribe our names as
Witnesses thereto-

Mark Majette
W. W. Sawyer

To G. L. Liverman. Clerk Supr Court of Tyrrell County.

I Starke Hassell of Halifax County North Carolina, appointed by the Will of Said deceased, his Sole executor, do hereby decline to qualify as executor to the last will and testament of said B. F. Hassell, Sr. deceased, and ask that letters of administration with the will annexed issue to my brother B. F. Hassell.

Starke Hassell

witness
G. L. Liverman

A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of B. F. Hassell, Sr., deceased, is exhibited before me the undersigned Clerk of the Superior Court of Said County by Doctor Starke Hassell the executor therein named (for the purpose of having said will proved only and not for the purpose of accepting the trust) and the due execution thereof by the said B. F. Hassell, Sr. is proved by the oath and examination of Mark Majette and W. W. Sawyer the subscribing witnesses thereto who being duly sworn doth depose and say and each for himself deposth and saith that he is a subscribing witness to the paper writing now shown him purporting to be the last will and testament of B. F. Hassell, Sr. that the said B F Hassell Sr in the presence of this deponent subscribed his name at the end of said paper writing now shown as aforesaid and which bears date of the 22nd day of May 1904. And the deponent further saith that the said B. F. Hassell Sr the testator aforesaid at the time of subscribing his name as aforesaid did declare the said paper writing so subscribed by him and exhibited to be his last will and testament and this deponent did thereupon subscribe his name at the end of said will as an attesting witness thereto and at the and at the request and in presence of said testator. And this deponent further saith that at the said time when the said testator subscribed his name to the said last will us aforesaid and at the time of the deponent's subscribing his name as an attesting witness thereto as aforesaid the Said B F Hassell Sr was of sound mind and memory of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint to the knowledge information as belief of this deponent: And further these deponents say not.

Mark Majette (seal)
W. W. Sawyer (seal)

Severally Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 7th day of June 1904.

G. L. Liverman clerk Sup'r Court

North Carolina Tyrrell County.
In the Superior Court.

It is therefore considered and adjudged by the court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of B. F. Hassell Sr deceased and that the same with the foregoing examination and this certificate are ordered to be recorded and filed. This 7th day June 1904.

G. L. Liverman Clerk Sup'r Court

Return to the Tyrrell County Probate Records

Updated September 23, 2001
Ellen Kroll