Return to the Tyrrell County Probate Records State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 4, page 474
Dated 8 May 1923
I, W. L. McClees being of sound and disposing mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, and being desirious that my worldly estate shall be held and enjoyed in accordance with my wishes in the event of my death, Do make and declare this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking any and all Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made.
First: It is my will and desire that my Executor hereinafter named shall give my body a decent burial in accordance with the wishes of himself and of my relatives and friends and pay all my furnel expenses and Doctor's bills oweing at the time of my death, He applying a sufficiency of the first money coming into his hands belonging to my estate for the above purpose.
Second: My executor shall pay to my Sister Hattie and all of her children one Dollar each.
Third: I give devise and bequeath to my beloved Nephew, J. C. McClees my Gold Watch my mother gave me.
Fourth: I give and devise to my Nephews, J. C. McClees, W. H. McClees, and H. W. McClees and to my beloved Neice Olena McClees Swain all of by benefits from the Junior Order of American Mechanics of every discription to be equally divided among them to share and share alike.
Also all of that certain tract of land and timber in Alligator Township which I heired from my father and bought of the other heirs in same land, it being on the South Side of the Main Road Leading from Columbia to Goat Neck, to be equally divided among them share and share alike.
Fifth: I hereby nominate and appoint as my sole executor to this my last will and Testament my beloved Nephew J. C. McClees who shall act without giving any Bond whatever.
In witness whereof I the said W. L. McClees Do hereto set my hand and seal This the 8th day of May, 1923.
W. L. McClees (Seal)
Signed Sealed published and declared by the said W. L. McClees 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 name as witnesses thereto.
S. J. Holloway
S. A. Norman
State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County,
In The Superior Court
Before Jerry Brickhouse, Clerk
Order for Probate of Will
In RE Estate of W. L. McClees, Deceased
A paper purporting to be the last Will and Testament of W. L. McClees deceased, is exhibited in open Court for probate by J. C. McClees, Executor therein named: and the due execution thereof by the said W. L. McClees deceased is duly proven by the oath and examination of S. J. Holloway and S. A. Norman subscribing witnesses thereto: and it is further shown to the satisfaction of the Court by said witnesses that the said W. L. McClees 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 sufficient and according to law and the said paper-writing is and contains the last Will and Testament of W. L. McClees 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 J. C. McClees 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 25th day of June, 1923.
Jerry Brickhouse
Clerk of Superior Court
North Carolina
Tyrrell County
In The Superior Court
Before The Clerk
In the Matter of the Will of W. L. McClees Deceased.
The paper-writing hereto attached and purporting to be the last Will and testament of W. L. McClees deceased: is exhibited before me the undersigned Clerk of the Superior Court of Tyrrell County North Carolina by J. C. McClees the executor therein named, and thereupon the following proof thereof is taken by the oath and examination of S. J. Holloway and S. A. Norman the subscribing witnesses thereto as follows:
North Carolina Tyrrell County, S. J. Holloway and S. A. Norman being duly sworn, depose and say and each for himself deposes and says that he is a subscribing witness to the said paper-writing now shown here purporting to be the last Will and testament of W. L. McClees and that they saw him execute (or heard him acknowledge the execution of) this writing as him last will and testament and that affiant attested it in the presence and at the request of said W. L. McClees Deceased: and that at the time of its execution (or at the time its execution was acknowledged) said W. L. McClees was in affiant's opinion of Sound mind and disposing memory.
S. J. Holloway
S. A. Norman
Severally subscribed and sworn to before me this 25th day of June, 1923,
Jerry Brickhouse, Clerk of Superior Court Tyrrell County
And thereupon it is considered and adjudged by the Court that the said paper-writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of W. L. McClees deceased: And it is ordered that the same with the foregoing examination and this certificate be recovered and filed. This 25th day of June, 1923.
Jerry Brickhouse, Clerk Superior Court Tyrrell County.
Return to the Tyrrell County Probate Records