I William Spruill Senr. of the County of Tyrrel & State of North Carolina do made this or ordain the same to be my last and lawful Will to read as follows-

first I bequeath the farm where on I now reside to my beloved wife Zerah Spruill to have & to hold during her natural life-

second at my wifes decease the farm above alluded to I bequeath to my sister Penelope during her life & to her lawful issue in case no lawful issue should accure from my sister Penelope it is then my wish that my sister Diadem Basnight should hold it in fee simple she & her heirs-

3^rd I bequeath the tract of land commonly called Newberry tract to the heirs of William Goodman though the mother is to hold quiet possession during her life time after her death then the land values on the heirs of Wm. Goodman

Fourth- I also lend unto my dear wife Zerah all my house hold and kitchen furniture during her natural life including my farming utensils say ploughs hoes, axes &c. also including two horses & one mule also all my stock of hogs-

Fith- I also bequeath to my sister Penelope one cow & calf & 5 head of sheep-

Sixth- I also bequeath to my sister Diadem one cow & calf & 5 head of sheep-

Seventh- I also bequeath to Emaline Goodman one cow & calf which she has had some time in possession & her ofspring-

Eighth- I also bequeath to my wife two carts one carriage & gig single also one tract during her natural life of land called Black field. to have & to hold forever. lying in Washington County

Ninth- It is my wish that my wife whom I have lef & given a large portion of my property to to keep my sister Nancy & protect her as she has been heretofore protected-

Tenth- I bestow on my adolited child Martha E. Cahoon daughter of John Cahoon one tract of land known by the name of Giles tract containing three & half acres also at the death of my wife I give to the above said Martha one cow & calf one bed & furniture to be taken from the loan heretofore made to my wife as is designated in this my will-

Eleventh-I also bequeath to my sister Penelope one hare top trunk one bed & furniture to come out of the property heretofore lent to my dear wife after decease-

12^th. I also bequeath to my sister Nancy one nearly flat leather top trunk one bed and furniture to be taken out of the procedes of the loans heretofore made to my wife as described above I give her also one five dollar piece of gold as a token of my affection-

13^th. I also give to my sister Penelope one five dollar worth of gold as a token of love-

14^th. I also bequeath Diadem my sister one five dollar piece of gold as a token of my love-

15^th. I also bequeath to my dear sister Emaline Goodman one five dollars piece of gold as a token of my love

15^th. I also give to my sister Elizabeth Bateman one five dollar piece of gold as a token of my love-

14^th. I also give to my dear wife one negro man Ephraim to have and to hold forever. I also loan to my dear wife Zerah one negro woman named Shepherd two negro boys William and Mack one negro woman Lettice to hold during her natural life-

17^th. It is also my wish that negro man Simon shall be regularly hired out by my executors & the procedes arising from the hire of said negro to be vested for the support of my sister Nancy-

18^th. I also have an interest in negro Hannah which I freely bequeath to my sister Penelope who also has an interest equal with myself as a token of my love-

19^th. It is also my wish that at the death of my wife that Willis shall belong to my sister Penelope for her issues if any if none to return to my sister Diadem -

20^th. I also give my negro Mack at the death of my wife to my sister Diadem-

20^th. It is also my wish that negro girl Lettice at the death of my wife shall be disposed of with the other property which I have heretofore mentioned as a loan to my wife during her natural life and to be equally divided between Diadem, Peney- Nancy three of my sisters.

20^th. It is also my wish that Marth Calkoon shall receive an equal proportion with my sisters Diadem, Penelope & Nancy of the property which is to be sold at the death of my wife for a division but in case the said Martha should die without a lawful issue all the above property given to her shall return to the three above named sisters-

22^nd. I also give & bequeath to James Calhoun son William Calhoun one gun which gun was bought by Spruill at Calhouns sale- I hereby nominate & appoint my wife Zerah & Jonathan Basnight executors to this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all former Wills by me at any time heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this the 24^th. Day of July 1846- Signed sealed published & declaired by the testator William Spruill as & for his last Will & Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as Witnesses therefore in the presence of the said testator-

William Spruill (Seal)

S. H. McRae
B. B. Hathaway
Richd. Davenport

Court of Pleas & Quarter sessions
Tyrrel County
January Term 1847.

Then this paper writing is brought into court, & proved as a will of realty & personalty & is admitted to probate as such on the oath of the witnesses hereto & is ordered Recorded- at the same time appear Zerah Spruill & qualified as exetrix thereto-

Jos. Alexander Clk.

Return to Tyrrell Co Wills Introduction & Table of Contents

Updated April 13, 2001
Jean Owens Schroeder