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Vance County Wills, Part 4

Last Will and Testament of MARY ANN CUTTS -1886
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Page 59
 
In the name of God, Amen. The 28th day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty six.
I MARY ANN CUTTS of the County of Granville and State of North Carolina being through the blessing of God in a sound state of mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last Will and testament, that is to say, I give and bequeath to ROBERT B. MORGAN and his wife MARY F. MORGAN, after the payment of all my just debts, the whole of my estate, consisting of the land on which I now reside, crop of all kinds which may be on hand, horses, cattle &c, all of the debts due me, all of my household and kitchen furniture &c, and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannull, all and every other former testaments, Wills, legacies, bequests and Executors, by me in any way before named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and the year first above written.

MARY ANN CUTTS ("X" her mark)

Signed, sealed published pronounced and declared by the said MARY ANN CUTTS as her last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers
WM. L. TAYLOR
JOHN G. MORGAN

(The will was proven in Vance County Court before J.R. YOUNG, Superior Court Clerk, upon the oaths of JOHN G. MORGAN & WM. L. TAYLOR, as subscribing witnesses, and R. B. MORGAN was qualified as Executor on January 4, 1886)
 

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Will of SALLY EDWARDS-1876
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Page 51

 
November the 3, 1876
Granville County, North Carolina
I want my land to be equell divied with the fore children WILLIE and TIM and NARETER and ALEXANDER SHORT, ELER SHORT boddly ares [sic], and also my stock to be equell divied with the fore children and I want NARETER to have my bed and all the furniture that belong to the bed. I want her to have all of my clothes also and the other carpet can be sold and divied with the three boys and the balance of the furniture in the house are to be divied with the three children WILLIE and TIM and ALEXANDER SHORT. I want ELLER SHORT to see that the things are all taken care of and kept for the children. I want one shilling apiece to each one of my children MARY and BOB and ELER wich are my boddly ares.

MRS. SALLY EDWARDS

Witness
N. J. ROBERTSON
R. S. ROBERTSON

(This will was duly proven before J. R. YOUNG, Clerk, in Superior Court, Vance County, North Carolina, upon the oaths of N. J. ROBERTSON & R.S. ROBERTSON, on February 4, 1886.)

Note: Lots of spelling errors in this will, but to clarify, "boddly ares" should have been spelled "bodily heirs"
 

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Will of CHARLES M. HARGROVE -1880
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Pages 56, 57
 
In the name of God Amen,
I, CHARLES M. HARGROVE of the County of Granville and State of North Carolina being of sound and disposing mind and memory but knowing the uncertainty of earthly existence do make publish, and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit:
Item first: I give devise and bequeath to MOLLIE STEGALL daughter of ROBERT STEGALL deceased two hundred acres of land to be laid off to her out of my tract on the North side of the road leading to Taylors & Haskins Ferry on Roanoke River to include my dwelling house where now reside and one hundred acres around it and the other one hundred acres to be selected out of the timbered land whether adjoining the other hundred acres or not, and all my personal estate of every kind and description, money, bonds, notes, and household and kitchen furniture, horses, stock wagons, vehicles of every description, plantation tools and all crops, to her and her heirs forever.
Item second: I give devise and bequeath to MISS AMELIA LANGFORD & her heirs forever seventy five acres of land on the North side of the Taylor's and Haskins Ferry Road to include the house where she now resides.
Item third: I give devise and bequeath to SARAH LEWIS wife of CHARLES LEWIS both of whom now reside on my land, and her heirs forever one hundred acres of land to be laid off out of my tracts on the North side of the road leading to Taylor's and Haskins Ferries and to be located west of the one hundred acre house tract given to MOLLIE STEGALL and the line to begin on the state line and run south so as to make out the one hundred acres.
Item fourth: I give, devise and bequeath to my brother HARTWELL W. HARGROVE and his heirs forever one half of all the balance of my land not herein otherwise disposed of and the other half of all the balance of my land not herein otherwise disposed of to my nephew TAZELL L. HARGROVE and his heirs forever.
Item fifth: I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.
Item sixth: I hereby appoint J. HERBERT TAYLOR Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other Wills by me heretofore made. In testimony of all which I the said CHARLES M. HARGROVE have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 13th day of May A.D. 1880.

CHARLES M. HARGROVE

Signed, sealed and published and declared in our presence who sign our names in the presence of the testator and of each other and at his request.
THOS. TAYLOR
E. A. LEWIS
W. B. OVERBY

In the matter of the Last Will and Testament of CHARLES M. HARGROVE Dec'd

It appearing to the Court that a citation has been duly served on MOLLIE STEGALL infant, AMELIA LANGFORD, SARAH LEWIS wife of CHARLES LEWIS, HARTWELL HARGROVE, VIRGINIA D. HARGROVE and TAZEWELL L.HARGROVE who are some of the heirs at law of and next of kind of CHARLES M. HARGROVE deceased, and that publication has been duly made as to HENRY HARGROVE, WILLIAM HARGROVE, CYNTHIA HARGROVE, MOLLIE HARGROVE, SARAH HARGROVE, FANNIE HARGROVE & LUCY HARGROVE who are the remainder of the heirs at law and next of kin of the said CHARLES M. HARGROVE deceased and who reside beyond the limits of the State according to the order of the Court made on the 10th day of June 1886, and it further appearing to the Court from the evidence of EDWARD A. LEWIS and WILLIAM B. OVERBY subscribing witnesses named in the paper writing now offered for probate by J. HERBERT TAYLOR named as Executor in said paper writing purporting to be the last Will and testament of the said CHARLES M. HARGROVE deceased, that the said CHARLES M. HARGROVE deceased did on, or about the 13th day of May A.D. 1880 duly executed said paper writing as his Last Will and Testament and which was attested in his presence and by his direction by the said EDWARD A. LEWIS and WILLIAM B. OVERBY as subscribing witnesses thereto: It is therefore ordered and adjudged by the Court that said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of the said CHARLES M. HARGROVE deceased and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed, and thereupon J. HERBERT TAYLOR named Executor therein is duly qualified as such by taking the oath of office.

J. R. YOUNG, Clerk Supr. Court

 

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Will of HARTWELL H. HIGHT -1879
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Page 53, 54
 
I HARTWELL H. HIGHT of the County of Franklin and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form as follows, viz:
First: That my Executor shall give to my body a decent burial, suitable to the wishes of my relations and friends, and pay all funeral expenses, together with all my just debts to whomsoever owing, out of the money that may first come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate.
Item: I give and devise to my beloved wife LOUISA H. HIGHT, and to my son HUGH M. HIGHT the tract of land whereon I now live, containing two hundred acres, to have and to hold to them the said LOUISA H. HIGHT and HUGH M. HIGHT, for and during their natural lives, and after their death I give and devise the said land, to the heirs of my said son HUGH M. HIGHT, to them and their heirs in fee simple forever, in consideration that my son shall pay to my daughter PATTIE J. GILL, after his mother's death the sum of seven hundred dollars.
Item: I give and devise to my daughter PATTIE J. GILL, the sum of seven hundred dollars to be paid to her by my son HUGH M. HIGHT, after his mother's death and one piano, in value, three hundred dollars, which I consider in value, equal to one half of the tract of land; also, one bed and bed-clothes, and one cow and calf previously advanced to her.
Item: I give and devise to my son HUGH M. HIGHT one horse and buggy previously advanced to him as an equivolent, for the educational advantages given my daughter PATTIE J. GILL; also one bed and bed clothes and one cow and calf, her choice of the same. And it is my will and desire that my son HUGH shall reside with his mother, have control of the farm; and after paying all expenses of the same & for the support of the family, the balance of the net proceeds to be equally divided between him and his mother.
Item: The balance of my property of every description after taking out the devises and legacies above mentioned, and paying all my just debts. I give and devise to my beloved wife LOUISA H. HIGHT for and during her natural life or widowhood, and after her death to be equally divided between my son HUGH M. HIGHT and my daughter PATTIE J. GILL share and share alike to them and each of them and their heirs in fee simple forever.
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son HUGH M. HIGHT 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 HARTWELL H. HIGHT do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 18th day of February A.D. 1879.

H. H. HIGHT

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said HARWELL H. HIGHT to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and his presence do subscribe our names as witnesses hereto,
J. J. STONE
THOS. J. BLACKNALL

(This will was duly proven before J. R. YOUNG, Clerk, in Superior Court, Vance County, North Carolina, upon the oaths of T. J. BLACKNALL & J. J. STONE, on December 28, 1885)
 

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Last Will and Testament of JOHN C. JACOBS-1886
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Page 65
 
I, JOHN C. JACOBS of the County of Northampton and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last Will and testament in manner and form as follows
Item. My Executor hereinafter named shall provide for my body a decent burial and pay all funeral expenses, together with all my just debts howsoever and to whomsoever oweing.
Item. I give and devise to my beloved wife FANNIE BISHOP JACOBS the tract of land on which we now live (including the plantation known as the Hodge Place) together with the houses and appurtenances thereunto belonging to have and to hold to her the said FANNIE BISHOP JACOBS her heirs absolutely in fee forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my said wife FANNIE BISHOP JACOBS all the personal property of which I may own seized to be hers and at her disposal absolutely forever.
Item. I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife FANNIE BISHOP JACOBS 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, to collect all moneys due me by contract or otherwise, pay all my obligations and to transact any and all business in my name as I would myself.
In witness whereof I the said JOHN C. JACOBS do hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this the 10th day of March 1882.

JOHN C. JACOBS

January the 30th, 1886
Owing to the changed circumstances under which we now live, I JOHN C. JACOBS do this day add this codicil to the foregoing will and declare this to be my last will and desire 1st, that Item 2d of foregoing Will shall be and is intended to mean all my real estate both in Northampton County and also that tract of land in Vance County now owned by me and known as Locust Hill recently purchased of CAPT. J. B. WHITE.
2nd. I give and bequeath to my wife FANNIE B. JACOBS all my property both real and personal to her and her heirs in fee simple forever.
Signed and sealed this the 30th January 1886.

JOHN C. JACOBS


(The will was proven in Vance County Court before J. R. YOUNG, Superior Court Clerk, upon the oaths of J. A. TUCKER, W. J. BISHOP & J. L. H. MINILLEIR , whereupon FANNIE B. JACOBS qualified as Executor, on October 5, 1886)
 

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Last Will and Testament of W. A. PHELPS- 1886
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Page 63
 
County of Vance
State of North Carolina
I, W. A. PHELPS of the County and State above written being of sound mind and in usual good health do make this my last Will and Testament as follows, to wit:
1st. To my wife CORA, I give and bequeath all my worldly goods both real and personal of whatsoever kind name and description
2nd. I hereby appoint my wife CORA Executrix of this my Will and desire that she (my wife CORA) be permitted to qualify as Executor of this my Will without surety.
3d. I desire that my wife CORA be permitted to qualify as guardian of our several children without surety. Witness my hand and seal this the 15th day of Sept. 1885.

W. A. PHELPS

Witness
JAS. A. O'NEIL
R. J. JONES


(The will was proven in Vance County Court before J. R. YOUNG, Superior Court Clerk, upon the oaths of R. J. JONES & JAS. A. O'NEIL, whereupon CORA O. PHELPS qualified as Executor, on September 3, 1886)
 

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Will of CATHERINE SMERDON-1885
Vance County, NC -Will Book A, Pages 46-47
 
I, CATHERINE SMERDON of the township of Henderson in the County of Vance and State of North Carolina being of sound mind do make and publish this my last will and testament.
First I do hereby appoint and constitute my Husband GEORGE SMERDON to be sole Executor of this my last will and testament directing him to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses out of my Estate. Second after paying all my just debts and funeral expenses I give and bequeath to my husband GEORGE SMERDON all my household furniture and wearing apparel together with all my goods and chattels of which I may be possessed at the time of my death for his sole and only use and benefit. Third I devise to my husband GEORGE SMERDON all my real estate of which I may be possessed at the time of my death for his sole use and benefit to dispose of in any way or manner he may see fit for himself and children.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. Dated Henderson this second day of February 1885.
Signed, Sealed published and delivered by the said CATHERINE SMERDON as and for her last will and testimony in the presence of us who in the presence of each other and at her request have signed our names as witnesses hereunto.

CATHERINE SMERDON ("X" her mark)

Witnesses
JOHN McMILLAN
MARION McMILLAN

(The will was proven in Vance County Court before J. R. YOUNG, Superior Court Clerk, upon the oaths of JOHN McMILLAN & MARION McMILLAN, on April 13, 1886)
 

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Will of W. C. STEWART-1884
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Pages 37-38
 
I, WILLIAM C. STEWART of the County of Vance and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, and knowing the uncertainty of human life, do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament as follows. first I desire my just debts if any are owing by me, to be paid by my Executor hereafter named, and such burial expenses as may be incurred in placing my body away in a suitable manner.
Second, I wish and desire that all of my personal and real property of every description including all debt due me in note or account, shall be held used and enjoyed by my beloved wife ELIZABETH P. STEWART during her natural life, and after she departs this life my will and wish is that all such property as is left, shall be given in fee simple to Z. T. GARRATT and to his heirs and assigns forever, excepting of one item of personal property in one mare colt, which I desire to give to NATHANIEL A. GARRATT son of the said A. T. GARRATT.
I hereby nominate and appoint and wish STEPHEN P. PHIPPS my neighbor to act as my Executor and to execute this my last Will and Testament and furthermore desire that he shall receive legal compensation for the same without bond.
In testimony of this my free act I hereby call up E. J. BOBBITT, MADISON HAWKINS and H. A. FINCH to subscribe themselves as witnesses to this my last will and testament. Done at my house this the 18th day of February 1884.

W. C. STEWART

Witness
E. J. BOBBITT
MADISON HAWKINS
H. A. FINCH

In Re Estate of W. C. STEWART Dec'd
The foregoing paper writing having been presented in open court by S. P. PHIPPS, the Execr therein named, and the same being duly proven by the oath and examination of E. T. BOBBITT & MADISON HAWKINS, the subscribing witnesses thereto to be the last will & testament of said W. C. STEWART, dec'd, and it being further proven that said STEWART was of sound mind & memory, of full age and under no restrainst it is ordered
That said paper writing be admitted to probate as the last will and testament of said W. C. STEWART, dec'd and be duly recorded in book of Wills of Vance County as provided by law, and that said S. P. PHIPPS be allowed to qualify as provided by law.
This Decr 10, 1885

J. R. YOUNG
Clerk Supr Court

 

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Will of DANIEL STONE- 1883
Vance County, NC - Will Book A, Pages 48-49
 
I DANIEL STONE of the County of Vance in the State of North Carolina being in reasonable sound memory and health but considering the uncertainty of life make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit, first.
That my Executors hereinafter named shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral expenses together wish my just debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys first coming into his hands as a parcel of my Estate.
Second.
My will and desire is that my said Executor hereinafter to be named sell and dispose of any and all real and personal Estate mixed or otherwise and collect all monies due or coming to my Estate and after its known the amount of next proceeds that will remain in his hands after paying my just debts funeral and burial expenses with the commissions rightfully due him and all other expenses of administration as my Executor The then remaining surplus or next proceeds of my Estate to be added to the further amount of Twenty four hundred thirty five 00/100 Dollars it being the aggregate amount in advancements which I have given to my children prior to the date of this wrighting. In property money &c A statement of the advancement and amounts to each as follows, to wit:
To my son WM. M. STONE Two Hundred and five Dollars - $205
To my son THOS. A. STONE One hundred Eighty nine Dollars - $189
To my son DANIEL B. STONE three hundred and fifty three Dollars - $353
To my daughter HARRIET BARKER three hundred & Seventy Dollars - $370
To my daughter MINERVA WATKINS one hundred & sixty four Dollars - $164
To my daughter SALLIE R. HIGHT in property to herself and Lands and Real Estate to her children amounting to the sum of three hundred and sixty four Dollars - $364
To my daughter MARY L. FULLER three hundred and Seventy four Dollars - $374
To my daughter BETTIE A. STONE one hundred & fifty 50/100 Dollars - $150.50
To my daughter LUCY F. STONE two hundred and Sixty Six Dollars - $266
Making the aggregate amount of twenty four hundred thirty five 00/100 Dollars mentioned in second clause of this my will.
Third. My Executor hereafter named is hereby directed after finding the next balance of my undivided Estate to add the amount to the aggregate amount of advancement herein mentioned and divise the whole sum then added to first the grand aggregate and divide the sum total by nine so as to find the proper amount to each legatee and then deduct each childs advance from the sum property and so as to effect an equal division of my whole estate among my several children mentioned in this writing, and should it be found that any child named in this writing has been over advanced in justice to my wishes I trust said child or children before named will refund to show minus so as to make all equal.
Lastly, I constitute and appoint my trusty friend JOHN G. BARKER 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 declairing utterly void all other wills and testaments heretofore by me made.
In witness whereof I the said DANIEL STONE as hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of May A.D. 1883.

DANIEL STONE


(The will was proven in Vance County Court before J.R. YOUNG, Superior Court Clerk, upon the oaths of A. C. ZOLLICOFFER, S. HALLEN, as to the signature of L. H.KETTLE, deceased, and T. A. STONE, all subscribing witnesses, on Dec. 15, 1886)
 
 
 

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