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NORTH CAROLINA, BEAUFORT COUNTY
    I, Laura E. Blackwell, of the County of Beaufort, State of North Carolina, do hereby make, declare and publish this as my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and declaring void all others heretofore by me made.

Item 1.  I direct that my body be given a suitable burial on my lot in the cemetery at Fairfield, North Carolina, and that my grave be marked with a gray granite tombstone made in the shape of a cross, the expense of which I direct my Executor hereinafter named to pay from the assets of my estate.

Item 2.  I give and bequeath to my faithful friend and companion, Leona Clark, the sum of Five Hundred ($500.00) Dollars, upon condition that she stay with me and care for me the balance of my life.

Item 3.  I give and bequeath to St. Peter's Church, Washington, North Carolina, the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty ($250.00) Dollars.

Item 4.  I give and bequeath to All Saint's Church, Fairfield, North Carolina, the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty ($250.00) Dollars.

Item 5.  I give and bequeath to Laura Blackwell Carter, daughter of Robert Carter, my watch and chain.

Item 6.  I give and bequeath to Isabell Carter, daughter of D.M. Carter, my cameo pin.

Item 7.  I give and bequeath to Emma Francis Burrus, daughter of Tom Burrus, my twisted pin and bracelet.

Item 8.  I give and bequeath to Mary Carter, daughter of D.M. Carter, my onyx pin and bracelet.

Item 9.  I give and bequeath to Annie C. McFarland, my daughter Annie's protrait.

Item 10.  I give and bequeath to Geo. P. Carter, my brother William's portrait.

Item 11.  I give and bequeath to Sallie Carter, daughter of Mamie Carter, my diamond ring.

Item 12.  I give and bequeath to Ruth Spencer, daughter of Tom Spencer, my plain gold ring.

Item 13.  I give and bequeath to Robena Carter, daughter of H.W. Carter, my birthstone ring and silver box.

Item 14.  I give and bequeath to my friend, Mrs. Sarah Swindell, the sum of Twenty Five ($25.00) Dollars.

Item 15.  I give and bequeath to C.W. Carter, in trust, the sum of One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars.  The said sum of One Hundred Dollars to be held by the said C.W. Carter, or invested by him, the interest from it to be used by the said C.W. Carter, to take care of and maintain in good condition my lot in the cemetery at Fairfield, North Carolina.

Item 16.  It is my desire that my Executor hereinafter named shall sell my house and lot situated in Greensboro, North Carolina, and my farm situated near Fairfield, North Carolina, and my woods land situated near Fairfield, North Carolina, and any other real estate I may own, and distribute the proceeds arising from the sale of the said property, according to the terms of this Will, and to that end I authorize, empower and direct my Executor to sell said real property, either at private sale or public auction as he may deem best, and to convert all of my personal property, including notes, bonds, mortgages, and any other personal property I may be possessed of at the time of my death, except that hereinbefore bequeathed, into cash and distribute and pay out same according to the terms of this Will.

Item 17.  I give, devise and bequeath to D.M. Carter, Sallie Carter Davidson, Laura Carter and Francis Carter Schoffer, children of my deceased brother D.M. Carter, one fifth of my estate, after my debts and the bequests above made shall be paid, to be divided equally between them.

Item 18.  I give and bequeath to Thomas Burrus, J.C. Burrus, and David Burrus, one fifth of my estate after the payment of my debts and the legacies hereinbefore made, to be equally divided between them.

Item 19.  I give, devise and bequeath to D.H. Carter, Robert Carter, Geo. P. Carter, Jas. Watson and Sallie Watson Black, one fifth of my estate after payment of my debts and the legacies hereinbefore made, to be divided between them equally, except the James Watson and Sallie Watson Black shall have on share between them.

Item 20.  I give, devise and bequeath to C.W. Carter, E.P. Carter, Annie Carter McFarland, Jessie Carter Watson, I.S. Carter and Sallie L. Carter, children of my deceased brother, I.S. Carter, one fifth of my estate after the payment of my debts and the legacies hereinbefore made, to be equally divided between them.

Item 21.  I give, devise and bequeath to Jennie Carter Midyette, Dr. H.W. Carter, Lyda Carter Studdert, Bettie Carter Grant, Sallie Carter Jennette and H.C. Carter, Jr., one fifth of my estate after the payment of my debts and the legacies hereinbefore made, to be equally divided between them.

Item 22.  I authorize my Executor to have one dozen pictures of myself made and distribute them among those of my nieces and nephews who do not already possess one.

Item 23.  I appoint my nephew, H.C. Carter, Jr., the Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, upon condition that he give bond as is required by law for the appointment of Administrators.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal on this the 8^th day of February 1912.
                                                        /s/ Laura E. Blackwell

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Laura E. Blackwell, to be her Last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who, at her request and in her presence, do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.
    John G. Blount, Jr.
    C.B. Bell

State of North Carolina        In the Superior Court
    Beaufort County
    A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Laura E. Blackwell, deceased, is exhibited before me the undersigned Clerk of the Superior Court for said County, by H.C. Carter, Jr., the executor therein mentioned, and the due execution thereof by the said Laura E. Blackwell, was duly proven by the oath and examination of Jno. G. Blount, Sr. and C.B. Bell, the subscribing witnesses thereto: who being duly sworn, doth depose and say, and each for himself deposeth and saith,  that he is a subscribing witness to the paper-writing now shown him, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Laura E. Blackwell, that the said Laura E. Blackwell, in the presence of this deponent subscribed her name at the end of said paper writing which is now shown as aforesaid, and which bears date of the 8^th day of February 1912.
    And this deponent further saith, that the said Laura E. Blackwell, the testatrix aforesaid, did at the time of subscribing her name as aforesaid declare the said paper-writing so subscribed by her and exhibited to be her 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 request and in the presence of the said testatrix.  And this deponent further saith, that at the time the said testatrix subscribed her name to the last Will as aforesaid, and at the time of the deponent's subscribing his name as an attesting witness thereto, as aforesaid, the said Laura E. Blackwell was of sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a Will and was not under any restraint to the knowledge, information or belief of this deponent.  And further these deponents say not.

Sworn and subscribed this 23^rd day July 1912 before me                                /s/ Jno. G. Blount, Jr.
    /s/ Geo. A. Paul, Clerk Superior Court                                                          /s/ C.B. Bell

This will was contributed by Kay Midgett Sheppard. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information. Thank you!

© 2011 Kay Midgett Sheppard