Granville County Wills & Estates, Pt.5


Granville County Wills & Estates, Pt. 5
Will of SOLOMON ALSTON-1771 Unrecorded will Granville County May Court 1771

In the name of God Amen- I SOLOMON ALSTON of Granville County in the Province of North Carolina being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind & sound memory, thanks be given to Almighty god for the same and calling to mind the uncertain State of mankind and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make constitute appoint and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in writing that is to say first of all I recommend my soul to almighty God that gave it nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and my body to be buried in desent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors hereafter by me named. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased almighty God to no less me in this life I give bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and form following, Imprimmis. I will that all those debts that in right and conscience I owe be forthwith levies out of my Estate and paid. I will that my Negro fellow PETER and my black horse named Toping be by my Executors sold at nine months credit for the most that can be got for them. Item. I lend to my beloved wife SARAH all my household furniture during her widowhood. Item. I give and bequeath to my said wife one black horse also side saddle one bay horse named Cezar. Item. I lend to my beloved wife of the use of all my Negro's and all my stock of cattle horses, hogs & sheep untill my daughter CHARITY shall marry or arive to the age of twenty one years, at which time I give to my said daughter CHARITY one fourth part of all my Negro's and stock then living. Item. I give and bequeath to my son LEMUEL on his attaining the age of twenty one years, one fourth part of all my Negro's and stock. Item. I give and bequeath to my son HENRY when he shall arive to the age of twenty one years one fourth part of all my Negro's and stock. Item. I lend to my loving wife one fourth part of all my Negro's and stock. I likewise give my children to my said wife untill they shall marry or arive to the age of twenty one years each. Item. I give and bequeath to ROBERT LEWIS commonly call'd BIRD ROBERT LEWIS, my tract of land whereon I now live containing about two thousand acres including ALSTON's great low grounds on both sides Tar River. Item. I give and bequeath to my two sons, LEMUEL and HENRY, all that money which I sold my before mentioned tract of land to ROBERT LEWIS for to be equally divided between them being twelve Hundred & fifteen pounds current money of Virginia or Sixteen Hundred & Twenty pounds Proclamation money. And my desire is that my Executors purchase two tracts of land for my two sons with the said money. Item. I give to my children all the Estate which I have lent to my wife after her decease to be equally divided among such of them as shall be then living. I hereby appoint my loving wife my Executrix and my beloved friends JOSEPH JOHN WILLIAMS and WILLIAM ALSTON Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking and disanuling all former wills heretofore by me made ratifying and confirming this my last will & testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the Twenty fifth day of July Anno Dom 1771. SOLOMON ALSTON Sign'd Seal'd publish'd and pronounc'd to be the last Will and Testament the said SOLOMON ALSTON in presence of us REUBEN SEARCY STEPHEN JETT GEO. ALSTON Granville County Ss August Court 1771 The within Will was prov'd by GEORGE ALSTON one of the subscribing witnesses thereto who swore that he saw the within mentioned SOLOMON ALSTON the Testator, Sign, Seal, Publish pronounce & declare the same to be & contain his last Will & Testament was of sound & disposing mind & memory. At the same SARAH ALSTON Exxr. & WM ALSTON Excr. therein named came into Court & qualified as such agreeable to law. Ordered that Letters Testamentary issue to them accordingly. Test ISAAC EDWARDS CC (This was the son of Solomon Alston, d.1784 Warren Co., & Nancy Ann Hinton)
************************************
Will and Estate of ROBERT BURTON, 1825 Granville County Wills Will Book 10, Page 47

I ROBERT BURTON of Granville County & State of North Carolina being weak in body but of sound a disposing mind do make & proclaim this my last will & testament My immortal spirit I recommend to the Father of Spirits under the unwavering help & trust that he will thro Jesus Christ whose richest blood stained cavays top as an attonement for the sons of men accept of it. As to the portion of worldly goods it pleaed God to bestow upon me I dispose of in the following manner to wit; To my much loved wife AGATHA BURTON I give and bequeath the one half of my plantation upon which we live called Montpelier including 2 other houses and the following Negroes to wit,, BARNET, ALICE, ABRAM, CISS, HARRY, NICHOLAS, DAPHNEY, HANNAH, DANIEL, SANDY, LYDEA & her two children, GEORGE & their future increase, all my household & kitchen furniture, carriage and horses, and all my stock of horses, cattle, hogs & sheep & mules to be disposed of as she thinks fit. Because my son FRANK N. W. BURTON inherited a greater part of his Grandfather's Estate than any one else of the family & for no other cause Item- I give & bequeath to him the said FRANK N. W. BURTON five dollars. Item- I give and bequeath unto my son ROBERT H. BURTON one Negro man KIT now in his possession and one Negro girl CRESSEY, daughter of ALICE, and to JOHN FULLENWIDER BURTON son of ROBERT H. BURTON & MARY his wife one Negro boy ELIJAH, son of SARAH, to them their heirs and assigns forever. Item- I give and bequeath to ALFRED M. BURTON one Negro man VIRGIL now in his possession & one Negro girl LIZZA daughter of ALICE, and to ROBERT AUGUSTUS BURTON son of said ALFRED M. & ELIZABETH one Negro boy FREDERICK now in said ALFRED possession to them their heirs & assigns forever. Item- I give and bequeath to my son JAMES MINGE BURTON one Negro man DEMPSY hereto son returned to him and one Negro boy NORVEL son of ALICE, to him, his heirs and assigns forever. Item- I give and bequeath unto my AUGUSTUS BURTON one Negro boy WILL son of SARAH & one Negro boy ADAM son of ALICE and such sums of money he may charged with upon my books to him, his heirs and assigns forever. Item- I give and bequeath to my son HORACE A. BURTON one Negro boy AUSTIN son of SARAH & one boy EDMUND, son of HANNAH & such sum of money as he may be charged with upon my books to him, his heirs & assigns forever & one eighth part my manner plantation Montpelier. Item- I give and bequeath to my daughter FANNY H. BURTON one Negro woman SALLY daughter of ALICE & her two children EMELINE and DEMPSEY and one Negro girl CHRISTINA daughter of HANNAH & their future increase to her heirs & assigns forever & one eighth part of my manner [sic] plantation Montpelier. Item- I give and bequeath to my daughter ELIZA W. BURTON, DOLLY daughter of ALICE & her child WASHINGTON & BECKY daughter of HANAH & their future increase to her & her heirs & assigns forever & one eighth part of my mannor plantation Montpelier. Item- I give to my daughter FANNY H. BURTON & ELIZA W. BURTON to be equally divided SARAH, JIM her son and SUKY, her daughter, RACHEL and her children NANCY, HESTER, GILLIS, DULCEY & ROSETTA & their future increase to them their heirs and assigns forever. Item- I give & bequeath to my son JOHN W. BURTON one eighth part of my mannor plantation Montpelier & one Negro boy CAMPBELL & such sum of money as he may charged with upon my books. Item- I give and bequeath to my sons ROBERT H. BURTON, ALFRED M. BURTON, JAMES M. BURTON, AUGUSTUS BURTON, HORACE A. BURTON, FANNY H. BURTON & ELIZA W. BURTON & JOHN W. BURTON, all my western lands to wit- one sixteenth part of one hundred and twenty seven thousand acres bought of PLEASANT HENDERSON as an eighth partner of MEMUCAN HUNT & Co. for which I have his bond to convey to me with a credit thereon for 5000 acres leaving a bal. of some less than 2000 acres, 5000 acres purchased of the executors of JOHN RICE who one of the partners of M. HUNT & Co. & one fourth part of 3000 acres called the Peak Spring tract to be sold for the payment of my debts & whatever balance maybe over paying my debts to be equally divided between my six sons aforesaid RHB &c FANNY H. BURTON & ELIZA W. BURTON but in case it should take more than the above lands will amount to at seventy five cents pr. acre (75 cents to pay) my debts then my desire is that that some only be applyed out of the sale said lands to the payment of my debts, and that the balance of said debts so paid by all the aforesaid legatees in proportion to the value of the different legacies. I do hereby appoint my sons ROBERT H. BURTON, ALFRED M. BURTON, HORACE A. BURTON & JOHN W. BURTON my Executors. I do hereby revoke and annull all other wills. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 30th January 1819. RO. BURTON Witness: LEO HENDERSON ORRIN H. SIMS I hereby revoke all devises and bequests made in the foregoing will in favour of my son JOHN WILLIAMS BURTON and hereby devise & bequeath to my sons ROBERT H. BURTON & HORACE A. BURTON and to the survivor & to the heirs, Executors of such survivor all the property of every kind and description both real & personal which in said will so devised & bequeathed to my said son JOHN WILLIAMS in trust that they the son ROBERT H. & HORACE A. the survivor of them, the heirs Executors or Administrators, shall annually and oftener if need be apply the rents, hires, & issues & profits to the support and maintenance of the family of my said son JOHN W. & his family during his life and after the death of his wife and next of kin according to the laws of distribution their in force but not in any manner to be subject to the debts of my said son JOHN W. but should the said trustees think proper they may let the said JOHN W. and family keep possession of the said property instead of hireing or renting it out and such permission and possession shall not be deemed a violation of their trust. I bequeath that my grandson ROBERT EDWARD BURTON son of JAMES M. BURTON and to ROBERT ARCHIBALD HENRY BURTON son of JOHN W. BURTON a Negro boy or girl each of about ten years old out of the legacy herein before bequeathed to my wife to be delivered after her death. I declare this to be a codicil to the foregoing last will and testament Sept. 19, 1822. R. BURTON Witness L. HENDERSON ORRIN H. SIMS State of N. Carolina Granville County August Court A.D. 1825 The execution of the foregoing last will and testament of and Codicil thereto of COL. ROBERT BURTON dec'd was duly proven on oath in Open Court by LEONARD HENDERSON Esq. one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and it having been made appear to the court that ORRIN H. SIMS the other Witness thereto, is not an inhabitant of this State, WILLIAM H. SIMS (father of said ORRIN H. SIMS) came into court and made oath that the signature "ORRIN H. SIMS" to the foregoing said will and Codicil is in the handwriting of the said ORRIN H. SIMS Whereupon on motion it was ordered that the foregoing will and Codicil thereto be recorded. At the same time came forward HORACE A. BURTON named as one of the Executors in said will and duly qualified as such. Witness STEP K SNEED Clk August Court A.D. 1826 ROBERT H. BURTON Esq. named as one of the Executors in the foregoing last Will & Testament ROBERT BURTON dec'd came forward in open court and duly qualified as such. Witness STEP K SNEED Clk
ROBERT BURTON, d. 1825, Inventory; Family & List of Slaves:
Col. B's Family, 31 May 1825: 6 Whites- grown Col. B. Mrs. B. H.A.B. E.W.B. F.H.B. W.BARNES
SLAVES, 12 Aged upwards, as also those below market value:	SLAVES, Under 12 years:
1. CIST 2. DAPHNE 3. ABRAM 4. SANDY 5. BARNETT 6. AILSA 7. HANNAH 8. LYDIA 9. SALLY 10. REBECCAH 11. DELIA 12. CHRISTINA 13. NANCY 14. ESTHER 15. HENNAY 16. BETSEY 17. FRANKY 18. HARRY 19. NICHOLAS 20. SIMON 21. GEORGE 22. ADAM 23. NORVAL 24. GILLIS 25. RACHEL 26. CAMPBELL 27. OLD NELLY 28. LITTLE NELLY 29. EDMUND 30. AUSTIN	31. EADY 32. HENRY 33. EMELINE 34. DEMPS 35. POLLY 36. SUKY 37. HARRIET 38. MARIA 39. STEPHEN 40. PLEASANT 41. WASHINGTON 42. MARTHA 43. STREPHON 44. PAGE 45. CAROLINE 46. HECTOR 47. HENRIETTA 48. VIRGIL 49. KIT 50. CREECY 51. WILLIAM 52. DULCY
MRS. B's Family - 31 Jany 1831: 4 Whites -grown MRS. B. F.H.B. R.E.B. - 12 yrs. CATH'E B.- ditto

SLAVES, 12 and Upwards:	SLAVES, Under 12 Years:
1. DAPHNE 2. SANDY 3. BARNETT 4. AILSA 5. HANNAH 6. LYDIA 7. SALLY 8. CHRISTINA 9. NANCY 10. ESTHER 11. HENNAY 12. BETSEY 13. FRANKY 14. HARRY 15. NICHOLAS 16. SIMON 17. GEORGE 18. OLD NELLY 19. LITTLE NELLY 20. DEMPS 21. HARRIET 22. POLLY 23. PAGE	24. HENRY 25. PATSEY 26. SUKY 27. ELIJAH 28. LIZZY 29. WILLIAM 30. MARIA 31. STEPHEN 32. BILLY 33. CHERRY 34. LAURY 35. PLEASANT 36. KITT 37. ROWENNA 38. GABRIEL 39. ROSETTA 40. JOHN 41. ELIZA
Slaves of COL. BURTON's - as valued- MRS. BURTON: BARNETT - $350 LYDIA - 150 EDY - 150 HENRY - 100 GEORGE - 425 NICK - 350 HARRY - 260 ABRAHAM - 1 SIS - 1 DAPHNEY - 1 ALCY - 175 HANNAH - 50 SANDY - 300 Deduct 2 Slaves 10 yrs old: To ROBT.E. BURTON(of JAMES) -HENRY - $210 To R.A.H. BURTON (of JOHN) - EDY - 240	FANNY & ELIZA Jointly: RACHEL - $100 NANCY - 250 ESTHER - 275 DULCY - 350 ROSETTA - 250 RITTA - 150 VIRGIL - 140 KITT - 100 GILLIS - 500 PLEASANT -200 HARRIET - 150
ROBERT H. BURTON: KITT - $400 CRESY - 225 WILLIAM - changed to RHB in a/c Child - born after death of Testator ELIZA W. ANDERSON: DILLY - $275 WASHINGTON - 200 MARTHA - 150 STREPHON - 100 REBECCA - 250 GRANDISON - 150 CAROLINE - 125 HECTOR - 90	FANNY DICKINS: SALLY - $250 DEMPS - 200 CHRISTINA - 350 EMELINE - 300 STEPHEN- 125 WILLIAM (of CHRISTINA) - 75 MARIA - 150 POLLY - 150 SUKY - 100 HORACE A. BURTON: AUSTIN - $450 EDMOND - 500 {EDMOND changed Aug't 8th, 1817, at $250, afterwards exchanged for AUSTIN, & EDMOND given in the will as well as AUSTIN.}
JOHN BURTON: CAMPBELL - $400 ALFRED BURTON: VIRGIL - $500 JAMES BURTON: NORVAL - $500 DEMPSY - 400 AUGUSTUS BURTON: ADAM - $475 WILL - 400 ---------------- Recapitulation (of family) MRS. BURTON ROBERT H. BURTON ALFRED BURTON JAMES M. BURTON AUGUSTUS BURTON HORACE A. BURTON JOHN W. BURTON FANNY DICKINS ELIZA ANDERSON Grandchildren: ROBERT E. B. BURTON {of JAS. BURTON} ROBERT A. H. BURTON {of JOHN BURTON}
Granville County Wills, WB 10, Pages 101-102 A list of Property personal left by COL. R BURTON of Granville on the 31st of May 1825. Negroes devised to MRS. AGGATHA BURTON 13, to wit, SANDY, BARNETT, AILSE, DAPHNEY, HARRY, HANNAH, ABRAM, NICHOLAS, SIS, LIDEA and three children GEORGE, EADY, HENRY - 13. Out of which Negroes MRS. A.B. is to give ROBERT EDWARD BURTON and R. A. H. BURTON, son of JOHN one at her death. To ROBERT H. BURTON, 2, KITT heretofore delivered and CREESE To ALFRED M. BURTON, 2, VIRGIL delivered & LIZZY sold before the Testator's death to ROB'T H. BURTON. To JAMES M. BURTON, 2, DEMCE delivered, NORVEL not To AUGUS BURTON, 2, WILL delivered and ADAM not To HORACE A. BURTON, 2, AUSTIN delivered and EDMOND To FANNY H. BURTON, 9, SALLY & 4 Children EMELINE, DEMCE, POLLY & SUSAN, CHRISTINA & 3 Children MARIA, STEPHEN & WILLIAM. To ELIZA W. BURTON, 8, DILLY & 3 Children WASHINGTON, MARTHA, STREPHON, & BECK & 3 Children PAGE, CAROLINE & HECTOR. To F. H. and E. W. BURTON to be equally divided, 11, RACHEL & her children NANCY, HENRIETTA, VIRGIL, KITT, DOCTOR, PLEASANT, GILLIS, DULCE, ROSETTA, HORVEL, SARAH, JIM & SUSAN were sold by Testator. To JOHN W. BURTON, 1, CAMPBELL 1 not disposed of WILLIAM about 3 years old the child of CREESE delivered to ROB'T H. BURTON. Cash received by H.A. BURTON Ex'r at different times & from different persons - $275.13. A check on State Bank from ROB'T H. BURTON - 131.00 FREDERICK given to ROB'T H. BURTON delivered to A.M.B. by Testator ELIJAH given to JOHN F. BURTON delivered to ROB'T H. BURTON by Testator. DANIEL was sold by Testator. State of North Carolina Granville County February Court A.D. 1826 The foregoing Inventory was duly returned on oath in open Court by HORACE A. BURTON Executor and ordered to be recorded. Witness STEP. K. SNEED Clk
See additional information: Montpelier Plantation

************************************
Will of LEONARD HENDERSON-1833 Granville County Wills 1830-1833 Will Book 12, Page 520

I LEONARD HENDERSON of sound mind do on this the 4 day February A.D.1829 make and ordain this my last Will and Testament revoking all former wills. I give devise and bequeath to my much loved and affectionate wife and her heirs Exrs. & Admrs forever all my estate, both real and personal of every description and I constitute her and my four sons ARCHIBALD E, WILLIAM F, JOHN L, RICHARD B., Executrix and Executors of this my last Will- trusting that they will make every execution for the payment of my debts. Lastly giving them and the survivors or survivor of them full power to dispose of all or any part of my property for that purpose both real & personal on any manner or in any market they may think proper either publicly or privately without regard to rules or orders of Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal to this my last will all in my own hand writing which I intend to deposit among my valuable papers. L. HENDERSON Published and declared by the testator to be his last Will in presence of us who subscribed the same as witnesses in his presence ROBERT C HILLIARD JOHN P GAUSE 4th Febry 1829 I direct that the above will may be proven either by the witnesses or by proving it to be in my hand writing and found among my valuable papers. L. HENDERSON State of North Carolina Granville County November Court A.D. 1833 The execution of the foregoing last will & testament of L. HENDERSON (dec'd) was duly proven in open court as follows (viz) the hand writing and finding amongst the valuable papers of the testator on oath by M. NEAL, ALBERT SNEED & SAMUEL F. SNEED & are ordered to be recorded, and at the same time forward JOHN L HENDERSON one of the Executors named in the will and qualifies as the same. Witness BENJA KITTRELL Clk
Slaves named in the Estate of LEONARD HENDERSON, Inventory & Account, May Term 1834:

STEPHEN - WM. ROBARDS - $600 MILLY & 2 Children, STANLY & EMILY - WM. ROBARDS - 680 PEGGY - WM. ROBARDS - 500 LAVINIA - A. E. HENDERSON - 400 LUCY - WM. ROBARDS - 430 WILLIAM - WM. ROBARDS - 250 DEMPS - WM ROBARDS - 255 BIG JACK - WM ROBARDS - 510 JESSE - WM ROBARDS - 540 MARIAH & 2 Children, VIRGIL & ROBERT - D. ROGERS - 620 POLLY ANN & 2 Children PETER & ANNA - D. DUGGER - 480 EVELYN - D. DUGGER - 375 ELIZA - D. DUGGER - 320 McINTOSH - D. DUGGER - 210 Man SIMON - DR. SNEED - 200 SAVORY & 2 Children, SALLY & SUSAN - A. E. HENDERSON- 625 ALLEN - THOS. NEWTON - 555 ALSY - JOSEPH SIMS - 400 OSCAR - WM ROBARDS - 305 LITTLE JACK - WM ROBARDS - 590 ISHAM - ROBERT JINKINS - 650 GEORGE - D. DUGGAR - 580 BETSY & 2 Children, HORACE & SIMON - JOHN BULLOCK 735 Boy SAM - WM ROBARDS - 440 LEMON - W. F. HENDERSON - 420 State of North Carolina Granville County May Term A.D. 1834 The foregoing Inventory and Acct of Sales of the property of the Estate LEONARD HENDERSON was duly returned in Open Court on oath by JOHN L. HENDERSON Ex'r and ordered to be recorded. Witness BENJA. KITTRELL Clk
************************************
Will of MARY LEWIS-1814 Granville County Wills Will Book 7, Page 357

In the name of God Amen, I MARY LEWIS do make and ordain this to be my last Will & Testament. My Soul I commend to God in the sure trust and confidence of a resurrection unto life eternal through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and of my worldly goods I make the following distribution. That is to say, I desire that all my just debts should be paid. I give to my son JOSEPH LEWIS a Negro man by the name of PHILL to him and her heirs forever. I give to my son THOMAS LEWIS a Negro girl by the name of LETHE to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son THOMAS LEWIS a Negro boy by the name of MOSES, to him and his heirs forever, which is intended as so much more to him than to the rest of my children. I lend to my daughter ELIZABETH RIDLEY during her life the following Negroes, to wit, YELLOW FANNY, MARY and BECKY and at her death I bequeath them and their increase to the children of my said daughter ELIZABETH to be equally divided between them. I give to my daughter SARAH C. PARK and to her heirs a Negro man named TOM. I lend to my daughter LUCY A. SEAWELL a Negro girl named PHOEBE during her life and at her death I give the said Negro girl with her increase to the children of my said daughter LUCY ANN to be equally divided between them. It being my intention to make an equal distribution of my property among my children (with the exception of the foregoing bequest of MOSES to my son THOMAS) it is therefore my will and desire that the Negroes already named to wit, PHILL, LETHE, YELLOW FANNY, MARY, BECKY, TOM and PHOEBE and that also my other Negroes not herein named, to wit, STEPHEN, DICK, FANNY and JOHN should be valued and an equal division be made according to such valuation among my children JOSEPH LEWIS, THOMAS LEWIS, ELIZABETH RIDLEY, SARAH C PARK and LUCY ANN SEAWELL. It is also my will and desire that my stock of all kinds, household and kitchen furniture, plantation tools, corn, oats and fodder, and all kinds of perishable property not named in this my last Will should be sold, and the money arising from the sale, if it should not amount to one sixth part of my estate, shall be made equal to one sixth part of my estate by my children, to wit, JOSEPH LEWIS, THOMAS LEWIS, ELIZABETH RIDLEY, SARAH C PARK and LUCY ANN SEAWELL, and that said one sixth part of my estate should be laid out in the purchase of Negro girls or women by my Executors, which women and girls, I lend to my daughter HENRIETTA M. A. RIDLEY during her life and at her death I give said Negroes and their increase to the children of my said daughter, if she has any that survive her, if not to return to my estate and be equally divided among my children JOSEPH LEWIS, THOMAS LEWIS, ELIZABETH RIDLEY, SARAH C PARK and LUCY ANN SEAWELL in the manner before mentioned in regard to my other Negroes. It is likewise my will and desire that the property which I am entitled to by the Will of my Father at the death of my Mother SARAH ANDERSON should be equally divided among all my children in the same manner as the rest of property. In the above named divisions to be made such Negro or Negroes as shall be allotted to my daughter ELIZABETH RIDLEY I lend to her during her life, and at her death I give to her children, and such Negro or Negroes as shall be allotted to my daughter LUCY ANN SEAWELL, I lend to her during her life and at her death, I give to her children. I give my books to be equally divided among my daughters. I give to my grand daughter POLLY ANDERSON LEWIS a two year old bay filley (the colt of my chair mare) a bridle and saddle and a bed and furniture. I give twenty dollars to LUCY ANN SEAWELL towards purchasing a set of china. I give one bed and furniture to each of my sons JOSEPH and THOMAS. I give to my daughter SARAH C PARKER one bed and furniture. I lend one bed and furniture to each of two daughters ELIZABETH RIDLEY & LUCY ANN SEAWELL during life, and at their death I give them to their respective children. I give my silver spoons to be divided between my sons JOSEPH and THOMAS and their valuation to be deducted out of their part of my estate. It is my request that HANNAH shall go which of my children she chuse [sic]. It is also my request that STEPHEN shall chuse his master among my children. I appoint my sons JOSEPH and THOMAS my Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hands & seal this twenty sixth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen. MARY LEWIS Signed Sealed & Published and Delivered in presence of JOS. B.LITTLEJOHN WILLIAM HICKS I give and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH RIDLEY, JOHN (which has been named above) in the same manner as the rest of my property before named. But in case that JOHN should amount to more than her proportionable part of my estate, it is my request that DC'TR JAMES RIDLEY should take him at valuation and pay such valuation to my Executors to be disposed of agreeable to my Will above. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth of January Eighteen hundred and fourteen. MARY LEWIS Test WILLIAM HICKS State of North Carolina Granville County February Court Anno Domini 1814 The foregoing last Will and Testament & Codicil thereto were duly proved in open court by the oaths of JOSEPH B. LITTLEJOHN and WILLIAM HICKS subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be Recorded. And at the same time JOSEPH LEWIS & THOMAS B. LEWIS qualified as Executors thereto. Witness STEP SNEED Clk (This was Mary Anderson-Lewis, widow of Charles Lewis [1760-1793] whose will was probated Granville Co. Aug 1793. Charles was the grandson of John Taylor[1696-1780] owner of MacPelah Plantation)

************************************
Will of DAVID MITCHEL-1780 Granville County Wills 1772-1787 Will Book 1, Page 307

In the name of God Amen this 18th day of July 1780. I DAVID MITCHEL of Granville County being in bodily health and of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for the same do make this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following. Imprimis. In the first place I give to my son DRURY one hundred acres of land square at the lower end lying on McCULLOHS line, and as for the rest of my land and stock and household goods I lend to my loving wife JEAN during her life or widowhood and at her death or marriage the land I give to my son JESSE, and my household goods and stock to be equally divided among my daughters, MARTHA, ANNE, MARY and SUSANNA and my wife JEAN I leave my whole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. As Witness my hand and DAVID MITCHEL ("X" his mark) Test. GILLUM HARRIS Granville County Ss. August Court A.D. 1781 This Will was duly proved by the oath of GILLUM HARRIS and ordered to be recorded, then JEAN wife of the said JEAN qualified as executrix to the said Will. Teste REUBEN SEARCY CC (His widow, Jane Tyler, aka Ginney Mitchell, left a will in 1811 Granville Co.)

************************************
Will of STEPHEN SNEED-1821 Granville County Wills Will Book 9, Page 1

I STEPHEN SNEED of Granville County & State of North Carolina being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind do make and declare this to be my will and testament, hereby revoking all others. Imprimis. My will and desire is that my Executors or a majority of such as may qualify hereafter to be named shall proceed imediately to collect all debts due to me & pay all the debts I am owing but should any thing occur to prevent the debts being collected, or so much of them as will meet the debts I am owing then and in that case my will and desire is that so much of my property (as is not herein particularly bequeathed) as a majority of my Executors may deem the most proper and that my wife MARY SNEED shall consent to be sold at private or publick sale as they think best to pay any and all sums that may be due after appropriating to that purpose all the monies that can be collected of what is due to me. Item. I give and bequeath to my son WILLIAM M. SNEED all the undisputed part of the land whereon he now lives which I purchased of JOHN W. CLARY and ARMSTEAD BURWELL and all the land I purchased of WILLIAM PANNELL together with all the land I purchased of BASS family adjoining the foresaid lands. One Negro woman POLLY and all her increase all the stock & house hold furniture now in his possession to him his heirs & assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son JAMES SNEED one Negro boy named NERO & one Negro boy ANTHONY now in his possession , all the household furniture & all horses and a gig now also in his possession together with one thousand dollars in addition to what I haveh heretofore advanced him to be upon interest from the time of my death to him his heirs & assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son ARCHIBALD H. SNEED one negro boy NELSON, one Negro boy JACOB now in his possession . I also give him a negro girl HENRIETTA and a boy CALEB, brother to said girl together with one thousand dollars in addition to what money I have heretofore advanced to him, to bear interest from the time of my death my Executors are directed to pay a sum of money to him which he loaned me sometime ago to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son JUNIUS SNEED one negro woman SILLER and her child EMAJIN one negro girl NANCY one negro boy NED & all their future increase. I also give him the said JUNIUS SNEED Fifteen hundred dollars to be paid to him by RICHARD SNEED it being a sum due to me for land sold to him the said RICHARD to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son RICHARD SNEED one negro boy HENRY son of RACHEL, one negro girl AGNES one negro boy HARRY purchased of THOMAS JORDAN. I also give and bequeath to him the said RICHARD SNEED one undivided half of all the land purchased by me of ROBERT BURTON, JOHN BRAME, JOHN CRAFT, LEWIS REAVIS & THOMA DANIEL being the land cultivated by him the said RICHARD SNEED I myself provided he the said RICHARD SNEED shall pay to his brother JUNIUS SNEED fifteen hundred dollars which he contracted to pay for part the said land together with all such articles & household furniture &c as has been put into his possession. It is my will and desire that my son RICHARD SNEED shall not be charged by my Executors any thing for the rent of the store house or board of his store keeper, but that such rent & board be considered as a compensation for many medical services he has rendered me. I also give and bequeath to my son RICHARD SNEED one lott of ground part of Tan yards lott begining at the south westmost corner of the Female Academy runing thence a line the same course of the side of the Academy towards the Town spring to a point from which a trasverse line runing towards the Town lotts forty yards long shall hit or strike a ditch thence a line paralelled with the first line to the road leading by DOCT HARE's thence south eastwardly along that road to the begining or where the first line strikes the Tan yard lott at the said road to him his heirs & assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son STEPHEN K. SNEED one negro man ISHAM, one negro girl CHARITY, all the land recovered by the heirs of LEONARD H. BULLOCK in Granville County Court of THOMAS HICKS and WILLIAM FRAIZER adjoining the Oxford tract of land, all the land I own within that tract of land called Neely's folly all my lotts within the Town of Oxford and all articles of household furniture &c heretofore put into his possession to him his heirs & assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter EMILY SNEED one negro girl FANNY, one negro girl MINERVA and fifteen hundred dollars to be upon interest from the time of my death to her, her heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son ALBERT SNEED one negro man NICHOLAS the tanner, but my wish and desire is that the said NICHOLAS may remain in the Tan yard and that my said son ALBERT SNEED take charge of the Tan yards for and during the term of three years after my death for and during which term of three years the funds arising from sale of leather are to be exclusively applyed to keeping up a sufficient stock of hides &c as at present that my Executors make a reasonable compensation to him the said ALBERT for his own and NICHOLAS services and that at the expiration of the term of three years. I give to him the said ALBERT SNEED the whole of the said Tan yard lott and its appurtenances except a lott bequeathed RICHARD SNEED and excepting also a house which THOMAS DANIEL is now building and lott extending from COL. WILLIAM ROBARDS' lott to RICHARD SNEED's lott which he is not to have possession of untill all the money legacies heretofore given are paid. I also give him the said ALBERT SNEED all that tract of land which I purchased of GEORGE GOBER ten acres of land purchased of BENJAMIN HOPE which JUDGE HENDERSON is to make title to, all that undivided half of a tract of land purchased of JUDGE HENDERSON which was owned by him & COL. WILLIAM ROBARDS, the leather house and lott of ground on which it stands to begin five feet below the leather house and run back so far as not to interrupt the view from my present dwelling house to the tavern house thence a line back of the leather house parralel with the street to include the shoemaker shop to the paling of the yard upon the dwelling house thence along the paling to the street thence along the street to the begining. I give also to my son ALBERT SNEED one fifth part of the stock of leather that may be on hand at the expiration of three years which it is my wish he should have charge of the yard and that the stock of unfinished leather then on hand shall be prepared and mash made fit for market at the expense of the yard before it is divided. I also give to my son ALBERT SNEED one negro woman FRANKEY wife to NICHOLAS, her two sons WILLIAM and HENRY and all her future increase at what may be their value when the other negroes belonging to the estate are divided to him his heirs & assigns forever. Item. I give to my daughter SALLY W. GREEN one negro girl JINNY and one negro girl FRANCES and fifteen hundred dollars to bear interest from the time of my death to her her heirs & assigns forever. Item. I give to my son SAMUEL F. SNEED one negro boy OSKAR and one negro boy CUDJO and that tract of land (after the death of his mother) begining in my line at the fence where JUDGE HENDERSON's line strikes my line at the branch thence runing along JUDGE HENDERSON's line one hundred yards from said fence then on a course to be governed by the fence and keeping one hundred yards from the fence to Taylor's Ferry road thence crossing Taylor's Ferry road on the same course that the line strikes it to COL. JAMES VAUGHAN's line thence along his line to JOHN TAYLOR's line, thence along JOHN TAYLOR's line to BARTHOLOMEW STRUMs line thence along STRUM's line to ROBERT JINKINS line thence along JINKINS' line to JESSE BARNETT's line thence along BARNETTs line to THOMAS HUNT's line thence a long HUNT's line to the mouth of a branch dividing him between JUDGE HENDERSON & myself thence up that branch as it meanders to the beginning all that lott of ground in Williamsboro lying between my dwelling house lott & CAPT. REEKS house or lott my will and desire is that my son WILLIAM M. SNEED take upon himself the guardian ship of my son SAMUEL F SNEED untill he finishes his education at the University of North Carolina the expense incurred in educating him is to be paid by my Estate and at his return home from the University to be put by my son WILLIAM M SNEED to such business as he may see fit & most proper untill he arrives at the age of twenty one years to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give to my loving & beloved wife MARY SNEED the use of the house wherein I live and all the lands I own on the North western side of Taylor's Ferry road and all that land lying on the opposite side of said road from SAMUEL F SNEED's line along COL. VAUGHAN's line to Taylor Ferry road and along that to where SAMUEL F SNEED's line crosses it including also all that land that is bequeathed to SAMUEL F SNEED but excepting that lott whereon the saddlers shop stands to begin at ALBERT SNEED's lott line on which the leather house stands on the street runing along his line and the course thereof untill a transverse line will strike the gate on Taylors Ferry road along Taylors Ferry road to the street thence up the street to the begining together with all the remainder of my negroes every article of stock household furniture & present years crop &c &c during her natural life and after her death my will & desire is that some one of my sons should take the house where I live and all the lands not other ways disposed of at a moderate value and pay to all their brothers & sisters each their ratable proportion of the value but should neither of them choose to do so the same with every other kind of property left to my wife to be sold reserving 1/2 acre land to bury on and the money equal divided among my sons & daughters except the negroes which are to be equally divided among my sons and daughters by valuation to them their heirs and assigns forever. My will and desire is that my Executors or a majority of such of them as may qualify with the consent of their mother shall lease rent sell at private or publick sale any part or the whole of my lotts in the Town of Williamsborough as well as all or any other property real or personal not already disposed of. And it is my wish and desire that RICHARD SNEED should have a preference to purchase the other half of the tract of land held by him & myself jointly and that all indulgence to make the payment be given him that the circumstances of the Estate will admit of and the money arising from such sale & collections together with the profits of the tan yard during the three years it remains in the Estaate to be applied to the payments of my debts & money legacys & the balance to be divided among all my sons & daughters their heirs & assigns forever. I do hereby nominate & appoint my beloved wife MARY SNEED Executrix and my sons WILLIAM M. SNEED, JAMES SNEED, ARCHIBALD H. SNEED, JUNIUS SNEED, RICHARD SNEED, STEPHEN K. SNEED, ALBERT SNEED and SAMUEL F. SNEED or as many of them as may choose to qualify my Executors. In testimony whereof I have this 26th day of May One Thousand Eight hundred and nineteen signed sealed & declared this to be my last Will and Testament. STEP SNEED Acknowledged in presence of RO BURTON LEO CARDWELL A.E. HENDERSON State of North Carolina Granville County May Court A.D. 1821 The Execution of the foregoing last will and testament of STEPHEN SNEED dec'd was duly proven on oath in open court by LEONARD CARDWELL & ARCHIBALD E. HENDERSON two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion it was ordered that the same be recorded. At the same time came forward WILLIAM M. SNEED, RICHARD SNEED, & STEPHEN K. SNEED named as three of the Executors in said Will and duly qualified as such. Witness STEP K. SNEED Clk
************************************
Will of William Spears, Sr.- 1790 Granville County Will Book 2, Page 181 (Contributed by Martha Everman Jones)

In the name of God amen, I William Spears of the County of Granville and State of North Carolina, do make constitute and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the manner and form as followeth, Item I give to my son Jesse Spears Ten pounds spence to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my son William Spears Sixty pounds spence to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my Daughter Mary Mitchel Five pounds spence she her Heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my Daughter Ann Harris one Negro woman named Honey she and her increase to she her heirs assigns forever. Item I give to my grandson James Hunt Spears one Negro girl named Chana her first living child only excepted, she and all her other increase to him his Heirs and assigns forever, also Five pounds spence to him his Heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my granddaughter Martha Spears daughter of Philip Hunt Spears the first living child that maybe born of the Negro girl named Chana given to James Hunt Spears to she her Heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to the said Martha Spears one good Feather Bed of furniture at her coming of age to she her Heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my son John Spears the tract of Land whereon I now live with the premises thereon containing two hundred and fifty acres be the same more or less to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my said son John Spears one Negro woman names Dorcas also one Negro man named Terry to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item I give to my said son John Spears after paying all my last debts and Legacees all and every part parcel and remainder of my Estate of what nature or kind whatsoever to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item I nominate and appoint Daniel Huntor and John Spears Executors to this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereon I have here unto let my hand and seal this Eight day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty nine (signed) William Spears (Seal) Signed sealed and in presence of William Roberts William (#mark) Fowler Isaac (his mark) Loyd Granville County May Court Anno Domini 1790 – The foregoing last Will and Testament of Williams Spears deceased was duly proven in open Court by the Oath of William Roberts and Isaac Loyd subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be recorded test. A. Henderson, Clerk (Items were not separated, but run together in the original copy.)
************************************
Will of JOSEPH WRIGHT- April 19, 1762 Granville County Unrecorded will (Contributed by L. Wright)

In the name of God, amen, nineteenth day of April one thousand seven hundred sixty-two. I, JOSEPH WRIGHT of St. John’s Parish in the county of Granville being very sick but of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind that is appointed for all men once to die, Do make this my Last Will and Testament, that is to say Principally and first of all I recommend my soul to God that gave it to me; for my body I command to the death to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the direction of my Executors. I give and bequeath to my son JOHN WRIGHT ten pounds Virginia money. I give and bequeath to ZACHARIAH WRIGHT, son of JOHN WRIGHT one hundred and eighty acres of land lying on Crooked Creek in Granville County. I give and bequeath to my son JOSEPTH WRIGHT ten pounds of Virginia money and one bay calf and my chift. I give and bequeath to my son, SAMUEL WRIGHT, ten pounds of Virginia money and one hundred and eighty acres of land lying on Crooked Creek in Granville and one gray horse called Bind and all my hogs and my (?) maker tools I give and bequeath to my son, WILLIAM WRIGHT, ten pounds of Virginia money and one hundred eighty acres of land lying on Crooked Creek in Granville County, and one black mair and all my (?) clothes. I give and bequeath to JEPTHAN WRIGHT, son of LIDIE WRIGHT, one hundred and seven acres of land lying on Crooked Creek in Granville County including the plantation that the said JOSEPH WRIGHT is in possession with at this present. I give and bequeath to my daughter ANN WRIGHT HUNNYCUT ten pound Virginia money I give and bequeath after my lawful debts are paid the remaining money , household goods, hogs, cattle and one mair to be equally divided between my daughter LIDIA WRIGHT and my daughter ELIZABETH WRIGHT; Likewise, I constitute, make and ordain my beloved son JOSEPH WRIGHT and JOHN HUNNYCUT to be my sole and only executors of this my last will and testament disannulling and revoking all other former writings, wills and testaments before this time made and ratified this and no other to be my last Willl and Testament. For witnesses hereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first about written. Signed, sealed, published and discharged this said JOSEPH WRIGHT to be his Last Will and Testament in presence of JESSE ADAMS, ELIAS (his Mark) SMITH JOSEPH (his Mark) WRIGHT (Seal) WRIGHT Will May 1762 recorded

************************************