The following
original will is in the North Carolina Archives in Raleigh, N.C.
In the name of God, Amen. I William Powell of the County of
Granville & State of North Carolina being of sound & disposing mind
(blessed be God) do this 13th day of January in the year of Our Lord
One thousand Eight Hundred & forty three (1843) make, Ordain,
publish & declare this my last Will & Testament in manner following,
that is to say:
First, I lend to my beloved wife Nancy Powell during her natural
life or widowhood all my estate both real & personal (except my
tract of land known as the John Hunt tract) and after her death or
marriage (as the case may be) I dispose of it in the following
manner; viz
2nd. I lend unto my daughter Peggy Hight during her life the tract
of land on which I now live containing Two hundred & twenty five
Acres, and after her death to be equally divided between her five
sons, namely James, Robert, Thomas, Red & Redick Hight. The division
to be made by themselves after the death of their mother and the
youngest has arrived at the age of twenty-one years. I give her one
Negro girl named Catharine to her & the heirs of her body for ever.
3rd. I lend unto my daughter Polly Merritt during her life one Negro
man named Jack and after her death to be equally divided between her
three daughters, namely Nancy, Fanny & Sally Merritt.
4th. I give unto my grandsons Wm. R & James Powell my John Hunt
tract of land, and should either die before he arrives to the age of
twentyone years, I wish the survivor to have the whole tract.
5th. I wish the residue of my estate to be equally divided among my
grandchildren in the following manner viz. One fourth to the heirs
of the body of Peggy Hight, One fourth to the bodily heirs of Polly
Merritt, one fourth to the children of James Powell Dec’d and one
fourth to Mary Ann Catharine Merritt daughter of Sally Merritt dec’d.
Lastly, I hereby appoint my friend Josiah Crudup & my son in Law
Herbert Hight Executors to this my last Will & Testament; made,
published & declared the day & year first above written.
Signed, Sealed, published & declared in presence of us, who were
present at the time of signing & sealing thereof.
Attest
his
Graten X Overton Jr.
mark
Andrew Crudup Jr.
Josiah Crudup
NOTES:
William Powell’s will was probated in August 1848.
William Powell’s wife Nancy was apparently a Leeman.
William Powell’s granddaughter Mary Ann Catherine Merritt was the
daughter of Sally Powell and Morris Merrit by Morris’s first
marriage. Mary Ann Catherine (who went by the name Catherine)
married James W. Loyd of Granville County, son of John Loyd and
Rebecca Levister of Granville County. Catherine and James moved to
Franklin County, N.C. Before James died January 31, 1864 at Camp
Holmes, N.C., James and Catherine had had the following children:
William Henry Loyd (b. ca. 1856), James Loyd (b. ca. 1856), Edward
G. Loyd (b. ca. 1858), Benjamin Loyd (b. ca. 1860) & Emma Laura Loyd
(b. ca 1863?). Sources: 1860 Franklin, N.C. Census, 1870 Wake, N.C.
Census & other matters of record. |
