North Carolina, Richmond County - Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. January Term, 1842. To the Worshipful 
Court now in Session. The petition of Bethune B. McKenzie, Executor of the last will and testament of Kenneth 
McKenzie, dec'd, and one of the legatees of said testator, humbly complaining, respectfully sheweth unto 
your Worships: 
1. That sometime in the Month of Feby 1841 the said Kenneth McKenzie departed this life leaving three 
children, to wit.- James H. McKenzie, Daniel McKenzie and your petitioner; four grand children to wit,- 
Sarah Ann Morris, Jackson Morris, Reuben Morris and Dardan Morris, children and heirs at law of Joseph 
L. Morris, who had intermarried with Nancy McKenzie the daughter of said testator.
2. Your petitioner further sheweth that the said testator after having bequeathed several specific legacies 
by his said last will and testament directed that the residue of his personal estate should be equally 
divided between his three children and four grand children per stirpes; that is to say ···part to James 
H. McKenzie, ··· part to Daniel McKenzie and ··· part to your petitioner and the other ···  part equally between 
his four grand children aforesaid, share and share alike.
3. Your petitioner further sheweth unto your Worships that amongst the said residue of the said testator's 
personal estate are thirteen Negroes, slaves, to wit.- Juliet, Sam, Dinah, Rose, Little Dinah, Watt, Dave, 
Harry, Martha, Elias, Jack & Julia. The last mentioned born after the death of said testator.
4. Your petitioner further sheweth unto your Worships that a division of said slaves is highly desirable 
and that the other legatees to wit.- James H. McKenzie, Daniel McKenzie and the minor children of Joseph L. 
Morris, and wife Nancy, to wit.- Sarah Ann Morris, Jackson Morris, Reuben Morris and Darden Morris reside 
beyond the limits of this State.
 
Now therefore, in consideration of the premises, your petitioner humbly prays your Worships that three 
freeholders unconnected with the parties by consanguinity or affinity be appointed by this Worshipful 
Court to divide, lay off and allot to the legatees their respective shares of said Negroes, as well the 
twelve in esse at the death of the testator as the one since born, and report to this Worshipful Court. 
And that publication may be made in some news-paper as the law directs, notifying those legatees residing 
beyond the limits of this State as aforesaid, to appear at the next Term of said Court and cause themselves 
to be made parties to this petition; otherwise that the allegations and matters set forth herein may be 
taken pro confesso and decreed accordingly. And your petitioner further prays that your Worships will from 
time to time, make such other and further relief as to justice and equity may pertain. And your petitioner 
as in duty bound will ever pray. J. W. Cameron, Atto for Petitioner.

State of North Carolina, Richmond County - Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions. October Term A.D. 1842. 
To the Worshipful Court now ins Session. We the under-signed freeholders appointed by the Court of Pleas 
and Quarter Sessions of said Co. having been duly sworn, proceeded on the 7th day of October A.D. 1842 to 
divide and make partition between and among James H. McKenzie, Sarah Ann, Jackson, Dardan and Reuben Morris, 
children and heirs at law of Joseph L. Morris, deceased, Daniel McKenzie and Bethune B. McKenzie tenants in 
common of certain Negroes, to wit:- Juliet, and her four children Sam, Ana, Rose and Little Dinah; Dinah and 
her four children, Watt, Dave, Harry and Martha Jack; Elias & Julia and allot and assign to each and all his 
and their share in severalty as follows, that is to say: The first lot consisting of Watt, a boy 16 years 
old, valued at five hundred and fifty dollars; Harry, a boy 11 years old, valued at four hundred dollars 
and little Dinah, a girl aged four years valued at one hundred and seventy-five dollars, amounting to $1125. 
we allotted and assigned to James H. McKenzie. The second lot consisting of Jack, aged 33 years of age, 
valued at five hundred dollars; Martha seven years of age, valued at three hun-dred fifty dollars, amounting 
in all to $1150. we allotted and assigned to Bethune B. McKenzie. The third lot consisting of Sam, 19 years 
of age, valued at five hundred and fifty dollars; Juliet a woman about 38 years of age, valued at two hundred 
and fifty dollars; Rose, a girl seven years old valued at three hundred dollars and Julia, a child nine months 
old valued at seventy-five dollars, amounting in all to 1175., we al-lotted and assigned to Sarah Ann, Jackson, 
Dardan and Reubin Morris, children and heirs at law of Joseph L. Morris, dec'd. The forth lot consisting of 
Elias, a man thirty-five years of age, valued at five hundred dollars; Dave, a boy aged 12 years valued at $400, 
and Dinah a woman aged about 35 years, valued at $275, amounting in all to $1175, we allotted and assigned to 
Daniel McKenzie. (signed) W. C. Thomas, Eli Terry and D. B. Nicholson.