North Carolina Archives
Loose Estate Papers
Tyrrell County (C.R.096.508.03), Box 3
Alexander, Joseph, 1850

Bond dated 27 Jan 1851 in the amount of $30,000 appointing H. G. Spruill administrator of the estate of Joseph Alexander deceased, S. S. Simmons, Jos. Halsey, Jesse Sanderson & John McClees securities.

Bond dated 27 Jan 1851 in the amount of $6,000 appoimting H. G. Spruill guardian to Martha F., Josephine & Abner Alexander, orphan children of Joseph Alexander deceased, S. S. Simmons, Jos. Halsey, Jesse Sanderson & John McClees securities.

Petition January Term 1851 of H. G. Spruill, administrator of Joseph Alexander deceased, who says the assets of the estate are a considerable amount of perishable property, but it is insufficient by a large amount to pay the liabilities. One of the assets of the intestate is the following slaves, Oscar, Phillis and child Jane. Becky & Lucy, all of whom it will be necessary to sell. He prays a decree of sale.

Account of the hire of the negros belonging to the estate of Joseph Alexander for the year 1851, hired on 27 Jan 1851 and payment due 1 Jan 1852.
Negro man Solomon to R. W. Halsey for $126
Negro man Moses to R. W. Halsey for $140
Negro man Jim to R. W. Halsey for $131
Negro boy Spencer to C. B. Alexander for $50
Negro woman Ferebee & child to C. B. Alexander for $10
Negro woman Annis & 2 children to C. B. Alexander for $39
Negro boy Andrew to C. B. Alexander for $15
Negro girl Eliza to C. B. Alexander for $26
Negro woman Annis to C. B. Alexander for $27
Total is $564.12
Negros Solomon & Moses were arrested by the Sheriff and confined in prison 11 days and a deduction is allowed R. W. Halsey of $12.08
Remaining balance $551.92
 
Invalids to be kept:
Woman Eunice & 4 children by C. B. Alexander for $50
Woman Viney & 4 children by C. B. Alexander for $50
Less $100
$451.92

Petition January Term 1851 of Caroline B. Alexander who shows that her late husband, Joseph Alexander died since the last term of this court. Her said husband died possessed of considerable personal property out of which she is advised she is entitled to a year's allowance for herself, family and servants in the style of her former life. She prays a decree for the laying off of her year's allowance.

Account of sale of the chattel property of Joseph Alexander deceased on 27 Jan 1851 by the administrator of his estate, H. G. Spruill.

Six-month note from S. S. Simmons dated 29 Jan 1851 in the amount of $600 for the purchase of negro girl Lucy from H. G. Spruill administrator of the estate of Joseph Alexander.

Report dated 29 Jan 1851 of H. G. Spruill, administrator of Joseph Alexander, of the sale of negros Oscar, Philis and child Hannah belonging to the estate of Joseph Alexander to Benj. A. Spruill for $1,700

Laying off of the year's allowance of Caroline B. Alexander, widow of Joseph Alexander, on 30 Jan 1851 by Jos. Halsey, S. S. Simmons & James Brickhouse. There are 7 pages of items sold, who purchased them and for how much. Total sales were $3,220.02.

Petition April Term 1851 of Hezekiah G. Spruill, administrator of Joseph Alexander, who states that said Joseph died recently leaving his estate so much in debt that the monies on hand, the sales of the personal property and the rights and credits of said estate are insufficient to pay the debts. In addition to the property now sold it is now necessary to sell the following slaves belonging to the estate viz. Solomon, Moses, Jim, Spencer, David, Eunice, Annis, Anny, Ferebee, Beck, Eliza, Viney, Mingo, Charles, Margaret, Ellen, Jim, Windsor, Peter, John, Edy, Boston, Andrew, Morris, Tom & Mary. He prays an order for sale.

Petition April Term 1851 of Caroline B. Alexander, widow of Joseph Alexander, who shows that her huband died recently seixed and possessed of the following tracts of land in Tyrrell County, the manor plantation on which he resided at his death containing about 100 acres, about 60 acres joining the plantation which was bought from J. D. Hassell, about 50 acres joining the plantation bought of John A. Brickhouse, about 20 acres on the sound where the windmill and fishery are located and 200 acres of swamp on Mill Tale Creek, out of which she is advised she is entitled to dower. Petitioner further shows that these lands have descended to Martha F., Josephine & Abner Alexander, all of whom are infants of tender years and wards of H. G. Spruill. Petitioner prays for a writ of dower.

Petition July Term 1851 of Hezekiah G. Spruill, administrator of Joseph Alexander deceased, who shows that the personal assets of said intestate amount to only about $24,900 and the estimated indebtedness of the estate is $28,000 and the estimated cost of administering the estate is $2,300. He represents that it is now necessary to sell all Alexander's real estate which descended to his heirs at law, which real estate is shown in Annex A along with its estimated value. Petitioner prays an order to sell all the real estate listed.

Laying off of the dower of Caroline B. Alexander in the lands of her deceased husband, Joseph Alexander on 23 Jul 1851 by Jordan L. Jones High Sheriff and James Brickhouse, Benj. Brickhouse, James S. Sutton, Samuel Norman, Isaac Cooper, Thomas Gibson, Joseph Gibson, Jesse Brickhouse, Job A. Swaon, Ebi Rhodes, Uri Spruill & Joseph Basnight. A tract was layed off to her joining the sound shore, the upper line of the main plantation, Joseph Gibson, John Liverman, the main road near where the blacksmith shop now stands and the poor house.

Laying off of the dower of Caroline B. Alexander in the lands of her deceased husband, Joseph Alexander on 30 August 1851 by Jordan L. Jones Sheriff and Isaac Cooper, James Chaplin, Hardy T. Brickhouse, James Forbes, John W. Tarkenton, Thos. P. Gibson, Henry Gibson, Ebe Rhoads, John M. Brickhouse, Simeon Roads, B. B. Brickhouse & Seth Sanders. One third of the lands by value were alloted to her joining Joseph Gibson, John D. Liverman, Patsy Brickhouse, the main road, the Poor House and the sound.

Indenture dated 8 Sep 1851 between H. G. Spruill of the County of Washington and Martha F. Alexander, Josephine Alexander, Abner Alexander & Frances S. Alexander, children of Joseph Alexander deceased and all of Tyrrell County.
Witnesseth: Whereas the said Joseph Alexander died on or about 26 Dec 1850 and had a policy for insurance of his life with the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company for the benefit of his wife & children for the sum of $5,000; and whereas the said H. G. Spruill was appointed guardian of the said heirs at January Term 1851 and received from the president of said company the sum of $3,920.92 as the share for the said children of the said insurance money; and whereas at March Term 1851 of the Court of Equity of Tyrrell County the said H. G. Spruill filed a petition for authority to lay out said funds in negros for the benefit of said heirs; and at said term of the court an order was made granting the petition and directing a report be made to next term; and whereas the said H. G. Spruill did report to the Judge of the Court of Equity at September Term 1851 that he had purchased for the benefit of said heirs and held by deed from James F. Davenport the following negros purchased at the following price viz. man Jim at $902 - man Spencer at $981 - boy Charles at $545 - woman Ferebee and child Maria at $782 - and girl Eliza at $650, and at said term the report was confirmed and an order made that said H. G. Spruill convey to said heirs the negros named in the report;
Now, by virtue of the premises and the said order of the Court of Equity, the said H. G. Spruill hath bargained and sold, and doth by these presents doth bargain and sell to the said Martha F., Josephine, Abner & Frances S. Alexander, heirs of Joseph Alexander deceased, the aforesaid negros Jim, Spencer, Charles, Ferebee, Maria & Eliza to them and their heirs forever.

Petition April Term 1852 of Hezekiah G. Spruill as administrator of Joseph Alexander who shows that said Joseph died intestate about January 1851 and at January Term 1851 your petitioner duly administered upon his estate and shortly thereafter sold all his property, both real and personal, and has exhausted the same in the course of administration. He futher shows that said Alexander left at his death his wife, Caroline B., and the following infant children who are in ward to your petitioner, to wit, Martha F., Josephine, Abner & Fanny S.. Petitioner further shows he is desirous of having a settlement with and a discharge from the said Caroline B. and said infants but the same can't be effected with them by reason of their infancy without the aid of the court. He therefore prays a decree to take an account, a settlement to be had and a diacharhe to be decreed. He also prays a guardian ad litem be appointed for the infants.

Current account of H. G. Spruill, administrator of Joseph Alexander, as of 26 Oct 1852. It shows a credit of $30,443.34.

Bond dated 15 Jan 1858 in the amount of $5,000 appointing Caroline B. Alexander guardian to Josephine Alexander, Abner Alexander & Fanny Alexander minor orphans, H. G. Spruill, Alfred F. Garrett, Dennis Simmons & Montraville Bowen of Tyrrell, Washington & Martin Counties as securities.

Petition January Term 1858 of Dennis Simmons and wife Martha who show that with Josephine, Abner & Fanny Alexander they are tenants in common in equal interest of negro slaves Spencer, Charles, Ferebbee, Eliza, Maria & Violet, that Josephine, Abner & Fanny Alexander are infants under age and that Caroline B. Alexander is their guardian. Said Dennis & Martha want to hold their share in severalty and pray a court order.

Agreeable to an order at January Term 1858 B. S. Basnight, B. A. Spruill & John dunbar allot to Dennis Simmons and wife Martha F. her share of the negros belonging to the heirs of Joseph Alexander on 25 Jan 1858. Commissioners find there are four children viz. Martha wife of D. Simmons, Josephine Alexander, Abner Alexander & Fanny Alexander and that there are six negros viz. Spencer, Charles, Ferebee, Eliza, Mariah 7 Violet and they allot negro woman Ferebee and her girl Violet to Martha F. wife of Dennis Simmons.

Division of the negros belonging to the estate of Joseph Alexander on 15 May 1860.
Valuation as follows:
Spencer valued at $1,100
Charles valued at $1,500
Eliza and child valued at $1,300
Hannah valued at $1,000
Total value = $4,900
Each share = $1,633 1/3
Spencer, Eliza and child at a value of $2,400 was set off to Caroline B. Alexander
$766.77 to be paid to Caroline B. Alexander as guardian to the infant petitioners.

Transcriber's Notes:

Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of Jos. Alexander to Caroline B. Spruill on 4 Apr 1832, Henry E. Lewis security; also Dennis Simmons to Martha F. Alexander on 29 Jan 1857, Samuel McCleese security; also E. Ransom to Josephine Alexander on 14 Jun 1859, H. B. Norman security.

The 1850 Census of Tyrrell County shows the household of Joseph Alexander (45), Caroline B. Alexander (37), Martha F. Alexander (16), Josephine Alexander (7), Abner Alexander (5), Bushrod W. Alexander (14), Oliver Bateman (25) & Andrew Bateman (18).

The 1860 Census of Tyrrell County shows the household of Edward Ransom (30), Josephine Ransom (18), Caroline B. Alexander (47), Abner Alexander (14), Frances Alexander (9), John B. Quick (30), James E. Quick (20) & Virginia Quick (4).

The 1860 Census of Martin County shows the household of Dennis Simmons (33) and Martha Simmons (26).

See the 1832 will of Samuel Spruill who was the father of both Hezekiah G. Spruill and Caroline B. Spruill.

Return to Tyrrell County Probate Records

Updated July 29, 2026
Charles W. Barnes