Will of James Davis




Contributed by: Sloan Mason


  The Tyndall Collection from the "NOBLE Estate" Copied and transcribed by Sloan Mason and Martha M. Marble with permission from the Heritage Room at Lenoir Community College; Kinston, N.C. (Surnames capitalized for easier reading) Will of James DAVIS Lenoir County, N.C. Written: 20 June 1846 State of North Carolina Lenoir County In the name of God, Amen. I, James DAVIS of the County of Lenoir and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory but considering the ---------- my Earthly existance do make and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that into say first that my Executors herein after named shall provide for my body a decent bural sutible to the wishes of my relatives and friends, and pay all funeral expenses to gether with my Just debts however and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys that may first come in to his hands as a part or parcel of my estate. Item #1-I leve unto my beloved wife during her natural lifetime or widowhood all of lands and household and kitchen furniture, farming utensils and waggons, carts, and Buggey and stock of every descripton, viz: horse, cattle, sheep and hoggs and bees and the following negroes namely: HESTER, BECKY, KILLY, WASHINGTON, SANTEE, PRINCE, JACK, DOCTOR and such part of my stock as my wife dos not want to be given up to my Executors and to be sold and the money arising from the sail to be divided among my heirs as will be mention in later close of my will. Item #2-I Give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Elizabeth WILLIAMS, all that she rec'd when she was married and one neggro girl LEAH which she now has in possession and after her mothers death to have BECKY, KILLY and our feather bed and furniture all which, I give to her, her heirs and assigns for ever. Item #3-I Give and bequeath unto my beloved son James J. DAVIS all that he rec'd when he was married and my compass and all the instruments for surveying an my one Dollar in money as I think he has been heretofor provided for-all of which I give to him his heirs and assigns for ever. Item #4-I give and bequeath unto my beloved son John M. DAVIS all of lands that I bot from J. W. KORNEGAY, that is after my wife's death, which he now has in possession and part of the John A.? TURNER land that is all on the north side of ----- Branch from the corner of said Branch ----- to -------- WILLIAMS line and on hundred acres of the Owen STROUD land to begin in the Grate? Branch near the KORNEGAY lines and run across from Grato? Branch to a litewood ---- and all one hundred acres and all what he rec'd when he was married one negro girl named KISEY? which he now has in possession and after his mother's death to have WASHING a negro woman and one feather Bed and furniture all of which I give to him his heirs and assigns for ever. Item #5-I give and bequeath unto my Beloved son Anthony DAVIS, all the land which he now lives beginning at a pine the beginning corner of land I bot from my son John M. DAVIS, and runs with that line to Zeno's fence then with the ce a Ditch runs around the fence to where the lines cross out of the field and then with that line to Job? LEARY line then with LEARY? Line to pattent the old plantation then with that path road to the road then with road to Silvia? JARMAN'S cross from a ditch then with path to the beginning and the balance of the John B. TURNER tract of land and all that he rec'd when he was married and one negro boy named EZRA? Which he now has, now in possession and after his mother death to have negroe named SANTEE and feather bed and its furniture all of which I give to him his heirs and assigns for ever. Item #6-I Give and bequeath unto my beloved son Zenas? DAVIS all of my land where he now lives and 23 and half acres that I bot from John S.? HOWARD'S and all on the north side of the road from the corner from Ditch to Samuel HOWARD'S line and also Daniel BOYET'S land water? I bot from John L.? HOWARD and all that he rec'd when he was married and negro boy by the name of PETER? And after his mother's death to have HESTER and PRINCE and one feather bed and furniture and all of what I give to him and his heirs and assigns for ever. Item #7-I Give and bequeath Beloved son Stephen H. DAVIS all my land where I now live, house and plantation and all my land that I have not heretofor give away the balance of the Owen STROUD Tract and one hundred acres that I bot from Bradock? TAYLOR and one negroe woman EDNEY and after his mother's Death to have JACK and DOCTOR and one log? Carage and chairs that is belonging and now ---- ----- and two feather beds and the natural? Furniture and two cows and calves and one small brass clock all of which I give to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item #8-As I for got a part in the 5th Item I another --? I give to Anthony DAVIS all my Toos, viz: carpenters tools, Black smith's and Turner's Tools and one spiral arm saw which I give to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item #9-After paying all my just debts and funeral expenses the balance then to be divided between Elizabeth WILLIAMS, John, Anthony, Zenas?, and Stephen and after my wife's death all other perishable property to be sold - and ----- other moneys ensuing from the sale to be equally divided in between Elizabeth, John, Anthony, Zenas?, and Stephen. Item #10-I now nominate and appoint and constitute my beloved son Zenas DAVIS sole Executor to this last and Testament I have here in witness where of I the said James DAVIS have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this the 20th day of June, A.D. 1846. Signed, Sealed and published and delivered by the said James DAVIS the testator as his last will and testament in presence of us was present at the time of signing and delivering thereof was entered before us signed. John T.? NOBLE James DAVIS Joseph B. NOBLE (No record of probate) END OF DOCUMENT

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