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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Virginia Crilley
(crilley@eramp.net) June 26, 1997.

Samuel is the s/o John Ruffin (alias O'Quinn); the s/o Ethelred; the s/o Wm
Ruffin/Faith Gray Ruffin.

>Edgecombe County August Crt. 1826
Certified and recorded-Book F Page 60


I Samuel Ruffin of the County of Edgecombe and the State of N. Carolina doth
make  this my last will and testament in manner and form following (viz)

Imprimis  It is my will and desire that should my crop of turpentine
together with the moneys that is due me by notes and accts be insufficient
to pay my just debts, that my Executors hereafter named should sell to the
best advantage my negro man Darbey, and according to law? much of my
household of kitchen furniture together with the plantation utensils and
stock of every kind which my beloved wife should see proper to spare for the
purpose of paying my just debts and the contingent charges for settling the
estate, also one lot in the town of Smithfield.
 
Item: I give and bequeath unto my wife Mary Ruffin all the surplus money
(should there be any left) from the sale above mentioned after the paymentof
my just debts? together with my negro man Charles, my negro woman Hagan? and
my negro girl ?inney, also all the pork on hand and all the corn on hand,
with my large new family Bible, Benedicts History of the Baptist (2 vol)
Booth's Reign of Grace, Profession of Faith, Pilgrims Progress, Clay and
Daniels' Hymn Book, together with the residue of all my property except the
bequests hereafter to be made the conditions ammended? there unto. It is my
will she should keep the family together the present year.
 
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son William Ruffin all the household and
kitchen furniture which was heretofore placed in his possession while a
married man together with the stock of horses and hogs given to him at or
before that period also my negro man Folley? to him and his heirs forever.

Item:  I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth M. Ruffin my negro boy
Ben and my negro girl Harriet, one bedstead and furniture and one chest or
Trunk to her and her heirs forever.

Item:  I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ester ? Tyson my negro woman
Lucy and my negro girl Silvia also one bed, bedstead and furniture, one
chest together with every other article she has Receivedsince her
marriage--both household and kitchen furniture to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Cecilia A. Ruffin my negro woman
Charlotte and my negro girl Amy, also one bed, bedstead and furniture and
one family trunk to her and heirs forever.

Item: It is my will and desire that the residue of my negroes not already
given away should remain in one common stock and be hired out by my Exes.
hereafter named, at the discretion of my wife and the money arising from
such hire to be equally appropriated between my daughter Margaret H. Ruffin,
Jacque A. Ruffin, Mary A. Ruffin and Prudence S. Ruffin until my daughter
Margaret arrives to the age of twenty one years or marries at either of said
period, then an equal division to take place and Margaret to receive her
proportionable part of said negroes as near as can be assertained by three
judicious men and in such divisions should their be a difference the
valuation of the lots or lot set out for Margaret shall pay over to the
other three heirs to wit: Jacque, Mary and Prudence or they to pay to her as
the case may be, and so on when Jacque arrives to that period as is above
named as respect Margaret then another Division to take place as described
above, and so on with Mary untill all is divided; but in the meantime after
a division takes place for either of said children to receive their
part--the Residue of said negroes to come into described for the benefit of
the smaller children untill all arrives to lawful age or marries.

Item: I lend unto my beloved wife a tract of land bound as
follows,viz,Beginning at two small white oaks in her own line-Thomas
Dunfords corner then west along her own line-130poles, then south 76poles to
a black Jack in Johnathan Roberson's line then along said Roberson's line
East to a lightwood stake in a marsh-then nearly south with Robersons line
to Evan's old Road then with said Road Eastwardly to a pine Wiliam Ruffin's
corner in Thomas Dunford's line then south with said Dunford's line to the
begining containing seventy acres of land. With this exception that she
shall not clear or cut any timber off of said land but what shall be
sufficient to keep up the fence during her lifetime of widowhood, and at her
death or widowhood I give said tract of land to Elizabeth M. Ruffin and her
heirs forever.

Item: Notwithstanding the gift made to my wife int the first item my will
desire and intention is that should she marry, then and in that case the
property except the negroes should be sold and the money arising from such
sale to be equally divided between herself and all my children.

I nominate and appoint my wife executrix and my son-in-law William Tyson and
my friend Reading Sugg Exec. to this my last will and Testament in witness
whereof I have set my hand and seal this 4th day of January 1826.

ackn. before us
Asa Griswold                              Saml Ruffin
Elijah Roberson

Virginia Crilley 4500 Kenny Lane Waco TX 76710 (254)772-5390