BERTIE COUNTY WILL - Howard, James - 1729 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Songy7777@aol.com Marguerite Prince Songy From NC State Dept. of Archives and History, NC WILLS, 1663-1789 Vol. 15, page 3. Will of JAMES HOWARD, Oct. 6, 1729 In the name of God Amen. James Howard of Bertie Precinct in North Carolina, Gent. The sixth day of October 1729 - being sick in body. Imprimis - That my just Debts and Contracts be honestly paid. To my beloved wife Sarah - that part of the plantation whereon I now live being in Bertie Precinct, containing about 300 acres of upland and also half the meaders ground with all the buildings and appurtenances there to belonging - beginning at the Black Walnut Branch at ye mouth thereof and so running up the north side to a marked white oak standing near the line of the plantation afad and from thence by a line drawn through the plantation afsd and through the Land I bought of Richd WILLIAMS to the head line thereof and that equal division of the same be made in two parts. That my wife afsd have the improvements as afed on her part of the afsd division. To hold the same land and premises with the improvements and profits during her widowhood and provided she marries before my son Solomon comes of age twenty years then my will is that she may live on the land afsd committing no waste & keeping ye plantation & buildings in good repair until my afsd son sollomom arrives to the age of twenty years. And athe afsd land & premises after my wife's Decease or widowhood or at his arrival to ye full age of twenty years which shall first happen I give my afsd son Sollomon & to the heirs of his body - and for want of such heirs I give and bequeath the afsd land etc to my son Edward & to his heirs lawfully begotten - and for want of such heirs I give and bequeath the land etc to my son John and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten. To my son James Howard - a plantation & improvements lying in Nansemond County Virginia, near the plantation of John SPEIGHT, which plantation I had with my beloved wife Sarah. To my son James Howard a plantation joyning upon my Mannor Plantation & my brother Edward Howard, containing 150 acres on the East side of the Black Swamp Branch - but if my son James is disposed to sell the afsd land then my will is that if he sells it to either of his brothers that hath land adjoining upon the afsd land then in such case I give the afsd land to my son James. To my daughter Sarah Howard - a tract of land lying on Ahorsky Swamp between Thomas DAVIS' land a& the land I bought of my brother Edward Howard containing some 350 acres. To my son Edward Howard - one half of my Mannor Plantation & the (torn) of the land I bought of Ricd WILLIAMS to be laid out & divided as before directed in this my Last Will & Testament - and further my will is that if he is minded to sell the sd land & do sell to one of his brothers then in such case I leave the afsd land to my son Edward. To my son Samuell Howard - a tract of land wihich I bought of my brother Stephen lying on Cooneriskratt Swamp containing 320 acres. To my son John Howard - a certain tract of land & plantation lying on Cooneriskratt Swamp where John SPEARS formerly lived with all the land I have joyning on the southern side of sd swamp containing 440 acres. To my wife - all that part of the tract of land where John SPEARS formerly lived lying on the eastern side of Cooneriskratt Swamp and being part of the same tract of land I have given to my son John -- to my said wife in order that the value be disposed of in bringing up and schooling my children. To my son James - a tract of land on the Horse Swamp containing s350 acres after the lightwood on same land is burned into Tarr, wch Tarr I order to be equally divided among all my sons. I give and bequeath a tract of land lying at Alligator Creek near New River containing 540 acres which I bought of my brother Joseph in manner following, viz - to my sone James 100 acres to be laid off next the Bay. to my son Samuell 100 acres of afsd tract joyning my son James. to my son Edward 100 acres of ye afsd tract binding on my son Samuell's line. to my son John 100 acres of sd tract binding on my son Edward's line. to my son Sollomon all the remainder of teh tract. (140 acres). To Francis SPEIGHT of Chuckatuck Parrish in Nansemond Co. Virginia for 100 lbs. of good feathers, five pounds silver money & two small Bibles - 400 acres of land on Cooneriskratt Swamp, which land is of my own taking up. Personally to be given each child at age 21 years: Negroes, guns, Bibles, tools, etc. were devised to his wife and children. Note: copy of this will came from a cousin who transcribed it years ago, apparently, she didn't think this information was worth ellaborating on...) Appoint my wife Sarah and my son James Howard Executors. James Howard (wax seal) Test: Mary W. BURKETT Geo. OTWAY Codicil dated 9th Cct 1729 appoints his Brothers Edward & John Howard to oversee Executors in performance of will. No probate date shown. James Howard and his wife Sarah had formerly lived in Nansemond Co. Virginia. His brothers, mentioned in the will: John, Edward, Stephen, Joseph Howard all evidently living in Bertie Precinct NC at the date of will. Children of James and Sarah Howard: James Howard Sarah Howard, under 18 years at date of will Samuel Howard " Edward Howard " John Howard " Solomon Howard " 1757 tax List of Bertie Co., NC lists: Solomon Howard James Howard Edward Howard Samuel Howard Thomas Howard evidently all sons except John Howard still lived in Bertie at least until 1757. FAMILY GROUP RECORD: James Howard, I b. 1660 Kinsale, VA, m. 1691 Sarah TITUS, dau. of Thomas TITUS, d. after 6 Oct. 1729, around age 69. Children: 1.James, II b. 1707 Bertie Co, NC d. 1790 Bertie Co., NC, (my line). 2. Sarah 3. Edward, was a Justice of Peace in Onslow Co., NC in 1739. 4. Samuell 5. John, b. 1718 Nansemond Co, VA, was also a JP in Onslow Co. from 1739-51, d. 1772 in Bute Co., NC. 6. Sollomon, inherited the land in Bertie. James I, brothers info: Edward d. 1745. Stephen d. 1745. John Joseph James widow, Sarah Howard remarried after his death to Thomas CREA in 1744. James and Edward went to Onslow Co. after the death of their father, About 1741 or 42 John Howard also bent to Onslow and settled on the "Blew Creek area". Had the following children: 1. James of Fredericks Creek, Hampstead area 2. John, II 3. Josiah 4. Bartholomew ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. 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