Bertie COUNTY NC Wills William Anderson Nichols Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by "Marianne Ordway" http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm The Last Will of William Anderson Nichols - written May 18, 1898 archived in the Bertie County, NC Will Book I - page 572 - probated November 21, 1898; Book I/#572, #573, #574 Bertie County, North Carolina Last Will of William A. Nichols, Deceased. I, William A. Nichols of Bertie County, State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do hereby make and declare this my last will and testament. First - My executors hereinafter named shall provide for my body in decent burial, and after paying my funeral expenses, shall out of the first moneys coming into their hands from my estate pay all my just debts. Second - My debts shall be paid out of my personal property, and it there is not sufficient personalty, then out of my real property. Third - I give and bequeath (after the payment of all my just debts) Unto my children, R.C. Nichols, J.K. Nichols, W.M. Nichols, Henrietta Nichols, S.P. Nichols, Venezuela Shores, and Marcus W. Nichols, to be divided in equal shares among them according to valuation, all of my Real estate, except one six acre lot which is hereinafter designated, and with the changes upon the following shares, to wit -The sum of Twenty-five Dollars shall be deducted from R.C. Nichols share, Twenty-five Dollars from J.K. Nichols share and Fifty Dollars from W.M. Nichols share. Fourth - The one Hundred Dollars above named as charged in Item Third, shall be disposed of as follows - Twenty five Dollars shall go to my son S.P. Nichols, and the remaining Seventy Five Dollars shall be equally divided between S. P. Nichols, Henrietta Nichols, Marcus W. Nichols and my daughter Venezuela Shores. These sums as above charged and disposed of, shall be in either in cash from those who are charged, or shall be accounted for in the division of land. Fifth - The six-acre lot, mentioned in Item Third, I give and bequeath unto my grandson Alonzo Nichols, to him and his heirs, with no power to dispose of during his lifetime. The said six acres is designated as follows - adjoining the lands of W.A. Nichols, Jno. Rice and others, beginning at Rice corner, in the canal, thence along said Rice line to a bay tree near Minces ridge, then along said branch to Nichols fence, thence along said fence to the canal. Sixth - All the rest and residue of my estate shall be equally divided among my seven children named above. Seventy - I hereby name and appoint my son W.M. Nichols, and my daughter Henrietta Nichols to execute this my last will and testament according to the true meaning and intent thereof, with the powers usually belonging to executors, here by revoking and making void all other wills made by me, heretofore. This May 18, 1898. his William A. Nichols {seal} x mark Signed, sealed, published and declared by W.A. Nichols to be his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request, we do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto. This May 18th 1898. E.C. Harrell Alex Lassiter North Carolina,} Superior Court. Bertie County.} The foregoing paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of William A. Nichols, deceased, is this day exhibited in open Court for probate, and the due execution thereof by the said William A. Nichols, is proved by the oath and examination of E.C. Harrell and Alex. Lassiter, the subscribing witnesses thereto; and it is further shown to the satisfaction of the Court, but the oath and examination of said witnesses, that the said William A. Nichols was, at the it me of making said will, of sound mind and memory, of full age to make a will and under no restraint to their knowledge, information or belief. It is, therefore, considered, adjudged and decreed that such proof is sufficient and according to law, and that said paper writing is and contains the last will and testament of William A. Nichols, deceased, and it is ordered that said will be admitted to probate and recorded in the Book of Wills of Bertie County, and as such, filed as provided by law, in the office of the Clerk of the Superior court for said County. Witness my hand, this the 9th day of November, 1898. W.L. Lyon Clerk Superior Court State of North Carolina,} Bertie County.} In the matter of the last will of} Bertie County} In the matter of the last will of} Before W.L. Lyon Wm A. Nichols, Deceased.} Clerk Superior Court. W.M. Nichols bring duly sworn, doth say: That Wm A., Nichols, late of said County, is dead, having first made and published his last Will and Testament, which has been admitted to probate, and that W.M. Nichols and Henrietta Nichols are the executors named therein. Further, that the property of the said Wm A. Nichols consisting of land, Household and Kitchen furniture, Stock, crop and provisions and Farming implements is worth about $700 so far as can be ascertained at the date of this application; and that R.C. Nicholls, J.K. Nicholls, W.M. Nicholls, Henrietta Nicholls, Venezuela Shores, Marcus W. Nicholls and S.P. Nicholls are the parties entitled under said will to the said property. Sworn to and subscribed before me the 21 day of Nov. 1898} W. M. Nichols W. L. Lyon} Clerk Superior Court.} State of North Carolina,} Bertie County} In the matter of the last will of} Before W.L. Lyon Wm A. Nichols, Deceased.} Clerk Superior Court Upon considering the application of W.M. Nichols for Letters Testamentary upon the estate of William A. Nichols, deceased, and in approving there from that said W.M. Nichols and Henrietta Nichols the executors mentioned and appointed in the last Will and Testament of said William A. Nichols, deceased, which last Will and Testament has been admitted to probate, it is Ordered and adjudged that the said W.M. Nichols and Henrietta Nichols be allowed to qualify as executors upon the estate of William A. Nichols, deceased, as provided by law, and enter upon the discharge of the duties imposed by said trust; and said W.M. Nichols & Henrietta Nichols this day come into open Court and qualify as such executors by taking the oath prescribed by law, and thereupon Letters Testamentary issue. This 21 day of Nov. 1898. W.L. Lyon Clerk Superior Court +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Contributed by: Marianne Nichols Ordway