Bertie COUNTY NC Will of Joseph B. Ruffin 1894 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lynn McCarthy Lcmccarthy@aol.com http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/bertie.htm Will of Joseph B. Ruffin Bertie County North Carolina Will Book I Pages 426-428 Transcribed from original Will. North Carolina Bertie County I, Joseph B. Ruffin, of the aforesaid County and State, being of Sound mind but considering the uncertainty of My Earthly existence, do make and declare this my last will and testament. First, it is my will that my land except that in and near Powellsville Shall be divided, begining as follows, at a pine Stump on the road known as the Freeeman corner, and about three hundred and thirty five yards from Starky S. Cowands field, thence a Strait line to J. H. Bowens line that part lying South of Said line, Shall be divided into two Equal parts, one part (her choice) I loan to My wife Mary E. Ruffin during her natural life then to be equally divided between my two Sons Charles S. Ruffin and Joseph B. Ruffin, the other part I give and bequeath to my Son Charles S. Ruffin. That part of my land lying North of Said line I give and bequeath to my daughter Racheal V Cowand during her natural life then to her lawful heirs. I give and bequeath to My Son Joseph B. Ruffin My lot in Powellsville containing two and one fourth Acres, also one tract of land near Powellsville containing forty acres more or less, and known as part of the Hunter land, for further description of Said land, Se deed from George B. Askew to J B Ruffin. It is also my will and desire that my friend J. W. Mitchell, be and is hereby constituted Guardian for my Son Joseph B. Ruffin, who is a minor, to have and to hold Custody of his estate herein given, untill the Said Joseph B. Ruffin Shall arrive at the full age of twenty one years. In witness wherof I the Said Joseph B. Ruffin do hereunto Set my hand and Seal, this the twenty first day of November 1894. his Joseph B. X Ruffin (Seal) mark witnes J. H. Bowen J.P. Signed Sealed published and declared by the Said, Joseph B. Ruffin to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence do Subscribe our names as witneses thereto J. H. Bowen J. W. Mitchell ________________________________________________ From Pages 427 and 428 of Will Book I State of North Carolina In the Superior Court Bertie County A paper purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Joseph B. Ruffin deceased, is exhibited before me the undersigned Clerk of the Superior Court for Said County and the due execution thereof by the Said Joseph B Ruffin is proved by the oath and examination of J H Bowen and J. W. Mitchell the Subscribing witnesses thereto who being duly sworn doth depose and Say and each for himself deposeth and saith that he is a subscribing witness to the paper writing now shown him purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Joseph B. Ruffin that the Said Joseph B. Ruffin in the presence of this deponent Subscribed his name at the end of Said paper writing which is now shown as aforesaid and which bears date of 21st day of November 1894 And the deponent further Saith that the Said Joseph B Ruffin the testator aforesaid did at the time of Subscribing his name as aforesaid declare the Said paper writing So subscribed by him and exhibited to be his last will and Testament and this deponent did thereupon subscribe his name at the end of Said Will as an attesting Witness thereto and at the request and in the presence of Said testator. And this deponent further Saith that at the Said time when the Said testator Subscribed his name to the Said last Will as aforesaid and at the time of the deponents Subscribing his name as an attesting witness thereto as aforesaid the Said Joseph B Ruffin was of Sound Mind and Memory of full age to execute a Will and was not under any restraint to the knowledge information or belief of this deponent: And further these deponents Say Not. J. W. Mitchell J. H. Bowen Severally Sworn and Subscribed this 12 day of March 1895 before me W. L. Lyon Clerk Superior Court North Carolina In the Superior Court Bertie County It is therefore considered and adjudged by the Court that the Said paper writing and every part thereof is the last Will and Testament of Joseph B. Ruffin deceased. Let the Said Will together with the probate be recorded and filed. This 12 day of March 1895. W. L. Lyon Clerk Superior Court Written on the left margin of Page 426: Mary E. Ruffin widow of Jos. B. Ruffin on this Apr. 16. 1895 filed her written dissent to this Will. Same as recorded on Page 433 this book. W. L. Lyon Clerk Superior Court ================== Mary E. Ruffin Dissent To Will of Husband, Jos. B Ruffin Bertie County North Carolina Will Book I Pages 433-434 To W. L. Lyon Clerk Superior Court of Bertie County I hereby enter my dissent to the will of my husband the late Jos. B. Ruffin and demand that my Dower and rights of thirds be allotted to me in all of the real estate owned by my late husband Jos. B. Ruffin. This dissent is filed in accordance with Section 2108 of the Code of North Carolina. This April 16, 1895. Mary E. Ruffin Francis D. Winston North Carolina In the Superior Court Bertie County Before the Clerk This execution of the foregoing dissent was this day proven before me by the oath & examination of Francis D. Winston subscribing witness thereto- The execution of the said foregoing dissent was also this day acknowledged before me by Mary E. Ruffin. Let the same be recorded in Book Of Wills and filed with the Will of Jos. B. Ruffin, as a record of this Court. Witness my hand this 16th day of April 1895. W. L. Lyon Clerk of Superior Court ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============