Bertie County NC Will of James Stallings-1834 Contributed to USGenWeb Archives by: Marjorie "Janet" Biondo James Stallings Will Recorded Book F Page 157 Will James Stallings 1834 In the name of God amen I James Stallings of the county of Edgecombe & State North Carolina, being of sound disposing mind & memory and calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die - do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, Principally and first of all my Just debts to be paid - item. I give and bequeath unto my grand child William Pope Jr. (Son of William Pope of Tennessee) one negro boy named Washington (which is now in his possession) to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath unto my my grand child Joseph John Pope (Son of said Wm. Pope of Tennessee) one negro woman Rose to him and his heirs forever Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Mary Ann Pope (Daughter of the said Wm. Pope of Tennessee) one negro boy named Zadrick to her and her heirs forever Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Salley Addiline Pope (Daughter of the said William Pope) one negro girl named Minty to her and her heirs forever Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Child James West Pope (Son of the said Wm. Pope) one negro boy named Jerry to him and his heirs forever Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Tabitha Robertson (Daughter of William Robertson dec'd) one hundred and fifty dollars in cash to her and her heirs forever Item. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children (Say of my Daughter Martha's by her last husband John Draughon) nine hundred dollars in cash to be equally divided between them all, to them and their heirs forever Item. I Loan unto my Grand Daughter Rebecah Taylor (wife of Allen Taylor) during her natural life all that Tract of land lying on the South side of swift creek known by the name of the Josiah Pope Tract containing two hundred acres more or less and at her death my will an desire is that said land be equally divided between all the children of her that shall be then living to them and their heirs forever Item. I give and bequeath unto my great grand children born of my grand daughter Rebecah Taylor, all of them that shall be living at my death all that Tract of Land lying on the South side of Swift creek, known by the name of the Wm. Pope Tract containing seven hundred acres, more or less, to be equally divided between them all, to them and their heirs forever Item. I Loan unto my sister Selah Stallings - and my old negro woman Esther during their natural lives all that tract of land lying on the South side of Browns Branch known by the name of the thorn Tract, containing fifty acres, more or less, - and at their deaths, I give and bequeath said land unto my son in law William Pope (of Te.) my will and desire is that my old negro woman Esther be liberated from slavery for her meritorious services, that a sufficiency of my Estate be reserved for to support her comfortably during her natural life that she be not removed from these parts to no other, contrary to her wish - and request and appoint my friend Jacob Ing who is one of my executors to look specially to the care of said negro Esther Item. I give and bequeath unto my son in law William Pope of Te. all the residue of my lands not previously bequeathed in this will, also one bed & ferniture to him and his heirs forever Item. All the residue of my Estate my will and desire is that it be equally divided between my son in law William Pope and all my grand children of my Daughter Martha dec'd by her first husband Wm. Robertson and last husband John Draughon, be it understood the one half to said William Pope, the other half to be Equally divided between my said grand children of my Daughter Martha's and I do hereby appoint make and ordain my friend Jacob Ing and my son in law William Pope the Sole executors of this my last will and Testament Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 20th day May 1830 his James + Stallings (Seal) mark Signed &c in the presence of us Henry Adams her Tabitha + Varden x mark May Court 1834 - Edgecombe County The within last will and Testament of James Stallings dec'd was exhibited in open court for probate and was proved by the oath of Tabitha Varden one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and Jacob Ing one of the Executors named in the sd. will at the same time qualified thereto Ordered that the same be certified & the will recorded Test W. Hearne C C Jacob Ing qualified (crossed out) ======================== 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.