Edgecombe-Hertford-Nash County NcArchives Wills.....Sheffield-Hegi, Mary November 27, 1774 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mary Sheffield-Hegi msheffield2003@yahoo.com April 18, 2010, 4:07 pm Source: Nc Archive Written: November 27, 1774 Recorded: January 25, 1782 James Morgan of Edgecombe County and Nash and Elizabeth Parish 1774 Edgecombe Parish was again found to be too large and accordingly divided. The western portion became Elizabeth Parish. The dividing line began at Richmond's Old Place on the40 Roanoke and extended along various bounds to the house of Thomas Daniels on Fishing Creek.41 The landmarks mentioned in the division have now disappeared but the line apparently ran within a mile or so of the present road between Halifax and Enfield. The freeholders of Edgecombe Parish were directed to meet at the Church at Conoconara to elect vestrymen while the freeholders of Elizabeth Parish were to hold their election at the court house in Halifax town. Very little is known about Elizabeth Parish. After its formation there are few references to it. The will of the Rev. Thomas Burges mentions money due him from the two parishes in Halifax County, indicating that he served both Edgecombe and Elizabeth Parishes. The same session of the Assembly which divided Edgecombe Parish in 1774 also divided St. Mary's Parish, Edgecombe County. The new parish formed from St. Mary's was also called Elizabeth.42 This parish was not a part of Elizabeth Parish as formed from Edgecombe Parish— Halifax and it is strange that the two new parishes should have identical names.43 Elizabeth Parish as formed from St. Mary's occupied what is now Nash County. The parish division referred to took place in 1756. The part of Edgecombe Parish south of Fishing Creek was constituted St. Mary's Parish. This division left Edgecombe Parish bounded by the present limits of Halifax County. In 1759 the county itself was divided and Edgecombe Parish did in fact become Halifax County while the Parish of St. Mary's retained the name of Edgecombe.31 It is not known why the parish of more recent establishment retained the old county name. The confusing combination of Edgecombe Parish-Halifax County resulted. The act dividing the parish in 1756, in addition to providing for the money due from John Pope, directed that St. Mary's Parish assume its share of the arrears of the parish of Edgecombe, the proportion to be determined by the number of tithables in each parish. This was customary when a new parish was established and seems to have been perfectly fair. However, the new vestry of St. Mary's didn't like the arrangement and sent the Rev. Mr. Moir and two of its members to the Assembly and to the Governor to complain.32 In 1760 he was one of the commissioners appointed to lay out the town of Tarborough and was one of the first lot holders. Mr. Moir remained in St. Mary's until 1762 when he became rector of St. George's Parish in Northampton County. While in Northampton he seems to have visited Bertie and Hertford Counties and his old charge of St. Mary's with some degree of regularity. He resigned from St. George's late in 1765 and died soon thereafter. The Rev. Mr. Moir was quite a controversial figure and much has been written about him. He became involved in a private dispute with Governor Dobbs while he was rector of St. Mary's. There is a good discussion of Mr. Moir and his work in St. George's Parish in Northampton Parishes by Lewis.33 The chapel at Elias Fort's was located on the south bank of the Tar River near a small spring at Teat's Bridge.68 This bridge appears on Tanner's map of North Carolina, printed in 1823, and is located about eight miles north west of the town of Tarboro, near Dunbar farm. There is no reference to any other chapel in St. Mary's Parish, in either the printed histories or court records. The Mouzon Map already referred to, shows a cluster of houses and a church building at both Halifax town and Tarboro. Whether this is of significance or merely the map makers symbol for a town, one cannot say. There seems to be no tradition of a church or chapel in Tarboro at this date belonging to the Church of England. James Morgan Nash County, North Carolina, Will Book I, page 19 "In the Name of God, Amen this 27 day of November 1774, I James Morgan, of Egcomb County and Elisabeth Parish being Sick and weak of body but of sound and perfect sense and memory and calling to mind the mortality of body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, and as for what it hath pleased God to Bless me with I Give and dispose in manner following. Imprimus, first of all my lawful debts and funeral charges to be paid. Item. I Give and bequeath to my loving son John Morgan, all that part of land begining at the Mouth of Norflits branch thence to out to the back line line and up to Benjn. Tanns line also one Cow and Calf to him his heirs &c for Ever Item. I Give and bequeat to my loving son James Morgan all that part of land on Et. Side of the Deep Bottom Branch up to the Bogg Branch, then up the Bogg Branch to the head thence a Strait course to John Taylors line, also one cow and calf and on two year old heifer to him his heirs and assigns foreve. Item. I Give and bequeat to my loving son Henry Morgan one Cow and Calf and one two year old heifer to him his heirs and &c forever. Item. I give and bequeat to my loving son Hardy Morgan the reminder of my land with the plantation I now live on after his mothers death to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and bequeat to my loving wife Elisabeth, all the remainder part of my Estate to raise my children with and what remains at her death I desire may be equally divided between my son Stone and Bette Cealle Morgan, and I do hereby Nominate and appoint my loving wife Elisabeth Morgan my sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament utterly disallowing all others before by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in Witness whereo, I have herento set my hand and affixed my seal in the day and date above, Writen Signed Sealed published his and pronounced by sd, James James X Morgan (Seal) Morgan to be his last Will mark and testament C W Moore his John X Finch mark her Mary X Kiff mark" An inventory of James Morgan's estate was made by Hardy Morgan, administrator. It included much livestock, and a sale was held by James Battle, Sheriff, on January 25, 1782. Selah Morgan and Hardy Morgan were mentioned (Nash County Inventories, Sales and Current Accounts of Estates 1777-1859). An inventory of James Morgan's estate was made by Hardy Morgan, administrator. It included much livestock, and a sale was held by James Battle, Sheriff, on January 25, 1782. Selah Morgan and Hardy Morgan were mentioned (Nash County Inventories, Sales and Current Accounts of Estates 1777-1859). File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/edgecombe/wills/sheffiel1546gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 7.4 Kb