Greene County, NC - Will of Cullen Edwards, 1859 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 8034 CULLEN EDWARDS WILL Found in the NC Supreme Court Case #8034 - FRANCIS M. ROUNTREE VS HOLLAND EDWARDS ET AL In the name of God Amen I Cullen Edwards of the County of Greene and State of North Carolina being of sound mine and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this to be my last Will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, First – That my Executor hereinafter named shall provide a decent burial for my body suitable to the wishes of my friends and relatives and pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts however and to whomsoever owing out of the first money that may Come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate. Item I loan to my beloved wife Holland Edwards during her natural life or widowhood, all of my lands adjoining the Town of Hookerton Known as the Ellen Hooker lands, said lands I purchased from said Ellen Hooker, containing forty six acres more or less, including my mansion house and all other houses on said lands, in satisfaction for an in lieu of her dower and thirds of all my real estate. Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Holland Edwards all of my house-hold and kitchen furniture – except my Piano, one hundred and fifty barrels Corn, fifteen stacks of fodder, twelve bushels Peas, Fifty bushels Wheat, five bushels rough rice if on hand, three thousand pounds of Pork, one barrel of sugar, one hundred pounds of coffee, Five hundred pounds of seed cotton, three horses or mules, her choice, three sows & pigs her choice, two cows & calves her choice, all the poultry, one buggy and harness, two ploughs & two sets of gear her choice, one pair cart wheels, body and gear her choice, to be hers and at her disposal absolutely forever. Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Holland Edwards, the following negro slaves, viz, Woman Harriett, aged nineteen years and her child Maria, aged one year, Woman Hannah, aged fifteen years, together with all the future increase of said negro slaves to her and at her disposal forever Item – I loan to my beloved wife Holland Edwards during her natural life or widowhood the following negro slaves viz: man George, a blacksmith by trade, man Howell and boy Abram. Item – I loan to my daughter Mary W. Albritton, widow of Alpheus Albritton, decd. During her natural life, the following negro slaves viz: Man Hardy, woman Phillis, and child Charles and boy Elbert together with all the future increase of said negro slaves and it is my will that after her death, said negro slaves together with all their future increase shall descend to the lawfully begotten heirs of the body of the aforesaid Mary W. Albritton, and if the said heirs begotten of the body of said Mary W. Albritton should after her death, die leaving no heirs begotten of their bodies then and in that case it is my will and desire that the said negro slaves together with all of their future increase shall descend to my lawful heirs. Item – I give an bequeath to my daughter Mary W. Albritton widow of Alpheus Albritton dec. the sum of fourteen hundred dollars to be applied in the purchase of a piece of land to make her home. Item – I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary W. Albritton widow of Alpheus Albritton, decd one years support for she and her family, if she is not settled off on a farm before my death. Item – I loan to my daughter Alice A. E. Edwards, during her natural life the following negro slaves viz. Woman Cherry and her three children Miser Daniel and Dibby man Squire and boy Noah together with all the future increase of the said negro slaves and my Piano. Item – I give and bequeath (word marked through) devise to my daughter Alice A. E. Edwards my Ellen Hooker lands adjoining the Town of Hookerton, at the death of my wife her Mother, and her heirs in fee simple for ever. Item – I give and devise to my son Josiah Edwards all of my land on the South Side of the lane that runs through my plantation, beginning at the big ditch between myself and the heir of B. H. Saunders decd. and at the mouth of said lane and running with and in said lane a direct line to my corner near the place where the Cunninggim school house formerly stood. Provided nevertheless that should the said Josiah die without heirs lawfully begotten of his body then and in that case it is my will that the said land herein given and devised to my son Josiah shall descend and absolutely belong to my son Samuel in fee simple forever. Item – I give and devise to my son Samuel Edwards all of the my land on the North side of the lane, beginning at the ditch and runing in and with said lane as Josiah's does to my corner near the place where the Cunninggim school house formerly stood. Provided nevertheless that should the said Samuel die without heirs lawfully begotten of his body then and in that case it is my will that the said land herein given and devised to my son Samuel shall descend and absolutely belong to my son Josiah in fee simple forever. I give and bequeath to my son Josiah Edwards the following negro slaves Viz: Man George aged about twenty five years and Howell which is to descend at the death of my wife and man Howell being loaned to her. Item – I give and bequeath to my son Samuel Edwards the following the negro slaves viz: Boy Jonas, aged about fourteen years and man George the Blacksmith by trade which is to descend at the death of my wife, said man George being loaned to her. Item – I give and bequeath to my three youngest children viz; Josiah, Samuel, and Alice A. E. Edwards all of the property that I may not have otherwise disposed of, to share alike, to them and their heirs for ever. And lastly, I do hereby Constitute and appoint my Trusty friend John H. Coward my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last Will & testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and every part and clause hereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other Wills & Testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said Cullen Edwards do hereunto set my hand and seal. This the 5th day of May AD 1859 Signed Cullen Edwards Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Cullen Edwards to be his last Will & Testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto J. P. Crofton J. A. Hartsfield A true copy of the original R. W. Best CC Clerk ______________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Mewborn Marble - 58marble@cox.net ______________________________________________________________________