Greene County, NC - Will of Bennet Fields Sr ************************************************ 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: Guy Potts http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00017.html#0004214 Will of Bennet Fields Sr March 28, 1883 Source: NC Archives State of North Carolina, Greene County I, Bennet Fields Sr of the county and state aforesaid being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following this is to say; First that my executor (hereinafter named) shall provide for my body a decent burial, suitable to the desires of my relatives and friends, and pay all funeral expenses, together with my just debts, howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys that may first come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate Item 1st I give and devise to my oldest son William A Fields one thousand dollars in notes or money Item 2nd I give and devise to my son Jerry M Fields, one thousand dollars in notes or money Item 3rd I give and devise to my son Bennet Fields, Jr one thousand dollars in notes or money Item 4th I give and devise to my son James H Fields, one thousand dollars in notes or money Item 5th I give and devise to my youngest son Seth G Fields, one thousand dollars in notes or money Item 6th I give and devise to my grand children, being the children of Lozeau Thorne, my daughter, one thousand dollars in notes or money, this bequest includes the grand children of the said Lozeau Thorne, whose mothers are now decd Item 7th I give and devise to my grand daughter, Martha Carroway, two hundred dollars in notes or money Item 8th I give and devise to my grand son, Bennet Speight, two hundred dollars in notes or money Item 9th I give and devise to my grand son Henry Speight, five dollars in money Item 10th I give and devise to my grand son Franklin Speight, five dollars in money Item 11th I give and devise to my grand son Gray Speight, five dollars in money Item 12th I give and devise to my grand children, John, Martha and Bennet Moore, being the children of my daughter Mandy Moore decd, eight hundred dollars in notes or money, and to share, and share alike. Also one tract of land known as the Tyson and Rogers land containing three hundred acres more or less, adjoining the lands of William A Fields Robert Lang and others, to have and to hold to them and their heirs in fee simple forever Item 13th My will and desire is that all the residue of my estate at my decease after taking out the devises and legacies mentioned herein shall be sold and the debts owing to me collected; and if there should be any surplus over and above the payment of debts expenses and legacies that such surplus shall be equally divided and paid over to my children in equal portions share and share alike to them and each and every of them, their executors administrators and assigns absolutely forever Henry Speight Franklin Speight and Gray Speight are excepted from the provisional of the last Item 13 Item 14th I give and devise to my son Jerry M Fields my brandy still that is under the shelter Item 15th I give and devise to my sons William A Jerry M Bennet James H and Seth G Fields all of my old irons to be equally divided between them Item 16th I give and devise to my son William A Jerry M Bennet James H and Seth G Fields my water mill including four acres of land adjoining the land not covered by the mill pond and all the appertenances belonging unto the land And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons Jerry M Fields and Bennet Fields Jr my lawful executors to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament accordingly to the true intent and meaning of the law and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made In witness thereof I the said Bennet Fields Sr do hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of March 1883 Bennet Fields Sr (Seal) Signed sealed published and declared by the said Bennet Fields Sr 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 witnesses thereto GW Stanton JW Bynum HC Turnage DW Patrick CSC ********************** No 77 Application For Letters Testamentary Greene County: In the Probate Court before DW Patrick In the matter of the Will of Bennett Fields Sr Bennet Fields Jr being sworn, doth say: Bennett Fields Sr, late of said County, is dead, having first made and published his last Will and Testament; and that Jeremiah Fields and Bennett Fields Jr the executors named therein. Further, that the property of the said Bennett Fields Sr consisting of real estate and personal property is worth about $10,000 so far as can be ascertained at the date of this application; and that William W Fields, Jerry M Fields, Bennet Fields, James H Fields, Seth G Fields, JD Thomas, William Thorne, Bennet Thorne, Margaret Thorne and Henrietta Thorne, Martha Carroway, Bennet Speight, Henry Speight, Franklin Speight, Gray Speight, John, Martha & Bennet Moore are the parties entitled under said will to the said property. Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 21st day of May 1883 Bennet Fields Jr Next line for signature of Probate Judge is blank ********************** Executor¹s Oath State of North Carolina Greene County In the Probate Court Jeremiah Fields & Bennet Fields do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I believe this writing to be and contain the last Will and Testament of Bennet Fields Sr deceased; and that we will well and truly execute the same by first paying his debts and then his legacies, as far as the said estate shall extend, or the law will charge me; and that I will well and faithfully execute the office of an executor, agreeable to the trust and confidence reposed in me, and according to law, so help me God. Sworn and subscribed before me, this 21st day of May 1883 Bennet Fields Jr Jeremiah Fields Next line is for signature of Probate Judge, line is blank No 79 Probate of Will State of North Carolina Greene County In The Probate Court A paper purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Bennet Fields Sr, deceased, is exhibited before me, the undersigned, Judge of Probate for said County, by Bennet Fields Jr & Jeremiah Fields, the executors therein mentioned, and the due execution thereof by the said Bennet Fields Sr by the oath and examination of JW Bynum and HC Turnage two of 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 Bennet Fields Sr; Remainder of page is not legible