Greene County, NC - Will of Joseph House, 1824 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JOSEPH HOUSE WILL Copy of Will found in North Carolina Supreme Court Case #2959, North Carolina Archives, Raleigh, NC – House & Harper vs House & Hooker – 1841 – Greene County, NC NOTE: Sarah married Major Croom, Thomas married Louiza Murphrey, Susannah married an unknown Dixon and 2nd Joseph Brown, Elizabeth married James Wesley Hooker. Francis died young and it is not known if James ever married. In the name of God, Amen I Joseph House calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty life being weak in bodily health but of Sound mind and memory do after first recommending my Soul to him who gave it and my body to the dust from whence it came, make and ordain this to be my last Will and testament, Viz, Item 1st. I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Hooker three negroes which she now has in her possession to wit, Rose, Hannah and Lucy together with their increase unto her, her heirs and assigns forever. Item 2nd. I lend unto my Daughter Susan Dixon during her natural life, one certain tract or parcel of land on the North Side of the Rainbow Swamp, Joining and bounded by the lands of the Heirs of Frederick Dixon, Benajah Dixon, Obid Dixon, Joseph Taylor and John Connor, being the land I purchased at Kinchin Dixons sale for her only proper use benefit and behalf during her natural life, also I lend her five negroes, which she has now in her possession to wit, woman Nancy and four children during her natural life. Item 3rd. I Give and bequeath after the death of my Daughter Susannah Dixon the tract of land loaned to her in the 2nd Item unto the Heirs lawfully begotten of her body, to be equally divided between them their heirs and assigns, and to their only proper use benefit and behalf of, together all ways, waters or appentenances thereunto belonging. I also Give unto the Said heirs of Susannah the above mentioned negroes loaned in the 2nd Item unto them their Heirs and assigns forever together with the increase thereof. Item 4th. I lend unto my Daughter Sally, one negro woman named Patsey, and four children, ten shares in the State Bank of North Carolina, one horse, Saddle, and Bridle, one bed and furniture, and one bureau during her natural life, and after her death, I Give and bequeath the said Negroes together with their increase, the Said Bank Stock and the profits thereof, as well as the other property loaned to her as above unto the Heirs of her body for their only proper use benefit and behalf, provided however in case the said Daughter Sally Should die without leaving children of her body, then and in that case my will and desire is, that the said property shall be equally divided between my three sons, James, Thomas and Frances or the survivors of them their heirs and assigns. Item 5th. I Give and bequeath unto my son James one tract of land lying and being on the North Side of Contentnea Creek Beginning at the mouth of Mauns Swamp and running up the various courses of said Swamp to a white oak, Hollidays and Dails Corner and running with Hollidays line to a pine another of said Hollidays Corners – then with another of said Hollidays lines a north course to another pine his corner, then nearly a last course with Sanfords old line to a pine at the head of the Canoe ?? pond then nearly a South Course to a pine on the edge of deep bottom Swamp, then with said Swamp nearly a South course to the fork of the Swamp then down the South prong of said Swamp to a post oak on the Creek bank, then down the Creek to the beginning, containing by Estimation three hundred acres, more or less, To him his heirs and assigns, also negroes Shade, Bob, China and child together with their increase unto him his heirs and assigns provided however in case my son James should die without leaving issue lawfully begotten of his body my will and desire is the property given to him as above shall be equally divided between my three children, Sally, Thomas and Francis or the Survivors of them, their heirs of assigns forever. Item 6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas one certain tract or parcel of land on the North Side of Contentnea Creek, Beginning at the old Pitch landing, Sanfords old Corner and running nearly an east course to a pine at the head of deep bottom Swamp, James Houses corner then with said James’ land to a pine his corner at the head of the Canfoehand ?? then with Robert S. Carr’s line to Nancy Wades line, to Panther Swamp, then the various courses of Panther Swamp to the Creek then down the Creek to the Beginning containing by estimation two hundred and fifty acres more or less, also negroes Nelly, Chester, Gatsey and Meritt, together with their increase, also one horse, bridle and saddle, one bed and furniture and one side board – to him, his heirs and assigns, provided however in case my son Thomas should die without leaving issue lawfully begotten of his body, my will and desire is that the property herein given to him shall be Equally divided between my three children, Sally, James and Francis, the survivors of their heirs and assigns. Item 7th. I give and bequeath unto my Son Francis all my lands on the north Side of Contentnea Creek not heretofore given away including the House, orchards lying and being between the lands of James and Thomas containing by estimation two hundred and fifty acres more or less unto him his heirs and assigns, also negroes, Susan, Isham, Amey, Elijah and Simon, together with their increase, one Horse, bridle and Saddle and bed and furniture and one still unto him his heirs and assigns provided however in case my son Francis shall die without leaving issue lawfully begotten of his body my will and desire is that the property herein given to him shall be equally divided between my three children, Sally, James, and Thomas or the survivors of their heirs and assigns. Item 8th. I give and bequeath unto my three sons James, Thomas and Francis and my Son in law James Hooker their heirs and assigns, my Seine place on the South Side of Contentnea Creek. Item 9th. I Give and bequeath unto my two Grandchildren, Susannah and Rachel House two thousand two hundred dollars to be equally divided between them and paid over to them on their arrival at the age of twenty one years; provided however in case either of my Grand children, Susannah or Rachel or both of them should die before they arrive at the age of twenty one and without leaving issue of their body, then and in that case my will and desire is that the said Seven hundred dollars or the twenty two hundred dollars as the case may be shall be equally divided between my four youngest children, Sally, James, Thomas and Francis or the survivors of them their heirs and assigns. Item 10th. My Will and desire is that my Executors shall sell and dispose of to the best advantage all the residue of the property not heretofore disposed of and out of the notes and bonds due me and the sales thereof to pay all my Just debts and the several legacies heretofore mentioned. Item 11th. I Give and bequeath unto my sons Thomas and Francis all the residue of my property which may be in the hands of my Executors after paying off the Several legacies herein mentioned and all and every thing else which I have not already disposed of. I hereby constitute and appoint my son James House and my son in law James Hooker, my sole Executors to this my last Will and testament hereby revoking and annuling all former wills. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 30th day of May 1823. Signed by mark Signed, Sealed and acknowledged in the presence of James G. Sheppard John B. Sheppard In the name of God, Amen I, Joseph House, being of sound mind and memory but weak in bodily health do hereby make and ordain the following Item as a codicil to this my last Will & Testament. Viz, I do hereby authorize and Empower my Executors and my will and desire is that my said Executors shall purchase lands with money given in the 9th Item of my said Will to my two Grand children, Susannah and Rachel House and to execute and give to them a deed for the said lands under and upon the same conditions that is mentioned in the said 9th Item and on no other terms. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 2nd day of October AD 1823. Signed by mark Signed, Sealed and acknowledged in presence of James G. Sheppard North Carolina, Greene County May Term 1824 Then was the within last Will and testament of Joseph House dec. Exhibited in open court and duly proved by the oaths of James G. Sheppard and John B. Sheppard two of the Subscribing witnesses thento and at the same time the Execution of the annexed Codicil was duly proved b James G. Sheppard the Witness thereto, ordered to be recorded at the same time James House and James W. Hooker, the Executors therein name qualified agreeable to law, ordered that letters testamentary issue. Attest Wm. Williams Clk A true copy Wm. Williams Clk ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Mewborn Marble ___________________________________________________________________