WILL OF JACOB PARROTT(1856)County of Lenoir and the State of North Carolina I, Jacob Parrott, of the County of Lenoir and the State of North Carolina, 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, that is to say: First - That my hereinafter named Executors shall provide for my body a decent burial, suitable to the wishes of my relations and friends, and pay all funeral expenses, together with my just debts, however and to whomever owing, out of the first monies that may come into their hands as a part or parcel of my Estate. Item - I give and devise to my daughter, Susan Mewborn, the following named negroes, to wit: Lucy, Washington, and Lovenial and their increase, in addition to what she had already received as a former advancement to her and her personal representatives forever. Item - I give and devise to my three grandchildren, Harriet, Sally, and Franklin Parrott, one tract of land known as the Hood place, which I purchased of Thomas Hood and wife, adjoining the lands of Lewis C. Desmond, James A. Hodges and the heirs at law of Bright Hardee, decd.; and also the following named negroes, to wit: Jesse, Miley, Ann and Isaac and their increase, to have and to hold to them and their heirs in fee simple absolutely forever provided nevertheless, that if one or more of the said children should die without leaving lawful issue, them surviving, the survivors or survivor is to be sole heir or heirs and provided further that if all of them should die without leaving lawful issue them surviving, then and in that case, I desire that the said property shall be equally divided among all my children, or their personal representatives. I also give and devise to the said Franklin, a rifle which I purchased at his father's sale. Item - I give and devise to my daughter, Charlotte E, Harper, the following named negroes, to wit: Suckey, Ishmael, Henry, Abigail, Dinah; Abigail, the daughter of Mourning; Fanny, Haywood, and Harget; and their increase; and also that part of the lands which I purchased of John G, Washington, William C. Jones, and at the public sale of the lands of Martha James and Egbert Westbrook and which is situated within the following boundaries, to wit: beginning on James M. Harper's line on the main road at a stake, the line of the lands set apart to Joshua Byrd in the division of the lands of Isaac Croom, decd.., and running thence No. 24 East 73 poles up and with the road to a stake, thence No. 83 West 152 poles to a dogwood, thence So. 85 West 22 poles to a ditch, then with the ditch No, 82 West 60 poles to Wood's line, including all that part of the three above described tracts of land which lies south of the said given lines, excepting that part which is now in dispute between James Wood and myself. To have and to hold to her and her heirs in fee simple, absolutely forever. Item - I give and devise to my two grandchildren, Charlotte and William Parrott, children of my deceased son, Jacob W. Parrott, the sum of one thousand dollars cash, to be retained in the hands of my son, James M. Parrott, as their guardian until they both shall obtain the age of twenty-one years; and should either of them die without leaving lawful issue, them surviving, then and in that case I will and desire that the said money shall be equally divided among all my surviving children or their personal representatives. Item - I give and devise to my daughter, Persis A. Hardee, for and during the term of her natural life, the following named negroes, to wit: Simon (Cooper), Hollon, Jane, Alfred, Pete, Moses, Dennis, Henry, Gatsy, Sam, Betsy, Lucinda, London, Rachel, Gabriel, Bryan, John and Jane and their increase and after her death I desire that the said negroes and all their increase shall descend to and be equally divided among all the children that have been or may hereafter be born to her, the said Persis, to whom I give and bequeath the same, and to their heirs absolutely forever. Item - I give and devise to my son, John A. Parrott, the following named negroes, to wit: Tom, Fortune, and Old Ben, together with the sum of one hundred dollars to compensate him for taking care of and providing for the said Ben during his natural life; also one half of the tract of land on which Wright Patrick lately resided being a part of the lands I purchased of Thomas Hood and wife lying on the little Briery and East side of the Hull Road; to have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple absolutely forever. Item - I give and devise to my son, James M. Parrott, the following named negroes, to wit: Plenty, Peter, and Elias, also the other half of the lands on which Wright Patrick lately resided, which is more particularly described in the preceding clause, and to which reference may be made for its situation. To have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple absolutely forever. Item - I give and devise to my daughter, Mary L. Murphy, the following named negroes, to wit: Amos, Mary, Harriet, Chelsea, "Tom, Jane, Esther and Clarey and their increase, also all the lands I purchased of Richard Csom (?) and wife including my mansion house and all other improvements, bounded by the lands of William Herring, and the heirs at law of Benj. F. Parrott, decd. and others, to have and to hold to her and her heirs in fee simple absolutely forever, provided, nevertheless, that if the said Mary should die without surviving lawful issue, her surviving, then and in that case, I will and devise that the whole of the said property shall be equally divided among all my surviving children or their personal representatives. Item - I will and devise to my three grandchildren, Harriet, Sallie, and Franklin Parrott, one bed and furniture each of their own selection, to them and their heirs forever. Item - I will and desire that the remaining portion of my land, not herein before specifically devised or otherwise previously disposed of, shall be sold at public auction, on such terms as my executors may think best; that the proceeds arising from such sale, together with all the negroes and other property of every description with which I may die seized and possessed, shall be divided in the following manner, to wit: that Harriet, Sally and Franklin Parrott shall have one-fourth each or all of them three of them three-fourths of what their father would be entitled to if he were living; that Charlotte and William Parrott shall each have one-fourth or both of them one-half of what their father would be entitled to if he were living; subject, nevertheless, to the same limitations and restrictions as is mentioned in the two preceding clauses of this instrument, relating to the said Harriet and Sally and Franklin and to the said Charlotte and William and that the remaining portion shall be equally divided share and share alike between my six children, to wit: Susan Mewborn, Charlotte E. Harper, Persis A. Hardee, John A. Parrott, James M. Parrott, and Mary L. Murphy; to whom I give and bequeath the same, and to their heirs absolutely forever; excepting, however, that part or share to which Mary L. Murphy may be entitled, which I will and direct may come under the same limitations as is provided for in a preceding clause of this instrument, relating to the said Mary and to which reference may be had in order to a proper understanding of what those limitations and restrictions are - - I further will and direct that the suits which are now in progress against William Herring and the one I design to have instituted against James Wood, for land, may be prosecuted to the extent of the law, and that all the expenses incident thereto shall be paid by my hereinafter named Executors out of the funds belonging to my estate. And it is further declared to be a part of my will and I hereby direct that half an acre of land including the graveyard on the lands hereinbefore devised to Mary L. Murphy, shall be excepted, and that the same shall not be considered as included in such bequest. And lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint my two sons, John A. and James M. Parrott, as Executors to this my last Will and Testament declaring this and this only to be and contain my last Will and hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 6th day of September, in the year of our Lord, 1855. JACOB PARROTT (SEAL) Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Jacob Parrott to be and contain his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence of each other do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto. Shadrack E. Loftin W. A. J. Pollock STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions COUNTY OF LENOIR March Term, 1856 A paper purporting to be the last will and Testament of Jacob Parrott, decd., is exhibited for Probate in open court by John A. Parrott and James M. Parrott, the Executors therein named and the due execution thereof by the said Jacob Parrott is proved by the oath and examination of Shade E, Loftin and W. A. J. Pollock, the two subscribing witnesses thereto. It is therefore considered by the court that the said paper, writing and every part thereof is the last will and Testament of the said Jacob Parrott and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed; and therefore John A. Parrott and James M. Parrott, Executors, as aforesaid duly qualified as such by taking the oath required by law. N. Hunter, Clerk Enrolled in Clerk's office of Lenoir County, May 5, 1856. N. Hunter, Clerk State of North Carolina County of Lenoir I, N. Hunter, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby testify that the foregoing is a true copy of the last will and testament of Jacob Parrott, decd., as found on record in this office. In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court of office, in Kinston, 29th day of November, 1856. I hereby certify that the above is an exact copy of the will of Jacob Parrott of the County of Lenoir, and of the State of North Carolina and dated as indicated by the Will, the 6th day of September, 1855. Mrs. John Harvey ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Francis R Hodges 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. 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