ONSLOW COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Thomas Russell, 25 Mar 1813 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Frances Henderson fhenderson@ec.rr.com ==================================================================== Contributor's Notes: The will of Thomas Russell as transcribed by Frances B. Henderson on May 25, 1999 from a copy secured at the NC Archives on Nov. 8, 1986. Attempt has been made to preserve the capitalization, punctuation, and spelling as found in the Archives copy. [FYI - This man is the grandfather of Daniel Lindsay Russell, governor of North Carolina at the last turn of the century.] Although there is no State or County mentioned, it appears from the fact that it was recorded in Onslow County and that the witnesses are known to have been Onslow County residents, and having other knowledge of the family, that this was surely an Onslow County will. In the Name of God Amen ---------------------[fills out the line] I Thomas Russell being weak in body, but of sound mind and Memory and Calling to mind the Mortallity of all men I do make and Ordain this my Last will and Testament,, First I recommend my soul to God that first gave it, and my body I Submit to the grave to be united with its mother Earth to be buried decently and in a Christian like manner --------------[fills out the line] My Worldly Goods that it has please God to Bless me with I dispose of as follows first it is my Desire that my Executors pay all my Just debts then as follows ------ Item,, I lend to my beloved Wife Obiah during her Natural life two negro Women, Cate and Winny also two Negro Girls Penellopy & Suck untill my Daughter Fanny Russell Comes to age or marries also one Negro boy George and one Negro girl poll untill my Daughter Susannah J. Russell comes to age or marries also one Negro boy Owen untill my Son Benj'm W. Russell Comes to the age of ten years also I lend to my Wife during her Natural life the House and plantation where I now live with all the woodland on the west side of the Mill pond and wading Branch that is in Ellotts patent also to have twenty Barrels of Corn from my mill pr year yearly during her natural life and for her to have the mill attended to herself [crossed out the words "at the expense of the mill] also one horse by the name of rufus one riding Chair and Harness two Cows and calves one bed and furniture the best I have and one of the sorriest two round Tables one Beaufatt [probably buffet] and furniture all my siting Chairs one [maybe "press" - can't read this word] and Large Chest all my Kitchen furniture one Loom with its furniture two Ewes and Lambs twenty head of hogs her choice of the hogs that is fed near my house [End of first page] Carried over Brought Over Also my will is that my wife should Keep and raise my Daughters Fanny and Susannah Clear of expence to the other part of my Estate also my son Benjamin. W. Russell untill he is ten years old. also my will is that my wife Shall have it in her power at her death to divide the property lent to her that I have not made provision for in this my will Among my Children ------[fills out the line] Item,, I give to my son David. W. Russell all my Land that is the East side of my mill pond and wading branch also one piece of Land on New River that I Bought of Hart Also one negro boy Jack, also one half of my mill when he comes to age to him his heirs & assigns ------------[fills out the line] Item,, I Give to my son William. J. Russell one hundred acres Land in the fork of Bear Creak and one hundred Known by the name of philips pattent adjoining the above mentioned Land also the Land I bought of John Smith on the [several words marked out] head of Bear Creek and one negro boy Ben to him his heirs and Assigns ------------[fills out the line] Item.. I give to my son Daniel. L. Russell the Land and plantation on the main Road that I bought of marcum Harvey two Hundred acres also one hundred acres adjoining the same, patented by my self also fifty acres Joining Smiths Laurel patented by myself, also one negro boy by the name of Blair to him his heirs & assigns -------[fills out the line] Item,, I give to my son Benjamin. W. Russell the Land and plantation where I now live the Same I lent to my wife also the other half of my mill to have the same at my wifes death also one negro boy owen to be hired out by my executors after my son Benjamin is ten years of age [End of second page] Carried up Brought up for his use the same to him his heirs and assigns ----[fills out the line] furthur if Either of my aforementioned sons should die without Lawfull Issue begoten of their body then it is my will that his part shall be Equally divided among my others Sons ---------[fills out the line] Item,, I give to my Daughter Fanny Russell two negro Girls penelopy and suck to Receive them when she comes to age or marries and at that time if their should be any Increase by penelopy it is my will it should be Equally Divided Between my Two daughters Fanny and Susannah ---------[fills out the line] Item,, I give to my Daughter Susannah. I. Russell a negro boy George by name and a negro Girl poll by name Also it is my will if either of my Daughters should die before they Come to age or without Lawfull Issue begoten of their body for The Surviving one to have her part of the property left to her by me -----[fills out the line] Further it is my will that my wife Carry on the Crop that I have begun to have the use of the horse named buck with all the plantation tools and in the fall to have twenty Barrels of Corn given off to her and to have the priviledge of turning in to the field the hogs that she may see proper to make pork off all the remaining part of my property that is not herein mentioned to be sold at the discretion of my Executors and the money to be equally Divided among all my Children ------[fills out the line] further it is my desire that my Friend Gabriel Hancock have my Eldest son David. W. Russell bound to him untill he arrives to the age of twenty one years to give him a reasonable Education and bring him up in a Christian like manner and Learn him reasonably to [End of third page] Carried over brought over Labour for his Living and David Ward to have my Second son William and Comply with the above -------------[fills out the line] Isaac Saunders to take Daniel my third son and do Likewise Daniel. M. Dulany to take my Youngest son Benj'm Ward Russell when he arrives to the age of Ten years and do the same by him that I have directed my other Friend to do by and for my other sons Furthur I do Constitute and appoint my Friends Gabriel Hancock Isaac Saunders & David Ward Executors to this my Last will and Testament to take care and see that this my Last will is Executed agreeable to the intent and meaning thereof as I have requested This to make void all other wills by me made heretofore (signed) Tho's Russell (drawn seal) Signed Sealed and Delivered this 25th day March. 1813 in presence of Test John Gornto X (signed) Benjamin Ward Sen (signed) Wm. I Russell (signed) Tho's Russell (signed) [On the outside] Thomas Russell will Recorded in Book of Wills - 1800 on page 114 [There are also a couple of words marked out and some digits that look like: 20 50 10 60 31 10 End of document]