Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Armstrong, James April 6, 1794 ************************************************ 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: Ben Franklin ben.franklin.ffru@gmail.com May 2024 Source: Loose Will, NC Archives CR 073.801, Will Book Volume C, pages 88-89 Written: April 6, 1794 Recorded: Nov 1796 Testator: James Armstrong [Original in handwriting style of 1794] In the Name of God Amen I James Armstrong of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina Being on the decline of life and calling to mind the certainty of death I do constitut and ordain my last Will and testament Committing my body to the dust from Whence it Came. and my Soul to the mercy of the Almighty God Who gave it and as to what worldly goods it heath[sic] pleased God to Bless me with in this Life I dispose of in the following manner and form First I give and bequeath to my son William Armstrong and to my two daughters Sarah Allen and Susanna Loyd five shillings Sterling to each of them and their heirs for ever Also I gave[sic] and bequeath to the Heirs of my daughter Mary Mebane five Shillings Sterling to [the] Said Heirs for ever Also I gave[sic] and bequeath to the Heirs of my daughter Elizabeth Lapsley one Negro girl Slave known by the name of Easther to be the property of said Heirs for ever Also I gave[sic] and bequeth[sic] to my grandson thomas Armstrong one third part of any Living Stock to him and his Heirs for ever Also I gave[sic] and bequeath unto my grandson James Armstrong, the Land and plantation whear on I Now live and also a late grant from this State for two hundred and two acres of Land Which I heave a Deed for to him and his heirs and assigns for ever Also I gave[sic] and bequeath to my grandson James Armstrong one Negro boy named Sam to him and his heirs for ever Also I gave[sic] and bequeath to my grandson James Armstrong the two thirds of my living Stock and all my Working tools to him and his heirs for Ever [page 2] Also I gave[sic] and Bequeath to my grandson William Armstrong one Negro boy named Bob to him and his heirs for ever, and it is by me ordained that if any of the above named grand Children should die before they arrive at full age the part of the deceased shall be sold and the mon[e]y equaly devided among the surviving grand Children the Land and plantation Before mentioned only excepted which in case of the Death of James the Land to fall to thomas, and in case of the death of Him with out Issue it shall descend to the Next Lawful Heir Also to my grand Daughter Mary Tinnin I give and bequeath a Negro woman named Canday and her daughters Nancy, Phillis, Mile, and her son Isac to her and her heirs for ever also I do Relase and set free at my deceace one melato Man named Sisaro, for the many good sarveces he has done Also to my grandson James Armstrong I gave[sic] and bequeath all my household fornitor he paying all my Just Debts and funeral Expenses And I substitute and ordain my Well Beloved friends John Taylor and Robert Faucet Executetors of this my last will and testament hearby meaking null and void all other wills and testements here before made by me In witness hereof I the said James Armstrong set my hand and fixed[sic] my seal this 6th Day of April 1794 in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred ninety ["three" x-out] four Signed and sealed his In presents of us James (X) Armstrong (seal) mark Wm Elliott } Robert Taylor } Jurat John Taylor } Exer Robert Faucet } Exrs quallified 29th November 1796 [Copy in handwriting style of about 1850] In the name of God Amen I James Armstrong of the County of Orange & State of North Carolina being on the decline of life & calling to mind the certainty of death. I do Constitute and ordain my last will & Testament Committing my body to the dust from whence it came. and my Soul to the Mercy of the Almighty God who gave it and as to what worldly Goods it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I dispose of in the following Manner & form. first I give & bequeath unto my son William Armstrong and to my two daughters Sarah Allen & Susanah Loyd five shillings Sterling to [each of] them & their heirs forever. Also I give & bequeath unto the heirs of My daughter Mary Mebane five shillings Sterling to said heirs forever. Also I Give & bequeath unto the heirs of my daughter Elizabeth Sapsley one Negro Girl Slave known by the name of Esther to be the property of sd. heirs forever; also I give & bequeath to my Grand son Thomas Armstrong one third part of any living stock to him & his heirs forever, [page 2] also I give and bequeath unto my Grand son James Armstrong, the Land and Plantation whereon I now live and also a late grant from this state for two hundred and two Acres of Land which I have a Deed for, to him and his heirs and assigns for Ever, Also I give and bequeath to my grandson James Armstrong one Negro Boy named Sam to him and his heirs for Ever. Also I give and bequeath to my grandson James Arm =strong the two thirds of my Living stock and all my Working tools to him and his heirs for Ever, Also I give and bequeath to my grandson William Armstrong one Negro Boy named Bob to him and his heirs for ever, [??? x-out] and it is by me ordaned that if any of the above named grand Children should Die before they arrive at full age, the Part of the Deceased shall be sold and the Money Equally Divided among the surviving grand Children, the Land and Plantation before mentioned only Excepted which in case of the Death of James Armstrong the Land to fall to Thomas, and in Case of the Death of him without Issue it shall Descend to the Next law =ful heir ______ also to my grand Daughter Mary Tinnin I give and bequeath a Negro woman named Canday and her Daughters Nancy, Phillis, Milley, and her son Isaac to her and her heirs for ever ------- Also I do release and set free at my Diceas one Mulatto Man named Cisaro, for the Many good services he has Done ------ also to my grandson James Armstrong I give and bequeath all my household furniture, he Paying all my Just Debts and Funerale Expenses, and I substitute and ordain my [Well] beloved friends John Taylor and Robert Faucett Executors to [orig: of] this my last will and testament [page 3] herby making null and void all other wills and Testame =nts herebefore made by me ------------ in witness hereof I the said James Armstrong set my hand and fixed[sic] my seal this 6th Day of Aprile 1794 in the year of Our Lord 1794 his James (X) Armstrong (seal) Signed & sealed mark in Presence of us William Elliott } Robert Taylor }Jurat Orange County November Term 1796 The Execution of the ["Will" x-out] foregoing Will was duly proved in open Court by the oaths of William Elliott & Robert Taylor the subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be Recorded, at the same time Robert Faucet & John Taylor Exrs, Qualified as Executors of the Same ---------- Test Abner B. Bruce [Will Book Volume C, page 88] In the Name of God Amen I James Armstrong of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being on the decline of life and Calling to mind the Certainty of death I do Constitute and Ordain my Last Will and Testament Committing my Body to the dust from whence it came and my soul to the mercy of the Almighty God who gave it and as to what Worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I dispose of in the following manner and form ~~ First I Give and Bequeath to my son William Armstrong and to my two daughters Sarah Allen and Susanna Lloyed five Shillings Sterling to Each of them and their heirs forever Also I Give and Bequeath to ["my son William Armstrong" x-out] the heirs of my daughter Mary Mebane five Shillings Sterling to the said heirs forever ~ I also Give and Bequeath to the heirs of my daughter Elizabeth Lapsley One Negro Girl slave known by the name of Easter to be the property of said heirs forever also I Give and Bequeath to my Grandson Thomas Armstrong One third part of any Living Stock to him and his heirs forever ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath unto my Grandson James Armstrong the Land and plantation whereon I now live and also a late grant from this State for two hundred and two acres of Land which I heave a deed for to him and his heirs and assigns forever. also I Gave[sic] and Bequeath to my Grandson James Armstrong One negro Boy named Sam to him and his heirs forever. also I Give and [bequeath] to my Grandson James Armstrong the two thirds of my living Stock and all my working tools to him and his heirs forever [Will Book Volume C, page 89] Also I Give and Bequeath to my Grandson William Armstrong One negro Boy named Bob to him and his [heirs] forever and it is by me Ordained that if any of the above named GrandChildren should die before they arrive at full age the part of the deceased shall be sold and the money Equally divided among the surviving Grand- Children the Land and plantation before mentioned Only Excepted which in case of the death of James the Land to fall to Thomas and in case of the death of him without issue it shall descend to the next lawful heir ~~ Also to my Grand daughter Mary Tinnin I Give and Bequeath a negro woman named Candey and her daughters Nancy, Phillis, Mille and her son Isaac to her and her heirs forever also I do release and set free at my decease One mulatto man named Cicero for the many Good services he has done ~~ also to my Grand-son James Armstrong I Give and Bequeath all my house= =hold furniture he paying all my Just Debts and funeral Expenses ~~ And I Substitute and Ordain my well Beloved friends John Taylor and Robert Faucett Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby making null and void all Other Wills and Testaments herebefore made by me ~~ In Witness hereof I the said James Armstrong set my hand and fixed[sic] my seal this 6th day of April 1794 in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred ninety four ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Signed & sealed In presents of us his William Elliott James (X) Armstrong (seal) Robert Taylor mark Orange County November Term 1796 The Execution of the foregoing Last Will and Testament of James Armstrong deceased was duly proved in Open Court by the Oaths of William Elliott and Robert Taylor subscribing Witness thereto and Ordered to be Recorded ~~ at the same time John Taylor and Robert Faucett Executors therein named qualified accordingly ~~ Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume C, pages 88-89 Recorded Nov 1796 Is "Sie"["Sic"?], listed in the Deed of Gift the same person as Cicero? The original is was written in very clean, neat and readable handwriting. There were a few minor omissions in the second copy. Names were much clearer in the original. Estate papers comprise eight pages and are found in a folder labeled "Andrew, Robert (1793)". Some transcribed below. [Estate Papers - Motion Feb 1797] Orange County February Term 1797 On motion of William Duffy atto for James Mebane Junr. ordered that Robt. Faucet & Jno. Taylor Executors of James Armstrong Decd. appear at this Term on Saturday and shew cause wherefore Cicero a Negro Man late of the Estate of the said James Armstrong Decd. who is now going at large should not be sold for the benifit[sic] of the Estate of the said James Armstrong Deceased ==== A.B. Bruce CC [Estate Papers - Petition 1797] To the worshipfull the Justices of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Orange County The Petition of the John Taylor and Robert Faucett Executor of the last will and Testament of James Armstrong deceased Your Petitioners State that the said James Armstrong deceased, in his life time and at the time of his death, was possessed of a Mulatto Man Named Cicero about fifty years of age, as his slave; and that the said Cicero has for many years behaved himself with unusual submission and integrity to his said Master, and had by his extraordinary industry and attention to his Interest and business contributed greatly to his support, and ease, and happiness; whereby he had acquired his Master's confidence and Friendship; and thus the said James being a Just and humane Man, and being willing and desirous to make him some compensation, though his slave, for is many and great services, by his said last Will and Testament, did, in consideration of the many and great services [page 2] rendered him by the said Cicero, release and set him free. And appointed your Petitioners Executors of his said last Will and Testament, who at a Court held for this County on the Fourth Monday of November last, caused the Will to be duly proved and took on themselves the burthen of executing the same. You Petitioners also State that a Rule of this Court has been server on them to shew cause why the said Cicero should not be sold as the property of the said James deceased. They shew for cause the matter herein before stated; and pray that the said Mulatto Man Cicero may not be sold, and that this Court, will liberate and set the said Cicero free, according to the said Will, this Petition and the Acts of Assem- -bly in such case make and provided Wm Norwood Atto for Petitioners -- -- [Will Book Volume A, page 348] To all people to whom these present shall come I James Armstrong do send Greeting Know ye that I the said James Armstrong of Orange County & State of North Carolina (Planter) for a in Consideration of the Love, good Will & affection which I have & do bear towards my Grandson Thomas Armstrong of Lincoln County, State of Virginia. Have given and granted & do by these presents freely give & grant unto the said Thomas Armstrong his Heirs and assigns forever a Negroe fellow named Sie of which before the Signing of these presents I have delivered the said Negroe to said Thomas Armstrong to be his own property to have & to hold to him the said Thomas Armstrong, his Heirs Executors Administrator or Assigns from Henceforth, even for ever as his and their property, Absolutely without any manner of Condition. In Witness hereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seal this third day of May one thousand Seven hundred & eighty six Signd Seald & delivered } James Armstrong (seal) In the presence of Jack Lake } Jurat & Mary Lake [Will Book Volume A, page 349] Orange County May Term 1786 The execution of the within Deed of Gift from James Armstrong to Thomas Armstrong was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of Jacob Lake one of the Subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be Recorded Test J. Benton C.C.