Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Blake, Benjamin April 2, 1783 ************************************************ 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 A, pages 275-276 Written: April 2, 1783 Recorded: May 1783 Testator: Benjamin Blake [Original Will] In the Name of God Amen I Benjamin Blake of the County of Orange in the State of North Carolina Planter. Being weak in Body, but of perfect mind and Memory, Thanks be given unto God, Calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing it is appointed for all Men once to die, Do Make and Ordain this my Last Will, and Testament; That is to Say Principally and first of all I Give and Recommend my Body to the Earth, to be buried in a decent Christian burial, And my Soul to Almighty God that Gave it. And as touching Such worldly Estate which it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I Give demise and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ First I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Martha Cane Ten pounds in Specia with what she had forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to Son Benjamin Blake fifty pounds in Specia with what he had, forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Brasswell eighty five pounds in Specia forever. ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Rebeckah Massey eighty eight pounds in Specia forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to my Grand Daughters and Son of Thomas ["Thomas" x-out] Philips, named Penelope, Mary, Ann, Obedience, and Hardy Phillips; The Sum of Fifty pounds in Specia When they are of Lawful age To be equally Divided Between them forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to my Grand Children Sarah Cane and Absalom Cane, Son and Daughter of Elisha Cane The sum of Sixty pounds in Specia as they become of Lawful age, Equally To be Divided between them forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Penelope Blake one hundred pounds in Specia forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Anne Blake One hundred pounds in Specia forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Also I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Bethanie Blake One hundred pounds in Specia forever. Furthermore it is my Will that my Three youngest Daughters, Penelope, Ann, and Bethany Blake shall be brought in a good Reputable Decent Manner until they are of Lawful age, And as they Becomes of Lawful age, to Receive their above Said Legacies out of my Estate (Real or personal) I likewise appoint My Trustee friend Edwards Trice (my near Neighbour) Trustee of this my Last Will and Testament. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Lastly I Give Bequeath, and Devise, after my Lawful Debts are paid all the Residue or Remainder of my Whole Estate, Lands and Tenements, ~~ Claims of Lands, Household goods, Negroe Slaves, Cattle, horses, Bills, Bonds, Book debts, with all manner of Moveables Whatsoever To my son Jones Blake and his heirs forever Whome I Likewise Constitute, Make, and ordain My Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. And I Do hereby utterly Revoke, and Disannul, all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before Named, Willed ~~ and Bequeathed. Ratifying this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and affix't my Seal This Second day of april In the Year of Our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and eighty three ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ Signed Sealed Published pronounced and declared by the said Benjamin Blake as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us Enoch Lewis {Note words, (and his heirs forever) } Benja Blake (seal) James Trice {interlined before sealed } William Trice {in the 23rd line } Exr Qualified [Will Book Volume A, page 275] In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Blake of the County of Orange in the state of North Carolina (Planter) being weak in body but of purfect minde and memory, thanks be given unto God Calling unto mind the Mortallity of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to Die do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament That is to say Principally and first of all I give and recommend my Body to the Earth to be buried in a Decent Christian burial and my Soul to almighty God that gave it and as touching such Worldly Estate which it has pleas'd God to bless me in this life, I give demise and Dispose of the same in the following manner. First I give & bequeath to my Daughter Martha Cain Ten pounds in Specia with what she had forever. Also I give and bequeath to Son Benjamin Blake fifty pounds in Specia with what he had, forever. Also I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Braswell[Orig: Brasswell] Eighty five pounds in Specia forever. Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebeckah Massa[Orig: Massey] Eighty eight pounds in Specia forever. Also I give and bequeath to my Granddaughters and Son of Thomas Philips, named penelope, Mary, Ann, Obedience, and Hardy Phillips, the sum of Fifty pounds in Specia when they are of Lawfull age to be equally Divided between them forever. Also I give and bequeath to my Grand children Sarah Cain and Absalom Cane Son and Daughter of Elisha Cane, the sum of Sixty pounds in Specia as they become of Lawfull age, equally to be Divided between them forever. Also I give and bequeath to my Daughter Penelope Blake one hundred pounds in Specia forever also I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Blake one hundred pounds in Specia forever. [Will Book Volume A, page 276] Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Bethana Blake one hundred pounds in Specia forever. Furthermore it is my Will that my three youngest Daughters, Penelope, Ann, and Bethana Blake shall be braught[taught?] in a good reputable Decent manner until they are of Lawful age, and as they becomes of Lawful age to receive their above said Legacies out of my Estate (Real or personal) I likewise appoint my Trusty friend Edwards Trill[Trice?] my near Neighbour Trustee of this my last Will and Testament Lastly I give and bequeath and Devise after my Lawful Debts are paid all the residue or remainder of my whole Estate Lands and Teniments, Claims of land, Household Goods, Negroe Slaves, Cattle, Horses, Bills, Bonds, Book Debts, with all manner of Moveables whatsoever to my son Jones Blake and his heirs forever whom I Likewise Constitute make & Ordain my Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament and I do hereby Utterly Revoke, and Disannul, all & every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequests and Executors by me in any wise before named, Willed and bequeathed, Ratifying this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this Second Day of April In the Year of Our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty three Signed Sealed published pronounced Benjamin Blake (seal) and declared by the said Benjamin Blake as his last will and testament in the presence of us Enoch Lewis {Note around, (and his heirs forever) } James Price {interlined before sealed in the 23rd line } William Trice Orange County May Court 1783 The Execution of the within Will of Benjamin Blake Decd was duly proved in open Court by the Oaths of James Trice and William Trice subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be Recorded Test J.J. Brown C.C Additional Comments: Will Book Volume A, pages 275-276 Recorded May 1783 Surname "Cain" also spelled "Cane" within the Will Book copy of this document. Consistently "Cane" in the original. Estate papers comprise 54 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Blake, Benjamin (1778)". This is a mixture of this estate and that of Benjamin Blake, Sr., whose executor was Captain Thomas Phillips, and inventory dated 1769. [Estate Papers - Inventory 9 Apr 1783] An Inventory of the whole Estate Real and personal of Benjamin Blake of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina Deceased the ninth day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty three ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ Firstly Five hundred and forty Acres of Land and Sixty Acres of Entry Land ~~~~~ Three Negroes, Slaves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [sundry items omitted] Jonas Blake [Will Book Volume A, page 365] Know all men by these present that I Asa Blake of the County of Wake and State of North Carolina for and in Consideration of James Blake standing security for sd Asa Blake to the administrator of Benjn. and Jones Blake in a bond of Two hundred and thrityfive pounds three and six pence payable twelve months after date and to make him the said James Blake of the County of Orange and State of N.Carolina secure safe Clear and free from all damages that may arise or insure on the said Asa Blake not paying of and discharging the said bond he the said Asa Blake do make over deliver and grant and by these present hath made over deliver and granted unto the said James Blake his heir or assigns to and for his or their proper use and behoof one negro wench called Winney and one negro fellow called Ned as his or their property and do for me and my heirs warrent and defend the said Negroes from all person or persons who shall lay any Clame rite or title to the said Negroes to the sd. James Blake his heirs and assigns for ever in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of Novemr. 1785 The condition of the above bill of sale is such that if the above Asa Blake do and shall pay of[f] and discharge the sd. bond of Two hundred and thirtyfive pounds three shillings and sixpence and receive a receipt in full for the same from sd. Philips and Massey and discharge the sd. James Blake from his securityship then his obligation to be void other wise ot remain in full force and virtue } Signed Seald. and delivered } Asa Blake (seal) in presence of } Jno. G. Rencher }