Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Brown, William March 16, 1832 ************************************************ 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 F, pages 26-27 Written: March 16, 1832 Recorded: Aug 1839 Testator: William Brown In the name of God Amen, I William Brown of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being weak and body but of sound and disposing mind and memory Calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I do make, declare, and publish this my last Will and testement in manner and form following (Viz) First I given[sic] and commend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be decent ley[?] inter[r]ed. And With respect to the worldly estate which God has blessed me [with] after all my just debts being first paid out of my good[s] and chattles. First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ruth Brown, my house and all my lands with the utensils pertaining to the farm stock of Horses, household Furnitu -re to have and possess during her Widerhood[widowhood] or life time like wise all my slaves except so much of land and Slaves as hereafter disposed of all to be at her dispo- sial during her Widerhood also I give unto her one negro girl named Mariah Margaret one negro boy named Stephen to be hers forever to her own pro- -per use. Secondly I give and bequeath to my Daughter ["B???" x-out] Ann Brown during her natural life one negro girl named Easther also one third part of my plan tation for her use during her natural life also one Side board one bed and furnature - - Thirdly -- I give and bequeath to my grand Daughter Polly Ann Cabe one the world girl Sinah[Dinah?] during her natural life, but if she should die without an Heir from her body, the said negro girl with all her of[f]spring shall return to my estate, [I] also Will to her one bed and furnature with other Articles that belonged to hir Mothers to be hers and her heirs forever - - [page 2] I further more in pursuance of the last bequest appoint my son William Brown, Guardian to Polly Ann Cabe to take on possession [of] her estate and manage it for the purpose of Schooling Clothing and sustaining her. Fourthly -- I Will that at the death of my beloved wife Ruth Brown, that my negro woman Harriet and her daughter Abigail should both be set free -- Fifthly, -- It is further more my Will that at the death of my beloved wife Ruth Brown All that remains of my Estate be then Equally divided between my five sons, Matthew Brown, John Brown, William Brown Jehu Brown and Allen Brown or their heirs at law. Lastly It is my will and desire that my sons Matthew Brown and Allen Brown should Execute this my last Will and testamen[t]. And I renounce, revoke and disal[l]ow all and every other former Will or Wills or Executors, ratifying and confirming this and no other, to be my last will and testament Signed Sealed pronounced and declared by the Testator to be his last Will in presence of us the subscribing Witnesses this sixteenth Day of March 1832 Test William Brown (seal) Danniel Wilkinson John Wilkinson Jurat Allen Brown quafd. as Exr. [Will Book Volume F, page 26] In the name of God Amen I William Brown of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being Weake and body but of Sound and disposing mind and memory Calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die I do make, declare, and publish this my last Will and testement in manner and form following (Viz) First I give and Commend my Soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be decently intered And With respect to the worldly estate which God has blessed me [with] after all my Just debts being first paid out of my goods and chattles. First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ruth Brown my house and all my lands with the utensils pertaining to the farm Stock of Horses, House hold furniture to have and possess during her Widowhood or life time like wise all my slaves except so much of land and Slaves as hereafter disposed of: all to be at her disposeal during her Widowhood also I give unto her one negro girl named Mariah Margaret one negro boy named Stephen to be hers forever to her own proper use. ~~ [Will Book Volume F, page 27] Secondly,, I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Brown during her natural life one negro Girl named Easther also one third part of my plantation for her use during her natural life also one Side board one bed and furniture .-. Thirdly I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Polly Ann Cabe one negro girl Senah during her natural life, but if she should die with -out and[an] Heir from her body the said negro Girl with all her of spring[offspring] shall return to my estate, [I] also Will to her one bed and furniture with other Articles that belonged to her Mother to be hers and her Heirs forever - - I further more in pursuance of the last bequest appoint my son William Brown, Guardian to Polly Ann Cabe to take on possession [of] her Estate and manage it for the purpose of Schooling Clothing and maintaining her. Fourthly - I Will that at the death of my biloved wife Ruth Brown that my Negro Woman Harriet and her daughter Abigail should both be set free -- Fifthly - It is further more my Will that at the death of my beloved wife Ruth Brown All that remains of my Estate be then Equally divided between my five sons, Matthew Brown, John Brown, William Brown Jehu Brown and Allen Brown or their heirs at law - Lastly It is my will and desire that my sons Matthew Brown and Allen Brown Should Execute this my last Will and Testament And I renounce revoke and disal[l]ow all and every other former Will or Wills or Executors ratifying and confirming this and no others to be my last Will and Testament Signed Sealed pronounced and declared by the Testator to be his last Will in presence of us the Subscribing Witnesses this sixteenth day of March 1832 William Brown (seal) Daniel Wilkinson John Wilkinson Orange County August Term 1839 The Execution of the foregoing last Will and Testament of William Brown decd. was duly proved in open Court by the Oath [of] John Wilkerson one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be record At the same time Allen Brown an Executor therein named appeared in open Court and qualified accordingly Teste Additional Comments: Will Book Volume F, pages 26-27 Recorded Aug 1839 Estate Papers comprise nine pages and are found in folder "Brown, William (1841)". Do not confuse this estate with an earlier estate: Brown, William (1833), which is for an intestate William Brown with wife Lydia. During the arbitration to settle the disputes in the estate, the negro boy Stephen was sold in 1841 due to the death of Miss Polly Brison, as part of the distribution of the estate. Brison is not mentioned in the will, but there is a Polly Ann Cabe. A slave by the name of Stephen - perhaps the same person - had been devised to Ruth Brown in the will.