Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Byrn, James K April 4, 1797 ************************************************ 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 97-98 Written: April 4, 1797 Recorded: May 1797 Testator: James K Byrn In the Name of God, Amen I James K. Byrn of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men Once to die, I do make & Ordain this my last will and testament, & principally and first of all, I Give my soul to God who Gave it and my body to the dust to be Buried in Christian man[n]er at the discration of my Executors hereafter to be named and toutching such worldly property wherewith it has pleased God to bless me I give demise and dispose of the same in the following man[n]er and form Viz first I Give & bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Mary Byrn one third part of all my house furniture & movable property to her & her assigns for Ever, also during her natural life three negroes viz Mial[?], Daniel, & Annica, Item unto my son Thomas Byrn I Give & bequeath one hundred & fifty dollars to him his heirs & assigns for Ever, Item unto my daughter Elizabeth I Give & bequeath three negroes viz Mol, Nel, & Ben to her her heirs & assigns for Ever, Item unto my son James & his heirs &c I Give one hundred & fifty dollars also one negro Girl named Page Item unto my son Absalom I Give & bequeath one negro boy named Sampson also one bed & [page 2] furniture, Item, unto my son Resin I Give and bequeath one negro boy named Nace[?], and also unto my said son's Absalom & Resin[?] I Give & bequeath three hundred dollars to them their heirs & assigns to be laid out for land at the discration of my Executors only reserving to my wife one third part of sd. land during her natural life and at her desease[decease] the whole of sd. land to be Equally divided Betwe[e]n my said two sons Absolom & Resin, the six hundred dollars hereby bequeathed to my four sons to be paid out of the bonds & notes now in my hands, Item unto my daughter Mary her heirs &c I Give & bequeath three negroes viz negro Girl Tamer negro woman Mincy[Miney?] & her Child, and further it is my will that if any of my Children under age should happen to loose[lose] any part of their legacies before of full age the said loss to be made Good by the negroes left in possession of my wife, at her death and the said negroes or the Remaineing part thereof, at the desease of my wife, with all my other property not hereby Actually disposed of to be Equally divided Betwe[e]n all my Surviving Children or their heirs after the discharg[e] of all my lawfull debts, And I do Constitute my wife Mary & Son James Jointly Executors of this my last will and Testament, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 4th[? 1st?] day of April 1797 Test William Ray Jurat James K. Byrn (seal) James H. Ray May Term 97 James Byrn qualified as Exr 20th[?] of August 1797 Mary Byrn Byron qualified as Exr [page 3] Orange County May Term 1797 The Execution of the Within ["Deed" x-out] Will was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of William Ray one of the Subscribing Witnesses thereto & ordered to be registered Abner B. Bruce [Will Book Volume C, page 97] In the name of God Amen ~~ I James K. Byrn of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being very sick and weak in Body but of of perfect mind and memory, Calling to mind the mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men Once to die I do make & Ordain this my Last Will and Testament & principally and first of all I Give my soul to God who Gave it and my Body to the dust to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter to be named and touching such Worldly property wherewith it has pleased God to bless me I Give Demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form Viz First I Give and Bequeath unto my dearly Beloved wife Mary Byrn One third part of all my household furniture & movable property to her and her Assigns forever, also during her natural life three negroes viz" Mial[?], Daniel, & Annica ~ Item unto my son Thomas Byrn I Give & Bequeath One hundred & fifty dollars to him, his heirs and assigns forever ~~ Item unto my daughter Elizabeth I Give & Bequeath three negroes viz Mol, Nel, and Ben to her, her heirs and assigns forever ~~ Item unto my son James & his heirs &c I Give one hundred & fifty dollars also One negro Girl named Page ~~ Item unto my son Absalom I Give & Bequeath One negro Boy named Sampson also one Bed & furniture ~~ Item unto my son Resin I Give & Bequeath One negro Boy named Nace[?], and also unto my said sons Absalom and Resin I Give & Bequeath three hundred dollars to them, their heirs and Assigns to be laid out for Land at the discretion of my Executors, only Reserving to my wife One third part of said Land during her natural life and at her decease the whole of said Land to be Equally divided between my said two sons Absolom & Resin, the six hundred dollars hereby Bequeathed to my four sons to be paid out of the bonds & notes now in my hands ~~ Item unto my daughter Mary, her heirs &c I Give and Bequeath three negroes Viz, negro Girl Tamer negro woman Mincy[Miney?] and her child and further it is my will that if any of my Children under age should happen to loose any part of their Legacies before of full age the said loss to be made good by the negroes left in possession of my wife, at her death and the said negroes or the remaining part thereof, at the decease of my wife with all my Other property not [Will Book Volume C, page 98] hereby actually disposed of to be Equally divided between all my surviving Children or their heirs after the discharge of all my lawfull Debts, and I do Constitute my wife Mary & son James Jointly Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 1st day of April 1797 Test William Ray James K. Byrn (seal) James H. Ray Orange County May Term 1797 The Execution of the foregoing Last Will and Testament [of] James K. Byrn deceased was duly proved in Open Court by the Oath of William Ray a subscribing witness thereto and Ordered to be recorded at the same time Mary Byrn Executrix and James Byrn Executor therein named qualified accordingly Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume C, pages 97-98 Recorded May 1797 Estate Papers comprise three pages and are found in a folder labeled "Byrn, James K (1790)". These include Inventory. Slaves not listed.