Orange-Guilford County NcArchives Wills.....Clark, Thomas November 25, 1780 ************************************************ 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: Nancy Poquette npoq@hotmail.com May 23, 2006, 2:55 am Source: The North Carolina State Archives, County Records, Wills, C.r.073.801.10 Written: November 25, 1780 Recorded: August 1781 1781, Thomas Clark: “In the name of God, Amen. I, THOMAS [I] CLARK, of the state of North Carolina, County of Orange, Yeoman [farmer], being very sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be unto God for the same, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, on the twenty-fifth day of November in the year of our Lord, 1780, do make, ordain and publish this day, my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all”: “I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my executors and surviving friends, and as concerning such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in manner and form following”: “That is to say in the first place, I give and bequeath to SUSANNA, my dearly beloved wife, the sum of fifty pounds in gold or silver, to be raised and levied out of my estate, together with all that legacy that WILLIAM CLARK, deceased, father to SUSANNA CLARK, did bequeath to me at his decease, together with a feather bed and the appurtenances thereof. Likewise a certain black mare, now belonging to my estate, and saddle, which articles I do bequeath to her without exception, whether she shall marry again or no, and shall likewise have an absolute right to dispose of the same at her decease as she shall think fit, but if she shall not marry, shall have her living on my land during the term of her natural life.” “Also, I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter, Sarah Clark, the sum of forty-five pounds, in gold or silver, together with a feather bed and the appurtenances thereof.” “Also, I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter, Mary Clark, the sum of forty-five pounds, in gold or silver, together with a feather bed and the appurtenances thereof.” “Also, I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter, Catherine Clark, the sum of forty-five pounds, in gold and silver, together with a feather bed and the appurtenances thereof.” “Also, I give and bequeath to my well beloved son, THOMAS [II] CLARK, one hundred and eighty–nine acres of land on the west half of my plantation with all my improvements and clear land.” [We now have a description of this land located on the waters of Little River, and it matches the acreage named here…that is, THOMAS [II]’s 189 acres plus William’s 189 equals 378 acres named in the Orange County Record of Deeds, Vol. 7, page 347, microfilm C.073.40004, in the North Carolina Archives.] “Also, I give and bequeath to my well beloved son, William Clark, one hundred and eighty-nine acres of land situate on the east half of my plantation.” “Also, I do will and allow that my two forementioned sons, THOMAS [II] and William Clark, do pay to my well beloved son, Abner Clark, the sum of one hundred pounds, in gold or silver, and if he so incline as to be put to a trade at fourteen years of age, who are, also all my sons to be kept on my plantation and schooled out of my estate.” “Also, I do will and allow that the executors of my last will and testament, James Carson and James Kerr, Jun, executors do make sale of a certain tract of land belonging to my estate, situate on the waters of Broad River in South Carolina, and that the price of said land be by them kept and reserved for the sole and only use of my youngest son, Abner.” “Also, I do will and allow that my executors of this, my last will and testament do, out of my estate, pay or cause to be paid, all my lawful debts together with coffin and burying charges.” “And, I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills and legacies, bequests and executions by me in any way before this time named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying this and no other, to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I do hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.” THOMAS [I] CLARK (seal) Witnessed by William Strain, John Ray, and William Williams. Recorded on testimony of John Ray and William Williams, the August Court of 1781.” From the North Carolina State Archives, County Records, C.R.073.514.1, pages 361-2, also same list found in Estate Records, CR.073.508.22, Thomas Clark, 1781: October 26, 1781 Inventory of the Estate of Thomas Clark, deceased A Negro fellow named York 2 large ditto 5 head of horses 1 large pot 19 head of horned cattle 1 small ditto 7 head of sheep 2 beds and furniture 16 head of hogs 1 chest 1 set of plow irons 1 small trunk 1 axe 1 dough chest 1 mattock 1 note of hand, 160 pounds 2 pewter dishes money in hand 370 dollars 9 plates 1 man’s saddle 6 small basins 1 woman’s saddle Signed James Carson, James Kerr, executors Orange County, NC Court Minutes, 1777-1786, Book III, transcribe by Weynette Parks Haun, page 55: [1261]-107-folio 53 November Term 1781 “An inventory of the estate of THOMAS CLARK, deceased, was returned on oath by James Carson and James Carr, executors and ordered to be recorded. The last Will and Testament of THOMAS CLARK, deceased was duly proved in open court by the oaths of John Ray and William Williams, subscribing witnesses, and ordered to be recorded. At the same time, James Carson and James Carr qualified as executors. Orange County, NC Court Minutes, 1777-1786, Book III, transcribe by Weynette Parks Haun, page 58 [1273]-113-folio 56 February Term 1782 “An Inventory of the estate of THOMAS CLARK, deceased, was returned on oath by James Carson and James Carr, executors, and ordered to be recorded.” Additional Comments: File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/orange/wills/clark83gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb