Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Craig, James Sr June 10, 1827 ************************************************ 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 E, pages 146-147 Written: June 10, 1827 Recorded: Aug 1827 Testator: James Craig, Sr In the Name of God Amen I James Craig Snr of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina Calling it to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die and being low in health but of sound and disposing mind and memory do constitute publish and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (Viz) First it is my will and desire that all my Just Debts shall be paid secondly I Give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ellen Craig my plantation whereon I now live during her life together with one negro girl by the Name of Harriet also half of my household furniture two cows & calves three head of sheep also half of my Kitchen furniture (thirdly) I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Craig one Negro Girl by the Name of Mary also one Chest and Drawers one bed and furniture ["(4)" x-out] fourthly I give and bequeath unto my son John M Craig one Negro Man by the Name of Saul his horse and two head of cattle also my waggon fifthly I give and bequeath unto my son James A Craig one Negro Girl by [page 2] the Name of Martha and I also confirm the gift of the property which I have heretofore given him which he has in his possession (sixthly) I give and bequeath unto my son William J Craig one Negro Girl by the Name of Liza one bed and furniture (seventhly) it is my will and Desire that my wife and family shall have a plenty of provisions allot[t]ed them by my Executors hereafter to be Named out of the crop and Stock for one years support. (Eight[h]ly) it is my will and Desire that after the Death of my wife that my son John M Craig have all my lands with the exceptions of my Daughter Ann to have her life Estate in the same to support her (Ninthly) It is my will and Desire that all the residue of the property which I have given unto my wife at her death be Equally divided with all their increase among all my Children both male and female share and share alike (Tenthly) Now it is my will and Desire that all the ballance of my [page 3] property of whatsoever Nature which I have not hereto fore given away be sold and after paying my Just Dibts as Directed in the foregoing part of my will the ballance if any there should be to be equally Divided among all my children share and share alike and in order to Carry this my last will and testament unto full force and affect[sic] I nominate and appoint my true and trusty Friend John McCauley as my Executor hereby revoking all former wills by me made or published to be null and void and of none affect[sic] signed seal[ed] and acknowledged to be his last will and testament this tenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven I[n] presence of us James Craig (seal) John Lewis John M Craig Jurat John McCauley Jno McCauley qualifd. Exr. [Will Book Volume E, page 146] In the Name of God Amen ! I James Craig Sen. of the County of Orange & State of North Carolina, Calling it to mind, that it is ap= pointed for all men Once to die & being low in health but of sound & disposing mind & memory, do constitute publish and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following (Viz) ~~ First it is my Will and desire that all my just debts shall be paid ~~ Secondly I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ellen Craig my plantation whereon I now live during her life together with one negro-girl by the Name of Harriett ~~ Also half of my house hold furniture two Cows & Calves three head of Sheep Also half of my Kitchen furniture ~~ Thirdly I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Ann Craig One negro-girl by the name of Mary also one Chest and Drawers, One bed & furniture ~~ fourthly I give & bequeath unto my Son John M. Craig one negro-man by the name of Saul his horse & two head of Cattle also my Waggon ~~ Fifthly I give & bequeath unto my son James A Craig One negro girl by the name of Martha and I also Confirm the Gift of the property which I have heretofore given him which he has in his possession ~~ Sixthly I give & bequeath unto my son William J. Craig one negro-girl by the Name of Eliza one bed and furniture ~~ Seventhly ~ It is my will and die[desire] that my Wife & family shall have a plenty of provisions allotted them by my [Will Book Volume E, page 147] Executors hereafter to be named out of the Crop & stock for one Year's support. Eighthly, It is my Will and desire that after the death of my Wife that my son John M. Craig have all my Lands with the Exceptions of my Daughter Ann to have her life-estate in the same to Support her, Ninthly It is my Will and desire that all the residue of the property which I have given unto my Wife at her death be equally divided with all their increase among all my Children both male & female share and share alike ~~ Tenthly Now it is my Will and desire that all the balance of my property of whatsoever Nature which I have not heretofore given away be Sold and after paying my just debts as directed in the foregoing part of my Will the balance if any there should be to be equally divided among all my Children Share & Share alike ~~ And in Order to Carry this my last Will and Testament unto full force & effect ~~ I nominate & appoint my true & trusty friend John McCauley as my Executor hereby revoking all former Wills by me made or published to be null and void & of none effect Signed Sealed & acknowledged to be his last Will & Testament this Tenth day of June one thousand Eight hundred & twenty seven In presence of us James Craig (seal) John Lewis John M Craig John McCauley Orange County August Term 1827 The Execution of the foregoing last Will and Testament of James Craig deceased, was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of John M Craig one of the subscribing Witnesses thereto & Ordered to be recorded ~~ At the same time Exr. qualified Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume E, pages 146-147 Recorded Aug 1827 Estate papers comprise 48 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Craig, James (1827)". There were several complaints and answers concerning the settlement of the estate, particularly the assertions that Alexander and James Craig underpaid for Ben and Solomon, that Solomon was purchased by them previously from the estate of Samuel Craig, etc. James Craig died "sometime in the month of June AD 1827" [Estate Papers - Inventory] The following is an inventory of the personal property of James Craig Decst taken on the 5th day of Septr 1827 [several pages of sundry items] 3 grown Negroes 3 small negro children John McCauley Extr [Estate Papers - Estate Sale] The following is part of the property as mentioned in the foregoing inventory and sold by the Extr of Said Decst on the 17th day of Octbr 1827 on a credit of twelve months [several pages of sundry items] Buyer William J. Craig 1 Negro man Isaac 201.00 [Estate Papers - Writ for Seizure of property] [A filled-in form] State of NORTH CAROLINA } To any lawful Officer to execute and return Orange County } within Three Months YOU are commanded that of the good and chattels of William J. Craig Jas. A Craig and John M. Craig if to be found in your county, you cause to be made the sum of Sixty eight Dollars & forty one Cents which Alexander Craig lately recovered again them before James -- Mebane -- one of the Justices of the Peace for said county, at the house of -- -- -- -- -- -- -- on the 9th day of March 1830 last, for this debt, with interest from the 9th day of March 1830 and ____ shillings for costs, whereof the said Defendants -- -- -- is convicted, and if you cannot find any of the good and chattels of said Defendants -- -- -- in this county, you are to levy this execu- tion on thire[sic] lands and tenements, and make due return thereof. Given under my hand and seal this 24th day of January 1831 S. Strayhorn J. P. (seal) [back, handwritten] Levied this Execution on one negro Slave by the name of Isaac on 24 January 1831 which was Entered on former Execution of the date 1 January 1831 and Stopt By Supersedies which was ishud[issued] by Samuel Strayhorn Esquire Levi McCallum L- [Estate Papers - Bill of Complaint Answer of Alexander Craig re Slave Ben] Filed 27 May 1831. for the Fall Term 1831 North Carolina } Orange County } In Equity To the Honorable the Judge of said Court the answer of Alexr. Craig In the Bill of Complaint filed in said Court against him by William J. Craig This Deft. saving & reserving to himself &c [???] answer &c answering sayeth that it is true as set forth in the Complainants Bill that he together with James Craig the father[?] of Complainant Admin- -istered upon the estate of Samuel Craig decd. & that at the sale of the intestates estate he purchased a negro by the name of Ben & other property to the amount of $367.90 & that his Co-administrator the said James Craig purchased a negro of the name of Solomon &c this property to the amount of $400 & upwards - that these purchased were made by them under the belief that they had a legal right so to do & thus Deft. gave as he tho't & believed a fair & full price for all he purchased - that soon thereafter understanding that he had acted wrong - they came up to Hillsboro & procured John McCauley Esqr & Thomas Clancy Esqr. to put a valuation on the property each had purchased that they accordingly did so & added to this to sd purchase the sum of $88 - making the value of the whole purchased by him to be $455.90 - & thus added to that of James the sum of $100 - making his purchase $500 & expenses & this Deft. avers that $455.90 was the full value of the property purchased or obtained by him & he state & charges that he has fully settled with all the heirs of Samuel Craig [end of page - there are several more pages of this complaint]