Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Fruit, James January 25, 1794
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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 D, page 10
Written: January 25, 1794
Recorded: Nov 1800
Testator: James Fruit

In the name of God Amen

I James Fruit being weak of body but of sound mind
And memory and knowing that It is ap[p]ointed for all
Men Once to die do make and Ordain this my last
Will and Testament in the manner following Viz ---

First I give and bequeath my Soul to God who gave it
And my body to the dust from whence it was taken ~~

Item I bequeath that all my Just debts be paid and
The Remainder of my Estate to be divided in the
Manner Following

Item I give and bequeath unto Girzel[Gizzelle?] my Dear and
And[sic] loving Wife the plantation whereon I now live
With all my moveable Property during her natural
Life and at her Death I give and bequeath the
Plantation to my son John

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elenor
The Sum of five Shillings specie

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jennett
The Sum of five Shillings specie

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah
The Sum of five Shillings specie

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy
The Sum of five Shillings specie

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary
All my Moveable Property at the Death of
My Wife

Item I appoint John Fruit Sole
Exetr. to this my Last will and testement[sic] In
Witness Whereof I have set my hand
              Turn Over

[page 2]
And Affixed my Seal this Twenty fifth Day
of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand and
Seven Hundred and Ninety four

Sighned[sic] & sealed in presence        his
of ----                            James (F) Fruit (seal)
Moses Crawford                           Mark

Saml Crawford
                          Exr qualfd

[Will Book Volume D, page 10]
In the Name of God Amen, I James Fruit being [weak]
of body but of sound mind and memory and knowing that It is appointed
for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and Tes=
tament in the manner following Viz. First I give and bequeath my
Soul to God who gave it And my body to the dust from whence it was
taken. Item I bequeath that all my Just debts be paid and The remain=
=der of my estate to be divided in the manner following. Item I give
and bequeath unto Girzel my Dear and loveing wife the plantation
Where I now live With all my Moveable property during her natural
life and at her death I give and bequeath the plantation to my son
John. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elinor The sum
of five Shillings Specie ~~~ Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter
Jennett the sum of five Shillings Specie ~~~ Item I give and bequeath
to my daughter Hannah the Sum of five Shillings Specie ~~~ Item I give
and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy the sum of five Shillings Specie ~~~
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary all my moveable
property at the death of my Wife. ~~~ Item I appoint John Fruit sole
My[sic] Exer. to this my Last will and Testament In witness whereof
I have set my hand and affixed my Seal this twenty fifth day
of January in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and
Ninety four

Sighned[sic] [&] sealed in                      his
Presence of ----                         James (F) Fruit (seal)
Moses Crawford                                 mark
Saml Crawford

Orange County November Term 1800
The execution of the foregoing last Will and Testament of James
Fruit was duly proved by the deposition of Moses Crawford and Saml[?]
Crawford two of the subscribing witnesses thereto
taken according to Commission and Ordered
to be recorded, at the Same time John Fruit one of the executors
therein named qualified accordingly ~~~
                          Test J. Taylors CC

Additional Comments:
Will Book Volume D, page 10
Recorded Nov 1800

The witnesses moved to Tennessee, and their testimony for the probate was taken by deposition in Knoxville, 29 Sep 1800 by Tennessee Superior Court Judge Andrew Jackson [later US President]. The signature on the deposition does not appear to be his, however - perhaps a clerk?

Estate Papers comprise three pages and are found in folder labeled "Fruit, James".  No family history found.