Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Hopkins, John November 26, 1859 ************************************************ 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 G, page 369 Written: November 26, 1859 Recorded: Aug 1861 Testator: John Hopkins I John Hopkins of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina, being in feeble health, but of sound mind and disposing memory do make this my last will and Testament, in manner and form following: That is to say ~~ 1st My will and desire is That all of my just debts be paid by my Executor herein= =after named, from the proceeds of the sale of my stock ~~~ 2nd I give and devise To my beloved wife Mary The home plantation whereon I now live containing about two hundred & forty acres, during her natural life, and at her death, To be equally divided between my two single daughters Mary Shaw, and Ann during their natural lives, or until they marry and in case of Their death or marriage, Thin[sic] I give and bequeath said tract of land to my son Bennett Hopkins his heirs and assigns for ever - I also give and bequeath to my wife Mary during her natural life my negro boy Sam & negro woman Holly, and at her death I give negro woman Holly together with her increase to my daughter Ann absolutely and negro boy Sam, to my son Bennett~~ 3rd I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Shaw two Negroes, boy Bob, and girl Emiline and her increase, forever ~~ 4th I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Scott my negro woman named Lethea together with her increase forever ~~ 5th I give and bequeath to my son Bennett [page 2] Hopkins my negroes Edmund, Dewit and girl Josephine with her increase; and also one Tract of land known as The Dollar Tract con= =taining about sixty acres, absolutely & forever 6th I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsey Shamley[Chamblee] one bed & furniture, one horse known as the Catrs[sic] horse, and one Cow & calf ~~ 7th I give to my son Cannon five dollars 8th I give to my daughters Ann & Mary Shaw each one bed & furniture ~~ And lastly I do hereby constitute & appoint my son Bennett Hopkins my lawful Executor, to execute this my last will and testament, according to the true intent and meaning of the same -- hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills by me heretofore made -- In witness whereof, I, the said John Hopkins do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 26th day of November A.D. 1859 ~~ Signed, sealed, published & John Hopkins (seal) declared by the said John } Hopkins, to be his last will & } testament in presence of us, who } at his request & in his presence do } subscribe our names as witnesses } thereto ~~ } John F. Lyon Jurat Gillie B. Garrard Jurat [Will Book Volume G, page 369] I John Hopkins of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being in feeble health but of Sound mind and disposing memory do make this my last Will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say ~~ 1st My will and desire is That all of my Just debts be paid by my Executor hereinafter named from the proceeds of the Sale of my Stock ~~ 2nd I give and devise to my beloved wife Mary the home plantation whereon I now live containing about two hundred & forty acres, during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided between my two Single daughters Mary Shaw and Ann during their natural lives or until they marry and in case of their death or marriage then I give and bequeath said tract of land to my Son Bennett Hopkins his heirs and assigns forever I also give and bequeath to my wife Mary during her natural life my negro boy Sam & negro woman Holly [large x-out] and at her death I give negro woman Holly together with her increase to my daughter Ann absolutely and negro boy Sam to my son Bennett 3rd I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Shaw two negroes, boy Bob, and girl Emeline and her increase forever ~~ 4th I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Scott my negro woman named Lethea together with her increase forever ~~ 5th I give and bequeath to my son Bennett Hopkins my negroes Edmund Dewit and girl Josephine with her increase and also one tract of land known as the dollar tract containing about Sixty acres absolutely & forever 6th I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy Chamblee one Bed & furniture one horse known as the Cates horse and one cow & calf ~~ 7th I give to my son Cannon five dollars ~~~ 8th I give to my daughters Ann & Mary Shaw ~~ each one bed & furniture ~~ [Will Book Volume G, page 370] And lastly I do hereby constitute & appoint my son Bennett Hopkins my lawful Executor to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of the Same hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills by me heretofore made ~~ In witness whereof I the said John Hopkins do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 25th day of November A.D. 1859 Signed sealed published & declared by the said John Hopkins to be his John Hopkins (seal) last will and testament in presence of us who at his request & in his presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto ~~ John F. Lyon Gillie B. Garrard Orange County Court Augst Term 1861 The foregoing last Will and testament of John Hopkins decd. was duly proved in open Court according to Law See minutes Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume G, page 369 Recorded Aug 1861 Estate Papers comprise 41 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Hopkins, John (1861)". Executor also listed as "B. C. Hopkins" and "Bennet C. Hopkins". Notation on one receipt about a note that was "destroyed by Shermons army" 4 Oct 1867. No family history found. No slaves listed.