Orange County NcArchives Wills.....James, Jesse April 13, 1841 ************************************************ 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 F, pages 110-111 Written: April 13, 1841 Recorded: Nov 1841 Testator: Jesse James I Jesse James of the county of Orange and State of North Carolina being Weak in body but of Sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this instrument in manner and form following to be my last Will and testament, that is to say that my executor herein after named shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral expenses with my Just debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys that my first come into his hands as part or parcel of my Estate. I give and devise to my beloved wife Elizabeth James the tract of Land whereon I now live together with the improvements and other privileges, also all my personal property of every kind and description whatsoever solely for her benefit and support and to be disposed of as she many think proper for and during the term of her natural life. 3rdly after the death of my beloved wife I will and direct that my executor sell at public sale the tract of Land of which I am in possession and which I have given to my wife during her life and such other property given to her as aforesaid as may then remain, and that the proceeds of such sale or the monies arising therefrom be equally divided between William James Milly Redmon Sarah Rhodes George James Elizabeth Dollar Jesse James Rebecca Rhodes Russell James Riley James & Polley Baldwin share & share alike after paying to the children of my son Thomas James the sum of one Dollar to be equally divided among them which sum is all that I allow my said Grand Children to have out of my estate, And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint [page 2] my trusty friend James Latta Senr my Lawful executor to all intents & purposes to execute this my last Will and testament accord- =ing to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part & clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore at any time made - In Witness whereof I the said Jesse James do hereunto set my hand & seal This thirteenth day of April 1841 - Signed, sealed published & declared his by the said Jesse James Senr to be his Jesse (X) James Senr. (Seal) last will and testament in presence mark of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other do subscribe our names as Witnesses thereof Silas M. Link Jurat John Holloway Jr [Will Book Volume F, page 110] I Jesse James of the county of Orange & State of North Carolina being weak in body but of Sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make & declair[sic] this my last will and testament in manner & form following to be my last Will and Testament that is to say that my Executor here after named shall provide for my body a decent burial Suitable to the wishes of my relatives & friends and pay all funeral expenses with my Just debts howsoever and to whomsoever Owing out of the moneys that my first come into his hands as part or parcel of my Estate I give & d[e]vise to my beloved wife Elizabeth James the tract of land whereon I now live to gether with the improvements and other privileges also all my personal property of every kind & description whatsoever sol[e]ly for hir benefit and support and to be disposed of as she many think proper for and during the term of her natural life. 3ly after the death of my beloved wife I will & direct that my Executor sell at publick sale the tract of land of which I am in possession and which I have given to my wife during her life and such other property [Will Book Volume F, page 111] given to her as aforesaid as may then remain and that the proceeds of such sail or the monies arising therefrom be equally divided between William James Milly Redmon Sarah Rhodes George James Elizabeth Dollar Jesse James Rebecca Rhodes Russell James Riley James & Polley Baldwin share & share alike after paying to the Children of my son Thomas James the sum of one dollar to be equally divided among them which sum is all that I allow my said Grand Children to have out of my estate And lastly I do hereby Constitute and appoint my trusty friend James Latta Sen. my lawful executor to all estates[orig: intents] & properties[orig: purposes] to execute this my last Will & Testament according to the true interest[orig: intent] and meaning of the same & every part & clause thereof. Hereby revok- =ing and declaring ut[t]erly void all other Wills & Testaments by me heretofore at any time made In Witness whereof I the said Jesse James do hereunto set my hand & seal This thirteenth day of April 1841 his Signed, sealed published } Jesse (X) James [Senr] (Seal) and declared by the said } mark Jesse James Senior to be his } last Will & Testament in presence } of us who at his request in his } presence and in the presence } of each other do subscribe our names as Witnesses Salast [Silas] M. Link John Holloway Jr Orange County November 1841 The execution of the fore going last Will & Testament of Jesse James Decd was duly proved in open Court by the oath of Silast[sic] M. Link one of the subscribing witnesses there unto and ordered to be recorded Additional Comments: Will Book Volume F, pages 110-111 Recorded Nov 1841 Silas M. Link's name is found in many of these probate records. The name being written as "Salast" or "Silast" is unusual. Estate Papers comprise 22 pages and are found in a folder labeled "James, Jesse (1841)". James Latta renounced the rights to execute the estate. Williamson Burton was appointed administrator in Jan 1841, and later moved to Tennessee, and legatees filed a motion to sell the land of the estate in spring of 1858. Sally Rhods died leaving two children, Gilbert & Pleasant. Milly Redmon died leaving a child named Polly. Russel James died leaving five or six children. There is probably additional relationship information to be deduced in these estate papers if a researcher is interested.