Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Johnston, John March 21, 1813 ************************************************ 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 D, page 549 Written: March 21, 1813 Recorded: Nov 1818 Testator: John Johnston In the name of God Amen I John Johnston of the State of North Carolina and County of Orange, being of sound mind and memory, reflecting on the uncertainty of life and the mortality of my body, and being anxious to dispose of the worldly estate with which it has pleased God to bless me to the best advantage, have thought proper to make and ordain this my last will and testiment[sic], and in the following manner First, it is my will to loan to my beloved wife Isbel[sic] for the use and benefit of herself and children and for their schooling and maintainance[sic], and the property I possess untill[sic] my eldest son David arrives of lawfull[sic] age, when it is my will & desire that he shall have my negro boy Sam, and one hundred and fifty acres of Land next to Haw Creek to be laid off by a line run[n]ing due west from a point on the eastern boundary across the tract It is further my will and desire that when my second son John arrives of Lawfull age that he shall inherit my Negro boy Green and the balance of my Land not heretofore disposed of, subject However to the maintainance of my said wife and children during her natural life or widowhood, and for the children during their continuance in single life, and no longer. And if it should so happen after my decease that my said wife Isbel should again marry, then it is my will that she shall be intitled[sic] to a childs part of all the property not herein before disposed of, and then remaining undivided. It is further my will and desire that each of my daughters as they arrive of age shall draw and receive an equal part of all my property as loaned and all not expressly herein willed away, and this division made in such a manner as to leave as much working force on the plan= =tation as possible for carrying it on to advantage. And I do hereby make and ordain my said wife Isbel and John Craig my executrix and executor of this my last will and testiment. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 21st day of March 1813 Witness John Johnston (seal) Test John Blackwood Jurat Margaret Johnston Exr. & Exx qualified [Will Book Volume D, page 549] In the Name of God, Amen. I John Johnston of the State of North Carolina and County of Orange being of sound mind and memory, reflecting on the uncertainty of life and the mortality of my body, and being anxious to dispose of the worldly estate with which it has pleased God to bless me to the best advantage, have thought proper to make and ordain this my last will and Testament and in the following manner First, it is my will to loan to my beloved wife Isabel for the use and benefit of herself & children and for their schooling and maintainance[sic] and the property I possess, until my eldest son David arrives of lawful age, when it is my will & desire that he shall have my negro boy Sam and one hundred and fifty acres of Land next to Haw Creek to be laid off by a line running due west from a point on the eastern boundary across the Tract ~~ It is further my will & desire that when my second son John arrives of lawful age that he shall inherit my negro boy Green and the balance of my Tract not heretofore disposed of, subject however to the maintainance of my said wife & children during her natural life or widow hood, and for the children during their continuance in single life, and no longer And if it should so happen after my decease that my said wife Isabel should again marry, then it is my will that she shall be entitled to a child's part of all the property not herein before disposed of and then rem= =aining undivided. It is further my will and desire that each of my daughters as they arrive of age shall draw and receive an equal part of all my property as loaned and all not expressly herein willed away, and this division made in such a manner as to leave as much working force on the plantation as possible for carrying it on to advantage. And I do hereby make and ordain my said wife Isabel and John Craig my executrix & executor of this my last will & testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of March 1813 Witness John Johnston (seal) Test John Blackwood Margaret Johnston Orange County November Term 1818 The Execution of the foregoing last Will & Testament of John Johnston was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of John Blackwood a sub= =scribing Witness thereto and ordered to be recorded. At the same time Isabel Johnston and John Craig the Executrix and Executrix[sic] therein named were qualified according[ly] Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume D, page 549 Recorded Nov 1818 Estate papers comprise nine pages and are found in a folder labeled "Johnston, John (1818)". Testator's wife's name written as Isabella. Seems to have been erroneously named "Isabella Allen" in the Administrator's bond. The inventory of the estate of Nancy Russel, wife of James H Russel is mixed into this folder. Nancy's inventory lists "1 Negro girl Nell aged 7 years" [Estate Papers - Inventory 22 Jun 1818] June the 22nd 1818 An inventory of the property of John Johnston Decd [sundry items omitted] Ngro property 1 man Ben agd 39 years ["1 man Sam aged" x-out] ["18 years" x-out Note 1] 1 girl Dinah aged 27 years 1 girll An[n] aged 25 years 1 girl Charity aged 10 years 1 girl Alse[Alice?] agd 5 years 1 girll Mily[Meby?] 3 years 1 girl Nancy 1 year 1 Boy Green 5 years 1 Boy Joe aged 3 years Decembr. the 24th 1818 $80 eig[h]ty Dollars of the above property Sold at publick sale John Blackwood A M