Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Maris, William June 23, 1864 ************************************************ 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, pages 447-448 Written: June 23, 1864 Recorded: Aug 1864 Testator: William Maris I William Maris of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being of Sound mind and disposing memory do make publish and declare This my last Will and Testament in manner and form as follows to wit, 1st I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ellen Woods, The Sum of two hundred and fifty dollars 2nd I give and bequeath unto my daughter ["the sum of two hundred" x-out] Sarah Taylor the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars. 3rd I give and bequeath unto my son William Maris a Negro boy by name Ned Said Negro to be valued by two disinterested persons, and my son William Maris to pay to my son Wilie S Maris one Third of the Valuation of said Negro, and also to pay an ad- ditional one Third Valuation of Said negro to May Susan Maris and Euphonsia Holden Maris (daughter of Thomp- son Maris decd) But if said boy Ned is not willing to go to his young Master William, Then he is to be sold and the proceeds to be distributed as above specified. 4th I give and bequeath to my son [page 2] John W Maris a negro boy by name Bob, My Son John paying my son Wilie fifty dollars 5th I give and bequeath to my son James S. Maris one tract or parcel of land Containing thirteen and one half acres adjoining the land on which the said James Maris now lives. 6th I give and bequeath to my four daughters Martha, Eliza, Emily and Francis, The plantation on which I live. They may sell the land and di- vide the money, or one may sell to another, but they must not divide the land. I also give and bequeath unto my daughters Martha, Eliza, Emily, and Francis, Two negroes nam- ed Aaron and Sarah, and also the following (to wit) Joseph, Dina, Bet, Sol: and Olly, and the increase of Dina, Bet or Olly. If any of my daughters die without issue, Their portion is to be equally divided among the three Survivors &c I also give and bequeath to my daugh ters Martha, Eliza, Emily and Francis all my household and kitch [page 3] en furniture, farming and black- smith tools, horses, cows, hogs, sheep, waggons and geer growing crop grain and forage on hand, bacon, lard, salt leather on hand or hides in tan, loom wheels and cards and also the bonds? provided there should not be money enough on hand to pay my debts and the portions due my daughters Ellen and Sarah, then so much of the prop- erty willed to Martha, Eliza, Emily and Francis as may be necessary must be sold ["as will be nessary to meet" x-out] to meet their requirements. Should there be a Surplus on hand after meeting all my debts and the a- bove mentioned legacies, it is to be di- vided equally among all my children and a child's part to be distributed amongst the children of Thompson Maris 8th I give to my grandson George Taylor twenty dollars Lastly I constitute and appoint my sons James and William Maris and my daughter Emily J. Maris Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills and testaments by me [page 4] made, in testimony of I have here- unto set my hand and seal This the 23rd day of June A.D. 1864 Signed Sealed and declared by William Maris to be his last will and testament We in his presence Wm Maris (seal) and at his request have witnessed the same John Wilkinson Saml W Hughes [Will Book Volume G, page 447] I William Marris of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being of Sound Mind and disposing memory do make publish and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form as follows to wit, 1st I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ellen Woods, The Sum of two hundred and Fifty dollars 2nd I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Taylor the sum of Two hundred and Fifty dollars. 3rd I give and bequeath unto my son William Maris a Negro boy by name Ned said Negro to be valued by two disinterested persons, and my son William Marris to pay to my son Wilie S Marris one Third of the Valuation of said Negro and also to pay an additional one third Valuation of said negro to May Susan Marris and Euphonsia Holden Marris (daughter of Thompson Marris deced). But if said boy Ned is not willing to go to his young Master William Then he is to be sold and the proceeds to be distributed as above specified 4th I give and bequeath to my Son John W Maris a negro boy by name Bob, My Son John paying my son Wilie Fifty dollars 5th I give and bequeath to my son James S Maris one tract or parcel of land Containing thirteen and one half Acres adjoining the land on which the said James S Maris now lives. 6th I give and bequeath to my four daughters Martha Eliza, Emily and Frances the plantation on which I live. They may sell the land and divide the money or one may sell to another, but they must not divide the land I also give and bequeath unto my daughters Martha Eliza Emily and Frances two negroes named Aaron and Sarah and also the following to wit Joseph Dina Bet, Sol and Olly and the increase of Dina, Bet or Olly If any of my daughters die without issue Their portion is to be equally divided among the three Survivors &c I also give and bequeath to my daughters [Will Book Volume G, page 448] Martha. Eliza Emily and Frances all my household and kitchen furniture, farming and blacksmith tools horses, cows, hogs, sheep, wagons and geer growing crop grain, and forage on hand bacon lard salt leather on hand or hides in tan loom wheels and cards and also the[?] - provided there should not be money enough on hand to pay my debts and the portions due my daughters Ellen and Sarah; then so much of the property willed to Martha Eliza Emily and Frances as may be necessary must be sold to meet their requirements. Should there be a Surplus on hand after meeting all my debts and the above Mentioned legacies, it is to be divided equally among all my children and a childs part to be distributed amongst the children of Thomson Maris 8th I give to my grandson Geo Taylor twenty dollars Lastly I constitute and appoint my sons James and William Marris and my daughter Emily J Maris Executor[sic] to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills and testaments by me made In testimony of I have hereunto set my hand and seal This the 23rd day of June AD 1864 Signed Sealed and declared by William Marris to be his last will and testament We in his presence and at his request have witnessed the same John Wilkinson Wm Maris (seal) Saml W Hughes Orange County Court Augt Term 1864 The foregoing last will and Testament of Wm Maris deced was duely proved in open Court according to law and ordered to be recorded. Additional Comments: Will Book Volume G, pages 447-448 Recorded Aug 1864 Original loose will is badly faded but legible. Surname consistently "Maris" in original, but will book copy has both "Maris" and "Marris", and is consistently "Maris" in the Estate Papers, so it appears that the preponderance of the evidence indicates that this should be "Maris" Estate papers comprise 72 pages and are found in folder labeled "Maris, William (1866)". Names found: Martha A. Maris, Eliza K. Maris, Emily J. Maris, Euphrasia H. Maris, James L. Maris. Francis is mentioned as "Fanny E." and Francis Jones. There are some transactions and mentions of Confederate money, and some, post-war are at "scale" - perhaps discounted exchange rates? Martha F. McDade and Josiah A. McDade inherited of twelve dollars and fifty cents from the estate of their "grandfather". Mary S. Maris, Rebecca D. Maris indicated as grandchildren of the testator. There are several listings for the hire of the slaves Ned and Bob. If any researchers are focused on these lineages, there is more information in these Estate Papers. [Estate Papers - Inventory about 1864] An Inventory [x-out] of property belonging to the estate of William Maris, dec one tract of land containing four hundred sixty six and three fourth's acer's of land ["A" x-out] Another tract contain[in]g thirteen and a half acer's Slaves belenging[sic] to the estate Aaren 60 years old Sarah 50 Ned 30 Bob 21 Joe 18 Diner 16 Bet 14 Sol 11 Olly 1 [sundry articles omitted] [Estate Papers - Receipt for Slave 29 Nov 1870] Received of James L and Emily J Maris Exr of my grand Father William Mares Deceased seven Dollar for the hire of Ned Nov the 29th 1870 [Note: these services likely occurred prior to emancipation, this date of 1870 notwithstanding]