Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Moreland, Francis March 27, 1802 ************************************************ 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, pages 75-76 Written: March 27, 1802 Recorded: Aug 1802 Testator: Francis Moreland In the name of God, Amen, March the Twenty Seventh day, One Thousand Eight Hundred and two, I Francis Moreland of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina, Being of perfect mind and Memory, thanks be given unto God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and Testa- ment. Viz. First, I Lend unto my beloved wife Nancy Moreland all my Estate, Real and personal, During her natural life or widowhood. After her death or Marriage my Will and Desire is that all my Negro's should belong and I do hereby give and bequeath all my Negro's above the age of 21 Years, (after my Wife's Decease or Marriage) To Thomas Coke, Francis Asbury & Richard Walcot, or their successors as bishops for America. Also my wish and Desire is that All my young Negro's under the age of 21 Years should be hired out to the Highest bid[d]er yearly and the profits thence arising should be put to the Use, and be for the benefit & Maintenance of my beloved wife Nancy Moreland During her life. --- I give and bequeath to John Majors, (son of William Majors Dec'd) and to Francis Moreland (son of Wm More land,) and Francis Ashley,(son of Wm Ashley Dec'd) all of my Land, Stock, Hous[e]hold furniture, & kitchen furniture ["to be my" x-out] and the Money or profits [page 2] arising from the hire of the Afore said young Negro's (at my wife's Decease) to be equally Divided between the Three boys already Mentioned. And my will and Desire is that all my young Negro's as they, or ["arive to the" x-out] as soon as they ar[r]ive or come to the age of 21 Years ["of age" x-out] should then belong to the afore said ["the" x-out] Bishops Viz. Fras. Asbury, Thos. Coke and Richard Walcot -- I give all my wearing apparel to my Nephew, Joseph Moreland. And I Do hereby constitute and appoint William Rhodes Junr. and Page Patterson, and John Majors Executors of this my last will and testament, to ["the" x-out] carry it on into affect at the risk of all my property Except the Negro's for which I will the afore said Executors one Dollar per day for their services each, Ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I have hereunto sit my hand and seal they[sic] day & year above writ[t]en Signed sealed & Delivered in presence of us. Interlined before assign'd Fras. Moreland (seal) Thos Steele J. Dixon } } Jurant Nancy Moreland (seal) John Hamilton } Jno Majors qualified as the executor [Will Book Volume D, page 75] In the Name of God Amen March the Twenty Seventh day one thousand eight Hundred & two ~~~~ I Francis Moreland of the County of Orange & State of North Carolina being of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God for the same do make & ordain this my last will and Testament Viz ~~~~ First, I ["give" x-out] lend unto my beloved Wife Nancy Moreland all my estate real & personaly[sic] during her natural life or widowhood after her death or marriage my Will & Desire is that all my negroes Should belong and I do hereby give & bequeath all my negroes above the age of 21 years after my Wife's decease or marriage to Thomas Cooke, Francis Asbury & Richard Walcot, or their Successors as bishops for America also my Wish and desire is that all my young negroes under the age of 21 years Should be hired out to the Highest bidder yearly & the profits thence arising Should be put to the use & be for the benefit of & maintenance of my beloved Wife Nancy Moreland during her life I give & bequeath to John Majors son of William Majors Dec'd and to Francis Moreland son of Wm. Moreland and Francis Ashley Son of Wm. Ashley Dec'd all my Land, Stock, Household furniture & Kitchen furniture and the money or profits arising from the hire of the aforesaid Young negroes at my wife's Decease to be equally devided between the three boys already Mentioned & my Will and desire is that all my young negroes as Soon as they ar[r]ive or come to the age of 21 Years Should then belong to the aforesaid Bishops Viz. Fras. Asbury Thos. Coke and Richard Walcot ~~~ I give all my wearing apparel to my nephew Joseph Moreland and I do hereby Constitute & appoint William Rhodes Junr. and Page Patterson and John Major Executors of this my last Will and Testament to car ry it on into effect at the risk of all my property Except the negroes for which I will the aforesaid Executors one Dollar per day for each day the act. for their services each, ratifying & Confirming this to be my last Will and Testament ~~ In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this day & year above Written ~~~~~~ [Will Book Volume D, page 76] Signed Sealed and declared in presence of us Interlined before assigned Thos. Steele Fras. Moreland (seal) J Dixon Nancy John Hamilton Moreland (seal) Orange County August Term 1802 The Execution of the foregoing last Will and Testament of Fras Moreland Decd. was duly proved in Open Court by the oaths of J. Dixon and John Hampton Subscribing witnesses there to & ordered to be recorded ~~~ At the Same time John Majors one of the Executor therein named qualified accordingly ~~~ Additional Comments: Will Book Volume D, pages 75-76 Recorded Aug 1802 Francis Asbury, Thomas Coke and Richard Whatcoat were well-known traveling Methodist ministers, significant in the early history of Methodism in the United States. They were abolitionists, so giving the enslaved persons to these Bishops may have had the effect of freeing them. Estate Papers comprise 25 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Moreland, Francis (1809)". These concern the allotment of dower and partition of lands to the legatees named in the will. No further family history found. No inventory of the slaves, etc.