Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Morgan, Jones December 7, 1861 ************************************************ 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 381-382 Written: December 7, 1861 Recorded: Feb 1862 Testator: Jones Morgan In the name of God Amen! I Jones Morgan of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina Being of Sound mind & memory but con sidering the uncertainty of life do make and ordain this to be my last will and Testament hereby rev oking all former Wills heretofore made First I Commend My Soul to God who gave it and my body I direct shall be decently buried and all expenses for the same paid out of the first Money that shall come into hand as a part or parcel of My estate Touching my worldly estate which God in his goodness has been pleased to bestow upon me I give and bequeath as follows Viz,. I desire that all the open land on my plantation where I now live be rented from year to year untill My Son John arrives at the age of Twenty one years but no wood to be cut off of the plantation only for the use of the farm, My Negroes except Clarisa, I desire shall be hired out from year to year untill my son John arrives at the age of twenty one years Then and at that time I desire that my entire estate be valued by disinterested persons and to be equally divided between My two Children Nancy Jane and John Morgan as follows I desire that My Son John have my plantation whereon I now live supposed to Contain about Seven hundred acres at valuation and that my Daughter Nancy Jane be made equal in other property, the residue of my estate to be equally divided as above stated, but if the said Nancy Jane or John shall die leaving no Child or Children then I desire that their share shall go to the one who shall live and in case they both shall die leaving no Child or Children then I desire the entire estate [page 2] go to my Sister Mary E Mason [during] her lifetime with remainder over to her Children and their heirs and in case she die leaving no Children then I give my entire estate One half to the Baptist Churches and the other half to the Methodist Churches of North Carolina to be used by them as they think will be of most benefit My House & Lot in Chapel Hill I desire shall be sold within Two years by my Executor on a Credit of one and two Years and the proceeds when Collected paid over to my Guardian hereafter appointed for my Children to be held by him as my other property until my Son John arrives at the age above stated then to be accounted for with whatever interest it may draw, with my land Negroes & other effects and be divided as before mentioned. I desire that the guardian for my Children proved Comfortable board, Clothing (not extravagant) and to give them a liberal English education and that he use so much of my estate as will be sufficient for Carrying-out this desire. I appoint Saml. F Phillips guardian for my daughter Nancy Jane and My Son John Morgan and request that he will act, and that he give bond & Security for his faithful performance I appoint My friend J. W. Carr of Chapel Hill my Executor to this my last Will & Testament believing that he will Carry out the same according to my wishes I[n] Testimony of which I hereunto set my hand on this 7th day of December 1861 Signed & published as the will of Jones Morgan Jones Morgan in the presence of the undersigned who in the presence of each other & in his presence & at his request have hereunto set our hands Tes. M R Sugg Jurat Foster Utley Jurat [Will Book Volume G, page 381] In the name of God Amen I Jones Morgan of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina Being of Sound mind & memory but Considering the the [sic] uncertainty of life do make and ordain this to be my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all former Wills heretofore made First I com[m]end my Soul to God who gave it and my body I direct shall be decently buried and all expenses for the same paid out of the first Money that shall come into hand as a part or parcel of my estate Touching my worldly estate which God in his goodness has been pleased to bestow upon me I give and bequeath as follows viz I desire that all the open Land on my plantation where[on] I now live be rented from year to year until my son John ar[r]ives at the age of Twenty one years but no wood to be cut off of the plantation only for the use of the farm. My Negroes except Clarisa I desire shall be hired out from year to Year until my son John arrives at the age of twenty one Years then & at that time I desire that my entire estate be valued by disinterested persons and to be equally divided between my two Children Nancy Jane and John Morgan as follows I desire that my son John have my plantation where I now live supposed to contain about seven hundred acres [Will Book Volume G, page 382] at valuation and that my Daughter Nancy Jane be made equal in other property. The residue of my estate to be equally divided as above stated but if the said Nancy Jane or John shall die leaving no Child or Children Then I desire that their share shall go to the one who shall live and in case they both shall die leaving no Child or Children Then I desire the entire estate go to my Sister Mary E Mason [during] her lifetime with remainder over to her Children and their heirs and in case she die leaving no Children then I give my entire estate one half to the Baptist Churches and the other half to the Methodist Churches of North Carolina to be used by them as they think will be of most benefit My Hous[e] & Lot in Chapel Hill I desire shall be sold within Two years by my Executor on a a[sic] Credit of one and two Years and the proceeds when Collected paid over to my Gua[r]dian hereafter appointed for my Children to be held by him as my other property until my son John arrives at the age above stated Then to be ac[c]ounted for with whatever interest it may draw with my Land Negroes & other effects and be divided as before mentioned. I desire that the guardian for my Children proved comfortable board Clothing (not extravagant) And to give them a liberal English Education and that he use so much of my estate as will be sufficient for Carrying-out this desire. I appoint Samuel F Phillips guardian for my Daughter Nancy Jane and my son John Morgan and request that he will act And that he give bond & Security for his faithful performance I appoint my friend J W Carr of Chapel Hill my Executor to this my last Will & Testament believing that he will Car[r]y out the same according to my wishes In Testimony of which I hereunto set my hand on this 7th day of December 1861 Signed & published as the will of Jones Morgan in the presence of these undersigned who in the presence of each other & in his presence & at his request have hereunto set our hands } Jones Morgan M R Sugg } Orange County Court Feb Term 1892 Foster Utley } The foregoing Will was duly proved in open Court according to Law see minutes Additional Comments: Will Book Volume G, pages 381-382 Recorded Feb 1862 Estate Papers comprise 386 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Morgan, Jones (1861)". "Dec 1861: Walnut Coffin $35.00", perhaps indicating that the testator died in Dec 1861. The majority of these records have to do with the accounts of the guardian of the minor heirs of this testator. There are long lists of items purchased, supplies, clothing, schooling, books, etc. There is a Doctors Bill for Care of Slaves due 1 Jan 1863, for the year of 1862. Names include: Linda, hired to Caudle Dilly, hired to Jennings Lucy, hired to J. Jenkins Clarisa, not hired out. This is a wealthy estate, and these papers include the time of almost the entire civil war, emancipation, and into the 1870's. This transcription is focused on family history, but if a researcher is interested in the larger historical events, the effects are reflected in these estate papers, though not transcribed here. For instance there is an account detailing the replacement of fencing destroyed as a consequence of the hostilities. There are the accounts of the hire of negroes prior to emancipation, and there are some items dealing with Confederate money, etc. [Estate Papers - Contract for hire of Milly 25 Dec 1862] $98.25 Upon the 25th Dec 1862 I J W Carr Exr of Jones Morgan decd. will pay to Jake Durham ninety eight 25/100 Dollars for Keeping Negro Woman Milly for the year 1862 if he furnishes her with clothing &c according to the terms of hiring [Estate Papers - Contract for hire of Milly 25 Dec 1862] Upon the 25th Dec 1862 I J W Carr Exr of Jones Morgan decd. will pay to Wesley Andrews Nine Dollars & Ninety cents for Keeping Negro Gerl Mary the ballance of the year 1862 & furnishing her with clothing according to the terms of hiring & delivering her to me at Chapel Hill on the 25 Dec 1862 [Estate Papers - Contract for hire of Milley 25 Dec 1863] $100 The Estate of Jones Morgan will be due to Alex Blackwood One hundred Dollars for keeping Negro woman Milley for the year 1863 & furnishing her with good Clothing accor ding to the Terms of hiring - Say one pair shoes two summer & one winter suit one pair stocking one Bonnet [page torn] one Bedqui[l]t J W Carr Admr of Jones Morgan decd. [Estate Papers - Contract for hire of Malinda and Francis 25 Dec 1864] Recd. into possession of J W Carr Exr of Jones Morgan Dec One Negro Woman by the name of Malinda & her Child Francis which I am to keep for the year 1864 & furnish her & Child two summer & one winter suit of clothes Two pair shoes one pair stockings, one Blanket one Bonnett & Cape for her service I am to pay Nothing but am to receive at the close of the year 1864 Thirty five Dollars for Keeping & Clothing said woman & child Witness our hands & seals this 29 Dec 1893 Charles C Howard (seal) A B McQuire (seal) [Estate Papers - Contract for hire of Laura 25 Dec 1864] Recd. of J W Carr Exr of Jones Morgan decd. One Negro Girl by the name of Laura which Negro Slave I promise to feed & treat well & furnish her with Two Summer & one winter suits of clothes Two pair good new shoes one pair stockings, one Blanket or quilt one Bonnett & Cape & return her to J W Carr Exr at Chapel Hill on the 25 day of Dec 1864 & in consideration of feeding & clothing as Noted I am to receive on the 25th Dec 1864 from the estate of said Jones Morgan the Sum of Eighteen Dollars Jany 1 1864 Haywood ??? McGuire? J.W. Carr Exr. [Estate Papers - Midwife Fee (undated)] Mr Carr, Will please pay Dilcy $5.00 for attending Harriett, (of the Morgan estate) at birth of her child. N. C. Newton [Estate Papers - Estate Account to 1 Jan 1865] Jany 1 1865 Hire of Negroes for the year 1865 Candiss To Cannon Bowers 150.00 Julia & Child Mr Eubanks 70.00 Lucy & Child Jno Creel 5.00 Cornelia " Jno M Riggsbee 185.00 Milly & Willis W.G. Bowers 200.00 Harriett & Child W J Newton 45.00 Dinah D Tilly Victuals & Clothes 00.00 Abe Mrs Harwood 400.00 Dilly A Cheek 36.00 Laura Abner Brown 13.00 Brad R Loade 910.00 Martha Ann S Watson 125.00 Paul W H Sparrow 605.00 Peter Mrs Atkins 905.00 Malinda & Francis M R Sugg 000.00 Mary Willis Cheek 000.00 ______________ 3649.00 Negro woman Milly put to the lowest bidder & taken by John Sparrow at $250 $250.00 ______________ $3399.00 [Note: "Malinda" AKA "Lindy" elsewhere.]