Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Murray, James March 1, 1820 ************************************************ 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 597-598 Written: March 1, 1820 Recorded: May 1821 Testator: James Murray In the name of God amen I James Murray Calling to mind that by Reason of old age and bodily infirmity I Must soon go the way of all the earth-; and injoying[sic] the use of my reason and other faculties of my mind for which blessings I desire to be truly Thankfull do make and publish this my last will and testement[sic] in the manner and forme following ~~ Imprimus I wish my body to be burried in a Christian like manner Item - I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Jennit Two hundread dollars in cash; one hundread acres of land during her natural life including the dwelling house and orchard and out houses to be laid of[f] on the north Side of the Tract of land where I now live and adjoining the lands of John Murray and others Item I give and b[e]queath to my dearly beloved wife Jennet Two Cows Two beds bedsteads and Furniture; one loom and Tackle and the First Choice of my horses and all the household and Kitchen Furniture She had when we were married --- --- ------------ and it is my will that after the death of my wife The above mentioned tract of land to be sold to the highest bidder on a credit of Twelve months and that the money ariseing From the Same be Equally divided among my Four Sons ------- Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Son John Murray one hundread and Fifty acres of land to be laid off: and the lower or South end of the tract whereon I now live by a line East and West as run by John Ray including his improvement and one hundread dollars in money Together with what property I have heretofore given him [page 2] Item I give and b[e]queath to my beloved Son William Murray one tract of land called Warson's old place containing Two hundread acres: and the several articles of property I have already given him ~~~ ~~~ Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Rachel Walk and Elizabeth Craig the Sum of Sixty dollars in money and all the articles they have already recd' from me Item I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved daughter Margaret McAdams all the property real and personal that she has recd. from me and Sixty dollars in money Item I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved daughter Mary one negro woman Pat one horse Two Cows and Calves and one bed and Furniture: all to be the next choice after my wife and Sixty dollars in money ; also Sixty Six acres of land on the East end of my home plantation. Item I give and bequeath unto my Son James Murray one hundread and Fifty acres of land to be laid off across The tract on which I now live East and West adjoining the land I have given my Son John Two horses which I have heretofore given him Two cows and calves one bed and Furniture the land I give him during his natural life ; and at this death to be divided among his heirs if any; if not to fall to the nearest relations [page 2] Item I give and bequeath unto my Nephew James Madison Murray Son of Walter Murray one Tract of land called Curries old Fields adjoining the lands of Wm. Walker and others containing one hundread and Sixty acres More or less ~~~ And it is Further my will that my Negroes Joe Saml. Priss Jane Thena and Ned ; together with all my personal and other property not herein especially disposed of be Sold to the highest bid[d]er on a reasonable credit as Soon as may be thought best after my death; & the money ariseing from Said Sale after the payment of my Just debts; and the money legacies herein contained to be divided as Follows That is the proceeds of my negroes to be Eaqually divided among my Four Sons and the rem= =ainder among my children which are now unmarried --- and I hereby constitute and appoint my friends Wm. Murray Elder and my son John Murray Executors to this my last will and testement; and I hereby publish this my last will and testament First revoking all others by me heretofore maid : In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed My Seal this First day of March A.D. 1820 Signed Seald and deliver'd } in the presant of us } James Murray (seal) John McCauley Jurat Jno & Wm Murray Exrs qualified Wm Murray [Will Book Volume D, page 597] In the name of God Amen I James Murray Calling to mind that by reason of old age & bodily infirmity I must Soon go the way of all the earth; and enjoying the use of my reason & other faculties of my mind for which blessings I desire to be truly thankful do make & publish this my last Will & testament in the manner & form following ~~ Im- primis I wish my body to be buried in a Christian like manner - Item I give & bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Jennet Two hundred dollars in cash; one hundred acres of Land during her natural life including the dwelling house & orchard & out houses to be laid off on the North Side of the Tract of Land where I now live & adjoining the Lands of John Murray & others -- Item I give & bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Jennet two Cows, two beds, bedsteads & furniture; one Loom & tackle & the first Choice of my horses & all the house hold & Kitchen furniture she had when we were married -- And it is my will that after the death of my wife the above mentioned tract of Land to be sold to the highest bidder on a credit of twelve months & that the money arising From the same be equally divided among my four sons Item I give & bequeath to my beloved son John Murray one hundred & fifty acres of Land to be laid off and the lower or South end of the tract whereon I now live by a line East & West as run by John Ray including his im -provement and one hundred Dollars in money together with what property I have heretofore given him - Item I give & bequeath to my beloved son William Murray one tract of Land called Warson's old place contain- ing two hundred acres & the several articles of property I have already given him [Will Book Volume D, page 598] Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved daughter Rachel Walk and Eliz= =abeth Craig the Sum of Sixty dollars in money and all the articles they have already received from me - Item I give and bequeath unto my dear =ly beloved daughter Margaret McAdams all the property real & personal that she has received from me and Sixty dollars in money - Item I give & bequeath unto my dearly beloved daugh =ter Mary one negro woman Pat one horse two Cows & Calves & one bed & furniture all to be the next choice after my wife & Sixty dollars in money, also Sixty Six acres of Land on the east end of my home plantation - Item I give & bequeath unto my son James Murray one hundred and Fifty acres of Land to be laid off across the Tract on which I now live East & West adjoining the Land I have given my son John Two horses which I have heretofore given him two cows & calves one bed & furniture - The land I ["have" x-out] give him during his natural life & at this death to be ["equally" x-out] divided among his heirs if any, if not to fall to the nearest relations - Item I give & bequeath unto my nephew James Madison Murray son of Walter Murray one tract of Land called Curries old Fields adjoin =ing the Lands of William Walker and others containing one hundred & sixty acres more or less - And it is further my will that my negroes Joe Saml. Priss Janes Thena[?] & Ned together with all my personal orig: and other] property not herein previously[orig: especially] disposed of be sold to the highest bidder on a reasonable credit as soon as may be thought best after my death, & the money arising from said Sale after the payment of my Just Debts; & the money legacies herein contained to be divided as follows - That is the proceeds of my negroes to be equally divided among my four Sons & the remainder among my children which are now unmarried - And I hereby constitute & appoint my friends William Murray. Elder, & my son John Murray Executors to this my last will & testament; and I hereby publish this my last Will & testament first revoking all others by me heretofore made In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed My seal this first Day of March A.D. 1820 James Murray (seal) Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us John McCauley Jurat William Murray Orange County May Term 1820 The Execution of the foregoing last Will & Testament of Jas Murry was duly proven in open Court by the oath of John McCauley a subscribing witness thereto & ordered to be Recorded - At the same time the Executors therein named qualified accordingly Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume D, pages 597-598 Recorded May 1821 Left margin of first page of loose will is obscured by conservator's tape, however the archivist meticulously traced the original text rendering it very legible. Estate Papers comprise 31 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Murray, James (1825)". Allotment of Dower, account of Estate Sale, two inventories (slaves not named, just "7 Negroes"). [Estate Papers - Estate Sale 1 Nov 1821] Acocunt of Sale begun and held at Last Residence of James Murray Decd. on the first day of November 1821 [sundry articles omitted] Thomas Armstrong 2 Negroes Priss & Norwood 600.00 John Murray 1 Negro Jinney 500.00 Joseph Armstrong 1 Negroe Sam 560.00 James Murray 1 Negroe Joseph 400.00 William Murray 1 Negroe Chela Tena[?] 125.00 John Murray 1 Negroe boy Ned 170.00