Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Nelson, James October 18, 1798 ************************************************ 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 C, pages 140-142 Written: October 18, 1798 Recorded: May 1799 Testator: James Nelson In the Name of God, Amen I James Nelson of the County of Orange & State of North Carolina being sick & weak in Body but of sound mind & memory; thanks be to God, calling to mind the uncertainty of Life & the certainty of Death, do therefor[e] make, publish & declare this my last will & Testament in the manner following - (To Wit) I resign my Soul to God hoping for pardon of my sins & acceptance in & thru the merits of Jesus Christ the righteous, my Body I resign to the Earth to be inter'd in a decent & orderly way I give & bequeath to my beloved Brothers George, John Abraham & Archer Nelson & my loving Sisters Eliza =beth Waldrop & Milley Meredith Fifty Dollars each I give & bequeath to John Nelson Rencher & Sarah Renche[r] Son & daughter of Jno. G Rencher & Nancy Rencher twenty Dollars each & to James Rencher Son as above forty five Dollars. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I give & bequeath to Sarah Nelson daughter of Archer Nelson Twenty Dollars, also to Nelly Nelson, daughter of the sd. Archer Ten Dollars. --- --- --- --- --- --- Whereas I hold by deed of Gift the perishable property of my Father at his decease, I do hereby give & bequeath the same on my Fathers Decease to my loving Brothers Archer & John Nelson to be equally divided between them, I further give my Brother Archer all my wearing apparel except my shoe buckles which I give to my loving Sister Nancy Rencher. --- --- --- --- I have in my possession two papers the property of William Morris which said papers I empower my Executors [page 2] to deliver up to the said Morris upon condition that he pay or cause to be paid to my Executors the Sum of Eighty Dollars which the said Morris had in property from me at cash price & deposited said papers as securi[ty] for the reimbursing the same. --- --- --- --- --- I give & bequeath unto Lydia and Eliz'h Harold, daughters of Edy Harrold Ten Dollars each to be attributed for the bin[e] =fit of schooling said girls. --- --- --- --- --- I give & bequeath to my honour'd Father one Dollar. --- --- I give & bequeath to my loving Sister Nancy Rencher my Negro Wench Jane her & her increase forever, as also the sum of Ten Dollars. --- --- I hereby authorize & impower my Executors hereafter to be mention'd to sell at Public Sale all my property both real and personal that has not been heretofore donated or may hereafter be donated & after collecting my debts due me; first to discharge all my just debts, then the legacies that have heretofore or may hereafter be donated & for such services I give to each Executor Twenty Dollars: I give & bequeath to Edy Harold Fifty Dollars for her services I further Will & desire that after all my Debts are dis= charg'd, the whole of the ballance arising from my Estat[e] to be divided into four parts & distributed in the manner following. (To Wit) To Nancy Rencher half a share to Milly Meredith one share. To Archer Nelson one share & to James Rencher son of J. G. Rencher one & a half share for the purpose of schooling the said James Rencher & in case of his death before he shall receive the benefit [page 3] of Sc[h]ooling to devolve to Sarah Rencher daughter of sd. J G Rencher & in case of her death before she arrives of Age to Jno. Nelson Rencher & so to his other Children. ------ Lastly I hereby nominate & appoint my trusty friends George Johnston & Alexander Boreland my sole Exe= =cutors to this my last Will & Testament trusting that they will have the same faithfully executed agreeable to the true intent & meaning thereof making null & void all former Wills & Testaments, publishing pronouncing & declaring this my Last Will & Testa= =ment, Sign'd & Seal'd this eighteenth day of October one thousand seven hundred & ninety eight. Sig'd. Seal'd. publish'd } & pronouc'd. to be his } Jas. Nelson (seal) last Will & Testam't } in presence of us. } James Strayhorn } his } Adam (X) Stowers } Affd mark } [Will Book Volume C, page 140] In the name of God amen, I James Nelson of the County of Orange & State of North Carolina, being sick & weak in Body but of sound mind & memory; thanks be to God, calling to mind the uncertainty of Life & the certainty of Death, do therefore Make, Publish & Declare this my Last Will & Testament in the manner following (to wit) I Resign my soul to God hoping for pardon of my sins & acceptance in & thro. the merits of Jesus Christ the righteous, my Body I resign to the Earth to be inter'd in a decent & orderly way ~~ I Give & Bequeath to my Beloved Brothers [George,] John, Abraham & Archer Nelson & my Loving sister[s] Elizabeth Waldrope & Milley Meridith Fifty Dollars Each ~~~~ I Give & Bequeath to John Nelson Rencher & Sarah Rencher son and Daughter of Jno. G. Rencher & Nancy Rencher Twenty Dollars Each & to James Rencher son as above Forty five Dollars ~~~~ I Give & Bequeath to Sarah Nelson Daughter of Archer Nelson Twenty Dollars, also to Nelly Nelson Daughter of the sd. Archer Ten Dollars ~~ whereas I hold by Deed of Gift the perishable property of my Father at his decease, I do hereby Give & Bequeath the same on my Father's decease to my Loving Brothers Archer and John Nelson to be Equally Divided between them, I further Give my Brother Archer all my wearing apparel Except my shoe [Will Book Volume C, page 141] Buckles which I Give to my Loving sister Nancy Rencher I have in my possession Two papers the property of William Morris which said papers I Empower my Executors to deliver up to the said Morris upon condition that he pay or cause to be paid to my Executors the sum of Eighty Dollars which the said Morris had in property from me at cash price & deposited said papers as security for the reimbursing the same ~~ I Give & Bequeath unto Lydia and Eliz'th Harold daughters of Edy Harrold Ten Dollars Each to be attributed for the benefit of schooling said Girls ~~~~ I Give & Bequeath to my honour'd Father One Dollar ~~ I Give & Bequeath to my Loving sister Nancy Rencher my negro wench Jane, her and her increase forever, as also the sum of Ten Dollars ~~ I hereby authorise & Empower my Executors hereafter to be mentioned to sell at public sale all my property both real & personal that has not been heretofore Donated or may hereafter be Donated and after [collecting my] the Debts due me; First to Discharge all my Just Debts, then the Legacies that have heretofore or may hereafter be Donated, and for Such services I Give to Each Executor Twenty Dollars ~~ I Give and Bequeath to Edy Harold Fifty Dollars for her services ~~ I further Will and Desire that after all my Just Debts are discharg'd, the whole of the balance arising from my Estate to be Divided into four parts and Distributed in the manner following. (to Wit) to Nancy Rencher half a share to Mille Meridith one share ~~~ to Archer Nelson one share and to James Rencher son of J. G. Rencher one & a half share for the purpose of schooling the said James Rencher & in case of his Death before he shall receive the benefit of schooling to Devolve to Sarah Rencher daughter of sd. J. G. Rencher & in case of her Death before she arrives of age to John Nelson Rencher & so to his Other children ~~ Lastly I hereby nominate & Appoint my Trusty Friends George Johnston & Alexander Boreland my sole Executors to this my Last Will & Testament trusting that they will have [Will Book Volume C, page 142] the same faithfully Executed agreeable to the true intent and meaning thereof making null & void all former Wills and Testaments, publishing, pronouncing & declaring this my Last Will & Testament, Sign'd seal'd this Eighteenth day of October one thousand seven hundred & ninety Eight ~~~~ Signed, seal'd, publish'd & pronounc'd. } to be his Last Will & Testam't in presence of us } Jas. Nelson (seal) James Strayhorn his Adam (X) Stowers mark Orange County May Term 1799 The Execution of the foregoing Last Will & Testament James Nelson deceased was duly proved in Open Court by the affirmation of James Strayhorn & Adam Stowers subscribing witness thereto & Ordered to be Recorded ~~~~~~~~~~~ Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume C, pages 140-142 Recorded May 1799 Estate Papers comprise eight pages and are found in a folder labeled "Nelson, James (1799)". "J. G. Rencher" is John Grant Rencher.