Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Ray, Martha March 11, 1837 ************************************************ 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 F, pages 11-12 Written: March 11, 1837 Recorded: May 1838 Testator: Martha Ray I Martha Ray of county of Orange and State of North Carolina, wife of the late George Ray decd. being in sound Mind and Memory, and desirous of settling my temporal affairs, do make, ordain, and publish this my last will and Testament, First. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha Ann - and Anderson Jackson her husband, for their good conduct and the expense they have been at for my myself, and negroes; my stock of sheep and Calves, 1 walnut cubboard and the contents thereof, also my three negroes, Savory, George, and Brice, also the bed and furniture which has been some time in the possession of Martha Ann. also to Martha Ann one fourth of my clothing together with my loom and geer. Second. I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Martha Ann Collins one bed and furniture. Third. I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Marth[a] D. Hopkins one bed and furniture. Fourth. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Delila Nichols, my Saddle, one candle stand, and bed and furniture. Fifth. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly Jackson Three hundred dollars. Sixth. I give and bequeath unto my friend James Jackson (of James) in trust and confidence, for the express use of my daughter Sally Hopkins, and to be paid over to her proper use. such a part of the interest or principle[sic] as he may deem right and prudent, for the benefit of herself and children, so long as she may be the wife of Cuza Hopkins. The sum of two hundred dollars -- and if she becomes a widow, then the balance or remainder in the hands of he said James Jackson to be paid over to her, or if she decease to her children, for their schooling, or to their proper person when they come of age, as the said trustee may deem most prudent, also to Sally my flax wheel, tub and large pot, together with one fourth of my wearing apparrel Seventh. I give and bequeath unto my sons-in-law Bradley Collin, and Cuza Hopkins one dollar each. Eighth. I wish the balance that may be on hand, when all costs and charges are paid out of my estate to be equally divided between my son Michael Ray, Jenny Collins and Delila Nichols, and do by these presents convey in trust to James Jackson (of James) for the express benefit of my daughter Jenney Collins, and to her proper use, all that part of the remainder of my estate [page 2] which is to be divided into three parts, and she to receive any part of the interest or principle[sic] there of as he may deem proper, and if she be comes[sic] a widow to pay over to her the remain= =der that may be in his hands, also I give her one walnut table together with one fourth of my wearing apparrel, the other fourth to Delila Nichols. That my will may be fully executed, I do hereby appoint and ordain James Jackson (of James) my lawful executors. In testimony whare of I have here to sitt my hand and seal, this the Eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty Seven Sighned and sealed in presence of -------- Levi Whitted Martha Ray (seal) Tho. W. Holden Jurat Exr. qualifd. [Will Book Volume F, page 11] I Martha Ray of County of Orange and State of North Carolina Wife of the late George Ray decd. being in sound mind and memory and desirous of Settleing my temporal affairs do make ordain and Publish this my last will and Testament--- First. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha Ann and Ander -son Jackson her Husband for their good Conduct and the Expense they have been at for my my self and negroes: my stock of Sheep and Calves, 1 walnut cupboard and the contents thereof also my three negroes Savory, George, and Brice also the bed and furniture which has been some time in the possession of Martha Ann also to Martha Ann one fourth of my clothing together with my loom and Geer --- Second. I give and bequeath unto my Grand daughter Martha Ann Collins one bed and furniture --- Third. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Martha D. Hopkins one bed and furniture. Fourth I give and bequeath unto my daughter Delila Nichols my Saddle one candle stand and bed and furniture. Fifth. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly Jackson three Hundred Dollars -- Sixth I give and bequeath unto my friend James Jackson (of James) in trust and confidence for the express use of my daughter Sally Hopkins, and to be paid over to her proper use such a part of - [Will Book Volume F, page 12] the Interest or principal as he may deem right and prudent for the benefit of herself and children so long as she may be the Wife of Cuza Hopkins. the sum of two Hundred Dollars - and if she becomes a widow - then the balance or remainder in the hands of he said James Jackson to be paid over to her or if she decease to her Children for their Schooling or to their proper person when they Come of Age as the said trustee may deem most prudent also to to[sic] Sally my flax wheel tub and large pot together with one fourth of my Weareing apparel --- Seventh I give and bequeath unto my sons-in-law Bradley Collin and Cuza Hopkins one Dollar each Eighth I wish the balance that may be on hand, when all cost[s] and Charges are paid out of my estate to be equally divided between my son Michael Ray James[Jenny] Collins and Delila Nichols and do by these presents convey in trust to James Jackson (of James) for the express benefit of my daughter Jenney Collins, and to her proper use all that part of the remainder of my Estate which is to be divided into three parts and she to receive any part of the interest or principal thereof as he may deem proper and if she becomes a widow to pay over to her the remainder that may be in his hands also I give her one walnut table together with one fourth of my weaving[wearing] apparel the other fourth to Delila Nichols That my will may be fully Executed I do hereby appoint and ordain James Jackson (of James) my lawful executors In testimony Whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this the Eleventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven Signed and sealed in Martha Ray (seal) presence of Levi Whitted Tho. W. Holden Orange County May Term 1838 The Execution of the foregoing Last Will and Testament of Martha Ray ded. was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of Thomas W. Holden of the Subscribing Witnesses thereto and ordered to be Recorded At the Same time James Jackson (of James) the Executor there in named appeared in open Court and qualified Accordingly Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume F, pages 11-12 Recorded May 1838 Estate Papers comprise three pages and are found in the folder labeled "Ray, Martha (1838)". No family history found.