Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Ray, Peter L August 30, 1830
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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 E, pages 232-233
Written: August 30, 1830
Recorded: Nov 1830
Testator: Peter L Ray

In the name of God, Amen, I Peter L. Ray
of the County of Orange and State of
North Carolina, being of sound and perfect
mind and memory (Blessed by God) do make
and publish this my last will and testament
in manner following. that is to say -

    First I will that all my just debts be paid
And I authorize my executors to sell such
of my property as to them shall seem fit for
that purpose

    Secondly - I will that my beloved wife Eliz-
abeth B. Ray Keep under her care my Children
David L Ray, Mary E Ray and Griffin L.
Ray, and for their maintenance as well as
her own that she retain all my property
in her possession until my eldest son David
L Ray arrives at full age or my Daughter
Mary E Ray marries.

    Thirdly - I will that if my wife Elizabeth B
Ray marry before [x-out] my son David
L. Ray arrives at full age or my daugh-
-ter Mary E Ray marries that then and
in that Case my Land shall be divided,
giving my wife her dower, and the residue
equally among my Children.

    Fourthly - I will that my personal estate
remain in the hands of my wife Elizabeth
B Ray until my son David L Ray arrives at
full age or my daughter Mary E Ray
marries unless my wife Elizabeth B Ray

[page 2]
in the mean time, marry that then my
personal property be equally divided
among my Wife and children.

Fifthly - I will that, in order to make
the aforenamed disposition of my
property, my executors be empowered to
select three discreet men, who together
with my executors shall divide my property
real as well as personal as aforesaid.

Sixthly - I will that during the time my
wife Elizabeth B Ray retains my personal
estate in her hands if any of my slaves be-
come disobedient or ungovernable to & by her,
my executor sell, hire out or otherwise dis-
pose of such slave or slaves for the benefit
of my wife and Children

Seventhly - I make and Ordain my
worthy friends William Holt Senr. and
Jeremiah Holt Senr. executors of this my
Last will and testament.  In witness whereof
I have hereunto set my hand and seal this
thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and thirty

Signed, sealed, published and
declared in presence of        Peter L Ray (seal)
    Saml. L Holt
    James Poteat
    William Tarpley

[Will Book Volume E, page 232]
In the name of God Amen I Peter L. Ray of the
County of Orange and State of North Carolina, being of Sound
and perfect mind and memory Blessed by God, do make and publish
this my last Will and Testament in manner following that is to say
First I will that all my Just debts be paid and I authorize my
Executors to Sell Such of my property as to them Shall [seem] fit for that
purpose (Secondly) I will that my beloved wife Elizabeth B Ray
keep under her care my Children David L Ray Mary E Ray and
Griffin L. Ray and for their maintenance as well as her own that
She retain all my property in her possession until my eldest Son
David L Ray arrives at full age or my Daughter Mary E Ray
marries  (Thirdly) I will that if my wife Elizabeth B Ray marry before my
Son David L. Ray arrives at full age or my Daughter Mary E Ray

[Will Book Volume E, page 233]
marries that then and in that Case my Land Shall be divided
giving my Wife her dower and the residue equally among my
Children. (fourthly) I will that my personal estate remain in the
hands of my wife Elizabeth B Ray until my Son David L Ray
arrives at full age or my daughter Mary E Ray Marries unless my
Wife Elizabeth B Ray in the mean time, marry that then my
personal property be equally divided among my Wife and Children
Fifthly - I will that, in order to make the afore named disposition
of my property my Executors be empowered to Select three discreet men
who together with my executors Shall divide my property real as well as personal
as aforesaid. Sixthly I will that during the time my wife Elizabeth
B Ray retains my personal estate in her hands if any of my Slaves
become disobedient or ungovernable to and by her my executor Sell hire
out or otherwise dispose of Such Slave or Slaves for the benefit of my
Wife and Children (Seventhly) I make and Ordain my worthy friends
William Holt Snr. and Jeremiah Holt Snr. executors of this my
Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal this thriteenth[thirtieth] day of August in the year
of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty

Signed Sealed published and
declared in presence of                    Peter L Ray (seal)
Samuel Holt
James Bleat[Poteat]
William Tarpley

                       Orange County November Term 1830
The Execution of the foregoing Last Will and Testament
of Peter L Ray was duly proved in open Court by the oath
of Samuel Holt One of the Subscribing, Witnesses thereto
and order to be Recorded

Additional Comments:
Will Book Volume E, pages 232-233
Recorded Nov 1830

There are two handwritten copies in the folder of loose wills labeled "RAY, Peter L. 1830".  One is the original. The second one is labeled "Coppied from Jeremiah Holts coppy"

Estate Papers comprise 59 pages and are found in the folder labeled "Ray, Peter L (1832)".  Several of the pages assert that the testator died some time in 1831.  With the will written 30 Aug 1830 and proved in Nov 1830, it seems more likely that the testator died in late 1830

Mary Ray married Willis R. Sellers