Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Roberts, Willis Sr February 27, 1849 ************************************************ 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 493-494 Written: February 27, 1849 Recorded: Aug 1851 Testator: Willis Roberts, Sr In the name of God Amen I Willis Roberts of Orange County & State of Northcarolina considering the uncertainty of this mortal life being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last Will and testament in manner and form following that is to say my Will and desire is that my just debts be paid and then first I give and bequeath unto my Eldist son William B. Roberts one bed and furniture and one Cow I do also give and bequeath unto my son Richard F G Roberts one mare named Fan one bed and furniture and one Cow Item my will and Desire is that my Executors should pay unto my three daughters that are now maried to Wit Sally Barbee and Patsey C Haley and Susanah G Procter fifty cents each and them to have no other part of my estate and then I give and bequeath unto my three children that are now living with me all the balance of my property both real and personal to do with as they may think best to wit Jane H. Roberts and Lucy A Winnifred Roberts and Willis B Roberts Item my Will and desire is that my youngest son Willis B should have fifty acres of my land on the South Side of my house which I give and bequeath unto him fifty acres of land one Colt one cow one bed and furniture one smal black Walnut table and my clock and one gun I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jane H Roberts twenty five Acres of land one mare named Dimond one Cow one bed and Furniture one large folding table and cuboard one chest I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lucy A Winnifred Roberts twenty five acres of land one Colt one cow bed and furniture one Small folding table and desk one chest the Residue of my property both real and personal are ["to for the use of" x-out]to be let stay her[e] for the use of the three children [page 2] to Wit Jane H Lucy A Winnifred and Willis B while there is one of them living her[e] Single and if they Break up from here Sell the Residue and Devide it among themselfs like brother and Sisters Lastly I appoint my son William B Roberts & John Barbee Executors to whom I intrust to see to this business and constitute this my last will and testament Whereunto I do hereunto set my hand and affix my seal the 27th of February AD 1849 Sener Test Willis Roberts (seal) [page 3] Willis Roberts Will Augt 1857 Recorded page 493 [page 4] Georgia Newton Cty July the 27th 1857 Dear Brother, it is with a sad heart I take my pen to inform you that I Recd your letter informing me of the death of my last Earthly parent the mournful inteligence fell heavily on one Who has Ever cherished the most tender Regard for a kind and affectionate Father but we all must Die and the best of friends have to part and if we can be prepared it will be a happy Exchange for the affliction and cares of this world it is a great consolation to believe that our Father is Done with the suferings and is now happy in the presence of his Redeemer and all those happy Spirits that have gone before we should all make it our chief consern to be prepared to meet our Friends in that blesed World I feel a deep concern for Jane and Winefred they are in a helpless condition Willis cant make a suport for them all and I think it would be best for them to break up you Did not say anything about Debts of corse I k[n]ow nothing about the condition of the Estate or what the children Intend Doing if they Determine on staying thare and thare is any Debt you must sell such property as the can do best without and pay the Debts if they think it best to brake up [page 5] I want then to come to georgia they can get a home with me and Richard as long as we have a home I want some of you to write soon and let me know what they intend Doing and let me know all the perticulars of their Situation and then I will be better prepared to give them advice the ["that" x-out] Will that was not signed of course cannot be Executed it is out of my power to go thare at present and it is also unnessessary for me to act it will be your Duty to carry out the Will as for whats left me if they Determine to Remain thare they can keep it until I call for it and Richards the same if they Dont want Richards mare sell her and keep the money an[d] use it if they need it if they wish to come to georgia Richard or myself as both will go thare and accompany them out here so you need not wait for me in the management of the Estate but Just carry out the Will acording to law We have a gloomy prospect out her[e] for living our corn crops are Ruined thare is a great many that wont make corn enough to bread them much less feed stock I shant make a third of a crop I am confident John you must write to me as soon as you get this and give me all the perticulars [page 6] my family are all Well at present and hoping these liens[lines] may find yourself and family and all the family conexion[s] well with my love to all I Remain your affictionate brother W. B. Roberts to John Barbee [page 7 letter address] [Postmark] Covington Ga. 29 JUL Mr John Barbee Prattsburg Orange County N Carolina --------- [Will Book Volume F, page 493] In the name of God Amen I Willis Roberts of Orange County & State of North Carolina considering the uncertainty of this mortal life being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last Will and testament in manner and form following that is to say my will and desire is that my Just debts be paid and then first I give & bequeath unto my eldest son William B. Roberts one bed and furniture and one Cow I do also give and bequeath unto my son Richard F. G. Roberts one mare named Fan one bed & furniture and one Cow -- Item my will & desire is that my Executors should pay unto my three daughters that are now married to wit Sally Barbee and Patsey C. Hailey and Susannah G. Procter fifty cents each and them to have no other part of my estate and then I give and bequeath unto my three Children that are now living with me all the balance of my property both real and personal to do with as they may think best to wit Jane H. Roberts and Lucy A. Winnifred Roberts and Willis B Roberts Item my will and desire is that my youngest son Willis B. should have fifty acres of my land on the south side of my house which I give and bequeath unto him fifty acres of land one Colt one cow one bed and furniture one small black walnut Table and my Clock and one gun I give & bequeath unto my daughter Jane H. Roberts twenty five acres of land one mare named Dimond one Cow one bed & furniture one large folding table and cupboard one chest I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lucy A Winnifred Roberts twenty five acres of land one Colt one Cow [x-out] bed & furniture one Small folding table and desk one chest the residue of my property both real & personal are to be let stay here for the use of the three children [Will Book Volume F, page 494] to wit Jane H., Lucy A Winnifred and Willis B. while there is one of them living her[e] single and if they Break up from here sell the residue and divide it - among themselves like brother & sisters Lastly I appoint my son William B Roberts & John Barbee Executors to whom I intrust to see to this business and constitute this my last will and testament Whereunto I do hereunto set my hand and affix my seal the 27th of February A.D. 1849 --- Test Willis Roberts Sen. (seal) Orange County Court Augt Term 1851 The foregoing last will & Testament of Willis Roberts decd. was produced in open Court by John Barbee one of the executors therein named (who at the same time renounced his right to execute the same) and the said Barbee being duly sworn makes oath that he found the said paper writing among the valuable papers of said Willis Roberts decd. Whereupon Isaiah Marcom, John W Han= cock & Gray Barbee being also duly sworn make oath that they verily believe said paper writing & every part thereof is in the hand writing of the said Willis Roberts decd. late of said County of Orange -- Whereupon the said paper writing is ordered to be recorded as the last will & testa= ment of the said Willis Roberts decd. ---- And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that W. B. Roberts the other Executor named in said will also renounces his right to execute the same Administration with the will annexed on the estate of the said Willis Roberts decd. is granted to John Barbee who enters into bond in the sum of $2000 with Isaiah Marcom & Gray Barbee his sureties Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume F, pages 493-494 Recorded Aug 1851 As shown above, this will was not witnessed, but was still recorded and accepted into probate. The loose will folder also includes a 3 page personal letter, used to testify about the wishes of W. B. Roberts and Richard Roberts with respect to the estate. Estate Papers comprise nine pages and are found in a folder labeled "Roberts, Willis (1851)". No family history found.