Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Synnott, Michael March 31, 1779 ************************************************ 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 A, pages 217-220 Written: March 31, 1779 Recorded: Aug 1781 Testator: Michael Synnott I Michael Synnott of the County of Orange & State of North Carolina, do make and ordain this my Testament and last Will, as follows vizt. I Will that all my just debts may be paid as speedily as may be by my Executor herein after named, ---- I give and bequeath to my servant Mary Humphreys for and in consideration of her faithful services, as well as for the respect and friendship I have and do bear towards her provided she shall continue to live a single woman, the articles as follows towit One tract of Land containing three ~~~ hundred acres, known by the name of the Gooseberry Mountain land, lying and being in the County aforesaid, one riding mare & her increase, three cow & ca[l]ves, six head of grown Hogs, two Iron pots, one Frying pan, one Smoothing Iron, two Iron pot racks, six pewter dishes, twelve pewter plates, two pewter Basons, one half Gallon pewter pot, one half pint pewter measure, one black leather Trunk, one Feather Bed & furniture, one walnut bedstead, four chairs, two Churns, three water pails, three empty Barrels two brass Candlesticks, one Iron Candlestick, one Copper Coffee pot, one Tea Kettle, two axes, two plough's & plough Irons, one [page 2] one pair of Steelyards, one hand saw and all my wearing apparel But if hereafter she the said Mary Humphreys should change her way of life by marriage, then & in that case I will and desire that she should not sell nor in any manner convey away the Gooseberry Mountain Land to any person whatever; and if she continues to live a single life, my will is that she shall enjoy the above mentioned Legacies for & during her natural life, and at her death, the said Legacies to be at the disposal of my Executor, and applied to such purposes as he may think proper. I give and devise unto my Nephew Richard Synnott now or late of Saint Catharine's parish in Wapping London, and his Heirs for ever, a certain tract of Land containing six hundred= & forty acres, lying on Crooked Run the waters of Enoe River in the aforesaid County. I will and desire that the remainder of my Stock of Cattle, Hogs, Horses, Household furniture, utensels[sic] of Husbandry, and debts owing to me not herein before disposed of, may be applied toward the payment of my just Debts & funeral charges, and if they should not be sufficient for that purpose, I will that the tract of Land bequeathed to the above named [page 3] Named Richard Synnott, to be sold by my Executor & in that case I do hereby empower him to make a lawfull conveyance to any person who may purchase the same and the money ["aris" x-out] arising from the sale thereof to be applied, to the payment of such of my debts as may be then due & owing; and the remainder of the money if any there be, to be paid to my said nephew Richard Synnott by my Executor, I also will & desire, that a Bond payable to me for sundry sorts of wearing apparel & Books, from Thomas Bearfield, Arthur Brown & Benjan. Cotton which Bond & Inventory of particulars is at present in the case of Dr. Thomas Burke, & whatever sum is recovered - thereon may be applied to the payment of by debts, if the abovementioned articles and Land should fall short, & the remain= =ing surplus thereof, I give to my said Nephew Richd. Synnott I nominate & appoint my friend William Johnston of Little River, in the County aforesaid, Executor of this my Testament & last Will, and I do here by Revoke, & disannul all & every former will by me ~ heretofore made. In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal, this thirty first day of March, one thousand seven hundred & seventy nine. Signed, sealed, published & declared by the said Michl. Synnott } Michl Synnott (seal) the Testator as & for his Testament & last will, in the presence} of us, who have at his request set our names as witnesses & in the } presence of each other.-------------- NB. The words persons who may being first interlined before signing. Rd. Bennehan his Michl. (+) McGee mark [Will Book Volume A, page 217] I Michael Synnott of the County of Orange & State of North Carolina, do make and ordain this my Testament and last Will as follows vizt. I Will that all my just Debts may be paid, as speedily as may be by my Executor herein after named. I give and bequeath to my Servant Mary Humphreys for and in consideration of her faithful services, as well as for the respect & Friendship I have and do bear towards her provided she shall continue to live a single Woman the Articles as follows to wit One tract of Land containing three hundred Acres, known by the name of the Gooseberry Mountain Land, lying and being in the County aforesaid, one riding mare & her increase, Three Cow & Calves, six head of grown Hoggs, two Iron potts, one Frying pann, one smoothing Iron, two Iron pot Racks six pewter Dishes twelve pewter plates, two Pewter Basons, one half Gallon Pewter pott one half pint pewter Measure, one black leather Trunk one Feather Bed & Furniture, one Walnut Bedstead four chairs, two Churns, three Water pails three empty Barrels two Brass Candlesticks, 1 Iron Candlestick one Copper Coffee Pott one Tea Kettle two Axes, two Ploughs & plough Irons, one one pair of Steelyards, one hand saw and all my wearing apparel; But if hereafter she the said Mary Humphreys should change her way of Life by Marriage, then & in that case, I will and desire that she should not sell nor in in[sic] any manner convey away the Gooseberry Mountain Land to any Person whatever and if She continues to live a [Will Book Volume A, page 218] single life my Will is that she shall enjoy the above mentioned Legacies for and during ["the term of" x-out] her natural Life and at her Death the said Legacies to be at the disposal of my Executor and applied to such purposes as he may think proper. ~~ I give and devise unto my Nephew Richard Synnott now or late of Saint Catharine's Parish, in Wapping London, and his Heirs forever, a certain Tract of Land contain= =ing six hundred & forty acres, lying on Crooked Run the Waters of Eno River in the aforesaid County. I Will & desire that the remainder of my Stock of Cattle, Hogs Horses household furniture, Utensils of Husbandry, and Debts owing to me not herein before disposed of may be applied toward the payment of my just Debts & funeral charges, and if they shou[l]d not be sufficient for that purpose, I Will that the Tract of Land bequeathed to the above named named Richard Synnott to be sold by my Executor and in that case I do hereby impower him to make a Lawfull conveyance to any Person who may purchase the same, and the money arising from the Sale thereof to be applied to the payment of such of my Debts as may be then due & owing; and the remainder of the Money if any there be to be paid to my said Nephew Richard Synnott by my Executor. I also Will and desire, that a Bond payable to me for sundry sorts of wearing apparel and Books from Thomas Bearfield, Arthur Brown & Benjan. Cotton which Bond and Inventory of Particulars is at present in the case of Doc. Thomas Burke & whatever sum [Will Book Volume A, page 219] is recovered - thereon may be applied to the payment of by Debts if the abovementioned Articles and Land should fall short & the remaining surplus thereof, I give to my said Nephew Richd. Synnott I nominate & appoint my Friend William Johnston of Little River, in the County aforesaid, Executor of this my Testament & last Will and I do hereby revoke, & disannul all & every former Will by me ~ heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & seal, this thirty first Day of March One thousand seven hundred & seventy nine. Signed, sealed, Published & declared } by the said Michl. Synnott, the } Testator as & for his Testament & last } Michl. Synnott (seal) Will in the presence of us who } have at his request set our Names } as Witnesses & in the presence of each other. NB The Words "Persons who may" being first interlined before signing Rd. Bennehan his Michl. (+) McGee mark Orange County ss Augt. Court 1781 The Executor of the within Will was duly proved in open Court by the Oaths of Richd. Bennehan a subscribing Witness thereto & ordered to be Recorded Test J J Benton CC I Michael Synnott Testator of the within Will Published and declared by me; do further add as a Codicil thereto that I hereby Will & declare that all the Gifts and Devises made to my Nephew Synnott on the [Will Book Volume A, page 220] said Will shall be at the disposal of my Executor the within named William Johnson and to be applied to such uses & purposes as to him shall seem most fit. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this f[o]urteenth Day of April one, thousand seven hundred & Eighty one Sealed & delivered in the Presence of Michl. Synnott (seal) Fillippe Fasso Orange County ss Aug Court 1781 The Execution of the within Codicil was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of Fillippe Fasso a subscribing Witness thereto & ordered to be Recorded Test J J Benton CC Additional Comments: Will Book Volume A, pages 217-220 Recorded Aug 1781 Loose will is written in a fancy, clear, easy-to-read hand. Estate Papers comprise seven pages and are found in a folder labeled "Synnott, Michael (1781)". No family history found.