Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Turrentine, Absalom July 21, 1856 ************************************************ 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 G, pages 145-146 Written: July 21, 1856 Recorded: Aug 1856 Testator: Absalom Turrentine I Absalem Turrentine of the County of Orange and the State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory do make and declare this my last will and testament in the manner and form following. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife all my lands during her na =tural life or as long as she remains on it or makes it her home. At her death or in case she should rem =ove. it is my will and desire that my som[sic] Samuel shall have and take possession [of] all of the above named lands. I give and bequeath to my wife Four Negroes I wish her to choose them from the rest of my negroes Also my wagon Harnes[s] and four Horses of her choice: It is my will and desire that after my wife makes choice of her four negroes that the balance of them should be equally devided according to valuation between my Three children namely Mary Jane wife of C. T. McMannen Samuel & Salena Turrentine and not sold for division It is my will and desire that all the present crop and provisions found on my plantation ["be" x-out] should rema =in and be Kept by my Wife for the support of herself and childr =en also it is my Will that all my [page 2] Cattle Hogs and Sheep be Kept by my Wife for he support and benefit of herself and Children It is my will that my wife shall have all my Farming utensils House-hold & Kitchen furnature It is also my will that ["& desire" x-out] my wife at her death ["should" x-out] should dispose of the negr[o]es I give her in my will in any way or as she pleases. It is my will that all my money should be put at interist and my wife have & use the interest for her benefit and support as long as she lives and at her death collected and devided equally between my three Children namely Mary Jane wife [?] of C.T. McMannen Samuel & Salena: Turrentine And lastly I do hereby Constitute & appo =int my trusty friends Williams Harris & John L. Brown my lawful executors to all intents and purposes to Execute this my last will and testament Hereunto I set my hand & seal This the year of our lord 1856 July the 21st Witness his J B Leathers Jurat Absalom (X) Turentine (seal) Joseph Brown Jurat mark [Will Book Volume G, page 145] I Absalem Turentine of the County of Orange and the State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory do make and declare this my last will and testament in the manner and form following I give and bequeath to my beloved wife all my lands during her natural life or as long as she remains on it or makes it her home. At her death or in case she should remove. it is my will and desire that my Son Samuel shall have and take possession all of the above named lands I give and bequeath to my wife four Negroes I wish her to choose them from the rest of my Negroes Also my Waggon Harness and four Horses of her choice It is my will and desire that after my wife makes choice of her four Negroes that the balance of them should be equally divided according to valuation between my three children namely Mary Jane wife of C. T. McMannen Samuel & Salena Turentine and not sold for division It is my will and desire that all the present crop and provisions found on my plantation should remain and be Kept by my wife for the support of herself and children. also it is my Will that all my Cattle Hogs and Sheep be Kept by my wife for he support and benefit of herself and children. It is my will that my wife shall have all my Farming utensils House hold & Kitchen furniture. It is also my will that my wife at her death should dispose of the Negroes I give her in my will in any way or as she pleases It is my will that all my money Should be put at interest and my wife have & use the interest for her benefit and support as long as she lives and at her death collected and divided equally between my three Children [Will Book Volume G, page 146] namely Mary Jane wife of C.T. McMannen, Samuel & Salena Turentine And lastly I do hereby constitute & appoint my trusty friends Williams Harris & John L. Brown my lawfull Executors to all intents and purposes to Execute this my last will and testament Hereunto I set my hand & Seal this the year of our Lord 1856 July the 21st his Witness Absalom (X) Turentine (seal) J B Leathers mark Joseph Brown Orange County Court August Term 1859 The Execution of the foregoing last will and Testament of Absalam Turentine deceased was duly proved in Open Court and order to be recorded Test Additional Comments: Will Book Volume G, pages 145-146 Recorded Aug 1856 Estate Papers comprise 23 pages and are found in folder labeled "Turrentine, Absalom (1856)". Ten slaves were enumerated in the inventory. Four slaves were willed to the widow. Six slaves were named in the Division of Negroes. The slave named Aaron in one version of the Division of Negroes was valued at $1000, however, it appears that in the final division he was not "worth anything". Perhaps he was injured or otherwise incapacitated. Per other sources, it appears that the widow's maiden name was Frances Wilson, who died in 1874, thus her probate records, if any, would not contain references to slaves. In the Estate Papers of Absalom's brother, Daniel, it states that Absalom died in July 1856. [Estate Papers - Inventory circa Sep 1856] ...10 Negroes Susan Joseph Alfred Bill Aron Isaac Merida Calvin Sarah & Lavina [Estate Papers - Estate Sale 4 Oct 1856] A list of property Sold by William Harris and John L Brown Exrs of Absalom Turentine deceast on the 4th day of October 1856 [sundry articles omitted] Hire of negroes Calvin 50 Sarah 50 Vina 5 C. L. MacManen hired negro Bill $14.00 John A MacManen do do Aron 6.00 John B Lethers do do Merady 2.50 [Estate Papers - Division of Negroes Nov 1857] State of North Carolina } Orange County } We the undersigned Com= missioners appointed by the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions at Novr. Term 1857 met ac= coding to appointment & after having qualified in due form of law provided in conformity to the order to divide the negroes of the leg= atees of Absalom Turrentine decd. beg leave to make the following report. We value the negro boy William @ $1,000. " " " " " Merideth @ 900. " " " " " Calvin @ 900. " " " " girl Sarah @ 900. " do not estimate Aaron as worth anything ______ Whole amt of value of Negroes $3300. Which divided into 3 equal parts makes for each child $1100 We allot to Selina Turrentine the negro boy Calvin @ $750 & the girl Sarah @ 650. - 1400 We allot to C. T. McMannen & wife boy William @ 1000. We allot to Saml. Turrentine boy Meridith @ $900. and we do assess upon Selina the sum of $100. which she is to pay to Charles T. McMannen and also the sum of $200. which she is to pay to Samuel Turrentine, making the two last shares equal to her own to-wit $1100.00 The commissioners dispose of the boy Aaron by leaving him upon Samuel Turrentine's hands who is [to] take care of him if he becomes helpless, and if he is to have him if he becomes valuable and they have disposed of the Old Woman Vina by allow C. T. McMannen $40 per annum [page 2] for keeping her the same to be paid annually one third of the amt by Samuel Turentine one third of the amt. Selina Turentine and the other third he loses as he is one of the legatees. All of which is respectfully submitted under our hands & seals this 12th day of December A.D. 1857 A.W. Gay (seal) J B Leathers (seal) John Lockhart (seal)