PITT COUNTY, NC - Will - Theophilus Slaughter, 1850. ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Christine Fuller Nov. 1999 ========================================================================== Will and Petition Papers, Theophilus Slaugher Transcribed by Christine Fuller from originals in the N.C. State Archives, Raleigh, NC. The Last Will & Testament of Theophilus Slaughter In the name of God Amen.I Theophilus Slaughter of the State of North Carolina and county of Pitt being in perfect and sound disposing mind and memory thanks to God,calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is I want to be buried in decent and christian form and after paying my just debts I lend to my beloved wife Nancy during her natural life all the estate of which I possess both real and personal and to sell privately and of such part or parts either real or personal as she may think necessary for her support or promotion of life and the right of said property good to the purchaser. Item-naming the property,two negro girls Netty and Jane four children,Fanny,William,Henry,Delah and Lucy with all my lands except one acre of land whereon the meeting house now stands which I give to my beloved brethren & sisters to them and their sucessors of the Free Will order from age to age and generation to generation,the meeting house free for other Baptists Preachers to teach in at other times only the days of our own meetings but not free to constitute churches another order in but Free Will only. Item-Igive unto my beloved wife Nancy all my stock consisting of hogs cattle and sheep poultry & farming instruments also what little funds I have on hand.At the death of my beloved wife whatever property remains belonging to my estate to be divided amongst our next of kin having paid my just debts. I leave this my last will and testament and wife sole executor to this my ? whereunto I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the tenth day of November 1850. Theophilus Slaughter {seal} John Stocks Shaderick Jackson Copied as written--Christine Fuller These were with the will of Theophilus Slaughter: On the outside of the papers were written Paper refured to in ref. petition in the case of Thomas Witherington --? vs Caleb Cannon it also in the deposition of James A.Brown. State of North Carolina To Laurel Lee & William M.Blaylock Esquires, of the County of Sebastian Greetings: We, reposing special trust and confidence in your integrity,Do authorise and empower you to cause James A.Brown to appear before you,at such time and place as you may appoint,and him on oath to examine touching all such matters and things as he shall know of concerning a certain matter of controversy in our Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions,held for the County of Pitt now pending, wherein Thomas Witherington etals is Plantiff and Caleb Cannon etals --is Defendant. And these Depositions in writing by you so taken, the same to transmit,sealed with your seals,to our Court to be held for the said County,on the first Monday of August next,to be read in evidence in behalf of the def. in said controversy. WITNESS, Henry Shepherd Clerk of the said Court,at office,the first Monday of May in the year of our Independence.A.D.1860. H.Shepherd Clerk Isued- 12 June 1860 When the said Brown having been -----? duly sworn answered and ---?as follows. Interrogatory 1st--What is your name,age, occupation and present residence? Answer-My name is James A.Brown,age thirty six years 19th Sept.1860-Occupation lawyer-present residerce near Greenwood ,Sebastian Co. Arkansas. Interrogatory 2nd-Where did you reside in the year 1854,1855,1856 and 1857 and what was then your occupation? Answer-I resided in the years 1854,1855 and until May 1856 in Greenville North Carolina and was then engaged in merchandize up to some time in 1855.The latter part of the year 1855 and the forepart of the year 1856 I was Clerk of the Superior Court of Pitt Co.N.C.& Dept Clerk of the Co. Court.The balance of the year 1856 & 1857 I was in Arkansas. Interrogatory 3rd -Look at the paper --? now exhibited to you annexed to this paper and marked A and say by whom was it written and when to the best of your recollection? Answer-The paper writing annexed--? marked A was written by me.Do not recollect precisely when.But believe early in the year 1856 previous to May that year, perhaps in the latter part of the year 1855. Interrogatory 4th -Was said paper copied by you from any original?If yes please state from what original and where said original paper was procured.Where you took the copy & by whom said original was handed to you and for what purpose,and where was it generally kept? Answer-Said paper was copied by me from an original will of Theophilus Slaughter,in the County Court Clerks office-the original was in said office when I took the copy -am not certain whether the original was handed to me by Henry Shephard clerk of that court or whether I as Dupty took it from the files in his office to make the copy-The copy was made at the request of the widow or some person for her-don't remember which.The original was kept in the office of the County Court Clerk at Greenville N.C. Interrogatory 5th-Is said a copy a true and correct copy of the original you have spoken of? Answer-It is except those words in the copy with the pen run through them were not in the original they being necessary to make it readable .I in coping without looking at every word wrote them in the copy and then on compairing struck them out to make it a complete copy. Interrogatory 6th-How came you to make said copy? Answer-I made said copy for the benefit of the executrix,who desired a copy of some person for her or at any rate that is my recollection of it now. Interrogatory 7th-State fully all you know concerning said copy and the wife of Theophilus Slaughter if you have not done so. Answer-I have stated all that I now recollect.Further this deponent saith not? Signed James A.Brown Taken before us and the answer of the int---? recorded by us at the time and mentioned in the op---? and ----? and sworn to before us at said time and place.Witness us hand and---? Laurel Lee JP seal W. M.Blaylock seal State of Arkansas County of Sebastian I C.C.Burton Clerk of the County Court,within and for said County of Sebastion do hereby certify that Laurel Lee & Wm.M.Blaylock whose signature appears to the foregoing instrument of writing,is,and was at the time,an acting and duly commissioned Justice of the Peace,within and for said County,that his official acts are entitled to full faith and credit,and that his signature is genuine,as I verily believe. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand,as such Clerk,and affixed the Seal of said Court, at office, this 28th day of July A.D.1860 C.C.Burton Clerk ---end---