Robeson County, North Carolina--Wills--William H. Brown, 1883 ==================================================================== These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listedf 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 for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Barbara Hootman ==================================================================== LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM H. BROWN WRITTEN 1871 - PROBATED 1883 In the name of God Amen. I William H Brown of the County of Robeson and State of North Carolina, being of Sound Mind and Memory, and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life, do therefore maek, ordain, publish, and declare, this to be my last Will and Testament. That is to say. First after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged, the residue of my estate, real and personal, I give, bequeath, and dispose of as follows, to wit. To my beloved wife the land and appurtenances situated thereon, know and described as the Bean Swamp farm, lying in the County of Robeson, and State of North Carolina, situate on both sides of Bean Ssamp and both sides of the Lowrie road - adjoining the lands of Solomon Locklien, the Dials and others. Containing Four Hundred and forty five Acres, nbow possessed by me during hier natural life, for the use and benefit of herself and our children, to raise and educate them and ofter her death, to be equally divided among my children. 2nd I give and bequeath to beloved wife the liand and appurtenances situated thereon, know and described as the Home farm, lying in the County of Robeson, and State of North Carolina, situate on the South West side of Richland ????, adjoining the lands of Dell P Buie - Catharine Brown and others - containg Four Hundred and Seventeen Acres, now possessed by Me, during her natural life, for the use and benefit of herself and our children, to raise and educate them, and after her death, to be equally divided among My children. 3rd I give and bequeath to my Son Neill A - a certificate of Scholarship which I posses, in Davidson College, to be his and his heirs forever. 4th I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, for the mutual benefit of herself and our children all my Stock consisting of hoses, cattle, sheep and hogs - also all My farming utensils, consisting of carts, wagon, plows, Buggy, likewise all my household and kitchen furniture, such as beds, bedding, chairs, tables, clock, etc., also the notes and accounts that May be due me at my demise - also my three guns. It is my will and desire that my personal property named and enumerated in this fourth item, be used for the mutual benefit of my wife and children - to help educate and support My children- My wife to have the power to sell - exchange - or dispose of any of the personal property that she may deem fit for the benefit of the family - after her death all the personal ??? remaining to be divided equally among my children. Likewise I make, constitite, and appoint My beloved sife to be Executrix of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by Me Made. It is also My will and desire that my Executrix may not be held accountable for any di???? in carrying out the above bequests - all usages customs or laws to the contrary notwithstanding In Witess Whereof I have here unto subscribed My name and affixed my seal, the 25th day of January in the year of Our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and seventy one (Signed) William H. Brown (Seal) Signed, Sealed, and delivered in the presence of us witnesses the day and date above mentioned. John Mmillan Archibald McMillan PROBATE State of North Carolina Robison County A paper writing purportingg to be the last Will and Testament of William H. Brown, deceased, is exhibited for Probate before me C B Townsend(?), Clerk of the Superior Court and J?? ??? of Probate for said County, and the due execution by the said William H. Brown is proved by the oath and examination of Archibald McMillian of the subscribing witness, thatis: who being duly sworn says that he is a subscribing witness to said paper writing: that he signed the same as a witness together with John McMillan the other witness at the ???????? and in the house of the said testator who at the time of said signing disclosed the ????? to be his last will and testament; he further swears that at the time of said signing the said William H. Brown was of sound mind and memory of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint to his knowledge information and belief And also Neill A. Brown being duly sworn says that John McMillan the other subscribing witness to said will is dead: that he (Brown) was present at the time of the execution of said will, that he saw the said William H. Brown sign the same and heard him declare the same to be his will: that he saw the said John McMillan subscribe his name to said will as an ?????witness inb the presence of the testator and at his request - that the said testator at the time was of sound mind and memory of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint to his knowledge information or belief. It is therefore considered by the Court that the said paper writing ???????????? thereof is the last will and Testament of the said William H. Brown and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed. And therefupon the said F.M. Brown Executrix as aforesaid, duly ?????? as such by taking the oath requested by court. (Signed) C B Townsend Clerk Superior Cout and ??????????? State of North Carolina, County of Robeson A paper purporting to the last Will and Testament of William H. Brown deceased, is exhibited before me, the undersigned, Judge of Probate for said County by Mrs. F.M. Brown the executris therein mentioned, and the due execution thereof by the said William H. Brown, ??? by the oath and examination of Archibald (John was written here and struck out) McMillan one the subscribing witnesses thereto: who being duly sworn, doth depose and say for himself that he is a subscribing witness to the paper writing now shown him, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of William H Brown that the said William H Brown in the presence of (Archibald and John appear here, crossed out) McMillan the other witness his name at the end of said paper writing, which is now shown as aforesaid, and which bears date of the 25th day of January 1871. And the Deponent Further Saith, That the said William H Brown the testator aforesaid, did at the time of subscribing his name as aforesaid declare the said paper writing so subscribed by im, and exhibited to be his last Will and Testament, and this deponent did thereupon subscribe his name at the end of said Will, as an attesting witness thereto, and at the request sand in the presence of the said testator. And this deponent further saith, that at the said time when the said testator subscribed his name to the said last Will as aforesaid, and at the time of the deponent’s subscribing his name as an attesting witness theretok as aforesaid, the said William H Brown was of sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a Will, and was not under any restraint to the knowledge, information or belief of this deponent: And further this deponent say not. (Signed) Archibald McMillan Severally sworn and subscribed this 27 day of Nanuary 1883, before me, (Signed) C. B. Townsend (?) Probate Judge This is a copy of the original handwritten will and probate records stored at the North Carolina Archives and transcribed by Barrbara Brown Hootman October 18, 2000 Recorded in the Book of Wills ??3 page 289 January 30, 1883 (Signed) C B Townsend CSC