Will of Collins Ham(p)ton, 1804, Surry County NC ****************************************************************** File transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Wade Hampton http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/surry/wills/hamptn01.txt USGENWEB NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. 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LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF COLLINS HAM(P)TON (November, 1804)        In the name of God, Amen.  I, Collins Ham(p)ton of the County of Surry and State of North Carolina being weak and sick of body, but of perfect mind and memory (blessed by God) and calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing it is appointed to all men to die, do therefore make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to say:        First, I recommend my soul to almighty God who gave it, and as touching such worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath in the following manner, the expense of my burial to be moderate and decent and at the discretion of my Executor, that, and my lawful debts to be first paid out of my estate.        In the next place, It is my Will therefore to give my daughter, Nancy, one feather bed, and furniture (called her bed), one black cow and her increase, one big pot and dutch oven, two wheels, one for cotton the other for flax, one half of all the pewter I disposed of and one half of all the earthenware.        In the next place, It is my Will and therefore do give to my daughter, Patsy, one red cow, (called hers) and her increase, one small pot and two skillets, two wheels (called hers), one for cotton the other for flax, one half of all the pewter and earthenware I disposed of and the bed and furniture I die on.        It is my Will, further, that all the ready money possessed of be equally divided between my two daughters, Nancy and Patsy, and also my book accounts to be equally divided between my said daughters, Nancy and Patsy, also, eight chairs--four to each of my above named daughters.        It is my Will, further, that my horse and flock of hogs, my violin, my plantation tools, and all household furniture not already bequeathed to be sold on a credit of twelve months the purchaser or purchasers giving bond and security at the discretion of my Executor and the amount of the sales when collected to be paid to my two daughters, Nancy and Patsy, equally.        And, It is my Will, further, that should either of my above mentioned named daughaters die before they receive the above mentioned legacy in full, it is my desire and do, therefore, order my Executor to pay over to the survivor the part, portion, or legacy hereby given to the one that may die for use and benefit forever, and further, it is my Will and do therefore order that my Executor pay my lawful debts (if any) deriving my funeral charges out of the money due me from Hugh Armstrong, Esquire, and the residue to be equally divided between all my sons and daughters equally (viz) between my sons Stephen, Joshua, and Henry, and daughters Amy, Rachel, Lucy, Sally, Nancy, and Patsy.        And finally, I hereby constitute and appoint my well-beloved friend, Thomas Adams Word, sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament.        In testimony whereof I Have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of March 1804. Collins Ham(p)ton     (Seal) Signed, Sealed, Published, and Announced in presents of us who were present at this signing, sealing, and saw each other sign their name. George McGraw      David Blackwell (Jurat)   Samuel Jones (X) His Mark        I, Joseph Williams, Clerk of Surry County Court, do hereby testify the Will within to be a true copy of Collins Ham(p)ton's Will which was admitted to record at November term 1804.  In testimony, whereof, I do hereunto set my hand the 10th day of February, AD, 1805. Joseph Williams, C of C ----- Submitter's notes: I am forwarding to you a copy of the Last Will and Testament of Collins Ham(p)ton that is on file in the N.C. State Archives in Raleigh, NC. The (p) was omitted in the Will but we are researching the same person. A study of the Will indicates that Collins was very specific in naming Nancy and Patsy to receive designated items and sums of money. No record has been found identifying the name of the wife. Our records show that Stephen, Joshua, and Patsy were married at the time of Collins death. Sometimes Patsy is identified as "Martha." We do not have marriage information about Amy, Rachel, Lucy, Sally, or Nancy. In most court or business transactions, Collins is listed without any other family member. In one case, we found the names of Collins and Nan listed. We ask the question, "Is this Nancy the daughter or Nan(cy) the wife?" We ask other questions: 1. Why was Collins so specific in naming Nancy and Patsy? 2. Why was Henry not mentioned in the first part of the Will? He was not married at the time. 3. If Patsy was married at the time, why was she named along with Nancy? 4. Why were the other daughters not given specific family "heirlooms"? 5. Why were the sons not given specific "heirlooms" and/or farm tools, equipment, or animals? 6. Who was Hugh Armstrong and how much money did he owe to Collins? Our ggg-grandfather, Stephen (ca. 1768), was married (July 1797) to Elizabeth Walker and had two living children at the time of Collins death. Stephen was about 35 years old at the time. Stephen enlisted in the War of 1812, (23 Oct. 1812), when he was about 45 years old. We have not discovered why he enlisted, but we know that times were bad and the economy was at a low ebb. Our gg-grandfather, Stephen Shelby Hampton, was born (1 Jan. 1813), a few months following Stephen's enlistment. Stephen died (26 Aug. 1813) and is buried somewhere in the Washington, DC, area. Joshua (ca.1772) married Tabitha Childress, (14 Feb. 1796), in Stokes (Surry) County, NC. There are court records showing Collins helping Joshua in court/business transactions. Henry (ca. 1778) married Mary (Polly) Hampton, (26 May 1814), in Stokes (Surry) County, NC. Mary is descended from another branch of Hamptons in Stokes (Surry) County, NC. Patsy (Martha) was married to Absolom Roberts. We do not have a date for their marriage but their first child was born in 1807. There were ten children. On more than one occasion Absolom Roberts had a Power of Attorney written for his wife, Martha Hampton Roberts--P.D. Atley to Leonard Owens and Burris and McGraw. Martha (Patsy) was married at the time Collins died and his Will was read and processed. As a wife, she had no legal rights. Her husband would have to act on her behalf to obtain anything from her father's Will that she felt she was entitled to, if the Executor was not dispersing things as he should. Wade Hampton