Wake County, NC - Will of William White, 1809 ~~~~~~~~~~ WILL OF WILLIAM WHITE Wake County, NC William White was the 2nd NC Secretary of State and he was the son of Robert and Eleanor Hope White of Lenoir County according to Clair Hadley. His wife, Anna Caswell Fonville, was the widow of John Fonville and the daughter of Gov. Richard Caswell and his 2nd wife Sarah Herritage. In the name of God, Amen I William White of Raleigh in the State of North Carolina being of sound disposing mind and memory do make and declare the following to be and contain my last Will and Testament. First. I recommend my Soul into the hands of almighty God who gave it, hoping and trusting that through the merits of Jesus Christ and his sufferings, the same will enjoy peace happiness and rest in the glorious world to come. Second. It is my desire and I do hereby rest the whole of my Estate as well Lands and Tenements, as goods and chattels rights and credits, in my beloved wife Anna for her own and my childrens use and benefit, to be used by her in support and maintenance of herself and my children (to wit) Nancy, Susannah, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Emma, Gathra and Sophronia William, and in the education of my said children; which I desire may be as liberal as can consistent with my fortune. It is my Will that my Estate vested as above in my Wife continue so during her widowhood and no longer: and in case she marries that the whole of my estate as well that which may grow out of it as that which I may be possessed of at the time of my death be placed in eight separate Lots and my Wife to have her choice of one Lot, which Lot I give and bequeath to her and her Heirs forever. It is my desire that my Children may each as they may marry or shall arrive to the age of twenty one years, and shall then desire it, have an equal part of my estate to be laid off and delivered over to them respectively as aforesaid, by being placed into Lots as nearly equal as possible, and such child to draw one Lot, which Lot or share shall be infull to such child and exclude it from any further claim for support or maintenance out of my Estate, and which Lot or share so laid off and delivered I give and bequeath to such child and its Heirs forever. It is further my desire and I hereby request that whenever a share or Lot may be drawn, the whole of the rest of the Estate shall remain together, and so to continue from time to time until the whole shall be divided, unless it be in case of my Wife's marriage, and then, or in that case it is my desire after she shall have received her share, the perishable part of the estate be sold and the monies arising thereon together with the Lands and Negroes be laid out, rented and hired or otherwise managed, at the discretion of my Executors in that way they may think most advantageous for the benefit of my children; and in case my Wife should not marry she shall be at liberty to reserve one Lot whichever she may choose upon every occasion of a division or share being drawn, which shall not be subject to be drawn tho. be counted as a Lot and to return to and be considered as apart of the general stock of my Estate and should it so happen that my Wife should live until the last child may be entitled to and apply for its part or share of my Estate, that my Wife shall have her choice of the two last Lots, which Lot or equal one eighth of the whole of my Estate and it increase, I give to her and her Heirs forever. It is my desire and I do Will that my Wife during her widowhood may sell and dispose of any part of my Estate (by and with the consent and advice of my two friends named as eventual Executors and not without) and the monies arising thereon to use at her own discretion for her own and my childrens use – It is my desire further that the monies due me at the time of my death be collected and my debts paid as soon as convenient and whatever may remain to be considered as a part of the general stock of my Estate. It is also my desire that my Wife shall not as is usual be compeled or bound to make or return to Court any Inventory of my estate unless she marries and in that case she be required immediately to make an Inventory of all and singular the good and Chattels rights, credits and increase, or what may have grown or arisen out of the Estate or its income in order to be divided as aforesaid. And whereas some difficulty may arise in case part of my children should have received their share of my Estate at the time when my Wife may marry, in relation to the sentence herein contained requiring my Estate to be placed into eight separate Lots; therefore in order to prevent such a difficulty my desire is that my Wife and children shall share equal in my Estate and that my Wife shall whenever she may take her equal share have her choice – the childrens to be done by drawing. Lastly. I hereby appoint my Loving Wife Anna Executrix of this my last Will and Testament – And I also appoint my two friends John Haywood and Henry Potter Esquires (both of Raleigh) who I request may be so good as to advice council and assist my said Wife in all things she may request and in such cases as I have herein mentioned and in case my Wife should marry, I nominate and appoint my two friends aforesaid John Haywood and Henry Potter Executors to this my last Will and Testament requesting that they will be pleased to qualify and have the same executed agreeably to the true intent and meaning thereof. 20 July 1809. Will. White The words "I give and bequeath" interlined in the ninth line from the top of the second page and the words "and not without" expunged in the fourth line from the top of the third page before signed. Signed, Sealed published and declared by the Testator to be and contain his last Will and Testament in presence of Stephen Haywood, E. Holding, Wm. Bell?? ESTATE RECORDS OF WILLIAM WHITE The only document was a petition in 1820 to divide the estate of William White by the daughter Elizabeth who had married Boon Felton. Anna had md Daniel Berringer. They state their sister Susannah was of age in 1820 but Eleanor, Emma, Gathra, and Sophrania William were under age in 1820 and the widow, Anna was still alive. They wished the land and Negroes to be divided and she mentioned there was land in Tennessee. *********** White had a small Diary which is at the NC Archives but there is not a lot of useful information in it. PC 1072.1 He married Anna Fonville at Newington on 14 Aug 1787 which was a Tuesday. (Newington was one of Gov. Caswell's homes). Their first child, Sarah, was born 9 July 1788. White served as Quartermaster on 12 July 1787 Entry: "Bal. For Gov. Caswell – sent him 7.16.6 by his son John on 27th July 1788 Changed in daybook p 30 dated Feby 1788 the above" Entry: "23 Feby 1788 - Credit R. Caswell, Esquire with so much paco ??? to Mr. McLweans Estate – 20 pds Do – John Giles 2.10.5 Do – John Giles 10.0.0" Entry: "Kinston 4th of March 178?? – Delivered to Gov. Caswell the deed from J. Glascow & F. Child to Jo. Morris" Entry: "Charity daughter of Dole was born the 12th day of Dec 1787 Lyddia daugt of Dole was born 12 April 1790 (unreadable) daug of Sarah was born 13 Feby 1791 Ceaser son of Sarah was born July 1793" *********** Anna White died 2 March 1850 in Raleigh – from Biblical Recorder ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Martha Mewborn Marble - 58marble@suddenlink.net ______________________________________________________________________