YANCEY COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Cora Ray Watson, 9 May 1920 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Yancey County Book of Wills Pages 536-541 Transcribed by: Sandra Allen Fender North Carolina Yancey County I, Cora Ray Watson, of the aforesaid County and State, being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my last will and testament. Item 1 I give and devise unto my beloved husband, E. F. Watson, for the term of his natural life only, my part of the Meadow Brook Farm on which I have heretofore given him a lease for life in consideration of the improvements he has made on the same. I further give and leave unto my said husband, for the term of his natural life, all the interest only, on all money, stocks and bonds which I may own at the time of my death, and upon the death of my said husband, the principal of said money, the stocks and bonds and my interest in Meadow Brook Farm shall go to by beloved sister, Mrs. Lillie Ray Chase and her children. Item 2 I give and devise unto the Yancey Collegiate Institute the sum of two thousand dollars ($2000.00), the same to be used in such development of the said school or the establishment of any foundation for the said institution so my executor in his good judgment, may determine. Item 3 I give and devise unto my beloved nephew, J. Frank Ray, son of my fond and deceased brother, Chas. W. Ray, the sum of one thousand dollars ($1000.00) to be paid by my executor from such funds of my estate as he may choose. Item 4 I give and devise unto my beloved sister, Mrs. Lillie Ray Chase, all the remainder of my property, either personal, real or mixed wheresoever found. It is my desire that she use all the property conveyed to her by this will for her comfort and for the education of her children, or to be given to them as she may desire. I make this bequest in recognition of the many acts of kindness shown by her to me and out of sympathy for her in her struggle to rear and educate her children. Item 5 I hereby constitute and appoint my true and faithful husband, my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament, according to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof. hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof, I, the said Cora Ray Watson, do hereby set my hand and seal the 9th day of May, 1920. Cora Ray Watson (seal) ****** North Carolina Yancey County I, Cora Ray Watson, of said County and State make this codicil to my Last Will and Testament, published by me and dated the 9th day of May, 1920, which I ratify and confirm, except as the same shall be changed hereby. Whereas by my will above mentioned, I gave and devised to my nephew, J. Frank Ray the sum of $1000. as appears in item 3 of said will, and whereas my said nephew being an only child will take of my father’s estate as much as I have inherited and whereas I have decided he does not stand in need of property as much as some others of my relatives, I hereby revoke said devise to my said nephew, and hereby devise and bequeath to my nieces, Mary and Annie Wray each the sum of $1000.00 to be paid by my executor from such funds of my estate as he may choose. In testimony whereof , I, the said Cora Wray Watson, do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 6th day of November, 1923. Cora Ray Watson (seal) ***** I, Cora Ray Watson, do make, publish and declare this to be a codicil to my Last Will and Testament heretofore written. In my will, I have given and devised to my niece, Mary Wray, $1000. Since then I have given her this $1000. as a wedding present, and I direct my executor, do not pay this bequest. It is my further will and devise that upon the marriage of my niece, Annie Wray, my executor pay her the $1000. bequest named in the will. It is further, my will that my executor pay to my nieces, Gladys and Lucille Chase the sum of $1000. each upon their marriage. I revoke the bequest to Yancey Collegiate Institute. In all other respects I desire that my will shall be and remain as heretofore written, the codicils to the same being hereto attached. Given under my hand and seal this 25th day of Oct., 1926. Cora Ray Watson (seal) ***** North Carolina Yancey County I, Cora Ray Watson, of said County and State, make this codicil to my Last Will and Testament. For reason entirely satisfactory to myself, I hereby revoke the bequest to Annie Wray and direct my executor not to pay the same. This 14th day of Sept., 1929. Cora Ray Watson ***** North Carolina Yancey County In the Superior Court Personally came before me this day E. F. Watson, who being first duly sworn says: That he knows the handwriting of Cora Ray Watson, having often seen her write, and that the paper writing exhibited by him purporting to be the holographic will of the said Cora Ray Watson together with codicils thereto attached and each and every part thereof is in the handwriting of the said Cora Ray Watson who is now dead. That the said will was found by the said E. F. Watson among the valuable papers of the said Cora Ray Watson after her death. E. F. Watson Subscribed and sworn to before me this the 5th day of June, 1934. Fred Proffitt Clerk of Superior Court ***** At the same time and place personally appeared before me, G. Leslie Hensley, Lillie R. Chase and Pansy Carter Ray, who being first duly sworn say that they are acquainted with the handwriting of the said Cora Ray Watson, having often seen her write, and verily believe that the name of the said Cora Ray Watson, subscribed to the said will and the said will itself, and the codicils thereto attached, and every part of the will and codicils, is in the handwriting of the said Cora Ray Watson. It is further proved by the evidence of this three last mentioned witnesses that the said handwriting is generally known to the acquaintances of the said Cora Ray Watson. G. Leslie Hensley Lillie Ray Chase Pansy Carter Ray Sworn to and subscribed before me this 5th day of June, 1934 Fred Proffitt Clerk Superior Court ***** North Carolina Yancey County In the Superior Court A paper writing without subscribing witnesses, purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Cora Ray Watson, deceased, is exhibited for probate in open court by E. F. Watson, the Executor therein named, and it is thereupon proved by the oath and examination of E. F. Watson that the said will was found among the valuable papers and effects of the said Cora Ray Watson, after her death. And it is further proved by the oath and examination of three competent and credible witnesses to wit: G. Leslie Hensley, Lillie Ray Chase, and Pansy Carter Ray, that they are acquainted with the handwriting of the said Cora Ray Watson, having often seen her write, and verily believe that the name of the said Cora Ray Watson subscribed to the said will and to the will itself, and the codicils attached, and every part of the will and the codicils is in the handwriting of the said Cora Ray Watson. And it is further proved by the evidence of the last mentioned witnesses, that the handwriting is generally known to the acquaintances of the said Cora Ray Watson. It is therefore considered and adjudged by the court that the said paper writing and every part thereof, including the codicils thereto attached is the Last Will and Testament of the said Cora Ray Watson and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed. This the 5th day of June, 1934 Fred Proffitt Clerk Superior Court ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sandra Fender fender@hci.net ___________________________________________________________________