Person:Nicholas Bickers (1)

Will of Nicholas Bickers. Executed March 17, 1825. Proven June 26, 1836

Will: Nicholas Bickers Will Book 8, Page 212 Beneficiaries: Joel Bickers (son), Jane [Carty] (wife), Moses Bickers (son), William Bickers (son), Benjamin C. Bickers (son), Joanna Marshall (daughter), Polly Hawkins (daughter) References: Reuben Lindsay, Coleman Marshall, Benjamin Hawkins, John Payne, John Taylor, James Shepherd, W.W. Chapman Slaves: Tom (a boy), Mary (a girl), Winney, Maria, Thornton (a boy) Executors: John Taylor, William Quarles Witnesses: James Shepherd, W.M. Chapman, Reynolds Chapman

"In the name of God – Amen

I, Nicholas Bickers, of Orange County, do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form following:

1st Having already given to my son Joel his full share of my estate I give and devise to him the sum of twenty five cents only

2ndly I lend to my beloved wife, Jane, for and during her natural life, all the estate of which I may die possessed, both real and personal, except two feather beds with their furniture and two cows and calves.

3rdly I give and devise to my sons Moses and William each a feather bed and furniture and a cow and calf (if they do not receive them during my life) which are to be delivered to them immediately upon my death.

4thly I give and devise to my son Benjamin C., at the death of my wife, the land on which he resided, containing by a survey made by Reuben Lindsay, seventy acres, also a negro boy named Tom, to him and his heirs forever.

5thly At the death of my wife, I give and devise to my sons Moses and William, and to their heirs, to be equally divided between them, the balance of my land lying in Orange county, and to my said son Moses I also give a negro girl named Mary and to my said son William, a negro boy named Henry, to them and their heirs. It is my intention, however, that my wife shall retain possession of the slaves devised as aforesaid, as well as the land if she choose to do so.

6thly I lend to my daughter Joanna Marshall for and during her life, a negro girl named Maria, now in her possession; and at the death of my wife, I also lend my said daughter Joanna for and during her life, a negro woman named Winney; and at the death of my said daughter I give and devise the said slaves Winney and Maria to the children of my said daughter, Joanna, to be equally divided between them.

7thly My daughter Polly Hawkins being well off, having no children, and my other children being all poor, I give and devise to my said daughter Polly, one dollar only. I hope my daughter will not consider my wanting in affection for her. In deciding to divide my little property between my other children, I have been influenced solely by the considerations above mentioned.

8thly It is my present intention to give to my son Joel a negro boy named Thornton, but if I should not do so during my life, then at the death of my wife, I give the said boy Thornton to my four children, Joanna Marshall, Benjamin C., Moses and William Bickers; and I also give to my four children last named, at the death of my wife, all my property of every description not hereinbefore devised, to be equally diveded between them.

9thly Should my daughter Joanna Marshall die during the life of my wife it is my will and intention that the negro woman Winney, and such increase as she may have after my wife's death, lent as aforesaid to my wife, should go to the children of my said daughter Joanna Marshall, to be equally divided between them.

Lastly I consitute and appoint my friends John Taylor and William Quarles executors of this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereto put my hand and seal this 17th day of March one thousand eight hundred and twenty five.

(Signed) Nicholas Bickers

Signed, sealed published and declared by the testator as and for his last will and testament in presence of:

James Shepherd, W.M. Chapman, Reynolds Chapman

At a Quarterly Court held for the County of Orange at the Courthouse on Monday the 27th of June 1836. This last will and Testament of Nicholas Bickers deceased was proved in open Court by the oaths of James Shepherd and W.W. Chapman, Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded. And John Taylor and William Quarles, the executors being appointed by the will, being dead, on the motion of Coleman Marshall (who married a daughter of the testator), and who made oath according to law, and together with Benjamin Hawkins and John Payne his securities, entered into and acknowledged in open court, a bond in the penalty of five thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs – Certificate was granted him for obtaining letters of administration of the estate of the said Nicholas Bickers, deceased with his will annexed, in due form."

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. One World Tree (sm). (Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., n.d.).

   Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.

2. ↑
   Online publication - Ancestry.com. OneWorldTree [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc.