Source
- First Intermediate Source:Genforum
- Prior Intermediate Source:"typed from the notes of Thelma Willis Bennett by Rick Bennett Feb. 2000."
- Original Source:????
Related
- Person:Joseph Willis (1)
Transcript
Will of Joseph Willis, 1784
In the name of God Amen Janury the Twenty Seventh One Thousand seven hundred and Eighty four --
I Joseph Willis Sr. of Craven County in the State of North Carolina Being Infirm in body but of sound memory and mind and not knowing the time of my death Therefore for the Better settleing of my Temporal State and such Goods and chattels Debts and as God had ___ me with I do will and dispose in manner and form following:
This is to say
- Item I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth during her natural life the use of my negro girl named Rose and a feather bed and furniture.
- Item I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth during her widowhood all my land and
- Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Clark one English shilling besides part of a negro woman and cattle and other things she has had already.
- Item I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Willis a negro man named Adam after my wife's marriage or death besides the land part of a negro and other things he has had already.
- Item I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Willis one negro man named Absalom after my wife's marriage or death besides the land part of a negro and other things he has had already.
- Item I give and bequeath to my son Caleb Willis a negro man named Will after my wife's marriage or death beside the land and other things he has had already.
- Item I give and bequeath to my son Richard Willis after my wife's marriage or death my Manner plantation and land thereunto belonging with a tract of three hundred acres lying just above it with one negro girl named Dinah and her increase to him and his heirs forever.
- Item I give and bequeath to my son Jesse Willis after my wife's marriage or death my negro girl named Rose with her child Jenny and their increase beside the land and what I have given to him and his heirs forever.
- Item I give and bequeath to my son Ephraim Willis after my wife's marriage or death my negro man named Sam besides the land and what I have given him already to him and his heirs forever.
- Item and I make a reserve that if either of the negros that I have aforesaid and left to either of my sons should die before they possess them then I give and bequeath my negro girl Jude to my son so losing his negro to him and his heirs forever. But if none should die I desire that it should be equally divided amongst my six sons which will be after named.
I give and bequeath to my six sons above named to wit Joseph, Thomas, Caleb, Richard, Jesse, and Ephraim after my wife marriage or death all my cattle and stock of all kinds together with my household goods of all sorts with tools of all kinds with every other thing that then shall belong to my estate that is not mentioned in this will to be equally divided amongst them all and I hereby make and appoint my two sons Caleb and Ephraim Willis executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills and bequests by me made and declaring ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Joseph Willis (seal)
In the presence of us,
- Jarvis Fillingan,
- Prudance Willis,
- Joshua (X) Roe, March,
Craven Co. Court 1784
The aforegoing last will and Testament of Joseph Willis deceased was produced in open court and proved by the Oaths of
- Jarvis Fillingim and
- Joshua Roe
two of the subscribed witnessess thereto, who swore that they were present and did see the testator sign seal publish and declare the same to be and contain his last will and testament that at the same time the testator was of sound disposing mind and memory. Caleb Willis and Ephraim Willis executors therein named appeared in court, and took the oath by law appointed for their qualification as executors.
Child List
- Mary Clark
- Joseph Willis
- Thomas Willis
- Caleb Willis
- Richard Willis
- Jesse Willis
- Ephraim Willis
Child List of Ephraim Willis (2)
- Shadrack Willis son of Ephraim Willis and Elizabeth his wife was born April 29 day in the year of our Lord 1785
- Mimsey Willis daughter of the same parents was born October 8th day in the year of our Lord 1787
- Kezia Willis of the same parents was born October the 27th (?) day in the year of our Lord 1789
- Alla Willis Daughter of the same parents was born September 12th day in the year of our Lord 1793
- Abner Willis son of the same parents was born April 20th day in the year of our Lord 1796
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