Will of James Ward: In the name of God Amen I James
Ward of the County of Bertie and State of
North Carolina being of Sound mind though weak in bodily health do this twenty-first day
of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty three make this
my last will and testament hereby revoking all others. I wish my Just debts to be paid
Item 1st I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Ward the following Lands
and Negroes and mills one tract of Land called the Perry Land purchased of William N Perry containing by estimation four hundred Acres be the same more or less; my
interest in one Saw and griss mill. Joe
Pipkin and his wife Mily, Dove
and his wife Bridget; Peter and his wife Celia,
Joe Berry and Andrera to
her and her heirs forever. I also give to my wife one desk her choise one round Table,
long dining Table four beds and furniture her choise two mules her choise Six chairs her
choise Three Thousand pounds of Pork four cows & Calves one yoak of oxen one cart and
wheels one press one hundred and fifty barrels corn one bofat and furniture four Sows
& Pigs first choise one Loom and gear one spinning wheel and cards two linen wheels
all the geese to her and her heirs forever ----- ------
Item 2nd I Lend unto my wife Elizabeth Ward negroes Luke,
Drew, Lewis, Simpson, Ruffin and Margaret
during her natural life
Item 3rd I also lend unto my wife the plantation on which I now reside and all the
land adjoin it that I own except the Perry Land which I have given her in fee simple,
during her natural life.
Item 4th I give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Ann James Ward the following Negroes
viz Tony, Alston, Clem, John, Jacob, Sumner,
Whitmel, Ephraim, Simon, Mary and her
Children Sarah Hannah Nicy Anthony and Lucretia,
Margaret and her Children viz Mariah, Stephen & Jane also Milly
Mariah and Henry also
after the death of my wife Elizabeth Ward I give unto my daughter Ann James Ward
Negroes Luke, Drew, Lewis also I give unto my said Daughter Ann James
after the death of my wife the plantaion on which I now live and all the land that I own
adjoining it except the Perry Land to my Said Daughter ann James Ward to her and her heirs
forever ----- -------
Item 5th I also give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Ann James Ward
the tract of Land that I bought of James S
Jones with the exception of one half of the
profits or income arising from said Land and plantation which I have above given to my
wife during her life.
Item 6th further more it is my will and desire that if it should happen that my said
Daughter Ann James should die unmarried or before she arrives to the age of
twenty one years in that case it is my will and desire that my wife should have the said
plantation I bought of James S Jones and also Negroe man Lewis to her and her heirs forever,
also negroes Luke Toney and his wife and children to her my said wife (in case of
the death of my said daughter James Ann as before mentioned) to her and her heirs for ever.
Item 7 In case of the death of my daughter Ann James Ward before she marries or
arrives at the age of Twenty one years as mentioned in item 6th. I wish the ballance of
the property of my said daughter Ann James not otherwise disposed of to be equally divided between
all my grandchildren viz Margaret W Weddle and Saura
Ward and the children of my daughter Christian Norfleet to them and their heirs for ever.
Item 8 In addition to the articles given to my beloved wife Elizabeth Ward, I give and bequeath to my said wife the Barouch and harness to her my said wife
and her heirs forever. ---- ------
Item 9 I give and bequeath to my son in law Howell M Jones negro man Jacob Jones
to him and his heirs forever.
Item 10th I give and bequeath to my daughter Christian Norfleet negroes Wright, York, Jude, Abby and after the death of my wife negroes Ruffin & Simpson to
her the said Christian Norfleet and her heirs forever.
Item 11th I give and bequeath to my grandchildren Margaret Norfleet and Sally Norfleet
negroes Ben, Eliza and her children, also Rachael and Esther to be
equally divided between them my said grand daughters and to them & their heirs
forever.
Item 12th I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann
James Ward negro William and
all the residue of my estate both real and personal after my debts are paid, to her my
said daughter Ann James Ward to her and her heirs forever
Item 13th It is my will and desire that should any of the negroes given to my daughter Ann James so
misbehave or should their conduct be such as to cause my executors to think it would be
best to sell them or should the guardian of my said daughter Ann James so
believe it is my will and desire that they should do so and I hereby give them full power
to make conveyance by bill of sale to that effect.
Item 14th It is m desire that Isaac Norfleet the father of my grand children Margaret &
Sally Norfleet should take into his posession the negroes given to my
said grand daughters for their benefit when my will will arthorize my executors to give
them up.
Item 15 It is my will and desire that should the seven old negroes given to my wife become
an expense to my wife through age or infirmity that my wife be entitled to such sum
or sums out of the residue of my estate given to my daughter Ann James Ward
as shall be considered sufficient for this support and I hereby arthorize my executors to
pay the same to my wife annually for that purpose.
Item 16th It is my will and desire that my executor pay no legacy or bequest within twelve
months from the time of my death.
Item 17th I hereby appoin my worthy friends Abner
Harrell of Hertford County and Isaac P Freeman of Bertie County and both of the state of North Carolina executors to this my
last will and Testament. In Testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my
seal this day and date above written. Jas Ward
Signed sealed and published in presence of us the day and date above written
Thomas Brown West Mizels
Willie D. Hays
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