The following Edgecombe County, and Wayne County, North Carolina wills name
Amason individuals as heirs of the testator's estate. Wills for the following
named testators are included on this page: Edward Barnes (died c. 1762), Alexander Lewelling (died c. 1792), Samuel Moore (died 1794), Elisha Woodard (d. 1798), John Robbins (died 1819), Benjamin Farmer (died c. 1828) and John Bardin (died c. 1823).
Most of the wills below are transcribed from the North Carolina Archives filmed collection of county will records and can be found at the North Carolina Archives. The Courthouse of Edgecombe County, North Carolina at Tarboro, retained their early recorded will indexes and books, but copies can be made only from the filmed records in the North Carolina Archives.
The Wayne County Courthouse at Goldsboro retained the will indexes for that county but turned over the early will books to the North Carolina Archives. Filmed copies of the recorded wills of Wayne County, North Carolina can be viewed and copied at the North Carolina Archives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Some original wills are also available to researchers at the North Carolina Archives. Source locations are noted for wills transcribed below.
Note: The following documents were transcribed, with spelling, use of capitalization, lack of punctuation, symbols, etc., to resemble as closely as possible, the original documents.
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50001: (filmed will is of very poor quality and difficult to read)
Will Book Volume A: Pg. 91-94: Will of Edward Barnes:
In the Name of God Amen I Edward Barnes of the County of Edgecombe and parish of St. Mary Planter being Infirm of Body but of Sound & Perfect memory Praised be God for the same considering that it is Appointed for all men Once to Die I hereby make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following Viz
first I Recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it hoping through the Merrits of my Savior Jesus Christ to Obtain full Pardon for All my Sins and my Body to the Earth from whence it was made to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter to be Named and as to my temporal Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Possess and Bless me I give & dispose thereof as followeth
first I give and Bequeath to My Son Nathan Barnes one shillg & no more
Item I give and Bequeath to my Son William Barnes one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Son Jacob Barnes one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Son Abraham Barnes one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Daughter Mourning Five Ash one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Daughter Charity Sims one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Daughter Mary Sims one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Daughter Elizabeth Leigh one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Amason one shillg & no more
Item I give to my Daughter Patience Barnes the plantation I now Live upon after her Mother's Decease and Mine.....
Item I give to My Daughter Elizabeth Barnes the Plantation whereon She now Lives During the Term of Her Natural Life Lying on Chowan River ???? & about one Th??dd Acres be the same more or Less and after her Decease to My Grandson Jacob Barnes
Item I give to my two Granddaughters Barbery and Ferreby Wiggins each two cows and no more ....turn over - -
Item I give to my Grandson Michael Barnes on Tract of Land Lying on Chowan River joining the Plantation his Mother now Lives commonly called and known by the Name the myery mash to him and his Heirs for Ever....
All the Rest and Residue of My Estate both real and Personall whatsoever or wheresoever Lying and being I give to My WellbeLoved Wife Sarah Barnes in Her Widowhood and in case of Her Marrying n??? any other Person, the said Plantation aforementioned immediately to Devolve to my Daughter Patience Barnes aforementioned and I do hereby Appoint my well loved Wife Sarah Barnes My Whole and Sole Executrix hereby revoking all or any Will or Testament by me formerly made In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set My Hand and affixed my Seal this 15th day of December in the Year of Our Lord Christ 1760
Witnesses Present }
Edgecombe County } March Superior Court 1762
The Within Last Will & Testament of Edwd Barnes dec'd was Exhibited by the Extor and Proved by the Oath of James Barefield & Elizth Barefield Extors thereto And at the Same time the Extrix Qualified --- According to Law & the said Will is Admitted to record
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50002:
Will Book Volume C: Pg.182-183: Will of Alexander Lewelling:
In the Name of God Amen I Alexander Lewelling of Edgecombe County state of North Carolina being very sick and Weak but disposing memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first and Principally I Bequeath my soul into the Hands of almighty God hoping for the remission of all my sins thro the merits of my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ and my Body I commit to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my wife and Children hereafter named and as ?????? my ????? Estate which it Hath Pleased God to Bless me with I Give & dispose in manner and form Following
Item I give to my son Edmund Lewelling five shillings
Item I Give to my son in law Benjamin Amason five shillings
Item I Give to my son James Lewelling five shillings
Item I Give to my son John Lewelling five shillings
Item I Give to my son Simon Lewelling five shillings
Item I Give to my Daughter Fanny Lewelling five shillings
Item I Give to my Dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Lewelling all the rest of my Estate Viz
all the the household furniture all my stock of Hoggs and my Horse & Crop and working Tooles I do hereby leave my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Lewelling Executor to this my will and do make and ordain this to be my Last will making void all other wills by me before made and do make and ordain this to be my last will and Testatment in Witness whereof I Have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th day of June 1791
In presence of us
Edgecombe County -------------------------- Feb Court 1792
The within will was proved in open Court by the Oath of Edmund Stuckey and the Executrix Qualified at the same time & the will ordered to be recorded
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50002:
Will Book Volume C: Page 300-303: Will of Samuel Moore:
In The Name of God Amen
This seventeenth day of January in the Year of our Lord One Thousand seven Hundred and ninety three --- I Samuel Moore of the County of Edgecombe and state of North Carolina being old weak and in a declining state of Body but of sound and perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of the Temporal State and that all must Yeald unto death when The Lord Calls and the Settling of my temporal Estate do Order give and dispose of the same in manner and form following to wit
Impremes I lend to my well beloved Wife Ellender Moore during her natural Life and no longer my Plantation ---- and all my Land negro Woman Phillis and Negro man Simon And also I Lend unto her my said Wife my negro man Tom during her Widowhood and no longer
Item --- I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Davis five Pounds
Item --- I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Deliah Woodard five shillings
Item --- I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Parish Five Pounds
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Molly Harrel five shillings And also unto her my said Daughter Molly Harrel my negro Lydda during her my said Daughter's natural, And at her death to be equally divided the s d negro Lydda and her increase to and amongst all the her children then Living to them and their Heirs and assigns forever
Item --- I Give and bequeath unto my daughter Jerusha Amerson after the death of my said Wife my negro man Simon Over and above what is otherwise given her to her and her heirs and Assigns forever
Item --- I Give and bequeath unto my daughter Ellender Moore one negro girl named Mate and her increase and One feather bed and furniture to her & her Heirs and Assigns forever
Item --- I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sintha my Negro Girl named Beck and her increase and one Feather bed and Furniture to her her Heirs and Assigns forever
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Jemima Moore my manor Plantation and all my Land likewise my negro woman Phillis and all her future increase to become her property at the death of my said Wife likewise one negro Girl named Lucy and her increase to become her property immediately all to her and her Heirs and Assigns forever ------ My will and desire is that after the marriage or death of my said Wife my negro man Jim shall have the Liberty to live with and serve which of my five last mentioned Children he chooses or their Heirs &c, Item, I further lend unto my said Wife during her natural Life One fourth part of all the Resedue of my Estate be it of what kind or nature soever after my debts and Legaices are paid and the other three fourths of the residue aforesaid together with the one fourth after the death of my said Wife do give & bequeath to be equally divided ??? amongst my three last mentioned Daughters to Wit Ellender Sintha & Jemima Moore to them and their Heirs & Assigns forever ----- And further I do hereby nominate Constitute and Appoint my well beloved Wife Ellender Moore and my friend William Amason Executrix & Executor to this my last Will and Testament and also sole & whole Guardians to all my children that are unmarried and under Lawful age hereby revoking disannulling and making void all other and former Will or Wills Testament or Testaments I declare this & this only to be my last Will and Testament
Signed sealed pronoun d
published and declared
in presence of
Edgecombe County ?? Nov Court 1794 The within will was duly proven in open Court by the Oaths of Eli Amason and James Johnston one subscribing Witnesses thereunto ---- The Executrix and Executor were at the same time Qualified and the will ordered to be Recorded
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50003:
Will Book Volume D: Page 50-54: Will of Elisha Woodard:
In the Name of God Amen this 26th day of March in the year of our Lord 1798. I Elisha Woodard of the county of Edgecombe in the State of N o Carolina being sick & week in body but of sound perfect & disposeing mind & memory, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this frail and mortal life, and the certainty of death when the Lord pleases to call and for the settleing my temporal Estate, do order give and dispose of the same in manner & form following (Viz)
Impremes. -- I give & bequeath unto the five Children of my son Joshua Woodard's to witt. James, Jesse, Elizabeth, Margret & Anna Woodard five shillings sterlen money each, to be paid each of them by my Executors out of my estate to them & each of them & each of them & each of their heirs & assigns forever. I also further give & bequeath unto my said Grand son Jesse Woodard afores d me brindld heiffer & her increase to him his heirs & assigns forever.
Item --- I give & bequeath unto my son Elisha Woodard Jun. the plantation wheron he now lives in the s d County of Edgecombe together with all the tract of land thereunto belonging patented by my father John Woodard dec d. Bounded as followeth (to witt) Beginning at a live oak William Barne's corner tree then runing along his line North 260 poles to a red oak then West 488 poles to a holley on the bank of Cotentnea Creek then the various corses of the s d Creek it being S o 63 East 560 poles to the first station Containing by estimation four hundred & ninety five acres be the same more or less together with all the apportenances therunto belonging or in any wise appertaining Also one other tract of land Situate in the said County of Edgecombe, adjoining the before mention d tract & Robert Peelle's & others, containing by estimation Eighty three Acres, being the same land Jacob Almond settled & sold to me & I enter'd & secured the same, by the known & repected bounds thereof. Also one cross cut saw & Carpenter's Addze, to him his heirs & assigns forever
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my son John Woodard the tract of land & plantation whereon he now lives, Situate on the South side of great Cotentnea Creek in the County of Wayne together with all the apportenances thereupon or threunto belonging or in any wise apportaining, Containing by estimation three hundred Acres, agreeable to the known reputed bounds of the same being the same land I purchased at public sale of the estate of John Weaver and reenter d & secured under the present Government, also one other tract or percel of land situate in the said said County of Wayne on the North side of Black Creek wheron James Hasly now lives, Containing by estimation three hundred & nine Acres, by the known & reputed bounds of the same, it being the same land I purchased of Armerger Hall & David Bond taken up by Robert Simms esquire, all in one Survey, together with the plantation & all other apportenances thereunto belonging or in any wise apportaining also my old Horse & Mare & one Cow & Calf & their increase to him said John Woodard his heirs & assigns forever
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my son Lemuel Woodard twenty shillings current money of the State of N o Carolina to be paid him by my Escutors out of my estate , to him s d Lemuel Woodard his heirs & assigns forever
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Daniel wife to Elias Daniel, one pine Chest two pewter basons & ten silver dollars, to be paid her by my Executors, out of my estate, to her my said daughter Mary, her heirs & assigns for ever ---
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Martha Amerson, wife to Benjamin Amerson, One Cow & yearlen commonly called hers & one middle size pott, to her my said daughter Martha her heirs & assigns for ever
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my natural daughter Delanah Amerson wife to Isaac Amerson One Cow & Calf commonly call d hers to her my said Daughter Delanah her heirs & assigns for ever
Item --- I give and bequeath unto my three Grand sons Asa Thomas & Levi Jorden sons to Cornelius Jorden Jun
r dec d five shillings Sterlen money each to be paid them and each of them by my Executors out of my estate to them & each of them & each of their heirs & assigns foreverItem --- I further give and bequeath unto my two before mention'd sons, John & David Woodard my negro man Slave Sam, and two hundred and thirty eight silver dollars and four pounds paper Currency & the said State of N o Carolina and my Crop of Corn to be equally divided between them to them & each of them and each of their heirs & assigns forever
Item --- My Will and desire is that after all my debts, Legusies and other necessary expences are fully paid & satisfied all the residue of estate be it of what kind or nature soever, should be equally divided to and amongst all my before mention d lawfull Children my son Lemuel Woodard excepted to witt my sons Elisha Woodard, John Woodard & David Woodard, my daughters Mary Daniel, and Martha Amerson The division to be made by and at the discretion of my Executors as they may adjudge to be equal & right without any Order of sanction of Court or sale of the same if the same can be done, all which I give and bequeath unto my said five Children, Elisha, John, David, Mary and Martha, to them and each of them their & each of their Heirs & assigns forever
I do hereby nominate, Constitute and appoint my two well beloved sons Elisha Woodard & John Woodard my sole & whole Executors to this my last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke disannul and make void all other or former Will or Wills, Testament or Testaments, and declare this & this only to be my last Will & Testament by me made. Sign'd publish'd and declared. In Witness whereof I the s d Elisha Woodard have herunto sett my hand & Seal the day & year first above written
Sign'd Seal'd pronounced publish'd
& declared in presence of
Edgecombe County ---------------------- May Court 1798
The within Will of Elisha Woodard was produced in open Court and proved by the oath of Willie Stanton one of the subscribing witnesses thereto who swore he saw Archelaus Barnes & Robert Peelle at the same time subscribe to the said Will as Witnesses --- Elisha Woodard & John Woodard the Executors named in the said Will at the same time qualified thereto --- Ordered that the Will be recorded
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50003:
Will Book Volume E: Page 217-219: Will of John Robbins:
In the name of God Amen I John Robbins of the County of Edjcombe and State of North Carolina being weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say --
First I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth D. Pender the sum of Twenty five pounds to her and her heirs for ever. --
2 nd I give and bequeath to my Daughter Nancy Emason the sum of Twenty five pounds to her and her heirs for ever. --
3 d I give and bequeath to my Daughter Beedy Robbins the whole of my land and plantation with it's improvments whereon I now live, together with my still and Blacksmith Tools -- also Eight negroes Viz --Dick, Tony, Joe, Jack, Sary, Nice, Dice and Bob to her and her heirs for ever. --
4 th I give and bequeath unto Thomas Emason a Negro man by the name of Bob which he has now in his possession --also one Note I hold againsst him for three hundred and fifty Dollars to him his heirs and assigns for ever --
5 th I give and bequeath unto my Grand daughter Catharine Williams three Negroes (to wit) Phillis, Nell and Julian to her her heirs and assigns for ever -- also to the said Catharine William my grand Daughter I give two Cows and Calves to her her heirs and assigns for ever --
6 th My Will and desire is that all the remainder of my Negros be hired out untill my grand Children comes of age and then to be sold or equally divided amongst them all.
7 th My Willl and desire is that all the residue of my Estate of every description be sold and out of the money ariseing from such sale, all my just debts to be paid, and the balance of the money to be equally divided between all my Grand Children --
And I hereby nominate and appoint John Mercer John Bridgers & Thomas Emason Executors to this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other Wills by me heretofore made declaring this this to be my last Will and Testament -- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal the seventeenth day of February in the Year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and nineteen --
Signed Sealed published and declared
to be his last Will
and Testament in the presence of us
Edgecombe County -------------------------------------------------------- May Court 1819
The within last Will and Testament of John Robbins dec'd was exhibited in open Court for Probate and the same being contested by Thomas Amason & Nancy his wife, Elizabeth Pender & Catharine Williams an Infant by Egbert H. Williams her next friend. It was ordered by the Court, that it be submitted to a Jury to say whether it is the last Will & Testament of John Robbins or not --
The following Jury was duly impannelled and sworn to wit.
Mudy Williford, John Ellis, Mores Price, Hillory Peel, Jacob Barnes, Elijah Horn, Joseph Barnes, Sen rJohn Lawrence Jr. Kinchen Gay, Elijah Price, Joshua Pender & James Thigpen Senr. Who find the Paper Writing purporting to be the last Will & Testament of John Robbins dec d is his last Will & Testament -- and John Mercer as the Executor named in the said Will was qualified thereto -- Ordered that the same be certified & the Will Recorded --
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50003:
Will Book Volume F: Page 65-66: Will of Benjamin Farmer:
In the nam of God amen I Benjamin Farmer, being in perfect mind and memory,
and knowing that all men is ordained to die, make and constitute this my last
will and testament ___After paying debts
I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Farmer during her life
or widdow hood the following, Zed and Baltimore, Jude, Rhode & Patience, (5
negroes) House hold and kitchen furnature, and farming utentials sufficient
to carry on a farm; negro Boy Aaron; Two Hundred and twenty five acres Land
which includes the Deloach Tract, also all on the north side of the Tarborough
road which belonged to the Newbern Tract, - 2 Horses, 4 cows & calves, 4 sows
& pigs, 4 Ewes- I give and bequeath unto my Beloved son William Farmer all the Land I own
on the north side of Harmony Swamp that joins, with exception of his mothers
lifetime as above stated (I mean for my wife to hold the part above mentioned
her life or widdow hood then to him the said William) I give and bequeath unto my son Braswell Farmer Two Hundred and fourteen
acres of Land more or less lying & being in the County & state aforesaid & on
the north side of Toisnot Swamp and adjoining the Land of Moses Farmer and Arthur
D. Farmer, it being part of a tract of land drawn by me and my wife Elizabeth,
by death of William Dew.
I give and bequeath unto Sally Hollowell daughter of Benjamin Farmer forty
shillings. I give and bequeath unto the Heirs of John Barnes (Toit) Thomas, Betsey,
Sally, Beedy, Dempsey, & Nancy Twenty four Dollars to be equally divided amongst
them. It is my will and desire that the Balance of my negroes be equally divided
amongst the following Heirs Absolom, Dew, Braswell, Beedy, Nancy, Jacob, Elizabeth,
Arthur D. Farmer & William D. Farmer -- also at the death of my wife Elizabeth,
it is my will and desire, that the negroes afore given to her and their increase
if any be equally divided between the afore mentioned Heirs (Toit) Absolom Farmer,
Dew Farmer, Braswell Farmer, Beedy White, Nancy Dew, Jacob Farmer, Elizabeth
Aimason, Arthur D. Farmer & William D. Farmer My will and desire is that the Land and all other property not given by
me in this my last will and Testament be sold by my Executor and after paying
all my just debts as afore stated to be equally and imparsially divided between
the afore named Heirs (Toit) Absolom Farmer, Dew Farmer, Braswell Farmer, Beedy
White, Nancy Dew, Jacob Farmer, Elizabeth Aimason, Arthur D. Farmer & William
D. Farmer This 16th March 1825. I nominate and appoint my affectionate son William
D. Farmer Executor to my last will and Testament.
North Carolina }
Edgecomb County }
Edgecomb County
February Court 1827
The within last Will and Testament of Benjamin Farmer dec'd
was exhibited in open Court for Probate and was proven by the oath of Isaac
F. Wood, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto
And William D. Farmer the Executor therein named at the same time qualified thereto.
Ordered that the same be certified and the Will recorded.
SOURCE: The North Carolina Archives, Wayne County Records file #103.801.1: (transcribed from notes taken from an original copy of the will because pages 27 and 28 are missing from the filmed copy of Wayne County, North Carolina will records.)
Will Book Volume (R) 5: Pages 27-28: Will of John Bardin: (partially transcribed from notes)
In the name of God Amen I John Bardin of the County of Wayne in the State of North Carolina , Planter.
To wife, Nansy --- My plantation and all my lands for her natural life, after her death to be divided in three parts for the heirs.
To William D. Bardin:the youngest son; after his mother’s death to have the part where I dwell now.
To sons, John and Sherrard:to have the other two parts.
To son, Woodard Bardin: 235 acres.
To daughter, Elizabeth Barns:Negro girl named Sarah.
To daughter, Nansy Amason:Negro girl named Hannah.
To daughter, Martha Bardin:Negro girl named Penney.
To daughter, Senia Bardin:Negro woman named Ann.
To son, John Bardin:Negro man named Abram.
To son, Sherrard Bardin:Negro boy named Loftin.
To son, David Bardin:Negro man named Levi, after the death of my wife.
I wish my blind negro Toney to live with some of the family.
To son, Jesse Bardin:Ten sider (sic...cider) barrels.
To son, William David Bardin:The rest of the casks.
After the death of my wife, to sons, Woodard Bardin, John Bardin, Sherrard Bardin, William David, and daughters, Martha Bardin and Senia Bardin, each one bed and furniture.
Named three youngest children as Martha, David, and Senea. Named five youngest children as John, Sherrard, Martha, William David, and Senea.
Appointed friends Jesse Bardin and John Bardin executors on 16 day September 1819.
Signed by John Bardin
Witnesses: J. Howell, Esper Lewis, and Joel Dickinson.
Wayne County, North Carolina Feb. Term of Court, 1823: Will exhibited, proved and ordered to be recorded.