THE WILL of EDMOND HOWARD Richlands, Onslow County, NC Transcribed by Sydney "Skippy" Davis of Dublin, GA, from a copy obtained from the North Carolina State Archives. Effort has been made to retain spelling, punctuation and capitalization as in the original. NAMES Edmond Howard Mary Dean Brown Howard, his wife and executor John, son Orpah Caroline Howard Cox, daughter Frank, son Lott, son George, son Thompson, adjoining landholder James Benjamin, son Edward, son and executor Margarett Bell, daughter J.W. Thompson, witness W.C. Jermain (also spelled Jarmain), witness I Edmond Howard of the County of onslow and State of Northcarolina being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to Say: First that my Executor (hereinafter named) shall provide for my body a decent burial Suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts howsoever and to whomsoever out of the monies that may first come into his hands as apart or parecel of my Estate. Item I loan and devise to my beloved wife Mary all my house hold and Kitchen furnature and all farming Implements of Every discription. Item I loan to and devise to my beloved wife Mary all my horses, Cattle Hogs and Sheep during her life and at her death all the personal property loaned above Shall be Sold and My Son John to have Twenty five dollars of the proceeds and my daughter Orpah Twenty Five Dollars Each and the Remainder if any divided Equally between all my Children. Item I leave for my Son Frank to pay to Orpah C. Cox Seventy-five Dollars out of the value of Lands I shall hereinafter devise to him and the Lands to be bound for the payment of the amount. Item I leave for my Son Lott to pay to Orpah C. Cox Seventy-five Dollars out of the value of Lands I shall hereinafter devise to him and the Lands to be bound for the payment of the amount. Item I leave for my Son George to pay to Orpah C. Cox Twenty five Dollars out of the Value of Lands I shall hereinafter devise to him and the Lands to be bound for the payment of the amount. Item I Give and devise to my Son Frank a piece of land whereon he now lives Set out by metes and bounds as follows viz Beginning at a lightwood stake on the Run of New River Runs South 60 1/2 West 120 pole to a stake on the Run of Bear Skin Branch then up the Run of Said Branch to a Lightwood Stake near Duplin Road then near Southwest a Strait line 60 pole to a Stake then South 60 West 142 pole to a pin (or pine) then South 49 West 56 pole to a post oak in Thompson's line then with said Thompson's line back to New River then up the Run of New River back to the Beginning to have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee simple for ever. Item I Give and devise to my Son Lott a piece of land whereon I now live Set out by metes and bounds as follows viz Beginning at a Lightwood Stake on the Run of New River Runs So. 601 West 120 pole to a Stake on the run of Bear Skin Branch then up the Run of Said Branch to a Lightwood Stake near Duplin Road then near Southwest a Strait line to a Stake 60 pole then South 60 West 142 pole to a pin then South 49 West 56 pole to a post oak in Thompson's line then with Said line to Haw Branch then down Said Branch to the Monford old Bridge then with the cart road back to a post oak near the (barn?) then north 39 East 60 pole to a Stake on the South Side of the Road then down Said Road to Haw Branch then down the Run of Said Branch to New River then down the Run of Said River to the Beginning To have and to hold to him and his (heirs is left out) in fee simple for ever. Item I Give and devise to my Son George a piece of Land it being apart of the Tract already divised (or divided) Set out by Metes and bounds as follows viz Beginning at a Stake on the South Side of Duplin Road Runs South 39 West 60 pole to a post oak near the barn then with the cart road to the Monford old Bridge across Haw Branch then down the Run of Said Branch to Duplin Road then up said Road to the Beginning to have and to hold to him and his heirs in fee Simple for ever. Item I Give the Ballance of the Tract lying over Haw Branch to my three Sons Frank Lott and George for privilege of Wood and Timber to have and to hold to them and their heirs in fee Simple for ever. Item I Give and devise to my Son James B. Howard one Dollar to be paid by my Executor Taking in consideration the advancements to him heretofore will make him a fair and equitable portion of my property. Item I Give and bequeath to my Son Edward Howard the Sum of one Dollar to be paid by my Executor Taking in consideration the advancement to him heretofore made will make him a fair and Equitable portion of my property. Item I Give and beqeath to my daughter Margarett Bell the Sum of one Dollar to be paid by my Executor Taking in consideration the advancements to her made heretofore will make her a fair and Equitable portion of my property. And Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Mary and my Son Edward my lawful Executors to all intents and purpposes 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 (there is possibly another word after made but I can't read it) In witness whereof I the Said Edmond Howard do hereunto Set my hand and Seal this 2nd day of May AD 1879. (Signed) Edmond Howard (hand-drawn seal) Signed, Sealed published and declared by the Said Edmond Howard to be his Last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence do Subscribe our names as witnesses thereto: Test J.W. Thompson W.C. Jermain State of North Carolina Onslow County In Probate Court May 28, 1887 In the matter of the last will etc of Edmund Howard deceased A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Edmund Howard is exhibited before me the undersigned in ? of Probate by Edward Howard one of the Executors named therein and the execution whereof is duly proven by the oath and examination of J.W. Thompson and W. C. Jarmain the attesting witnesses who say, and each for himself deposes and says: That he is a Subscribing witness to the paper writing now shown them purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Edmund Howard and which bears date 2d day of May 1879 That the Said Edmund Howard in the presence of these deponents Signed his name to the end of Said paper now shown And the deponents further Saith that the Said Edmund Howard the testator did at the time of signing his name (can't read word) and declare the said paper writing so subscribed by him and exhibited to be his Last Will and Testament, and that the aforesaid deponents did thereupon Subscribe their names at the end of Said Will as attesting witnesses and at the request and in the presence of Said testator And the deponents saith that at the Said time when the testator Subscribed his name as attesting witnesses the Said Edmund Howard was of sound mind and memory of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint to the knowledge or information of these deponents. It is therefore Considered by the Court that the Said paper writing and every part and clause thereof is the last Will and Testament of Edmund Howard and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed. And Thereupon Edward Howard one of the Executors named in the will (the other having renounced) Qualified by taking the oath prescribe by Law May 28 1887 (the entire date is lined through) and Letters issued May 28, 1887. (can't read name) Judge of Probate upside down at the end of this last page is written: Last Will etc. of Edmund Howard Recorded on Page 130 Record of Wills