1839 Will - Edwards Rives
Chatham County, North Carolina Probates
Edward Rives Probate File, 1840
Transcript
In the name of God Amen, I Edwards Rives of the County of Chatham, and state of North Carolina, being of sound and perfect mind and memory do this 19th day of March in the year of oour Lord eighteen hundred and thirty nine, make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following (viz)first my will and desire is that my Executors herein after named pay all my just debts.
Secondly I Give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Ann Rives, during her life one half of that tract of land whereon I now live divided by a north and south line equal in Quantity and she taking the Eastern section, which will include the mansion house and most of the plantation, also the following negroes to wit, Sam, Andrew, Chaney, Caroline and Hager with their increase inwill'd, also all my house and kitchen furniture, plantation tools and waggon and team that is top say, four horses, four milk cows, and four of the young in cattle, such as she may choose, ten sheep and one half of the ? of hogs, after furnishing pork for the family the year after I am dead, my will and desire is that should James F Rives or Mary Edwards Rives change their situation in life so as to need a bed and such other furniture of the house as was given to the other children, who have left us, it should be furnished from the furniture already accumilated, or so far as their mother can spare, the balance if any to be furnished by my executors out of the unwilled part of the estate, that is to say tat part of perishable property or otherwise, sold, to pay our debts of the estate, and for any equal distribution, my will and desire is that my wife with the family, shall have at least one years provision, allow'd and furnished by my executors out of the crop and what is on hand.
My will and desire, is at my wifes death, all that she had a life estate in (not will'd) should be equally divided among all my children real and personal, share and share alike, except the land, my will and desire is that my son James F Rives, should possess the land immediately after his mothers death and any part of it during his life as she may think proper to him, and his heirs forever, also excepting two hundred and fifty dollars to each of my daughters, Martha K Goldston and Ann P. Harris, which I wish my executors to pay over to them, and then distribute the balance equally among all, Item I Give and bequeath to my sons Wm A. Rives, John J. Rives and my two daughters Martha K. Goldson and Ann P. Harris, all the property of every description, that I have possessd them with, to them and their heirs forever. Item I Give and bequeath to my son John J. Rives the other half of my land after my wifes portion is laid off for a life estate, to him and his heirs and assigns forever. Item I Give and bequeath to my son John F Rives the following negroes to wit, Jerry, Milly and Booker, also one shot Gun, one horse and saddle, one cow and calf one sow and Piggs, six sheep, one bed and furniture six sitting chairs, one table six knives and forks six plates one pott one skittle and one frying pan also one axe one weeding hoe, one plow to him and his heirs forever, also to enjoy any part of the land left with his mother for a life estate that she may think proper and at her death to possess the whole forever.
Item I Give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Edwards Rives the following negroes, to wit, George Louisa, Elisa and Jordan, together with one horse and saddle one cow and calf and sow and pigs six sheep one bed and furniture, six sitting chairs one table six knives and forks six plates one pott one skillet one frying pan also one bereau to her and hers forever.
Item I Give, desire and bequeath, unto my Executors herein after named and to the survivors or the survivors of them and to their executors and and to the executors of the survivors or survivor of them, the following negroes to wit Madison, Fisher, Silva and her children, minor sam and Martin with her further increase in trust for the sole use and benefit of my son Robert E Rives and of such child or children as he now has or may hereafter have, with full power and authority, after the death of my said son Robert E. Rives to divide and allott the same among and between the surviving children of my said son. My will and desire is the above named negroes, Given divis'd in trust to my executors & to the use and benefit of my son Robert E Rives and his children to wit, Madison, Fisher, silvan and her children, minor sam and Martin with her further increase, shall in all cases be liable to such debts as I am bound as security for my said son Robert E Rives, so as to save himself my estate from any incumberances or liability for him.
And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my trusty and well beloved friends William Alston Rives, Joseph John Goldston, William Goldston Harris, John Joseph Rives, and James Franklin Rives my executors of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I Edwards Rives aforesaid hath hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year first written.
Signed seal'd and acknowledged}Edwards Rives (Seal)
by said Edwards Rives in presence of us}
Jno T Pelby (Jurat)
Isaac Clegg (Jurat)