MACRORA SCARBOROUGH WILL 1752

In the name of God Amen, I, Macrora Scarborough, of Perquimans County, in the Province of North Carolina, Gentlemen; Being in good heath of Body and of Sound & Perfect Mind and Memory, Praise be therefore Given unto Almighty God for the same; But Calling to Mind the Mortality of My body, and knowing that it is Appointed for all Men Once to die, but not how Soon or Sudden it May be, Do therefore make & Ordaine this my Present Last Will and Testament in Manner and forme following (that is to say), first & Principally, I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping through the Merits, death, & Passion, of my Savior Jesus Christ, to have full and free pardon & forgiveness of all my Sins, and to inherit Everlasting Life; And my body I commit to the Earth to be decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named, nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection, I shall receive the Same again by the Mighty Power of God. And as Touching the Disposition of all Such Temporal Estate, as it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me in this life, I Give & Dispose thereof as followeth:
Imprimis, I Will that all my Just debts & funeral Expenses be first paid and discharged in reasonable and convenient Time after my Decease.

Item, I give and bequeath unto My well beloved Wife Elizabeth Scarborough, and to her Disposal, all that part of my Estate that may or will become due to me upon the Division of Mr. William Reed's, (Her former husband) Estate. I also give unto my said Wife, the use and Labour of two Negroes, Vizt:, Mink a fellow & Pasquotank Rose, a wench, during her widowhood, And after that, to be Divided as my other Estate is hereinafter Directed to be. I give likewise unto my said Wife, My Chest of Drawers, and the Six Silver teaspoons, Strainer & Tongs, which is more commonly used.

Item, Bequeath Devise & I Give unto my son, Benjamin Scarborough [age 18], and his heirs forever, the land & plantation whereon I now Dwell, Called Springfield, and all other lands given to me by Mrs. Juliana Lakers, which may appear by her Deed of Gift to me, bearing date, ye 20th day of July, Anno Domino 1731, reserving only the Use and Occupation of the houses, Plantation and that part of the land whereon I Now Dwell, unto my well beloved Wife, Elizabeth, During her Widowhood, if She thinks fit to live thereon. I also Give and bequeath unto my said son Benjamin, four Negroes, Vizt: Nicholas & Dennis, two fellows, Nann & Venus, two wenches, Six Silver Spoons Marked "P"., my Silver Headed Cane, Silver Shoe Buckles, Knee buckles, fourteen Silver vest buttons, Black walnut desk, and all my wearing apparel.

Item, I Give, bequeath, Devise Between My two sons, Benjamin and Macrora and their heirs forever, My Land & plantations at Yeopim, which I bought of Thomas Wyatt, and now called Point Pleasant, Divided Between them as follows, Vizt., Beginning at ye Mouth of a Small branch issuing out of ye river, near the mouth of Yeopim Creek, Thence running up the Middle of the Said branch to a forked Sweet Gum, at the head of ye Said branch, Thence about west course thorough the clear'd ground to a Small Double Dick, so along the same to the End thereof, and from thence a straight course about ye middle of the Neck of land to a marked tree standing between a small pond & head of a branch making out of a Beaver Cover, Thence the Same Course until it Intersects the line of William Wyatt's land adjoining thereto; and my Son Benjamin or his heirs to have the part binding on Yeopim River, and my Son Macrora [age 6] or his heirs, the other part, binding on Yeopim Creek; Both parts of the said land, I give and Devise under This Restriction and directions, That neither of them nor their heirs, shall sell or Give their dividend or Part of the land afsd. (Unless it be to one another) or any part or Parcel thereof, unless they be or their heirs, jointly agree to Dispose of the same, or any part of it, but if either of my two Said Sons, or their heirs shall presume contrary to this my Will & Desire, to make any deed or conveyance other than herein Directed, then in Such case, I hereby revoke the devise of their part in this land, And then I do hereby absolutely give and Devise all the aforesaid land unto him and his Heirs forever, either of which of them my two sons, Benjamin or Macrora, their heirs that shall comply with the Conditions of this my Will and Testament. But, if either of My two said Sons, Benjamin or Macrora, Should happen to die before they come to the age of twenty-one years, Then, and in such case, my Will is that the Survivors or his heirs have the whole tract or Parcel of Land forever.

And further my Will is, That Son Benjamin have the use and benefit of that part of Point Pleasant which I have herein given unto my son Macrora, until he, my said son, shall come to the age of fifteen years; Unless there be an occasion to dispose of the same to purchase other lands as hereafter directed, and provided, he my said son Benjamin, will let his mother in law [step Mother] my wife Elizabeth have use of for the same time of fourteen years of that part of the plantation whereon I now dwell and which is given to him by his grandmother, Juliana Lakers, otherwise, this request to be void. And my said wife, Elizabeth, to have the use and benefit thereof to better enable her to bring up said child so long as she shall have the care of him.

Item, I Give, Bequeath, & Devise unto my son Macrora, and his heirs forever, My Oak Ridge land, Containing two-hundred & one acres, as per the patent granted to me in the year of Our Lord, 1744. I also Give and Bequeath unto my Son Macrora, four Negroes, vizt., Little Rose, Welcome, Grace, and Suana; a quart Silver Can, my Silver Watch, Pinch back headed Cane, one good Black walnut Desk, to be bought for him, if the Same be not done before my decease, my copper Still & furniture thereunto belonging.

Item, I Give, Bequeath, & Devise unto my son William [age 3], and his heirs forever, the land adjoining the land of Mr. Harvey, containing three hundred and ten acres, which I bought of John Pettiver & Benjamin Talbot, as may appear by their several deeds and conveyances, now upon record in the Registers Office of Perquimans County, and also I likewise, Give, bequeath & Devise unto my son, William, and his heirs forever, the land I bought of Robert Wilson, containing Thirty acres as by the conveyance may vary. And I also Give and bequeath unto my Son William, four Negroes, vizt: Sam, Doll, Tamer, and Pasquotank Dinah, a pint Silver Can, my Silver Snuffbox, and Mahogany Desk.

Item, I Give, Bequeath, & Devise unto my daughter Elizabeth, and heirs of her body lawfully gotten forever, the land and plantation I bought of Joseph Stewart, containing two hundred and thirty-eight acres as may appear by the patent thereof assigned to me by ye said Joseph Stewart. And in the failure of such heirs of my said daughter, I give the said land and plantation to my son Macrora and his heirs forever. I also give & bequeath, unto my Daughter Elizabeth [age 11], three Negroes, vizt:, Pompey, Dianna, and Margaret, six Silver Tea Spoons, a Cream Spoon, Sugar Tongs, and a New Strainer that came with them. And further my Will is, and I do hereby Order and direct that in case any of the slaves herein given to any of my children afsd, should happen to die or otherwise be lost, before they be of age to receive them, that they then be made up unto them with Negroes not herein given by name, and the increase that may arise hereafter from any of the female Negroes before they are delivered shall also be given. So that each child's Negroes may be made, as good in value to them at the receiving time as they would have been had there not happened any death or other misfortune to them as aforesaid.

Item, I Give and Bequeath unto my sons, Macrora Scarborough and William Scarborough, one hundred pounds sterling money of Great Britain to be divided equally between them. And to be Disposed of at the Discretion of my Executors, hereafter Mentioned towards purchasing Each of them a piece of good land and for no other use whatsoever. Further to make provision for a good settlement of land for my two sd. Sons. I hereby Order and Empower my Exrs. Herein named, if need shall require (That is if the land that may happen to be bought is of greater value than can be had for the money here allotted.) to sell the land herein given to each of my two said sons, or so much thereof as may be sufficient for that purpose. And in case my Exrs. Should happen to disagree or differ in Opinion about the purchase of said land as to place or price of the land to be bought, or that which may be to be sold, in such case it is my Will that they apply to the court of Perquimans to appoint three of as Honest & Indifferent Men in the matter, and that is of knowledge & understanding, as they may get in the said county, whose opinion of any two shall be binding on my Exrs. As to the matter.

Item, I give & Bequeath unto the children of my cousin Mary Atkinson, twenty pounds current money of Virginia or the value thereof in the produce of this country, to be paid for and toward schooling. Them or any of them that can get the opportunity thereof, and no other use whatsoever but learning them to read and write English, and thereby the better to interest them in the principles of the Christian Religion. And it is my Will & Desire there may be all the care possible taken that they or any of them may have this opportunity to learn.

Item, I Give & Bequeath unto my son-in-law, [Brother-in-law, Edmund Hatch] my Black walnut Desk and Liquor Case of five, five-pint Bottles now in the house in Pasquotank.

And for as much as the Slaves herein gave unto my two youngest Sons, Macrora & William Scarborough, are very young [6 & 3] and cannot be sufficient for their Education and bringing up in any Christian like Manner, therefore, it is my Will I do hereby order and direct Mulatto Fellow Harry to be sold or hired out for their support and that the disposition of said slave be under these restrictions and directions. That is to say, that if the said fellow can produce the some of forty pounds currant Gold and Silver money of Virginia or any friend for him, then he shall be his own man, and at his Liberty.

But if neither can be accomplished, then my Exts. Hereafter nam'd, that is the acting ones, are to make sale of him to any person that will give fifty pounds currency afsd. For him, then is it my will that he be hired out for yearly or monthly wages for as much as can be got for him until the sum of fifty pounds afsd. Be accomplished. Then for him to be set free and at his liberty as afsd. And it is my will and desire that the money arising by the sale or wages be applied to no other use than schooling and education on my two sons Macrora and William, And for buying them good and useful books such as may interest them in learning and the true Principals of Christianity.

Item, I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate be it what nature, kind, or quality so ever (and not herein before given), to be equally divided amongst my well beloved wife & and my four children, Vizt. Benjamin, Elizabeth, Macrora, & William. And I do hereby order and desire, and it is my will that in case any of my children afore named should die before coming of age or married, that then the whole part by this will should be equally divided amongst the survivors of them.

And in case the several legacies in this in this Will given to any of my children of Negroes by name, shall happen not any of them to die before they be received by my children, and they will not have no occasion to make up any loss, then it is my Will that any increase be equally divided amongst my children or the survivors of them. This shall not be after they have received their legacies.
And furthermore, my Will and Desire is, that upon any division of my estate, that the part coming or belonging to either of my two youngest Sons, Macrora or William, that is by law deemed perishable and may grow much worse by keeping same until they become of age; may be appraised on oath by three honest men, appointed by agreement of my Exrs.

Or order of the court, and kept or sold by the acting Exrs. Who are to account and pay the same according to the appraisement, either in money or things of the same kind & equal in value in the judgement of them, under the same restrictions as aforesaid.

And I do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint me Dear and well beloved wife, Elizabeth Scarborough Executrix, and my well beloved son, Benjamin Scarborough, Macrora Scarborough, and William Scarborough as Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, and I do hereby revoke, disannul, and make void, all former Wills and Testaments, by me heretofore made.

But if it shall so happen (which God forbid it should), that my wife and eldest son, who are most likely to be acting Exrs. In this my Will, should quarrel, differ, disagree, and suffer the adversary to peace to get the upper hand of them, so that to render their joint action as Exrs. Ought to do for the interest of every one concerned in the Will and thereby not to [fail] the trust imposed in them, which in my life, I have too often seen.

Some have spent a great part of their own interest as well as that of the orphans & others in no ways concerned with their differences. Which I hope in God and all mercy, peace, and truth, will not be the case here. But if it should, then it is my Will and I do hereby Nominate, Constitute, and Appoint my loving Brother John Scarborough, my brother-in-law, Edmund Hatch, and my friend William Burgis Sr., to be the overseers or trustees of all that part of my estate given by legacy or other ways becoming due by this my Will to any of my three children, vizt., Elizabeth, Macrora, & William, as also that Legacy given to the children of my cousin Mary Atkinson. Hereby desiring you my friends to accept & take upon you the trust if occasion shall be required on the behalf of orphans and their estate. Accordingly to the true intent & meaning of this my Will, Hereby given and granted unto you all Power & Authority so to do as can be required either in Law or Equity.

In Witness whereof, I the said Macrora Scarborough, to this my present last Will & Testament have set my hand and seal this 31st day of January, Anno Domino, 1752.

NOTES:
Ma'c Scarborough (Seal) -- Coat of Arms on Seal
Macrora Scarborough was born in 1693 and is listed in the IGI as the son of John Scarborough and wife Mary. Macrora Scarborough was the 1719 tax list for Pasquotank County NC. Macrora was a JP in 1723 and was in the NC General Assembly by 1729.

On November 23, 1729, Macrora married Mrs. Anna Peterson. On June 8, 1733 Peterson Scarborough was born, he died on December 9, 1733. During 1734, Benjamin Scarborough was born to Macrora and Anna Peterson Scarborough. In 1735, Julianna Laker, the widow of Benjamin Laker, wrote her will and left property to Macrora and his son Benjamin. Apparently Mrs. Anna Peterson was the daughter of Benjamin and Julianna Laker.

May 18, 1740, Judge Macrora Scarborough married Mrs. Elizabeth Reed, the widow of William Reed. Elizabeth Scaraborough was born on Feb. 15, 1741. MacRora accused of improper behavior, and he resigned as County Treasurer in 1745. MacRora Scarborough Jr. is born on July 25, 1746. William Scarborough was born on Dec. 23, 1749. Macrora Scarborough Sr. was connected to the NC Court system most of his life, he died in 1752. Jerome Tew ([email protected])

In the name of God, amen, March 4, 1775, I, Jacob Perry, of Perquimans County in the province of North Carolina, being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be given to God for the cause and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament.

That is to say. . .

First and principally of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it me and for my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian-like and decent manner, according to the directions of my executors hereafter named, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same by the almighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me within this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in manner and from the following---that is to say in the first place...

I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Perry the land and plantation whereon he now lives in Perquimans County aforesaid to a line of marked trees mentioned in a deed of gift to my son Israel Perry which is supposed to contain about 187 1/2 acres to the same more or less to him, his heirs or assigns forever also such part of my personal estate with which he is now possessed with to him and his disposal.

Then I give to my son Israel Perry all such part of my estate as he is now in actual possession of meaning among other things, 50 acres of land for which some years past acknowledged a deed of sale to him that through mistake happened to be without date, to him and his disposal.

Then I give to my son Reuben Perry all such part of my estate as he is now in actual possession of to him and his disposal.

Then I give to my daughter, Priscilla Welch, wife of Dempsey Welch, all such part of my estate as she is now in actual possession of to her and her own disposal.
Then I give to my son Dempsey Perry all such part of my estate as he is now in actual possession of to him and his own disposal.

Then I give to my son John Perry, named Dick (??) and also such part of my estate as he is now in actual possession of to him and his own disposal.
Then I give to my daughter Hephzibah Stallings, wife of Hardy Stallings, all such part of my estate as she is now in actual possession of to her and her own disposal.

Then I give to my daughter Ann Winslow, wife of Caleb Winslow, land and plantation and improvements whereon I now live, also one plantation and improvements which I bought of Zachariah Lilley, also one plantation which I bought of my son Jacob, to her and her heirs forever, only my will is that the true intent and meaning of these presents also is that my well beloved Ann Perry shall have the use of the said lands during the time of her natural life without molestation.

Then I give to my grandson Isaac Wilson, son of Isaac Wilson, a parcel of land lying on the northwest side of a place called the Little Beaver Dam in Chowan County, containing by estimation 100 acres to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

Then I give to my well-beloved wife Ann Perry one horse call Spring (??), one womanıs saddle and bridle, one featherbed and furniture, also the use of the labor of my negro man named Tom and negro woman named Pat during the time of her natural life or widowhood, also the use of my copper still for the same time.

Then I give to my 8 children sig: Jacob, Israel, Reuben, Priscilla, Dempsey, John, Hephzibah, and Ann my copper still and negroes Tom & Pat to be equally divided among them after the expiration of the time above limited to them and their disposal.

Then I give all the rest of my estate to be equally divided between my wife Ann Perry, and my youngest daughter Ann Winslow, wife of Caleb Winslow, to them and their disposal.
Then, lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my well-beloved wife executress and Jacob Perry and Israel Perry and Caleb Winslow executors of this my last will and testament, hereby disannullin and disallowing all and any other forms, wills and testaments, legacies, bequeaths, or executors before this time by me named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to by my last will and testament.

In witness thereof I have hereunto set my name, seal the day and year first above written.
Recorded November 24, 1779."

"20 day of the 11th month called January 1693/4.
John Tomlin of Little River, Perquimans Prect, County of Albemarle in North Carolina, planter, out of the tender love & tender affection that I bear to my two Sons John & William TOMLIN do hereby give unto them my sd Sons Six Cows to each of them marked, with a Upper Keel on the left Ear & an under Keel on the right, & in each Ear a Slit, sd. 12 cows to be equally divided between them when they come of age & I further give to my sd two Sons one feather bed and Boulster with Cobering & each of my sd Sons one Iron Pott, & to each two Pewter Dishes & two Plates, on Chest & one set of Wedges between them & one Pott rack of Iron to my Son John...I further give to my Daughter Elizabeth Six Cows & their increase marked with a crop & upper Keel on the left Ear & 1 underkeel on the Right with slit in each Ear & I do also give to her my sd Daughter two Pewter Dishes, two Plates one Iron Pott. I do give one mare with her Increase to my sd two Sons & Daughter to be equally divided amongst them three when they come of Age...". Signed John Tomlin.

Wit: Thomas Twede, John Raper. Ack: This deed of gift before me the 22nd of the month called January 1693/4
Daniel Akehurst. Regts. 21 July 1694 Pr. John Stepney Regr.

DAVID JACKSON, Planter 12 Sep 1715 9 Jan 1717 of Little River. "Sick and weak and body."
Wife MARY JACKSON - negro woman Sarah.
Daughter ELIZABETH - negro girl Jenny.
Son THOMAS JACKSON - negro girl Doll; my land when he is 21 but my wife to live on sd land during her life; should she marry, then son THOMAS to be free ar age 18.
Cousin LUCY JACKSON - 60 acres joining SAMUEL NORTHY, Vally(?) Branch, Old Carts Bridge, Old School House.
Brother WILLIAM DAVIS - heifer, when he is age 18. Brother SAMUEL JACKSON - vest & "breetches". Other legacies.
Ex.: wife MARY JACKSON
Wir.: JOS. HORNY, SAMUEL DAVIS, DANIEL

WILLIAM JACKSON, February 1, 1734. Probated April 20, 1735

Sons: MOSES and AARON ( "plantation whereon I now dwell").
Daughters: PARTHENIA and MARGARET JACKSON
Wife and Executrix: MARGARET.
Witnesses: George Gording, William Jackson, Sr., Edward Jackson, Thomas Weeks.
Clerk of Court: James Craven.

Submitted by David Jackson, Burlington, NC

Hannah ROUNTREE
Perquimans County
12 Sep 1758 - Jan 1759
Sisters: Sarah Hollowell, Lidy and Ann Rountree.
Brother: Moses Rountree.
Mother: Sarah Lelly.
Brother-in-law: Elisha Lelly. Executor: Nicholas Stallings.
Witnesses: Joe Hollowell, Elias Stallings, Abner Hollowell.
Clerk of the Court: Miles Harvey.

Moses ROUNTREE
Perquimans County
21 Jul 1755 - Oct 1755
Son: Moses (plantation and two negroes).
Daughters: Sarah Hol--, Hanah, Ledy and Ann Rountree.
Wife and Executrix: Sary.
Executor: Nicholas Stallings.
Witnesses: Joshua White, John White, Abram Hill.
Clerk of the Court: Miles Harve