Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Blake, Benjamin April 2, 1783
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Source: Loose Will, NC Archives CR 073.801, Will Book Volume A, pages 275-276
Written: April 2, 1783
Recorded: May 1783
Testator: Benjamin Blake
[Original Will]
In the Name of God Amen I Benjamin Blake of the County of Orange in the State of North Carolina Planter.
Being weak in Body, but of perfect mind and Memory, Thanks be given unto God, Calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body and
knowing it is appointed for all Men once to die, Do Make and Ordain this my Last Will, and Testament; That is to Say Principally
and first of all I Give and Recommend my Body to the Earth, to be buried in a decent Christian burial, And my Soul to Almighty God that
Gave it. And as touching Such worldly Estate which it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I Give demise and Dispose of the Same in the
following Manner. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
First I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Martha Cane Ten pounds in Specia with what she had forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to Son Benjamin Blake fifty pounds in Specia with what he had, forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Brasswell eighty five pounds in Specia forever. ~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Rebeckah Massey eighty eight pounds in Specia forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to my Grand Daughters and Son of Thomas ["Thomas" x-out] Philips, named Penelope, Mary, Ann, Obedience, and
Hardy Phillips; The Sum of Fifty pounds in Specia When they are of Lawful age To be equally Divided Between them forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to my Grand Children Sarah Cane and Absalom Cane, Son and Daughter of Elisha Cane The sum of Sixty pounds in
Specia as they become of Lawful age, Equally To be Divided between them forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Penelope Blake one hundred pounds in Specia forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Anne Blake One hundred pounds in Specia forever. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Also I Give and Bequeath to my daughter Bethanie Blake One hundred pounds in Specia forever. Furthermore it is my Will that my
Three youngest Daughters, Penelope, Ann, and Bethany Blake shall be brought in a good Reputable Decent Manner until they are of Lawful
age, And as they Becomes of Lawful age, to Receive their above Said Legacies out of my Estate (Real or personal) I likewise appoint
My Trustee friend Edwards Trice (my near Neighbour) Trustee of this my Last Will and Testament. ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Lastly I Give Bequeath, and Devise, after my Lawful Debts are paid all the Residue or Remainder of my Whole Estate, Lands and Tenements, ~~
Claims of Lands, Household goods, Negroe Slaves, Cattle, horses, Bills, Bonds, Book debts, with all manner of Moveables Whatsoever To my son Jones
Blake and his heirs forever Whome I Likewise Constitute, Make, and ordain My Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament. And I Do hereby utterly
Revoke, and Disannul, all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequests and Executors by me in any ways before Named, Willed ~~
and Bequeathed. Ratifying this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and affix't my
Seal This Second day of april In the Year of Our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and eighty three ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~
Signed Sealed Published pronounced and declared by the said
Benjamin Blake as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us
Enoch Lewis {Note words, (and his heirs forever) } Benja Blake (seal)
James Trice {interlined before sealed }
William Trice {in the 23rd line }
Exr Qualified
[Will Book Volume A, page 275]
In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Blake
of the County of Orange in the state of North Carolina (Planter)
being weak in body but of purfect minde and memory, thanks
be given unto God Calling unto mind the Mortallity of my
body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to Die
do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament
That is to say Principally and first of all I give and
recommend my Body to the Earth to be buried in a Decent
Christian burial and my Soul to almighty God that gave it
and as touching such Worldly Estate which it has pleas'd
God to bless me in this life, I give demise and Dispose of
the same in the following manner. First I give & bequeath
to my Daughter Martha Cain Ten pounds in Specia with
what she had forever. Also I give and bequeath to Son
Benjamin Blake fifty pounds in Specia with what he
had, forever. Also I give and bequeath to my Daughter
Sarah Braswell[Orig: Brasswell] Eighty five pounds in Specia forever.
Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebeckah Massa[Orig: Massey]
Eighty eight pounds in Specia forever.
Also I give and bequeath to my Granddaughters and Son of
Thomas Philips, named penelope, Mary, Ann, Obedience,
and Hardy Phillips, the sum of Fifty pounds in Specia
when they are of Lawfull age to be equally Divided between
them forever. Also I give and bequeath to my Grand
children Sarah Cain and Absalom Cane Son and Daughter
of Elisha Cane, the sum of Sixty pounds in Specia as
they become of Lawfull age, equally to be Divided between
them forever. Also I give and bequeath to my Daughter
Penelope Blake one hundred pounds in Specia forever
also I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Blake
one hundred pounds in Specia forever.
[Will Book Volume A, page 276]
Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Bethana Blake one hundred
pounds in Specia forever. Furthermore it is my Will that my
three youngest Daughters, Penelope, Ann, and Bethana Blake
shall be braught[taught?] in a good reputable Decent manner until they
are of Lawful age, and as they becomes of Lawful age to receive
their above said Legacies out of my Estate (Real or personal)
I likewise appoint my Trusty friend Edwards Trill[Trice?] my near
Neighbour Trustee of this my last Will and Testament
Lastly I give and bequeath and Devise after my Lawful Debts
are paid all the residue or remainder of my whole Estate
Lands and Teniments, Claims of land, Household Goods,
Negroe Slaves, Cattle, Horses, Bills, Bonds, Book Debts, with
all manner of Moveables whatsoever to my son Jones Blake
and his heirs forever whom I Likewise Constitute make &
Ordain my Sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament
and I do hereby Utterly Revoke, and Disannul, all &
every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequests and
Executors by me in any wise before named, Willed and
bequeathed, Ratifying this and no other to be my last
Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my seal this Second Day
of April In the Year of Our Lord one thousand Seven
hundred and Eighty three
Signed Sealed published pronounced Benjamin Blake (seal)
and declared by the said Benjamin Blake
as his last will and testament in the
presence of us
Enoch Lewis {Note around, (and his heirs forever) }
James Price {interlined before sealed in the 23rd line }
William Trice
Orange County May Court 1783
The Execution of the within Will of Benjamin Blake Decd was duly
proved in open Court by the Oaths of James Trice and William Trice subscribing
witnesses thereto and ordered to be Recorded
Test J.J. Brown C.C
Additional Comments:
Will Book Volume A, pages 275-276
Recorded May 1783
Surname "Cain" also spelled "Cane" within the Will Book copy of this document. Consistently "Cane" in the original.
Estate papers comprise 54 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Blake, Benjamin (1778)". This is a mixture of this estate and that of Benjamin Blake, Sr., whose executor was Captain Thomas Phillips, and inventory dated 1769.
[Estate Papers - Inventory 9 Apr 1783]
An Inventory of the whole Estate Real and personal of Benjamin Blake
of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina Deceased the ninth
day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty three ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
Firstly Five hundred and forty Acres of Land and Sixty Acres of Entry Land ~~~~~
Three Negroes, Slaves ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[sundry items omitted]
Jonas Blake
[Will Book Volume A, page 365]
Know all men by these present that I Asa Blake of the
County of Wake and State of North Carolina for and in Consideration
of James Blake standing security for sd Asa Blake to the administrator
of Benjn. and Jones Blake in a bond of Two hundred and thrityfive pounds
three and six pence payable twelve months after date and to make him the
said James Blake of the County of Orange and State of N.Carolina
secure safe Clear and free from all damages that may arise or insure on the
said Asa Blake not paying of and discharging the said bond he the said
Asa Blake do make over deliver and grant and by these present hath made
over deliver and granted unto the said James Blake his heir or assigns
to and for his or their proper use and behoof one negro wench called Winney
and one negro fellow called Ned as his or their property and do for
me and my heirs warrent and defend the said Negroes from all person or
persons who shall lay any Clame rite or title to the said Negroes to the
sd. James Blake his heirs and assigns for ever in Witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of Novemr. 1785
The condition of the above bill of sale is such that if the above
Asa Blake do and shall pay of[f] and discharge the sd. bond of Two hundred
and thirtyfive pounds three shillings and sixpence and receive a receipt
in full for the same from sd. Philips and Massey and discharge the sd.
James Blake from his securityship then his obligation to be void other
wise ot remain in full force and virtue }
Signed Seald. and delivered } Asa Blake (seal)
in presence of }
Jno. G. Rencher }