Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Brown, James R March 1, 1854
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Source: Loose Will, NC Archives CR 073.801, Will Book Volume G, page 72
Written: March 1, 1854
Recorded: Nov 1854
Testator: James R Brown
I James R Brown of the county
of Orange and State of North Carolina
being of sound mind and disposing memory
do make publish and declare this to be
my last will and testament
Item first
I give and bequeath to
my beloved wife so long as she liv[e]s or
remains a widdow the tract of land
where I now live adjoining the lands of
Josiah Turner Robert Laws and others
supposed to contain 125 acres Excepting
so much of said tract as may now be
occupied by any Born[Barn] stable or other house
belonging to Robert Laws
Item 2d
I give and bequeath to my
wife Rebecca for her natural life or
widdowhood the following slaves
Towit Phill Viney Charity and Phillis
item 3rd After the death of my wife
or if she marry again I give and
[page 2]
bequeath my land before mentioned
and the slaves Phill Viny Charity and
Phillis to Robert Laws and his two
children James L Laws and Mary
A Laws
Item 4th
I give and bequeath to
Robert Laws and his two children
James L. Laws and Mary A. Laws
two slaves named Joe and Bob
Item 5th I give and bequeath to my
wife all my household and kitchen
furniture 2 Horses 2 Cows - 1 Wagon -
the ballance of my houses cattle and stock
with my crop on hand may be sold
and the proceeds go to the payment of
my debts - after which the money arising
to be equally divided between the two children
of Robert Laws and my wife Rebecca
Item 6
If necessary for the payment
of debts my Executor shall sell the
boy Bob which I have given to Robert
Laws and his two children
[page 3]
All the rest and residue of my
property not mentioned I give and
bequeath to Robert Laws and his two children
I hereby constitute and appoint
Robert Laws My Executor - to execute
and carry out this my last will and
testament - Done on the 1st day of March 1854.
Witnessed by ---
John Marcum James R Brown (seal)
Thomas J. Strayhorn Jurat
[Will Book Volume G, page 72]
I James R. Brown of the County of Orange and
State of North Carolina being of sound Mind and
disposing memory do make publish and declare
this to be my last will and testament
Item first. I give & bequeath to my beloved wife
so long as she lives or remains a widow the tract of
land where I now live adjoining the lands of Josiah
Turner Robert Laws and others supposed to contain
125 acres. Excepting so much of said tract as may
now be occupied by any Barn Stable or other house
belonging to Robert Laws
Item 2d I give and bequeath to my wife Rebecca for her
natural life or widowhood the following Slaves
to wit ~ Phill ~ Viney ~ Charity ~ and Phillis
Item 3rd After the death of my Wife or if she marry again
I give and bequeath my land before mentioned and
the slaves Phill Viney Charity and Phillis to Robert
Laws and his two children James L. Laws and
Mary A. Laws
Item 4th I give and bequeath to Robert Laws and his two
Children James L. Laws and Mary A. Laws two
Slaves named Joe and Bob.
Item 5th I give and bequeath to my wife all my household
and Kitchen furniture 2 Horses 2 Cows 1 Waggon
the balance of my houses Cattle and Stock with my
Crop on hand may be sold and the proceeds go to
the payment of my debts after which the money
arising to be equally divided between the two children
of Robert Laws and my Wife Rebecca
Item 6 If necessary for the payment of debts my Executor
shall sell the boy Bob which I have given to
Robert Laws and his two children All the rest and residue
of my property not mentioned I give and
bequeath to Robert Laws and his two children
I hereby constitute and appoint Robe[r]t Laws my Executor
to Execute and carry out this my last will and testament
Witnessed by Done on the 1st day of March 1854.
John Marcum James R Brown (seal)
Thomas J. Strayhorn
Orange County Court November Term 1854
The Execution of the foregoing last will and testament
of James R. Brown Decd. was duly proved in open
Court by the oath of Thomas J. Strayhorn one of the
subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be
Recorded and filed as such and thereupon the
said Robert Laws the Executor therein named
appeared in open Court and qualified by taking
the oath presented by Laws
Test Geo. Laws CCC
Additional Comments:
Will Book Volume G, page 72
Recorded Nov 1854
Estate Papers comprise 18 pages and are found in folder "Brown, James R (1854)". Inventory was taken 12 Dec 1854. Estate sale was held 22 Dec 1854 where Cyrus Laws purchased "1 Boy Robert $453.00", which corresponds to the instructions in the will to "sell the boy Bob" if necessary. Other slaves are presumed to have been transferred as the will directs.