NC, Lenoir, Deeds, Division of Lands to Heirs of Jesse Kennedy ========================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by from Bill Hill, Nov 2000. ========================================================== " DUPLICATE LAST WILL & TESTAMENT OF JESSE KENNEDY Dec'd." "In the name of God amen, I, Jesse Kennedy of the County of Lenoir and State of North Carolina bring of sound disposing mind and memory do this the 28th day of December 1853 make publick and declare this my last will and testament in the name and form following. That is to say, First I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Kennedy during her natural life one third of all my lands which I shall hereinafter give to my sons Thomas and Bright Kennedy to be laid off so as to make an equal quantity on each of my said sons lands. Also the following negro slaves viz Anthony, Peter, Nancy, Pleasant, Jim, Aggy, Jane and boy Pinkney and also young Pleasant Nancy's child. I also give to my said wife two head of horses, four cows and calves, four sows and pigs, two feather beds and furniture and a sufficiency of provisions of every discription to serve her and her family a a year. Item 2nd. I give unto my daughter Harriet Parrott the following negroes viz, Prife and her four children with all her future increase from this time, and girls Judea and Liza after the death of my wife one negro girl by the name of Jane and child and all her future increase from this time together with all the negroes with all the negroes heretofore given her to her and her heirs forever. Item 3rd. I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Lemuel Byrd, provided he shall attain the age of twenty one years and have a child lawfully begotten the following negroes viz, Mima and all her children together with all their future increase from this date. But if the said Lemuel Byrd shall die without lawful issue then and in that case it is my will and desire that the above named negroes and their increase shall be equally divided among my surviving children or their children and to the surviving children of my dec'd daughter Eliza Kennedy. Item 4th. I lend unto my daughter Sarah Parrott during her natural life the following negroes, viz; William, Bryant, Ann, Mariah, William and Mary, Aggy's children and their future increase from this day and after the death of my said daughter I give and bequeath the aforesaid negroes with their future increase unto the children of my said daughter, and after the death of her mother Aggy and her youngest child (Catherine) with their future increase from this day given and bequeathed on the same conditions of the above. Item 5th.I give and bequeath unto the five children of my dec'd daughter Eliza Kennedy or the survivors of them the following negroes viz; Marian and her children, Susan and her children, Emm and her children and Smithy with all their future increase from this date. Item 6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas J. Kennedy the following tracts or parcels of land viz; all the land I purchased from Richard Croom, all the lands I purchased from Wm. Croom and fifteen acres contained in a patent granted to me dated the 10th day of July 1795 and all the woodland or timbered lands lying on the west side of plantation whereon I now live also one half of all the lands I purchased from J. C. Washington and others known as the James R. Croom lands. After setting apart to my son Bright Kennedy ten acres around and includintg the house which I have lately built on said land. To be divided by a line as nearly equal as can be done between him and my said son Bright Kennedy after setting apart the aforesaid ten acres and also the followintg negroes viz John, George, Nicholas and Betsy and after the death of his mother Anthony, Pleasaant and Pinkney to him and his heirs forever with all future increase. Item 7th. I give and bequeath unto my son Bright Kennedy all the lands whereon I now live except such as I have heretofore given to my son Thomas. Also ten acres of the land I purchased from J. C. Washington and others known as the lands of James R. Croom around and including the houses I have recently built on said land. Also one half of the remainder of said lands which is to be divided by a line as nearly equal as can be done between him and my son Thomas, after setting apart to him the aforesaid ten acres around and including the houses before mentioned. Also the following negroes viz, Ben, Jack, Elias, Patsy and after the death of his mother Peter, Nancy, Jim and young Pleasaant and their future increase from this date to him and his heirs forever. Item 8th. All the rest and residue of my property not herein before given away I leave to be sold on a credit of six months and the proceeds arising therefrom together with all the debts due me and what money I may have on hand I leave to be equally divided between my wife and all my children that may be living at my death and to the children of those that may be living at my death and to the children of of those that are now dead or who may die before I do, their children to receive the distribution share of their dec'd parents except Lemuel Byrd. Lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my son Thomas J. Kennedy and my friend Lewis C. Desmond executors to this my last will and testament with full power to carry the same into full effect. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal on this day and date aboove mentioned. Signed, sealed published (seal) and declared by the testator in presence of us who in the presence of each other have witness the same."