James Denby Will (1795 Franklin Co., NC)


Will of James Denby

(written April 24, 1795 - Franklin Co., NC)


Will Book B, page 68 (Franklin Co, North Carolina)

In the name of God Amen, I, James Denby of Franklin and State of North Carolina being in Health of Body and of Sound Mind and Memory (thanks to Almighty God) but calling to mind the mortality of the Body and the uncertainity of this present life do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form as followeth (Viz)

Imprimis, I give & Recommend my Soul into the Hands of my Gracious Lord who gave it me and my Body to the Earth to be Buried in a plain Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors, hereafter named Nothing Doubting at the General Resurrection. I shall Receive the Same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching my wordly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give Demise and dispose of in the following matter (Viz) first my will & desire is that those debts I in law of conscience owe be paid.

I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Priscilla Denby one negro man named Sonnons (?), one negro boy named Bartley & one negro girl named Amey. I also give to my aforesaid daugther one Horse bridle and saddle, three cows and calves, one feather Bed and furniture, and thre Ewes and lambs and two Sows & pigs. My Desire also is that my aforesaid daughter may have, occupy and enjoy the best Room of my Mansion House, for and during the time of Celibicy, or Single Life, but in case of aforesaid should die without lawful issue my will is that the above negroes Lammon (?) and Bartley Shall Return to my family and to such of them as my Said Daughter may choose to give them.

I give & bequeath to my Beloved Daughter Keziah Byrd one negro woman Sarah to her and her heirs forever.

I give & bequeath to my granddaughter Nancy Nazette Byrd one negro girl named Penny to her and her heirs forever.

I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Barsheba Denby one negro girl named Diasey to her and her heirs forever.

I lend to my beloved Son Elijah Denby (after the Death of my Wife Patience) during his natural life my land & plantation whereon I now live & after his decease I give and bequeath my plantation and all my land lying West of the Buffaloe old (?) field (to be divided by a North and South line) to his Son James Denby, & the Residue of my land East of the Aforesaid land I give and bequeath to his Son John Denby, to them their Heirs forever.

I lend to my beloved wife Patience Denby during her natural life my land and plantation wheron I now live as also all the negroes that I have not already given away. Also the Stock of all kinds, Household furniture & plantation utensils, nothing of which is excepted but that which I have already given away, and after my wife's death my will and desire is that all the negroes which I have lent her, be equally divided (by my Executors) between my son Elijah Denby, Josiah Eley, Council Jones & James Walker & the stock of all kinds, household furniture & plantation utensils that may be found at the death of my wife, I desire may be equally divided (by my extras) between Christiana Walker, Keziah Byrd, Charity Eley, Susanna Jones & Elijah Denby.

Lastly I nominate and ordain Josiah Eley, Elijah Denby and Council Jones my whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament utterly revolking & disannuling all other wills by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Seal this twenty fourth day of April A.D. one thousand Seven Hundred & ninety five.

Signed Sealed & Acknowledged in presence of us: Wm. Lancaster Jean Lancaster James Denby (Seal) Wm. Andrews


My   Connection   to   James   Denby

James Denby and wife Patience Norfleet

Susanna Denby and husband Council Jones

Margaret Jones and husband Kinchin Boon Sr.

Kinchin Boon Jr and wife Mary Elizabeth Foster

Frances Ann T. Boon and husband G.W. Mears

Minnie Leamer Mears and husband Jesse William Jobe


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Ann (JOBE) Brown
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