Most of the wills below are transcribed from the North Carolina Archives filmed collection of county will records and can be found at the North Carolina Archives. The Courthouse of Edgecombe County, North Carolina at Tarboro, retained their early recorded will indexes and books, but copies can be made only from the filmed records in the North Carolina Archives.
Some original county wills are also available to researchers at the North Carolina Archives. Source locations are noted for wills transcribed below.
Note: The following documents were transcribed, with spelling, use of capitalization, lack of punctuation, symbls, etc., to resemble as closely as possible, the original documents.
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50002:
Will Book Volume C, Pg.207: Will of Thomas Amason:
In the Name of God Amen
I Thomas Amosson being thro' the abundant goodness and mercy of almighty God tho' in weak and declining state of health yet of a disposing mein do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner following
Impremes__I give and bequeath to my daughter Priscilla Whitley one stone Pitcher and sun Dial
Item __ I give and bequeath to my son William Amosson my manor plantation and all of the land belonging to it ----
Item __ I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Amosson five schillings
Item __ I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Singleton five schillings---
Item __ I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Hale five schillings
Item __ I give and bequeath to my daughter Millasant Whitley one dish one Bason and one plate and all my Sheep
Item __ I give and bequeath to my daughter Christian Johnson all the rest of my estate and I do hereby constitute and appoint my Son William Amason executor and Eli Amason to this my last will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 25th day of September 1792
Witness
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50002:
Will Book Volume D, Page 19: Will of William Amason:
In The name of God Amen
I William Amason of Edgecombe County being weakely in body but in perfect mind and memory do make this to be my last Will & Testament in maner and form foloing
First that all my just & lawful debts be paid
Itm__ I lend unto my loving Wife Sarah Amason the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life
Itm__ I give and bequeath unto my son James Amason on feather bed & furniture which he hath all ready in his possession to him + his heirs forever
Itm__ I give and bequeath to my daughter Patience Barnes five schillings besides what she hath alredy had to her and her heirs forever
Itm__ I give and bequeath unto my son Jesse Amason one cow which he hath allready had & seventy acres of Land which he has allredy had by a Deed of Gift to him and his hairs forever -- and one fether bed & furniture which is in his prs~
Itm__ I give and bequeath to my daughter Obedience Bagget one fether bed & furniture which she hath already in her persesion to her and her heirs forever ----
Itm__ I give and bequeath to my daughter Elisabeth Brantely one fether bed & furniture which she hath all redy in her persesion to her & her heirs forever
Itm__ I give & bequeath unto my daughter Martha Bagget one fether bed & furniture with one bed sted & two ???? which she hath all redy in her persesion to her & her hairs forever
I give and bequeath to my son John Amason my plantation wheareon I now live after his mothers deth and my Horse caulled Liberty to him and his Hairs forever ----
I now lend unto my Wife Sarah Amason all the res of my estate not allredy mentioned of what nature or kind soever during her natural life & after his mothers deth to my son John & him and his heirs forever
I allso make and apoint my trusty friend Eli Amason & my son John Amason my hole sole executrs to this my Last Will & Testament And I do make and ordain this to be my last Will & Testament disalowing and revoking all other Wills & this to be my last Will and no other In witness whareof I have hearunto set my hand & Set my Seal this 11- day of April 1793
Test
Edgecombe County ?? February Court 1797 The within Will of William Amason was exhibited in open Court + proved by the oath of Theops Thomas one of the subscribing Witnesses + John Amason one of the executors therein named was at the same time qualified according to law
Ordered that the Will be recorded
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50003:
Will Book Volume E, Page 23: Will of William Amason:
In the name of God Amen this the tenth of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven I William Amason of the county of Edgecombe in the state of North Carolina being in a weak and declining state of body but of sound and ???? and memmery and calling to mind the uncertainty of temporal state and all must yield unto death when the Lord calls and the setling of my temporal estate do order give and dispose of the same in manner and form following to wit
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Eli Amason all the land and plantation where I now live
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Abie Bentley one feather bed and furniture
Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ada Davis two pounds current money of this state
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Menoah Amason all my track of land ling on the long Branch allso one Brandy Mill + one Grind Stone
Item I give and bequeath unto all the children of my son, Menoah Amason all the property of mine that now is in perssesion of my son Menoah Amason
Item I give and desire that all the rest of my property shall be sold and equally divided between my son, Eli Amason and my daughter, Abie Bentley + to all the children of my daughter Aday Davis + all the children of Jemimay Bolton and all the children of my son Menoah Amason that is one fifth to Eli Amason one fifth to Abie Bentley and one fifth to Aday's children and one fifth to Jemimay's children and one fifth to Menoahs children
I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Abie Bentley one negra boy named Mason which negra is now in posesion of the said Abie the negra rated at ???? hundred Dollars which sum I desire shall be taken out of her part of the property when divided to them and their heirs and asigns forever and further I do hereby nominate constitute and apoint my Son Eli Amason & my friend Garret Knight Executors to this my last will and testament and allso soly & wholey Gardains to all mi children and Grand children allso I desire that the said Gardains shall keep my grand childers part of said Estate in there hands until they shall come of adge I hearby revoking disanulling & making void all other and former will or wills Testament or Testaments and only this and this only to be my last will and Testament
Sined sealed pronounced
published and declared in
presents of ----
Test
Edgecombe County----------------------August Court 1811
The within last will and Testament of William Amason dec'd was exhibited into court for Probate & was duly proven by the oaths of Jonathan Ellis and William Johnston, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto And Eli Amason & Garret Knight the Executors named in the said will were at the sametime qualified thereto in due form of law. Ordered that the same be certified & the will Recorded
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50003:
Will Book Volume F, Page 131: Will of Eleanor Amason:
In the name of God Amen I Eleanor Amason of the County of Edgecomb & State of North Carolina being of sound and perfect mind and memory (blessed be god) do this the 18 Day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & twenty nine, make and publish this my last will and Testament, in the manner following Vz.
First - I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sally Ward ten Dollars in cash.
Secondly - I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Eleanor Ward Fifty Dollars in Cash.
Thirdly - I give and bequeath to my Son Wm. Amason Ten Dollars in Cash.
Fourthly - I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Eliza M. Amason Fifty Dollars in Cash.
Fifthly - I give and bequeath to my Son Nathan Amason Fifty Dollars in Cash & one barrel Brandy.
Sixthly - I give and bequeath to my Son Elbert Amason my Negro boy Sam and all my Blacksmith Tools & one half of the Brandy made this year after the part taken out to pay the owner of the still & the colt my Sorrel Mare is in foal with.
Seventhly - I give and bequeath to my Son Asa Amason my Negro Woman Patty & negro boy Simon and one Barrel Brandy.
Eighthly - I give and bequeath to my Daughter Nancy Amason one feather bed & furniture and one Negro boy Jack.
Ninthly - I give and bequeath to my two Daughters Polley & Elizabeth during their life times my two Negro Women Chany & Phillis & at the death of my two Daughters Polley & Elizabeth the said two negroes & their increase if any then to belong to the lawful Heirs of the aforsaid two Daughters Polley & Elizabeth should they have no Heirs the said negroes & their increase my Will & Desire is should then return Back in to the family also I give the aforesaid two Daughters Polley & Elizabeth one feather bed & furniture each.
Tenthly - I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth all the Balance of money which will remain after the payment of all my Just Debts.
I do hereby make and ordain my Son Asa Amason Executor of this my last Will & Testament In Witness Whereof I the said Eleanor Amason have to this my last Will and testament Set my hand and Seal the day and year above written.
Signed sealed published and declared by the said
Eleanor Amason the Testator as her last
Will and Testament in the presence of us
who were present at the time of signing &
sealing thereof
Edgecombe County -------------------------------------------------------- February Court 1832
The within last Will and Testament of Ellender Amason dec'd was exhibited in open Court for probate and was proven by the oaths of James Barnes and Coffield Ellis the subscribing witnesses thereto - And Asa Amason the Executor named in the said Will at the same time qualified thereto - Ordered that the same be certified & the will recorded
SOURCE: Edgecombe County Courthouse at Tarboro and the North Carolina Archives, County Records Film # C037-50003:
Will Book Volume F, Page 262: Will of Delana Amason:
In the name of God Amen!
I Delana Amason of the County of Edgecombe State of North Carolina being weak in bodily health but of sound mind & memory do make and ordain this my last will & testament
After remanding my soul to God that gave it & my body to be decently buried by my Exr. do dispose of my property with which God has blessed me in the manner and form following Vz. --
1st I lend to my beloved daughter Jemmima Amason part of the tract of land wereon I now live which I purchased of Theophilus Gay & wife;the end toward the road standing down to a fence near a branch which runs across said Tract of Land during her natural life; or single life.-- I give & bequeath to my beloved daughter, Jemima Amason: one gray horse, one negro man named Ned two choice cows & calves two choice sows & pigs & six head of sheep one half of my working tools of all kinds and one half of my plow gear, and cart & wheels, all of my kitchen furniture one Loom and gear one Chest one half dozen mulberry chairs & a half dozen chairs purchased of Henry Woodard. Eighteen hundred weight of live pork seventy five bands of corn, seven blade stacks & two Lot stacks to she & her heirs forever. My will ordains it that all my children who now live with me to remain together & be supported out of the provisions left Jemima for one year
2nd I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Amason twenty dollars Cash to she and her heirs forever
3rd I give & bequeath to my beloved daughter Alsa Johnson six plates and two bowls to she & her heirs forever
4th I give & bequeath to my beloved son John Amason one dollar to him & his heirs forever
5th I give & bequeath to my beloved daughter Delana Amason one feather bed & bedstead all my stock of guns one woolen wheel & one linen wheel one Loom which I purchased of Sally Dickinson to she & her heirs forever
6th I give & bequeath to my beloved son Isaac Uriah Amason the balance of the Tract of Land which I purchased of Henry Woodard not now owned by him; and the balance of my sheep not given to Jemima & my Yoke of Oxen to him & his heirs forever
7th I give & bequeath to my beloved son David William Amason all my land I now own except that lent to Jemima & that after her marriage or death, one Colt two years old last spring, one bed bedstead & furniture one blue chest the one formerly called Delana's all my notes now in hand, to him and his heirs forever
8th I give & bequeath to my beloved grand daughter Pennina Jane Rogers my Ridiing Saddle
9th I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Martha Ann Delana Rogers one blue chest purchased of Sally Dickinson
10th I give & bequeath to my grand children William W. Thos. J. & Elisha Amason each one dollar
11th I give & bequeath to bmy beloved grand children Mary Ann, Hariett & Mariah Gay each one dollar
My will & desire is that all my property not given away in this Will be sold by my Excr. on a credit of six months + after paying all my just debts the balance of the money arising from said sale; I give & bequeath to my beloved son David W. Amason to him & his heirs forever --
I do herby nominate & appoint my beloved son Isaac, Isaac Uriah Amason my whole & sole Executor to this my last Will & Testament; & do hereby make void & revoke all former wills made by me --
In witness whereof I ???? ??????? set my hand & Seal -- this fourth day of September one Thousand Eight hundred & forty one
Signed in presents of
Edgecombe County------------------------ November Term 1841
The foregoing Will & Testament of Delana Amason dec'd. was exhibited in open court for probate and was duly proven by the oaths of Levan Ellis and Jesse Applewhite the subscribing Witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded -- at the same time Isaac Uriah Amason the Executor therein named in sd Will, was duly qualified as such
