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Guilford County,
North Carolina
1859
Be it known and remembered that I, James Crow, of the county of Guilford, in the state of North Carolina, being of sound mind and disposing memory, but in consideration of the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do on this third day of March, in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and Fifty-sever make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form as follows, that is to say -
First - It is my will and desire that my body shall have a decent burial according to the wish of my family and friends, and that my funeral expenses, and all my last debts, shall be paid by my executors hereinafter named, out of the first money belonging to my estate coming into his or their hands.
Second - I will and bequeath to my beloved wife, Sarah Crow, fifty acres of land, including the house and half of the orchard, to be hers, and for her own use and benefit during her life, or so long as she remains my widow, and at her death, or when she may cease to be my widow, it is my will and desire that my son James W. Crow shall have the said fifty acres of land. I also will and bequeath to my said wife, Sarah, my Negro boy Aaron, to be hers during life or widowhood. I also will and bequeath to my said wife, Sarah, one years provision or support out of my estate to be layed off and allotted to her by a Justice of the Peace and two freeholders to be chosen by her. I further will and bequeath to her, my said wife, one gray horse called Jack, one cow and calf, one sow and pigs, one feather bed and furniture, one pot and oven, one spinning wheel, one set knives and forks, one set plates, one set cups and saucers, to be hers absolutely.
Third - It is my will and desire that my grandchildren, James Burrow Gray, Stephen Romulus Gray and Mary Gray, the children of my daughter Sarah Gray, late of the state of Arkansas, shall have my Negro woman Feanky and my Negro girls, Amaka and Rose, and Negro boy George, and their increase, the said three grandchildren to have equal interest in said bequeathed Negroes and to be divided among them when they come to the age of twenty-one years, as they may then agree upon, either by division or sale.
Fourth - It is my will and desire that my son John Crow shall have my Negro man Berry, and my Negro girl Lanra.
Fifth - I will and bequeath to my daughter Eliza Parsons for her use and benefit, my Negro woman Juliann and her three children, Aaron, Rose and Dempsey, and at the death of my said daughter Eliza Parsons, it is my will and desire that the said Negroes bequeathed to her with their increase shall go to the heirs of her body, and in case said Eliza Parsons should die during the minority of her children, it is my will that said Negroes shall be hired out, by my executors or by a guardian appointed for that purpose, until the youngest child comes to the age of twenty-one years, and the proceeds of such hiring applied to the education and use of said heirs if required.
Sixth - I will and bequeath to my daughter Sina Crow, one hundred acres of land to be layed off on the east end of the Sally Thrift tract, by a line running north and south, also my Negro woman Martha and her increase and my Negro boy Adium, for her use and benefit and to go to the heirs of her body. I also will and bequeath to my said daughter Sina, one bay mare named Lid, one cow and calf, one feather bed and furniture, one cotton wheel, one set knives and forks, plates, cups and saucers. It is also my will that she shall have one years support or provision out of my estate, or the equivalent thereof in money.
Seventh - I will and bequeath to my son James W. Crow, all the residue of my land not herein before disposed of, being about one hundred acres, which added to the fifty acres devised to him at the expiration of the widowhood of my wife, will give him one hundred and fifty acres. I also will and bequeath to my said son, James W. Crow, my Negro woman Louisa and her two children, Jane and Margaret, and their increase, one black male called Claborn, one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf, and one full set of farming tools.
Eighth - It is my will and desire, that my executors shall hire out my Negro man Bryant for six years from and after my decease at private contract, and after the expiration of the six years, I desire that he may live with some one of my children, as may be agreed on, he being a cripple and having been a good boy, I do not wish him to be sold out of my family or estate.
Ninth - It is my will and desire that all my other property, of whatsoever kind not heretofore disposed of, be sold by my executors, and the proceeds of such sale, together with all the residue of my estate, be equally divided among my children, namely, first to James Burrow Gray, Stephen Romulus Gray and Mary Gray, the children of my daughter Sarah Gray, one share, and one share each to my son John Crow, my daughters Eliza Parsons and Sina Crow, and my son James W. Crow.
The reason why I have devised no land to my older children, Sally Gray, John Crow and Eliza Parsons, is that they have heretofore had their riteable and full share of my lands.
Tenth - Having now herein disposed of all my earthly estate to my entire satisfaction, I do nominate, ordain and appoint my trusty friends James Lowe and Jacob Dean my executors, with full power and authority to execute and carry out this my last will and testament, according to the true intent and meaning thereof. Hereby revoking, annulling, and making void all other and former wills by me made.
In testimony thereof I, James Crow, the testator, do hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
James Crow
(James Crow's will was executed in the August 1859 term of the Guilford County Court.)