Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Norwood, William March 20, 1840
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Source: Loose Will, NC Archives CR 073.801, Will Book Volume F, pages 116-119
Written: March 20, 1840
Recorded: Feb 1842
Testator: William Norwood
I William Norwood of Orange County
do make and publish this as my last will
and testament, and do hereby revoke all
former wills and codicils made by me
I give and devise to all my children, & to
their families forever, a suitable burying
ground, to be laid off by my executors in the
Cedar grove on the river in what is called
the old garden; and I desire that a plat and
the boundaries thereof, under the hands and seals
of my executors may be proved and registered
I also give and devise to all my children &
to their heirs, forever, the land lying between my
son Josephs' place (formerly Sneed's) and the river
commonly called the "Dark Walk", with a right
of way through it along the river bank to them
their heirs and assigns forever.
I give and devise to my son John W. Norwood
the parcel of land on which his house stands
(for which I have already made him a deed)
containing nine and one half acres, at the
valuation of five hundred dollars.
I give and devise to my son Joseph and
his heirs forever, One hundred and thirty acres
of land, which he now has inclosed and under
cultivation, beginning at the southwest corner of
[page 2]
the woods on the Chapel Hill road, opposite or
nearly opposite, the negro house, of J. W. Norwood,
running thence eastward across to a large pop-
lar at the south east corner of said piece of
woods, near the Raleigh road, and thence south-
ward ["and it" x-out] with a survey made by Silas M. Link
and agreeably to said survey, to the beginning
which tract of land, My son Joseph is to receive as
a part of his portion of my estate at the valuation
of six hundred and fifty dollars:
All the rest of my estate, of what Kind soever
both real and personal, I give and devise to my
beloved wife Robina for and during her natu-
ral life
At the death of my wife, I give to my son
James H. Norwood one thousand dollars but
if in the opinion of my executors it should be ne=
cessary, they shall vest and secure the said
sum of one thousand dollars, for the sole and
separate use and benefit of my said son's wife
and children, free from his control and from
all liability for the payment of his debts.
I give and devise one seventh part of all
all[sic] the rest of my estate, of every Kind, and one
thousand dollars over and above one seventh
part thereof, in trust, to my sons John W. Norwood
and Joseph Norwood and to the survivor of
them and the heirs executor or administrator
[page 3]
of the survivor, for the sole and separate use and
benefit of my daughter Jane and her children,
and such Children as she may hereafter have
and free from the control of her husband, and
from all liability for his debts; which they, my said
trustees, and the survivor of them, shall and may
sell, vest, and manage, or retain, as they may
deem most for the advantage of my said daughter
Jane, and her children. And her receipt shall
always be a full discharge for my said trustees.
I give and devise, all the rest and resi-
due of my estate, not herein otherwise disposed of,
of every Kind and discription, both realty and
personalty, to my other children; Eliza, John, Wil-
liam, Walter, Joseph and Helen, to them their
heirs executors and administrators, share and
share alike, But my sons John and Joseph
nevertheless, are to hold and take the lands
given to them, at the valuations aforesaid,
respectively, as a part of their shares.
I give to my executors, full power and
authority to sell, either at public or private sale
all or any portion of my estate, either for the
purpose of paying debts or making a division,
should a sale for either purpose be necessary
and should either of my executors wish to pur-
chase any portion of my estate, then the other executor
shall have the sole power of selling
and conveying that portion: and should both
[page 4]
of my executors wish to purchase the same proper-
ty, then the sale and conveyance shall be made
by some disinterested person, agreeable to the fam-
ily, and appointed for that purpose, under
the hands and seals of my said executors.
But it is my earnest wish and injunc=
tion, that my black people should be divided,
and not sold, if it can reasonably be avoided:
And in the division, any of my children shall
have the liberty, of retaining as a part of their
share, at valuation any negroes, who have
been put into their possession.
If at the death of my wife, my estate should owe
any debts, the property may all be Kept together until
they are paid out of the profits, if my executors think
proper. My executors shall only account for so much
of my perishable estate, as may be on hand at the death
of my wife, but every Kind of perishable property then
on hand, shall be deemed a part of my estate.
I release to any of my children for whom I may
heretofore have paid debts or upon whom I hold any
obligation for the payment of money, all claims and
demands on account thereof. I appoint my sons
John and Joseph executors of this my last will
and Testament. In witness where of I have hereunto
set my hand & seal Signed sealed published & declared this 30
day of March 1840 in presence of
Test Wm. Norwood Senr.
O. F. Long (seal)
H. Webb
[page 5]
North Carolina } Court of Pleas & quarter
Orange County } Session Feb. Term 1842
Then was presented in open Court the last
Will & Testament of the Honorable William
Norwood deceased & upon motion the
same was admitted to probate in
common form on the oath of Dr. O. F.
Long & ordered to be Registered in the
proper Office. Thereupon John W.
Norwood & Joseph C. Norwood Esquires
the Executors named in said Will ap-
=peared in Open Court & were qualified
as such & Letters Testamentary were
ordered to issue to them. ~~~
[Will Book Volume F, page 116]
I William Norwood of Orange County domake
& publish this as my last will & Testament & do
hereby revoke all former Wills & codicils made by
me I give & desire[orig: devise] to all my children, & to their
families forever a suitable burying ground
to be laid off by my Executors in the cedar grove
on the river in what is called the old garden and I desire
that a blat[plat] and the boundaries thereof under the hands
& seals of my executors may be proved & registered
I also give and devise to all my children &
to their heirs forever the land lying between my
son Joseph's place (formerly Sneed) and the river
Commonly Called the Dark Walk with a right
of way t[h]rough it along the river bank to ot[?] them
their heirs & assigns forever. I give & devise to my son
John W. Norwood the tract[parcel] of land on which his house
stands (for which I have already made him a deed),
containing nine & one half acres at the valuation of
five hundred dollars I give & devise to my son Joseph
& his heirs forever one hundred & ["fifty" x-out] thirty acres of
land which he now has inclosed & under fences &
cultivation beginning at the south west corner of
the woods on the Chapel Hill road opposite or
[Will Book Volume F, page 117]
nearly opposite, the negro house, of J. W. Norwood
running thence eastward across to a large poplar
at the south east corner of said piece of wood
near the Raleigh road and thence southward
with a survey made by Silas M Link & agreeably
to Said Survey to the beginning which tract of land
my son Joseph is to receive as a part of his portion
of my estate at the valuation of six hundred &
fifty dollars All the rest of my estate, of what
Kind soever both real & personal I give & devise
to my beloved wife Robina for & during her
natural life At the death of my wife I give
to my son James H. Norwood one thousand dollars
but if in the opinion of my executors it should
be necessary they shall vest & secure the said sum
of one thousand dollars, for the sole & separate use
& benefit of my said sons Wife & Children
free from his control & from all liability for the
payment of his debts I give & devise one seventh
part of all the rest of my estate of every knid[kind]
and one thousand dollars over & above one seventh
part there of intrust to my sons John W. Norwood &
Joseph Norwood & to the survivor of them &
the heirs executor or administrator of the survi-
vor for the sole & separate use and benefit of my
daughter Jane and her Children and such
Children as she may hereafter have and free
from the Controle of her husband and from
all liability for his debts which they my said
trustees, and the survivor of them shall and
may sell, vest, and manage, or retain, as they
may deem most for the advantage of my said
daughter Jane and her children and her receipt
shall always be a full discharge for my said trustees.
I give & devise, all the rest & residue of my estate
not herein otherwise disposed of of every kind &
description both realty and personalty to my other
Children E[l]iza John William Walter Joseph
[Will Book Volume F, page 118]
and Hellen to them their heirs executors and
administrators share & share alike but my sons
John & Joseph nevertheless are to hold and take
the lands given to them, at the valuations aforesaid
respectively as a part of their shares I give to my
executors, full power and authority to sell either at
publick or private sale all or any portion of
my estate either for the purpose of paying debts
or making a division should a sale for either
purpose be necessary and should either of my executors
wish to purchase any portion of my estate then the [other]
executor shall have the sole power of selling and
conveying that portion and should both of my
executors wish to purchase the same property, then,
the sale & conveyance shall be made
by some disinterested person, agreeable to the fam-
ily and appointed for that purpose, under the hands
& seals of my said executors But it is my earnest
wish & injunction that my black people should be
divided and not sold if it can reasonably be avoided
And in the division any of my children shall
have the liberty of retaining as a part of their share
at valuation any negroes who have been put into
their possession If at the death of my wife my
estate should owe any debts the property may all
be kept together untill they are paid out of the profits
if my executors think proper my executors shall
only account for so much of my perishable estate as
may be on hand at the death of my wife but
every Kind of perishable property then on hand
shall be deemed a part of my estate I release
to any of my children for when[whom] I may here to fore
have paid debts or upon whome should[I hold] any obligation
for the payment of money all claims & demands
are accounted[on account] thereof I appoint my sons John
& Joseph executors of this my last Will & Testament
In witness wher[e]of I have hereunto set my hand
& seal signed sealed published & declared this 30 day
[Will Book Volume F, page 119]
of March [1840] in presence of
O F Long William Norwood Ser. (seal)
H. Webb
Orange County Feb Term 1842
There[Then] was published[presented] in open Court the last Will
& Testament of the Honerable[sic] William Norwood
Decd & upon motion the same was admitted to
probate in common form on the oath of [Dr] O. F. Long
& ordered to be registered in the proper office
Thereupon John W. Norwood & Joseph C. Norwood
Esquires the Executors named in said Will appe[a]red
in Open Court & were qualified as such &
Letters Testamentary wer[e] ordered [to] issue to them
Additional Comments:
Will Book Volume F, pages 116-119
Recorded Feb 1842
Estate Papers comprise 17 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Norwood, William (1842)". There are several passing references in these estate papers to a valuation and divisions and sales of the negroes, but the only specific mention by name is listed above. The documentation on the valuation would be very useful, but it is not found here.
[Estate Papers - Inventory 4 Jun 1842]
Inventory of the personal estate of the late William
Norwood deceased taken by the undersigned his executors
on the 4th of June 1842
[sundry articles omitted]
58 Negroes, viz. Jonas, Anthony, Halifax,
Abram, Joe, Violet, Aggy, Venus, Clarke,
Harrison, Polly, Mariah, Frances, Sally
Jim, Nancy, Jack, Sam, Bill, Beccy
Ann, (Margaret, Lelah, Beccy, Nancy
Julia, (Beccy's Children) Mary, Silvy, Amy
Milly, Warren, Isaac, Fanny, Lucy
Lethy, Isham, Martha Jesse, Tom,
Peggy, Betsy, Judy, Susan, Giny, Bill,
Caroline, Sam, James, Sarah
Isham (Betsy's) Wesley, Andrew (Henry
& Betty ) (Betty's) Catherine, Pasey, An-
derson, Emma