transcription of the will of James Massey of Chatham Co. NC, the husband of Jane Poe. The transcription was made by myself and Bonnie Partin of Pittsboro, NC. She is a descendant of Sarah Guin Sugg, daughter of James Massey. I can send you a copy of the original will if you would like to have it. Later I will send you some additional information for Rachel Poe and Rebecca Otts, wives of Jeremiah Guin.

 

Dave

 

 

Trranscription of Massey will:

 

                                    James Massey

                                          Will

 

In the name of God: Amen, I, James Massey of Chat(am)

= am County in the State of North Carolina being of sound mind, me =

= mory and disposition.  Blessed be the Almighty for the same,

but knowing the uncertainty of life & the certainty of death, 

do make, declare and ordain this my last will & testament,

here by revoking and annulling all former wills by me 

or for me made.  Item To the Almighty & omniscient being 

I resign  my Soul in fervent & Strong hope, that his mercy

will look over any transgressions which I have committed

in this life and will extend to promote my everlasting

rest in that which is to come---Secondly.  I give & bequeath unto

my son Thomas Massey his Heirs & assign for ever a negro man

Slave by the name of Ben and a woman named Rachel & her 

increase which four negros he has in his possession ------

Thirdly - I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Sugg  

to her & her Heirs for ever a Certain Negro woman by name Affy

& her increase except Molly who I have already given to

my daughter Margarett Bryan.  and Sam and George the chil

=dren of  said Affy.  It is my desire should be the property of 

Jinny Guin & Alfred Guin my grandchildren and the chil-

=dren of Sarah Sugg above mentioned-------Fourthly ?I, 

give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Pearce  

& her Heirs for ever a certain negro boy named Lewis(?) & a

Negro woman named Nanny & her increase---------

Fifthly --- I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margarett Bry-

= an to her & her Heirs for ever the following negroes (to wit) a man

named Stisny(?) & woman by name Molly (as before mentioned) and her

Increase-------Sixthly --- I give & bequeath unto my daughter

Mary Bryan to her & her Heirs for ever a Negro boy by name,

Jack and the increase of a Negro woman named Sucky (?) ? which

Said negro I gave to said Mary _______ ______ _____ is _____dead ? also I give  to

                                                                                                                              her.

 

Page 2

her the sum of Twenty five Dollars to be paid to her by my executor---

Seventhly ---I give and bequeath to my son Russel Massey 

One negro man named Jesse & a woman named Mary to him

and his Heirs for ever--------Eighthly---It is my desire that all the residue 

of my property ( not yet willed away ) be sold as my executors (which I 

shall hereafter name) may think best----and after my just debts be 

paid I desire that the proceeds of which should be divided as follows

(to wit) To my son Russel Massey I desire that he should receive 

the sum of four hundred Dollars.  Out of said sale should it amount

to that --- and the balance (if any) I desire that it should be equally

divided amongst my four Daughters (to wit) Sarah  Sugg

Eliza Pearce, Polly Bryan and Margarett Bryan-------

 

I do here by nominate and appoint my son Russel Massey

& William Scurlock Executors of this my last Will and Testament

 

     In witness whereof I have hereinto set my hand & affixed

my Seal this 24th day of November One thousand Eight hundred

& seventeen

Signed & Sealed in the presence of                         James Massey  (Seal)

 

Presley George  (______(?))

J. M. Riddle

 

            Chatham County

                        Recorded in Book A

                                            Page 291-92 (?) 93

                                            ____(?) Ragland file

                                                            Stamp or seal?

 

                        James Massey died on Monday night the 8th day of

                        April 1818 at about 11 o?clock of said night.