WILL AND ESTATE
Will of Elizabeth Blackburn, Ashe Co., NC , 1804
In the name of God amen, I Elizabeth Blackburn being a low state of health but perfect sound in mind & memory, thanks be to almighty God for the same and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following, first I doth that all my just dept be paid then I bequeath to my beloved son Edmond Blackburn all my house hold furniture except one bed & warring clothes also I give him one mare one cow and Eveline also.
Also my daughter Salley Blackburn I give one bed and furniture & all my warring clothes also the house in the hands of Barnet (Biden?) I desire to be sold for 12 months credit and the money to be divided between my children to wit: John Blackburn & Levy Blackburn & Salley Blackburn- also I appoint William Greer & Edmond Blackburn executor to which I set my hand and seal this 27 of September 1804
James Persons , Jurat ; David Greer; Elizabeth Blackburn (seal)
The above will was proven in open court in Ashe Co.,NC in Nov. term 1804.
Will of Hamiltom B. Blackburn, Ashe Co.,NC, 1891
In the name of God amen I Hamilton B. Blackburn in the County of Ashe and state of North Carolina being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time hereto fore made and as to my worldly estate and all the property real, personal, or mixed of which I shall die siged and possest, as to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease, I devise, bequeath and dispose thereof in the manner following to wit:
My will is that all my just debts and funeral expenses shall by my executor herein after named be paid out of my estate; as soon after my decease as shall by him be found convenient.
I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth A. Blackburn all my house hold and kitchen furniture during her natural life and to be disposed of at her will. I also give and devise bequeath to her that part or parcel of my lands bounded as follows, begining on a buckeye about thirty feet south ward from my stone house running east with the road four poles to a stake on the north bank of said road thence north 45(degrees) east tow poles to a stake in the road thence up with the road to Grahams line thence north west with (?) line to a chestnut on to of the knob thence west ward with my out side line to William Howels line thence with said Howels line to Elk Creek thence down with the said creek to the buckeye corner of the mill seat tract thence with said mill seat tract to the north east corner of same near the mill thence to the begining including the dwellings (?) and so forth the above described tract of land is to belong to her until my son George W. Blackburn becomes full twenty one years of age after which time one half of said parcel of land is to be for the use of said George W. Blackburn and he is not to have the right to sell and convey but to use and cultivate to be held so that there will be wood and water on both places , but George W. Blackburn place not to include the dwelling house I further decree that if the said Elizabeth A. Blackburn should marry again after my decease, there after all of said lands are to be put to the use of said George W. Blackburn and the proceeds of same and his heirs and assigns forever it is also my purpose to exclude all right of dower as the above in in lieu of the same.
Next I give devise and bequeath to my beloved son William R. Blackburn his heirs and assigns forever a tract or parcel of my lands bounded as follows, begining on a stake on the north bank of said road second (?) of the tract devised to my wife Elizabeth A. Blackburn running eastward with said road crossing a branch to a stake in Hulchers line thence east to said Hulchers line to his corner thence south (?) thence to his corner thence east with the same it being agreed line between me and said Hulcher to a (?) thence south a few poles to the top of the ridge thence with the extreme height of the ridge to (Willey House?) line thence westward with an agreed line between myself and John Blackburn to the road thence with the said road down to the begining containing twenty acres be the same more or less I also bequeath one half of the rents of my store house to the said William R. Blackburn and said William R. Blackburn to pay off and discharge two notes of one hundred dollars each with there interest that I am due J. O. Wilcoxen, he having already had more than the rest.
Next I give devise and bequeath to my dear beloved Francis Graham and Mary Bledsoe and Callie (Sloan?) my interest it being one half of mill and mill property including mill lot to them there heirs and assigns forever.
Next I devise bequeath to my beloved daughter Margaret S. Blackburn the portion of my lands lying on the southwest side of Elk Creek containing about fifteen acres be the same more or less also I include to her tract about one acre and one half of bottom lying between the mill tract and creek between the saw mill and grist mill.
Next I give devise and bequeath to my beloved daughter Cora R. Blackburn a parcel of land containing four acres be the same more or less and include the lower meadow adjoins said Hulchers land on the east road and the north Elk Creek on the south mill lot on the west also another tract it being the remainder of my lands not yet devised, bounded on the south by the south fork of New River on the east William Churches heirs on the North Wiley Howel o the North and William R. Blackburn on the west to her heirs and assigns forever, I also will that all my personal property not herein included be sold at public sale except the sheep and milk cows which I want kept for the use of the family, I bequeath to Andrew Phillips a colt about six months old provided he stay as long as November one thousand eight hundred and ninety two.
And lastly I do nominate and appoint Cicero (Gour?) to be the executor of this my last will and
testament in witness whereof I the said Hamilton B. Blackburn have to this my last will and testament consisting of sheets of paper subscribed by me and affixed my seal the fourteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and ninety one, signed sealed published and declared by the said Hamilton B. Blackburn as and for his last will and testament in the presents of we who at his request and in his presents and in the presents of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses there unto.
Edmund B. Miller, Levi Morphew, Cyrus A. Grant; Hamilton B. Blackburn (seal)
Will of George Howell, Sr., Ashe Co.,NC; 1886
The last will and testament of George Howell,Sr., considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, blessed be Almighty God for this same, do make and publish this my last will & testament in manner and form following that is to say,
1st I give and bequeath to my beloved and only son A.P. Howell all the land which I own and upon which I now live after my decease. I further give and devise to my eldest and only son A.P. Howell his heirs and assigns all that message or tenement situate lying and being in county and state aforesaid together with all my free hold estate whatsoever to hold to him the said A.P. Howell his heirs & assigns forever and I further will that at my decease that all my personal property shall be sold by my executor A.P. Howell and first all my just debts shall be paid and the remainder shall be equally divided between my three daughters, to wit, Bethany Thomas and Ellen Snow and Rhoda Blackburn or their heirs and my granddaughter Laura Ann Chambers and I do hereby appoint the said A.P. Howell my sole executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former will by me made, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date above written signed sealed and published and delivered by the above named George Howell, Sr., To be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names or witnesses in presence of the testator.
Alfred Barker, William Neaves, J.T. Fletcher; George Howell (seal)