WILL OF THOMAS BROWN
In the Name of God, "Amen"
I, Thomas Brown of the state and county aforesaid being in good health and in sound and disposing mind and memory do make, publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.
1st. I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Lucy Brown, the plantation called Ashwood including the lands on both sides of the North West branch of the Cape Fear River, with all buildings and improvements thereon during her natural life. I give and devise also to my said wife the plantation on the sound called Sedgefield, during her natural life. I also give and devise to my said wife a Negro named Amey, a negro named Clarissa, a boy named Murray, and one fifth part of all the rest and residue of my negroes not hereafter disposed of with all their issue and all my household furniture of every description whatever, and eighteen shares of stock in the Bank of Cape Fear and one fifth part of all my stock of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, to her, her Executors, Administrators and assigns forever.
2nd. I give, devise and bequeath to William Watts Jones, John R. London and John D. Toomer, the following property to wit: The old saw mill tract of land containing one hundred and fifty acres, purchased of Thomas and Benjamin Benbow, the tract of land known by the name of Donahoe's Bluff with the exception of a part hereafter devised to my son Thomas Brown, three acres of land at the mouth of Donahoe's Creek, East side of the River, joining the upper side of the Ashwood tract, also a tract of land containing one hundred and forty acres purchased of Jonathan Smith where Mrs. Oliphant lives, also one hundred and fifty acres back of the land purchased of Jonathan Smith and joining Parker's land, also one hundred and fifty acres of land on Carver Creek purchased of Herbert Taylor known by name of Richard Brown's land, also three hundred acres of land on Carver's Creek purchased of Benjamin and Thomas Benbow all will appear by reference to the deed bearing date the 15th of January 1782, also two hundred acres of land purchased of Matthew Kitchen joining land the property of Jonah Russ, also one hundred and fifty acres of land joining the property of Shade Daniel, as will appear by a patent dated the 5th day of December 1806, also one hundred and fifty acres of land on Maultby's Branch and running up Carver's Creek to the Beaver dam, also one lot of ground in the Town of Wilmington on Market devised by Mrs. Euphemia Dewey to me and my sister Miss Margaret White Brown, also a lot of ground in said town on Market street adjoining the lands aforesaid and purchased of Executors of John Burgwin, deceased, also the part of a lot of ground in the town of Wilmington which I purchased of the heirs of John Burgwin. deceased, being at the corner of Market and Grand street and running along Market street to a point three feet westwardly of the house now occupied by one Simpson, thence southward at right angles with said Market Street fifty feet then westward by a line parallel with Market Street to Second Street, thence northwardly along Second Street fifty feet, to the beginning. Also after the death of my said wife Lucy Brown that part of a tract of land lying and being in the County of New Hanover beginning on the Creek at the yard paling below the house at the mouth of small gulley running with the paling and a row of Lombard Poplar Trees up to the Oven near
Also I give and bequeath to Mary Miller, Thomas Brown, John B. Brown and Lucy Ann Owen, to them and their heirs and assigns forever, after the death of my said wife, Lucy Brown, all that part of my plantation in the County of New Hanover at the Sound on Lee's Creek, which has not been heretofore specifically devised, and such other lands as I may die possessed of, adjoining or near the sound to be divided between them. share and share alike. Also I give, devise and bequeath to my sons Thomas Brown and John B. Brown, to them and their heirs and assigns forever all the rest and residue of my real estate, to be divided between them, share and share alike.
I nominate, constitute and appoint my wife Lucy Brown, Executrix and my sons, Thomas Brown and John B. Brown, Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
Thomas Brown {seal}
Signed, Sealed, and published and declared as for the last Will and Testament of the said Thomas Brown in the presence of us, who have signed our name in the presence of us, who have signed our name in the presence of the Testator and in the presence of each other:
Robert Cochran
Edward B. Dudley
John Wooster
October 30th, 1813
The name of John B. Brown inserted in the last line before the Execution of this Will.
I, Thomas Brown being in sound mind and after mature deliberation wishing to make some alteration in addition in an to my last Will, do annex the following codicil, viz:
The lot of ground in the Town of Wilmington lying between Mr. Lord's and Judge Wright's lot described and given in my above will to my children, Alexander C. Miller and Margaret Miller, I now give and bequeath to my children, John Owen and Lucy Ann Owen, to then and their heirs forever.
Item: As to the division of slaves frequently occasional dissatisfaction and discontent and as the present War may afford the means so suitable to escape from their possessioners, it is my will and desire that no division of my negroes should take place within the space of two years, nor then if my Executors for prudential reasons think proper to defer it.
Item: The house and lot in the Town of Wilmington bounded by Market and Second streets, at present occupied by Simpson and given in my before mentioned Will to John Owen and Lucy Ann Owen, I do now give to my children Alexander C. Miller and Mary Miller to them and their heirs forever.
Signed by my hand and sealed with my seal this the 22nd day of December Anno Domini 1814.
Thomas Brown {seal}
Signed and sealed in the presence of us.
John Smith
J. Gillespie
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Transcribed by Sonya Brown
Source: Recorded in Will Book 2, page 407, et. seq, office of the Clerk of Superior Court, Bladen County, North Carolina.
Copyright 2000, All Rights Reserved
No copies shall be reproduced without consent from rightful owner.
Brown and Mear(e)s of Bladen and Columbus County