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Mariah Evans, b.abt 1809, was the daughter of Leven &
Kizzie Evans of Halifax County, North Carolina, all of whom were among the
Free People of Color in North Carolina. Leven Evans was in many records in
both Warren & Hallifax Counties first appearing around 1797 where it was
stated that he was "of Warren County", when he purchased 122 acres of land
on Falling Creek in Halifax Co, NC. His wife, Kizzie, whose maiden name is
not currently known, died between 1820 and 1829, when he married again on
December 18, 1829 to Harriet Scott, daughter of John & Peggy Scott of
Halifax County. Mariah Evans' children are identified from her Census, will & estate
records, and from petitions filed by them in 1896 in
Applications to the Dawes Commission.
One of the things of note, is that for whatever reason, her
daughter, Sallie, was not included in Mariah's will & estate, as mentioned
in a statement to the court. Following is the transcription of Mariah's
estate files. |
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MARIAH EVANS
Halifax County,North Carolina
Will Book 6, Page 315
In the name of God Amen, I MARIAH EVANS of the
County of Halifax & State of No. Ca. being of sound mind and memory but
considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make & declare this
to be my last will & testament in manner and form as follows:
Item 1st: I give and bequeath to my son WILLIAM H. EVANS the tract of land
whereon he now resides containing thirty seven & three Quarter acres of Land
to his own use and benefit forever. Further, I give unto my said son WILLIAM
all the personal property that he may have in his possession at the time of
my death to his use and benefit.
Item 2nd. My will & desire is that my executor hereinafter named shall sell
all my personal property of every kinds that are on hand at my death & out
of the proceeds to pay all my personal expenses & all my just debts to
whomsoever owing.
Item 3rd. I give unto MRS. BETTIE CLARK (my daughter) & my Granddaughter,
SUSAN MILLS all the remainder of my lands as well as the remainder of the
proceeds of the personal Estate, to be divided as follows, one half to be
divided between SUSAN MILLS & my Grand Daughter CORA ANN CLARK & the other
half to my Daughter MRS BETTIE CLARK upon condition that they are faithful
to me during my lifetime.
Item 4th. I do hereby nominate my friend JOHN H. SHERRIN to be my Executor
to this my last will & Testament.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this the 6 day June
1881.
MARIAH EVANS (“X” her mark)
Witness:
W. H. JONES
GOODLOE HEDGEBETH (“X” his mark)
State of North Carolina
Halifax County
In the Superior Court 25th October 1883
A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of MARIAH
EVANS, deceased, is exhibited for probate in open Court, by JOHN H. SHEARRIN
the executor therein named and the due execution thereof by the said MARIAH
EVANS is proved by the oath and examination of W. H. JONES and GOODLOE
HEDGEPETH the subscribing witnesses thereto.
It is therefore considered by the Court that the said proper writing and
every party thereof is the last will and testament of the said MARIAH EVANS,
deceased, and it is adjudged that said will is executed with the formalities
requisite to pass both real and personal property. It is ordered that the
same be recorded & filed. And thereupon the said JOHN H. SHEARRIN executor
as aforesaid comes and renounces his right in writing to qualify and on
motion ALFRED RICHARDSON is appointed administrator with the will annexed of
the said MARIAH EVANS decd and is duly qualified as such by taking and
subscribing the oaths required by law.
JOHN T. GREGORY
Clerk Supr Court
& Probate Judge.
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State of North Carolina
To the Sheriff of Halifax County-Greeting:
You are Hereby commanded, to summon W. H. JONES and GOODLOW HEDGEPETH (if to
be found in your County) personally to be and appear before the Clerk of our
Superior Court at the Court House in Halifax on Monday the 8th day of
October 1883, then and there to testify in the matter of the probate of the
Will of MARIA EVANS, late of Halifax County, deceased. Herein fail not.
Witness: JOHN T. GREGORY Clerk of our said Court, at office in Halifax town
on the 3rd day of October A.D. 1883.
JOHN T. GREGORY,Clerk
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SALLIE HAWKINS
Ransom Bridge, NC
A daughter of Testatrix, left out in the cold.
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Halifax County, In the Probate Court
In the matter of the Administration of the Estate of MARIAH EVANS
Before JOHN T. GREGORY, Probate Judge
ALFRED RICHARDSON being sworn doth say: That MARIAH EVANS late of said
County is dead, leaving a last Will and Testament; and JOHN H. SHERRIN the
Executor therein named, has renounced his office of Executor in writing. The
said ALFRED RICHARDSON therefore applies for Letters of Administration with
the Will annexed, and the estate of the said MARIAH EVANS.
Further, that the value of the said estate, so far as can be ascertained at
the date of this application, is about $300.00, and that W. H. EVANS, MRS.
BETTIE CLARK, SUSAN MILLS, CORA ANN CLARK, all reside in Halifax & all full
age except CORA ANN CLARK a minor, without Guardian are entitled as heirs
and distributees thereof.
ALFRED RICHARDSON
Sworn and subscribed before me this 25th day of October 1883.
JOHN T. GREGORY, Probate Judge
(Note by Deloris Williams: All previous published abstracts have
incorrectly transcribed the estimated value as $30,000, but the actual
document reads as above, which is $300.00)
--
Mullen & Moore
Attorneys at Law
Halifax, NC, 188_
North Carolina, In the Probate Court
Halifax County
In the matter of the Will of MARIAH EVANS
The undersigned JOHN H. SHEARIN desiring not to qualify as executor of said
will, we do hereby renounce our right of administration on said estate in
favor of ALFRED RICHARDSON.
JOHN W. SHERINE
JAMES EVINS ("X" his mark)
W. H. EVINS ("X" his mark)
MRS. BETTIE CLARKE ("X" her mark)
Witness: JOHN H. SHEARIN JUR
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Rec'd of ALFRED RICHARDSON the sum of two 60/100 dollars charges inv Will of
MRS. MARIAH EVANS dec'd. Ackn charges.
JOHN T. GREGORY
Clerk Supr. Court
& Probate Judge
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Received of ALFRED RICHARDSON Admr. Ten Dollars and fifty cents in payment
for services rendered MARIAH EVANS.
Nov 21st'83 - D. LUCAS
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MRS. MARIA EVANS
In a/c with W. D. REYNOLDS
1883:
Feby 6 - To 1 t coffee - .15
Apr.12 - To 2 t soda - .20
Apr.20 - To 1 t sugar - .13
May 17 - To goods pr Daughter - 2.98
July 19- To sugar & progoric - .53
Sept 17- To bos. tins & ginger- .50
Sept 17- To 2 bales snuff - .17
Sept 17- To 5 cakes - .05
1884:----------------4.71
Dec.15- To Int. 12 mos. - .28
(Total)-------------$4.99
Recd of ALFRED RICHARDSON, Admr.
The sum of four dollars and 99 cents in full of the above a/c.
T.REYNOLDS
Decr. 16th, 1884
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Halifax Co. & State of NC
An inventory of all the property of the late MARIA EVINS made by ALFRED
RICHARDSON administrator made Nov 1st 1883 to wit:
91 acres of land
12 head of hogs
2 tables
1 rat trap
3 boxes &c
1 book case
5 chairs
lot of hoes
1 bed & sted
1 cart
pot & 1 oven
6 geese
1 tract land containing 8 acres whereon the testatrix lived and known as the
Home Place
1 tract called the "Carlisle tract" known as the Carlisle tract containing
about 38 acres
1 tract called the "Ashe tract" containing about 45 acres
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Halifax Co. NC
Sale of all the personal property in my hands on the 16th November 1883.
G.W. BUFFALO- B'gt at sale
1 red ox - $8.25
1 deep red ox - 8.50
1 white speckled ox - 6.00
1 white spotted red ox -7.75
1 white speckled ox - 5.00
1 yellow ox JOHN CRAWLEY - 7.00
1 yearling G.W. BUFFALO -2.95
1 red cow B. COPELAND - 11.05
1 cow & calf G. L. BUFFALO -7.50
1 large sow, H.J. HEWLING - 3.65
1 small sow MRS. CLARKE - 2.00
2 shoats - MRS. CLARKE - 4.00
2 shoats - ED CARTER - 2.65
(sub-total)--------------$65.30
Forwarded the amt - $65.30
2 shoats G.W. BUFFALO -2.70
2 shoats G.W. BUFFALO - 2.67
3 shoats G.W. BUFFALO - 3.55
5 pigs G.W. BUFFALO - 2.00
1 falling table J. HARDY -4.50
1 small table J.W. BUFFALO - .10
1 rat trap J.W. BUFFALO -.50
2 boxes - G.L. BUFFALO - .10
1 chest -G. HAWKINS - .20
1 book case -G.W. BUFFALO - .30
1 old flax wheel -G.W. BUFFALO - .05
5 chairs- MRS. CLARK - .60
Lot of old hoes G.W. BUFFALO - .15
1 bed sted- L. EVINS -.60
1 bed - COFF RICHARDSON - 13.80
1 cart - MRS. CLARK - 6.50
1 large pot - MRS. CLARK -2.00
1 small pot - MRS. CLARK - 1.25
1 oven -G.W. BUFFALO - 1.30
6 geese -G.W. BUFFALO - 2.28
(Total) -------------$110.45
ALFRED RICHARDSON
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The Settlement of the State of MERRIAH EVINS dec'd.
Paid to THOMAS REYNOLDS 4.99
Paid to LUSCIOUS JOHNSON - 8.93
Paid to W. H. JONES - 3.50
Paid to D. LUCUS - 10.50
Paid for taxes- 6.66
Paid to MR. GREGORY - 2.60
Paid to MR. GREGORY - 1.60
Paid to GOODLOW HEDGEPETH - 3.50
Paid to JOHN RICHARDSON - 7.00
Paid to ANDREW HARDY auctioneering - 2.00
Paid to SUSIE HAWKINS - 11.00
Paid to MRS. BETTIE CLARKE -22.00
(Total) -------------------84.28
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Recd of ALFRED RICHARDSON Exr of MARIAH EVINS Estate
Eleven Dollars - $11.00 to balance her acct
SUSIE HAWKINS ("X" her mark)
Nov 27th 1888
Witness J.D.MOORE
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ALFRED RICHARDSON as Admr of MARIA EVANS dec'd, In a/c with Heirs at law of
said EVANS
In as final account
1890 April 22- Amt bal due Estate - 56.67
Dis. Shares
BETTIE CLARK - 1/2 - 28.34
SUSAN HAWKINS - 1/4 - 14.17
CORA CLARK - 1/4 - 14.16
Total: ------------$56.47
1885 Nov 27 - To amt due BETTIE CLARK - 28.34
By cash pd her - 22.00
Total: ----------6.34
1885 Nov 27 - To amt due SUSAN HAWKINS -$14.17
By cash paid her - 11.00
Total:------------ 3.17
To amt due CORA CLARK - 14.17
Summary bal due by Admr -$23.68
ALFRED RICHARDSON Admr. duly sworn for the foregoing a/c with the Heirs at
law who are entitled under the will of MARIA EVANS and to the funds
remaining in his hands as such Adm. is just & the same is a full & true
exhibit
ALFRED RICHARDSON
Sworn to and subscribed before me
April 22 1890
JOHN T. GREGORY
Clerk Supr Court
The foregoing a/c and settlement appearing to be correct is approved by the
Court & ordered to be recorded & filed
JOHN T.GREGORY CSC
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ESTATE OF MARIAH EVANS
Essex, NC
Feb 18th 1892
We JOHN T. GREGORY
Dear Sir you remember in settling up the estate of MERRIAH EVINS I think
April 1890 there was a balance of twenty two dollars due the estate of which
MR. J.P. TAYLOR became cecurety [sic] too $16.00 of this money goes to CORA
L. CLARKE which now is CORA L. DAVIS one of her grand daughters and the
other part this money goes to BETTIE CLARKE & SUSIE MILLS they have written
to see after the matter for them for CORA I think is of age or else she have
married and her husband will be her gardine [sic]
MRS. BETTIE CLARK live in Oxford, NC and so is CORA L. DAVIS and SUSIE MILLS
I know not when they need this money and ought to have it you will please to
look after the matter at once and give them this money You remember I be
sold the land which was my cecurity as adm. of the estate but it is further
require my attancion [sic] please let me her[sic] from you at once and if
not please settle with MRS. CLARKE address Oxford NC.
Please to oblige yours Respt.
ALFRED RICHARDSON
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