Will

The following is a transcript of Joel Lane’s will as entered in the Wake County Court records on February 7, 1798. The spellings are as in the original.

In the Name of God Amen I Joel Lane in the County of Wake and
State of North Carolina, being in good health, and of sound and purfect mind and memary but Calling to mind the Certainty of Death, and the uncertainty of the time thereof do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following….

Imprimer, I give and Bequeath unto my Son Henry Lane and his heirs forever all that part of a Tract of Land which Contains Two hundred acres, that lies of the North of Stephen’s Branch adjoining his own Land….
Item I give and Bequeath to my son James Lane his heirs and assigns forever all that part of a Tract of Land which Contains Two hundred acres that lies on the North of Stephens Branch adjoining his own Land…
Item I give and bequeath to my Son William Lane his heirs and assigns forever Six hundred and forty acres of Land lying on the West Side of the mountains, on Harper [sic] River….
Item I give and Bequeath to my son John Lane his heirs and assigns forever three tracts of Land on Beaver Creek VIZ, one purchased of Elizabeth Taylor, one of Benjamin Taylor and one Taken up by myself containing in the hole Sixteen hundred acres, also all my Stock of Cattle and Hoggs, on the Said land, and also the Household and Kitchen furniture and plantation utensils, and the following Negroes VIZ Austen, Peter, Affie, and Clansey and their future increas
Item I give and Bequeath to my son Thomas Lane his heirs and assigns forever, all that part of the Land purchased of Col. Joseph Montforte which Lies west and North of the Town Lands, also all the Land purchased of William Barton and John Blake lying on the West Side of Said Town and including my manor plantation, reserving to my wife as hereafter mentioned, also seventy five acres purchased of Henry Lane North of said L[torn] and also all that part of a tract of Land which Contains Two hundred acres that lies on the South Side of Stephen’s Branch, also three hundred and Twenty acres of Land lying on both sides of Rockey Branch, beginning at a pine on the North Side of Said Branch a Little below the mouth of Silverleaf Branch, also one entry of Land lying on both sides of Rockey Branch, Containing four hundred acres, also one Thousand acres of Land lying West of the mountains on Duck River, being one half of a Tract Containing Two Thousand acres, also the following Negroes VIZ Jim Boy, Jeffry and Cloye and her future Increase….
Item I give and Bequeath to my son Joel Hinton Lane his heirs and assigns forever, all my Land lying East of the Town Land and grassey Branch bounded on the North by my old Lines, on the east by the Land of my son James Lane on the south by the land of Joshua Sugg, and on the west by the aforesaid grassey Branch and the Town Land, Containing by estimation four hundred acres, also five hundred acres of Land lying on both sides of Simmon Branch, also three hundred and Twenty acres of Land lying on both sides of bushey Branch, also one Thousand acres of Land lying West of the mountains on Duck River being one half of a Tract Containing Two Thousand acres as aforesaid, also the following Negroes VIZ Virgil, Hinton and Rose, and her future increase….
Item I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Martha Lane, her heirs and assigns forever the following Negroes VIZ Sam, Phill, Sally Getawney and their future increase, also one Feather bed and furniture
Item I give and Bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Lane her heirs and assigns forever the following negroes Viz, Frederick, Moses, & Kissey, & her future increase also one Feather bed and furniture
Item I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Dolly Lane, her heirs and assigns forever the following Negroes VIZ Davie, Britain and Judy and her future increase also one Feather bed and furniture
Item I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Gresseal Lane her heirs and assigns forever the following Negroes VIZ, Ben Selvey and Beckey and their future increase….
Item I leave to my beloved Wife Mary Lane during her widowhood or until my son Thomas Lane arrives to the age of Twenty one years the use of my manor plantation, and I give and Bequeath to my Loving Wife Mary her heirs and assigns forever Six hundred and forty acres of Land lying on the head Branches of Crab Tree Creek, Ready Creek, and Black creek also two lotts in Averilsborough and all my Lotts and their improvements in the City of Raleigh, and also thirty acres of Land be the same more or less lying between the City and Rockey Branch, and the following Negroes VIZ Will, Old Ned, Jack, old Rose, Vilot Hasty, young Ned, Archer, Cate and Suckey and their future Increase, and all the rest of my Estate real and personal, not in here before bequeathed, Consisting of Horses, Cattle, Hoggs, and Household and Kitchen furniture, plantation utensils, my Crop of all kinds growing on my plantation at the time of my death, all my out Standing Debts, and my money in hand and one sett of Black Smiths tools, out of which she is to pay all my Just Debts, which my Executors hereafter mentioned is to see performed, and for the better support and maintainance of my Children; my Will is that my Wife Mary Lane Keeps these estates together during her Widowhood or untill they respectivly Come to Lawful age or marry, Lastly, I do nominate constitute and appoint my true and trusty friends John Whitaker, Theophilus Hunter Junior, Kimbrough Hinton and my two sons Henry Lane and James Lane Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke and annul all former Wills by me made ratifying and Confirming this and none other to be my Last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I ha [illegible] herewith Set my [torn] and Seal this 22[?] day of Oct. 1794
Signed, sealed and ordered to be the Testators last Will and Testament at the presents of: John Marshall (Jurat)
Archibald Jett
Henry Dillard (Jurat)
Jeane (her + mark) Guffy.
Joel Lane
Wake County, June Sessions 1795: The within last Will and Testament of Joel Lane Esqr. deceased, was duly proved in open Court by the Oath of John Marshall Esqr. and Henry Dillard. Subscribing Witnesses there to and ordered to be recorded. H. Lane. C. C.
Recorded in the Clerks Office in the County of Wake in Book E and page (54) the 7th day of February 1798.
Nathl. Lane. C. C.
Transcription corrected by Belle Long 2012.10.19