Thomas BELL

                   Chatham Wills Extracted by Sue Ashby.Chatham Co. Record of wills (originals) Vol. 2, (1818-1833), pg. 196, 197, 198 (419 printed) NC State Archives film #. C.022.80001 Will of Thomas Bell - 14 May 1827- Proved Nov. 1830 In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Bell of the County of Chatham and State of North Carolina in the seventy third year of my age Being in my common state of helth with my memory sound and intin (intent?) as usual thanks be to god for it and knowing that I must shortly depart this life; do make this my last will and testamint in manner and form as follows. First that all my just debts be paid Secondly. Item I gave and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Bell one negro woman named Sarah also one negro woman Ginney; to her and her heirs and assigns forever and I also do hereby acknowledge that it is my will that she may dispose of them two named negro wimin among her childring as she may think proper in my lifetime or after my death Thirdly I lend unto my beloved wife all the residue of my Estate during her natural life or widdowhood Except what I or my wife have put in the hands of any of our children Fourthly, I have allready given to my son Jonathan Bell the the part of land I allotted for him Fifthly, Item, I gave to my other four sons, to wit Enoch, Thomas Elijah & William Bell all Bells, four fifths of my Land to be Equally divided among them at the death or marriage of my wife Mary Bell Either by lot or sale their choice and I also desire that the named children of my deceased son James Bell viz, Enoch, William, Turner, Charity, Jonathan, Solomon and James Bell, all Bells , may have the other fifth share that was allotted for their deceased Father James Bell to be Equally divided among them as they think proper agreeable to the above Intent hear notice that if any of my children four sons as above mentioned shall settle on any part of my Land by the consent of myself or my wife agreeable to the number of acres? or Boundary given up to him shall be his agreeable to valuation, his own labour excepted. Sixthly, I desire that the residue of my Estate to be equally divided at the marriage of my said wife Mary Bell as follows. I desire the latter of my children to be made Equal with the former in value of the gifts which they have already received which accounts may be found ?? up in this will From this place I disire an Equal division among all my children viz Jonathan Bell Susannah Clark Enoch Bell Thomas Bell Elijah Bell and William Bell Each one Equal share out of seven it being six sevenths. and I also desire that the seventh share that I allotted for my son James Bell deceased may be Equally divided among his six children, to wit, Enoch, William T., Charity, Jonathan, Solomon and James Bell, all Bells I also desire all my negroes belonging to my Estate at home or in the hands of my children to be Equally divided by lot among my above mentioned children, viz Enoch one Equal share out of seven it being six sevenths and I also desire that the seventh share which I allotted for my son James Bell deceased, may be Equally divided among his six named children above and whatever negro or Negroes is or may be put put into the hands of any of my children or in the family called generally or claimed theirs let them be in their lot according to valuation and if any of my children do not like the negroes put in to unto his care; and traded it shall be in his lot according to the ?? of it. I further desire that man and wife shall not be parted both belonging to my family furthermore let it understood that if any of the female negroes in the hands of my children have or may have children after being put into their hands the said negro children born in the case of said Child or Children is held and deemed by me their own property and not to be valued as my Estate with the former and at the division of those Negroes the ballance of my Estate to be equally divided in manner and form as above divided and further more it is my will that if any or other of my above named Children shall die leaving a lawfull Child or Childre
n that the part of my estate belonging to him or her or theirs according to my will which had not fell into his or their possession, shall be equally divided among such Children or Child and if either of my aforesaid Children shall died in a married state leaving no Child nor Children that the property of my Estate belonging to him or them according to my will which had not fell into his or their possession shall be valued in my Estate and equally divided as directed in this article Seventhly and lastly I do hereby constitute appoint and ordain my three younger sons Thomas Bell, Elijah Bell and William Bell or either two of them or either of them Executors to this my last will and Testament and I do hereby disannull and revoke all former wills by me made and acknowledge this and this only to be my last will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the fourteenth day of May A.D one Thousand Eight hundred & twenty seven Test. William Lasater Sr. (Jurat) Isaac Kirby Thomas Bell {Seal} Proved at November Term 1830 by the Oath of Wm. Lasater a subscribing Witness Test Thos. Ragland C.C.C. Lt. Thomas Bell, Patriot, born in 1754 in Varinia. Served and died in Chatham County, North Carolina, in 1830. James and Joseph, sons of Thomas Bell of Chatham Co., North Carolina, married in North Carolina and sold their lands to my ancester, Thomas Bell, and moved to Wilks Co. Georgia,where they are said to have many descendants.Thomas Bell, our ancester, remained in North Carolina. He married Mary Lassiter, daughter of William Lassiter, who left will 1784. He furnished supplies and sons for the Revolution and served himself. (from Eva Bell Barber, D.A.R.) LDS Church Ordinances.( In E- Mail from Janet, said Thomas Bell d. 15 Feb 1827 in Wilkes Co. North Carolina.) I have a paper stateing Elizabeth Bell ( Thomas Bell's Daughter) had a rock fence built around her Fathers grave in Chatham Co. North Carolina. The State Built a Lake over the graveyard in later years. The bodys were moved to anouther grave site. I do not know were.(I have Thomas Bell Last will, He names all his sons , Jonathan, Enoch, Thomas, Elijah, William, and James . James is dead so he names James children, Enoch,William Turner,Charity, Jonathan, Soloman,and James.The only Daughter he list is Susanah Clark.)Acopy of thomas will and a copy of the probate minut book (Ophabs Court ) follow.In the name of God, AmenI, Thomas Bell of the County of Chatham and State of North Carolina in the seventy third year of my age, Being my comman State of health with my memory sound and inline as usual, thanks be to God for it, and knowing that it must shortly do past this life, do make this my last will and Testment in manner and form as follows.First, that all my just debts be paid.Seconaly Item, I give and begueath unto my beloved wife Mary Bell one negro woman named Sarah, also one negro woman Ginney to her, her heirs and ofsprings forever and I also do hereby and acknowlidge that it is my will that she may dispose of them two named negro. Werein or among her children as she may think proper in my life time or after my death.Thirdly, I lend unto my beloved wife all the residue of my Estate during her natural life or widdowhood equaly what I or my wife have put in the hands of any of our children.Fourthly. I have allready given to my Son Jonathan Bell the part of land I allottted for him.Fifthly Item, I give to my other four sons, to wit, Enoch, Thomas, Elijah, & William Bell, all Bells, four fifths of my land to be equally divided among them at the death or marriage of my wife Mary Bell. Either by lot or sale, their choice and I also desir that the named children of my deceased son James Bell, (towit) Enoch, William Turner, Charity, Jonathan, Soloman & James for their deceased father, James Bell to be equaly divided among them as they think proper as agreeable to the above intent here noticethat if any of my children, four sons as above mentions, shall settle on any part of my land by consent of myself or my wife, agreeable to the numer of acres of Boun
dary given up to him, shall be his agreeable to valication, his own labous ercefited.Sixethly. I desire the residue of my estate to be equally divided at the marriage of my said wife Mary Bell as follows, I desire the latter of my children to be made equal with the forming in value of the gifts which they have already recived, which accounts may-be-found ropuse up in this will.From this place, I desire an equal division among all my children(towit) Jonathan Bell, Susanah Clark, Enoch Bell,Thomas Bell, Elijah Bell & William Bell. Each one equal share out of seven, it being six sevents, and I also desire that the seventh were that I accomatte for my son James Bell deceased, may be equally dividedamong his six children.(towit) Enoch, William T.,Charity, Jonathan, Soloman & James Bell, all Bells. I also dedire all my negroes belonging to the estate at home or in the homes of my children to be equally divided by lot among my above mentioned children (towit) Each one equal share out of seven, it being 'six' severnts, and I also desire that the seventh share which I allotted for my son James Bell, deceased, maybe equally divided among his six named children above, and whatsoever negro or negroes is or may be put into the hands of any of my children or in the family called generally or claimed theirs. Let them be in their lot according to valuation, and if any of my children do not like the negro put in his care and trade it, it shall be in his lot accordingto the price of it.I futher desire that man and wife shall not be parted both belonging to my family, furthermore be it understood that if any of the female negroes in the hands of my children have or may have children after being put into their hands the said negro children born in the care of said child or children is held and deamed by me their owm property and not to be valiued as my estate with the formes, and at the division of those negroes the ballance of my estate to be equally divided in man___ and forms as above directed and futhermoreit is my will that if any or eatherof my above named children shall die leaving a lawfull child or children that the part of my estate belonging to him or her or them (according)to my hiare, which had not fell into his, her or their protesion, shall be equally divided among such children or child. and if either of my aforesaid children shall die in a married state leaving no child nor children, that the property of my estate belonging to him or them according to my will which had not fellinto his or their propion shall be valued in my estate and equally divided as directed in this article.Seventhly and Lastly _I do hereby constitulie appoint and ordain my thric youngest Sons, Thomas Bell, ElijahBell and William Bell , or either two of them or either of them Executors to this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby dissennull and revoke all former wills by me made; and acknowlidgethis is this only to be my last Will and Testament, In witnch whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this the fourteenth day of May A.D. One Thousance Eight hundred & twenty seven.Test_William Lasater senS signed Thomas BellIsaac Kirby Chatham County North Term 1830the exceution of the writen last will and Testment was duly proved in open court to be the last of Will and Testment and of the subscreting things ther__ and or dered? to be recorded wherefrom Thomas Bell up on the Executors their names appered in court and was duly qualified.signed Clerk J W Raghan CCCMy note; this Thomas Bell is my ancestor. He was married to Mary Lasater, daughter of Wm. Lasater. Their daughter Susannah Clark was the wife of William Clark, of Chatham. He being the son of Alexander Clark and Phoebe (Jefferson) Clark. Two of the Bell boys married Chapmans. One married a Maughan. If you are of any of this family, let me know. I have much more, information to exchange.