Samuel Stanhope HARRIS, MD

                   The Will of Samuel Stanhope Harris
1827 , Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
WILL OF SAMUEL STANHOPE HARRIS
Meck lenburg County:
Record of Wills: 1763-1844 NC
Vol. H, page 159
In the name of God Amen.
I Samuel Stanhope Harris of Harrisburg in the County of Mecklenburg
and State of N. Carolina at present in declining health of body but
possessed of full intellectual power with thankfulness to Almighty
God for his precious blessings do make and ordain this Instrument
whereon 1 am declaring the Instrument of my mind to be my last Will
and Testament I recommend my Soul to the Keeping of Almighty God,
my master hoping assuredly that through the merits of Jesus Christ
our only Savior to be made a partaker of life of everlasting and my
body to the Dust whereof it was made.
I will that all my Just debts Shall be paid as soon as my Executor
shall find Convenient to do So with Justice & propriety I will and
bequeath to my wife MARTHA ANN the tract of land on which I now
live which I purchased from J. F. Gilum including also a Small tract
adjoining thereto which I purchased from Joseph Hunter also a small
tract of land containing about Thirty five Acres on the East Side of
the Charlotte Road joining the lands of D. Towie and others also my
Interest in the tract of land lying on Mastard Creek, Known as the
Carrigan place, joining the lands of Moses Alexander and Others, but
in case of her Marriage at any Subsequent time or death during
widowhood I will that the whole of my land Estate above mentioned
Shall descent in full right & title to my three Daughters SARAH
HARRIET, JANE ESTHER & HENRIETTA LYDIA to be equally
divided among them, and in case any of them Should die without
issue to be equally divided between the Surviving Sisters I do
furthermore bequeath to my wife Martha Ann all the Household &
Kitchen furniture, also my library of books excepting the beds,
bedsteads, & beding, one third of which I will to my wife Martha
Ann the remaining two thirds of the beds bedsteads and beding I
will to my three daughters SARAH H., JANE E. & HENRIETTA L.
to be equally divided as near as may be among them but to be Kept
for the Common use of the family until the distributive Share of each
or any one of them Shall be required.
I do furthermore will to my wife Martha Ann, my Carriage & Harness,
the choice of three Horses out of the whole Stock except the Young
bay horse (Hie) which I will in common to my three daughters.
I will also to my wife Martha Ann the whole of my Stock of Cattle,
Hogs & Sheep attached to the plantation on which I live and also
the Waggon & Gear ploughs Hoes and farming Utensils of every
description.
I will to my wife Martha Ann all my Crop housed or growing.
I will that my old negro Woman Betty shall be Kept and Supported
by the plantation on which I now live during the remainder of her
life.
I will that the whole of my Estate not heretofore Delivered be
equally divided among my three daughters Sarah, Jane, & Henrietta
after the extinguishment of my debts.
I will that my daughters share have a home on the place on which
I now live as long as they may desire it free of charge for board.
I will furthermore that my daughters Sarah H & Jane E.. previous
to their being put ln Possession of their distributive Share of property
aforementioned Shall execute to my Executors an unconditional
Relinquishment or Quit Claim of their right and title to a small tract
or parcel of land lying in Bedford County Tennessee, which land I sold
some years ago for the Sum of Six hundred Dollars Said land having
descended to them by their Mother, she having inherited it from
Esther Alexander, her Mother to whom a large lot of land had been
bequeathed by her Father Col. Caleb Phifer -
I will in order that equal exact Justice may done to all my Children
that the relinquishment aforementioned be made by my Daughters
Sarah Harriet & Esther Jane in as much as a larger Sum of money
obtained through the Mother of my daughter Henrietta, was
expended for the Said common purposes.
I will that if any one of daughters Should die before arriving at
mature age or afterwards without leaving living lawful issue - the
portion of my Estate bequeathed and allotted to her, shall be
equally divided betwixt the Surviving sisters.
I will that my Executors proceed with as much dispatch as may be
expedient to the collection of all claims due me, and apply the funds
arising there from to the extinguishment of my debts except one
note which I hold on W. L. Davidson & Theo. Falls for the Sum of
two Hundred and fifty Seven Dollars & 17 cts dated February 21 1842
and whatever Sum of money may be due for the rent of property in
Tennessee, which note and Sum of money I will and bequeath to the
exclusive use and benefit of my wife Martha Ann, but in case all
other available Claims due her, after having been collected and
applied to the liquidation of my debts Shall fail to be enough to
discharge them all, I will and direct that my wife Martha Ann Shall
pay One half of the Residue of debt outstanding against me and that
my Executors Shall pay the Other half out of the proceeds of the
Common property willed to my Daughters.
I hereby invest my Executors with Authority to manage and dispose
of the property willed to my daughters by hiring or Selling any
portion of it at private or public Sale or in any other way deemed
by them to be most advantageous to the Interest of my Children.
I do hereby Constitute and appoint my brother Charles J. Harris of
Cabarrus Co. & my friend Daniel Parks Esq of Charlotte to execute
t his my last will and Testament  declared signed & Sealed
in the presence of the Subscribing witnesses this 18th January 1844
Wm. McGinnis Edwin Alexander Saml. S. Harris [Seal]
Issue of Samuel Stanhope Harris per will:
1. Sarah Harriet Harris b 1823, m John B. Moore
2. Esther Jane Harris b 11 Feb 1830/d 11 Mar 1879,
m Dr. Lucius S. Bingham (17 Nov 1822-
27 Oct 1871) ___Feb 1849 by Rev. James B. Morrison.
3. Henrietta Lydia Harris b after 1831,
m Robert Newton Caldwell
From Tennessee Tidbits 1778-1914, by Majorie Hood Fischer and Ruth Blake Burns
On 20 December 1840 petition was made by Sarah H. Harris and Esther J. Harris who
are minors and sue their guardian and father, Samuel S. Harris, all citizens of Mecklenburg
County, NC. Samuel S. Harris has sold to Joseph R. McKinley 1/10 part of a tract of
land in Bedford County, TN, belonging to said minors and they want the sale approved.
(Bed TN, Ch Ct Min. 1/219).

The Will of Samuel Stanhope Harris

March 1, 1844 Charlotte Journal MR. SAMUEL S. HARRIS, departed this life on the 20th of January last, in the 48th year of his age. He was the son of DR. CHARLES HARRIS, who enjoyed a professional reputation, to which very few have attained in this country. By him, he was educated for the practice of medicine, in which he engaged in 1819. From that time, until the disease which terminated his career disqualified him for the work, except at intervals, he pursued it, with great diligence, usefulness and popularity. His first settlement was in the County of Cabarrus. In 1832, he moved to Mecklenburg and settled in Sugar Creek Congregation. He had long been a consistent and valuable member of the Presbyterian Church. May the God of the widow and of the orphan be the strength of their hearts and their portion forever.
Dr. Samuel S. Harris buried at Poplar Tent Church Cemetery,
(Concord, Cabarrus County, N.C.); tombstone shows
aged 48 years,6 mos.