One of the earliest wills recorded in Iredell County, North Carolina, is that of William Ireland who signed his will on 26 April 1796. In an interesting provision he bequeaths one of his slaves and that slave's wife and children to the "Pennsylvania Society for the abolishing of Slavery and the relief of free Negroes held in bondage." The Pennsylvania Abolition Society was originally founded in 1775; more information can be found
here.
Here is a transcription of William Ireland's will with those provisions related to his slaves highlighted in red. Digital images of the source documents follow the transcription.
“In
the Name of God: Amen.
I
William Ireland of the county of Iredell, in the State of North_Carolina, being
of sound and disposing Mind, make and ordain this my last Will and Testament,
in manner and form following (To Wit) after all my lawfull Debts and funeral
Charges are paid; I give and bequeath the remainder of my Estate, both real and
personal as underneath___ I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Sarah Ireland,
the one half of all Profits arising from the Sale of Three Hundred Acres of
Land from the Plantation I now live on, taken from the East End of said place
to be separated from the remainder by a Line across said Track at equal
distances from the old Corner of said Land; and also the One half of the Amount
of the Sale of the Track or Entry of Land on the Elk Shoal Creek I purchased
from Matthew Gaston both which parcels of Land I allow to be sold together with
the Still and Still Vessels by my Executors as soon as Circumstances will admit
after my Decease; together with the Right to hold and enjoy and to her only
proper use and behoof forever, all the Profits arising or that may arise from
the Cultivation or Possession of the remainder of all my Lands with their
Improvement and Appurtenances in it's fullest Latitude without Hinderance or
Molestation and that the said Profits so arising may be appropriated by her to
her only proper use and behoof for ever with the right to dispose of, and
bequeath by Will or otherwise at her Death to any Person to whom she may see
fit, but her Right or Property in the same is not to be altered during her
Natural Life. And also the whole of my household Furniture, Vessels of Cookery
and Implements of Husbandry, including the clock, wearing Apparell, Books
&c and also the Profits arising from the use of labour of all my Negroes,
(Bob excepted) as long as she lives; likewise one half of all my live Stock of
horned Cattle, Horses, Sheep and Hogs, ready Cash and outstanding Debts, all of
which as above set forth she is to hold, and apply to her own use and her own
disposal in any manner that, to her may seem meet, and that She be one of the
Executors of this my last Will and Testament &c. I give and bequeath to my
Brother's Son William Ireland, the Negro Boy Bob, reserving nonetheless, the
use and labour of said Negro Bob for my Brother John Ireland as long as he
lives, and then and not till then he is to become the property of said William
&c. I give and bequeath to the Pennsylvania Society for the abolishing of
Slavery and the relief of free Negroes held in bondage_ my Negro Boy named Ben
and his Wife Poll and their Son Luke with all their increase till the decease
of my Wife Sarah to be delivered to the Agent or legal Representative of said
Society at any time when called for after the decease of my Wife, but not
before that period, in order [th]at the said Negroes may have and enjoy the
Benefits intended and designed by said Society &c.
I
give and bequeath to my Brother John Ireland one Dividend or tenth part of the
Profits arising from the Sale of the Land heretofore directed for Sale, and
also that part of my personal Estate not heretofore bequeathed, which I allow
to be sold at my decease, and also the like part or dividend of the remainder
of my Lands, which I allow to be sold at my decease, and also the like part or
dividend of the remainder of my Lands which I allow to be sold at the decease
of my Wife and not before. I give to John Ireland's children, each of them,
male and female one Dividend or tenth part of the Money arising from the Sale
as above (To witt) to James Ireland, One part, to William Ireland one part, To
James Alexander, Husband of Margaret Ireland One party, to Peter Fleming the
Husband of Martha Ireland, one part, to David Ireland One Part, to Andrew
Ireland, One part; to Elijah Mitchel, the Husband of Sarah Ireland, one part, to
John Adams, the Husband of Nancy Ireland, one part, To David Pervinance the
Husband of Mary Ireland one part, and that the same or each of them or their
Heirs or Successors equally share and share alike, agreeable to the true intent
and meaning of the above &c.
And I
do hereby appoint and constitute my Two Friends, in whom I repose Confidence
(to wit) Andrew Morrison and Thomas Morrison jointly with my Wife Sarah already
nominated to be Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
Ratifying
and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament, I hereunto set
my hand and seal in Testimony thereof this 26th Day of April in the
Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred & Ninety Six
William
Irlande {seal}
Signed
and sealed
in
the present of
James
Morrison. Jurat
Henry
Morrison. Jurat”
Source: Iredell County, North Carolina, Wills, 1:3, William Ireland; digital image, FamilySearch.org, "North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970, Iredell, Wills, 1790-1819, Vol. 01," (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19423-124033-68?cc=1867501&wc=10922252 : accessed 22 June 2013)
© 2013 Denise Spurlock, Ancestral Trees Research
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