ONSLOW COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Serena (Ward) Snead, Cox, 10 May 1855 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Pauline Mitchell Pierce pollymp@flash.net ==================================================================== Contributor's Note: Serena Ward was the daughter of Seth & Cear (Hadnot) Ward of Onslow County and was born there September 04, 1775, died in Sampson County, NC June 30, 1856. She married first in Onslow County on February 10, 1791 to Thomas Snead born, April 25, 1767 and died September 26, 1812, Wilmington, NC., son of Robert Whitehurst Snead. She married second on August 10, 1817 to William Cox of Onslow Co who died November 10, 1834 in Sampson Co. Ref: Sampson Co, NC Will Book 1, page 487-488-489-490. Serena Cox's Will In the name of God amen- I Serena Cox of the County of Sampson and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind & memory although feeble in Health do make declare & ordain this my last will and testament in manner & form following To wit: It is my will and desire that my Executors here after named shall as soon after my decease as pollible pay off all my just debts of every description. ITEM- I will bequeath to my Granddaughter Serena M. Cox the following negro slaves Viz: Henry, Mariah & Amanda her child & all such children as she may hereafter have also the two carriage horses, with the carriage & Harness- One ylke of oxen & cart - The large dining table and my Gold watch. The said slaves to be to her sole & separate use during her natural life free & clear of any debt or debts of any Husband she may have - And after her death to any children or descendents of her children as she may have living at her death - ITEM - I will & bequeath to my Granddaughter Laura Snead the following negro slaves To wit: Washington, Joanna & Mary and all future increase of said negroes - Also one feather bed, bedstead & furniture - The said slave to be to her sole & separage use during her natural life free & clear from any debt or debts of any Husband she may have and after her death to any children or descendants of her children as she may have living at her death. ITEM - I will & bequeath to my Granddaughter Agnes Snead the following negro slaves To Wit: Daniel, Milla, Lucinda & Miley, Manerva and Randol, her children and all future increase of said negroes - One feather bed & bedstead & furniture, saddle & bridle, one horse - The said slaves are to be to her sole & separate use during her natural life, free & clear from any debt or debts of any husband she may have and after her death to any children or descendants of her children that she may have at her death. ITEM - I will & bequeath to my Granddaughter Catherine Snead the following negro girl To wit: Emma and her future increase. Also one bed, bedstead & furniture also Two hundred dollars in money. The said slaves are to be to her sold & seperate use durning her natural life, free & clear from any debt or debts of any husband she may have - And after her death to any children or descendants of her children she may have living at her death - ITEM - I will & bequeath to my own Granddaughter Ann F. Snead one bed, bedstead & furniture. ITEM - I will & bequeath to my Grandson Walter Snead Two hundred dollars in money also one bed, bedstead & furniture - ITEM - I will & bequeath to my Grandson George Snead the following negro fellow To wit: Lovelace, also one feather bed, bedstead & furniture - ITEM - I will & bequeath to my Grandsons Thomas D. Snead, Charles Snead, Edward Snead, Nathan Snead & Walter Snead and my Grandduaghters Laura Snead & Catherine Snead all my notes due - together with all the rest and residue of my estate, set herein and hereby otherwise disposed of - I do hereby nominate ordain & appoint Nathan Williams my executor to this my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this day of our Lord May 10th 1855 - Interlined before assigned in lines, 13, 20, 29, 32, 36, 37. Serena Cox {seal} In the presence of us Henry Bryan } Josiah H. Bryan } I Serena Cox do make the following addition or codicil to my last will and testament - made the 10th of May 1855 - It is my desire to have a decent coffin & be buried decently & then after my decease for my Executors to get two pair of Lamb stones one for myself and one for my son Franklin Snead and have them fixed to our graves & pay for the same out of what money I may leave - It is also my will & desire that my Executors herein after named, do sell at public sale all such articles as I have not willed already & the amount therefrom arising to be divided among my grnad children. Thos. D. Snead, Chas. H. Snead, Edwd. Snead, Nathan Snead, Walter Snead, Laura Snead & Catherine Snead. And it is also my will and desire that my Grandson's Walter and my granddaughter Catherine to have each one Third more than the other children in the sale of the above property - And I do hereby nominate ordain & appoint my friends Arch d. Monk and Geor. H. Daughtry my Executors to this my last will and testament - In witness where of I have hereunto set my had and seal this eight day of April in the year of our Lord 1856. Serena Cox Signed and acknowledged } in the presence of } R. F. Allen } Uriah N. Westbrook } State of North Carolina } Sampson County } August Term 1856 A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Serena Cox Dec d. is exhibited for probate in open Court by Archibald Monk & Geo. H. Daughtry the executors named therein and the due execution of the will and codicil by the said Serena Cox is proved by the oath & Examination of Josiah H. Bryan, Rufus F. Allen and Uriah N. Westbrook the subscribing witnessess thereto - It is wtherefore considered by the Court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of the said Serena Cox Dec d. and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed, And thereupon the said Archibald Monk and Geo H. Daughtry Executors as aforesaid duly qualify as such by taking the oath required by law - J.R. Beaman? Clk *************************************************************************** Ref: State archives, Raleigh, NC, original records, I have a copy in my personal library. State of North Carolina } In Equity Sampson County } Fall Term 1860 The answer of Archibald Monk and George H. Daughtry, Executors of Serena Cox, Defendants, to the bill of complaint of Blackman Lee, Alexander Benton and John C. Monk, parties under the firm of Lee, Benton, & Monk, Complainants. These Defendants serving & answering say, that they have no knowledge or information of any and indebteness of their codefendant Snead to the complainants and pray that complainants be held to strict proof thereof; they admit said Snead left the State about the time stated in the bill, and they believe he was then indgant; and at the filing of the bill he had no property in this state subject to attachment. They also admit that Serena Cox made her will, and the same was duly admitted to probate and these defendants qualified as executors thereto as stated in the bill. They aslo admit that in and by her said will said Serena bequeathed all her notes due, and all the undisposed of residue of her estate to her grandchildren Thomas D. Snead, the said Charles H. Snead, Edward Snead, Nathan Snead, Walter Snead, Serena Snead, and Catherine Snead equally: and that in and by a codicil to said will, duly executed and admitted to probate, she directed her executor to sell all such articles not disposed of in her will and to divide the proceeds among her said grandchildren, and that "her grandson Walter Snead and her grand daughter Catherine Snead should have each one third more than the other grand children in the sale of said property. These Defts further say that the estate of said Serena is yet unsettled, and they cannot now possibly say what will be the value of said Charles H. Snead under the provision of her will. These Deft further say that to ascertain the value of the said interest of said Charles H. Snead will necessarily involve an account of the whole estate of their testatrix, and they are advised that all of the legatees in said will and more especially all of her grandchildren above named are necessary parties to this bill, and they pray the same benefit of this exception as if they had especially pleaded the same. They submit to any order or decree in the premises which to the Court may seem best, and which will protect them as executors -- and pray to be hence dismissed with their reasonable costs. Geo. Davis sol for Defendants Objection to above answer for not being sworn to or waived - Allmond A. McKay Sol. for Pltss.