Alexander Kerr (1726-1813) married my first cousin seven times removed, Mary Elizabeth Rice. Alexander wrote his last will and testament on 4 April 1810. The will was proved in the Caswell County, North Carolina, court in January 1814 and an inventory of his estate was conducted on 7 January of that same year.
This post is my monthly contribution to the Slave Name Roll Project.
Will Records, Caswell County, North Carolina
Repository: Caswell County Courthouse
Book F, Pages 387-388
January Court 1814
In the name of God Amen, I Alexander Kerr of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina, being in a state of perfect health and strength both of body and mind, but taking into consideration the shortness and uncertainty of this transitory life and that it is appointed for man once to die, do constitute and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form following first and principally I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, who gave it me and my body I commit to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in a decent Christian burial, at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named, and at the expense of my estate, and as to such worldly goods as it has pleased God to bless me in this life with, I dispose of the same in the following manner impremis,
I give and bequeath to my son John Kerr all the lands that I now own, also my negro woman CATY and her child that is now born with all her increase that she may hereafter have and my feather bed and furniture that is now at his house, and also my wearing apparel to him and his heirs or assigns forever.
Item: I leave my negro man DAVID to be appraised by three men no ways connected with my family, and for my son-in-law George Barker to take him by paying up to the praise value into the hands of my Executors within twelve months from the time he receives said Negro DAVID if it is his choice to take him on them terms, but if not, the said Negro DAVID may have the privilege of choosing which of my other two sons-in-law William Gooch or William Slade he chooses to live with. The one he chooses to live with may have him on the same conditions.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Sally Gooch my feather bed and furniture that is at her house to her or her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Spencer thirty dollars to her or her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susannah Taylor thirty dollars to her or her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Patsy Slade my feather bed and furniture that is at her house to her or her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Frances Barker my feather bed and furniture that is at her house to her or her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath twenty dollars to be equally divided between the four daughters of my deceased daughter Molly Spencer to them their heirs or assigns forever.
Item: I leave my Negro man JAMES to be sold to the highest bidder among my own heirs, or others that he the said Negro JAMES my be willing to serve, but by no means to be sold to any man out of my family that he is not willing to serve, and the month arising from the sale of said Negro James with an addition of forty dollars to be made up out of my estate, I leave to be equally divided among the children of my deceased daughter Betsy Richey or their heirs or assigns forever.
Item: I leave all of the rest of my estate to be sold at twelve months credit to the highest bidder, and the money arising from such sale with all the rest of the money belonging to my estate to be equally divided between my son John Kerr, and the children of my deceased daughter Betsy Richey, and my daughter Sally Gooch, and my daughter Susannah Taylor, and my daughter Nancy Spencer, and my daughter Patsy Slade, and my daughter Frances Barker, to them or their heirs and assigns forever.
Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son John Kerr and my sons-in-law William Gooch and George Barker whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament to be performed, in witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this seventh day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.
Signed, sealed, published and declared in presence of John Henslee and Betsey Henslee
Alexander Kerr (seal)
State of North Carolina
Caswell County January Court 1814
The execution of this will was duly proved in open court by the oaths of John Henslee and Betsey Henslee the two subscribing witnesses there to an ad on motion ordered to be recorded -- at the same time John Kerr and George Barker qualified to execute the same and letters of testamentary issued accordingly.
Test ad Murphey CL
Book F, pages 391-392, Caswell County, North Carolina
Inventory of the estate of Alexander Kerr deceased, taken 7 January 1814
-Two Negro fellows, JAMES and DAVID
-Cash on hand one hundred and sixty dollars and fifty cents
-One note on Joseph Benton for two hundred dollars bearing date 23 December 1812, due 25 December 1813 with a credit of ten dollars
-One note on Jesse Hollis for fifty dollars bearing date 1st January 1812, due 12 months after date with a credit of two dollars and fifty cents
-One note on William Clifton amount twenty dollars bearing date 1 June 1811, due two months after date with credit of two dollars paid 12th July 1812
-One note on George Barker amount fifty dollars, due on demand, bearing date 13 day of July 1812 specifying in its face to be paid without interest
-One note on William Slade amount sixty dollars bearing date 12th September 1812, due on demand
-One note on John Simmons amount fifty dollars bearing date 31st July 1813, due 1st January 1814
-One note on Robert Martin amount twelve dollars bearing date 28th May 1813, due six months after date
-One note on Wylie Yancey amount twenty dollars bearing date 1 October 1812, due one day after date
-One note on James Yancey amount twenty-six dollars
-One feather bed
-Two sheets
-One blanket
-One countersign
-One bolster
-One beadstead
-One large trunk
-One small trunk
-One saddle and bridle
-One chair
-One quart mug
-One chamber pot
-One small table
John Kerr
George Barker
State of North Carolina
Caswell County January Court 1814
The above inventory was duly returned to court on oath by the Executors and on motion ordered to be recorded.
Test
Ad Murphey CL
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Slave Name Roll Project
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