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FINAL WORDS

772 Original Wills by Richmond County North Carolina Testators 1779-1915

Transcribed by Myrtle N. Bridges


FINAL WORDS emerges from my search of the wills 
by Richmond County testators now in custody at the 
North Carolina Department of Archives & History in 
Raleigh. The original wills, in the record group 
Secretary of State Wills have been individually 
placed in folders by the name of the testator; they 
are filed alphabetically by testator's name and in 
most cases include dates of probate. There are a 
total of seven hundred and seventy two individual 
wills, dating from 1779 through 1915. All bear 
specific handwritten instructions revealing useful 
information for the genealogist who hopes for 
proof of kinship. 

Each will has been fully and tediously transcribed 
revealing a clear picture of the testator's personality 
as he wrote his final words. The phraseology was at times 
difficult to interpret, as were relationships to the 
testator, when cousin at times meant niece or nephew, and 
son-in-law meant step-son. The same terms were used for 
relatives in former marriages. In some cases a careful 
study of all available resources needs to be made to determine the exact relationship to the testator. 

Inadequate punctuation did create problems; failure to include commas in a list of names, for instance, 
obscures the number of people named; the testator may have had ten children with single names, five with 
double first names, or an assortment. Editorial brackets have been used when necessary. Minor punctuation 
has been added for clarity. Much time was spent in referring to census records to determine exact names 
of family members. Some testators felt no obligation to name all their children or, any of them; elder 
sons and married daughters often were omitted, having received their inheritances during the parents 
lifetime. Sometimes they were found living near their parents, with families of their own.

Most wills were proved in the county where the testator legally resided at death. However, when he or 
she owned land in a different county or state the will was probated in those places also. A testator 
may have changed residence shortly before dying, or might have died while traveling, perhaps leaving 
a will in a place with which there was little known association. Following is list of non-resident 
testators found in the Richmond County, wills: 1782-Richard Adams, Anson Co., NC; 1824-Jacob Anderson, 
Horry, SC; 1905-James T. Bradley, Anson Co., NC; 1900-Berry Bryant, Scotland Co., NC; 1886-Catherine P. 
Breeden, Marlboro Co., SC; 1911-William N. Camp, Ocala, FL; 1898-Mary A. Champlin, Onslow Co., NC; 
1781-John Donaldson, Anson Co., NC; 1809-John Wall Covington, Marlborough Co., SC; 1807-George Dougharty, 
Newberry Distr., SC; 1914-Henry Field Ellinwood, Pembroke, Genesee Co., New York; 1907-David M. Hess, 
Philadelphia PA; 1786-Francis Leak, Anson Co., NC; 1895-Z. H. Lowdermilk, Randolph Co., NC; 1867-Daniel 
McCaskill, Grimes Co., TX; 1869-Malcom McMillan, Robeson Co., NC; 1782-Benjamin Moorman, Anson Co., NC; 
1899-Younger S. Newton, Marlboro Co., SC; 1899-Ann H. Phillips, Moore Co., NC; 1867-Thomas Steel, Thomas 
Co., GA; 1912-Alice M. Webster, Cabarrus Co., NC; and 1911-J. H. Stewart, Mocksville, NC.

A few wills are in nuncupative form; usually a deathbed oral statement to a trusted family member or 
friend. The nuncupative will of Margaret Fairley reads: "That the said Margaret when on her death bed 
told us, whose names are hereunto subscribed, that it was her will and desire that Archibald McBride should 
have hold of her papers, the whole of her stock of cattle & one feather bed & that in her health at all 
times as well as her cash surveys she always expressed this to be her will." Duncan McFarland & John 
McFarland  1794.

Other Reports, the final section, is an assortment of court records found in the folders with certain 
wills providing additional valuable information.

FINAL WORDS contains 690 pages including 44 pages devoted to a comprehensive index with over 6,500 
individual names. This is a perfect companion book for Richmond County Estate Books,I, II & III - Adams-Yoe.		  
								-Myrtle Norton Bridges


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