Washington, D.C.
                                                               Cleveland Park.
                                                               August 11th 1908
My Dear Mary,
	A letter from Maggie, which I received at Norfolk yesterday tells me that you are still very unwell. 
I do wish that I had insisted on your coming with me so that you could have spent a few days at some of the 
sea shore resorts and get the benefit of the sea bathing and change of food and air which is so beneficial 
to people who are so run down from such hot weather in our Southern sun. The air at Virginia Beach is bracing 
and invigorating, and I must think it would have been the very thing to restore you to full health again. 
Bessie keeps saying that she would like so much to have you and Maggie here with her where we could take 
round trip jaunts to any of these resorts and spend from ten to fifteen days with but very little cost. The 
very little time I spent at Va. Beach has almost made a new man of me and I must think that it would have 
the same affect on you. (I don't mean to make a man of you, but it would improve your health as much as it 
has mine.) 

I have written before this that I have been troubled with something like dysentary since I left, but the 
short stay at Va. Beach breathing the invigorating atmosphere relieved me completely in a few hours and 
got me so I could eat cantaloupe, fresh fish & lamb with mint sause without fear of return of the trouble. 
I came up from Norfork last night on a boat and slept soundly without any symptom of it. We got off the 
boat this morning and came directly to Cleveland Park without any loss of time, where we found Mr. Ellis & 
children all well with a nice hot breakfast waiting for us which we enjoyed very much. Mr. Ellis looks very 
well and expressed himself as being very happy at the return of his wife.

I am thinking of taking a trip to Portland, Maine, (a round trip) on the fine steamer which will keep me out 
on sea about a full week coming and going and remain at Portland only a few days which would give me all the 
advantage of the sea air and food that I could get at the sea shore resorts at about one half the cost, and 
maybe give me a severe puking, which I would not get if I stayed on land.

The only objection I would have to this sea trip would be that it would keep me away from home a little 
longer, and Mr. Ellis might not be willing for Bessie to go with me. The further North I get, I find that 
my valet, Mack Monroe, gets less and less useful to me, as they do not seem to have any place for a Negro, 
and he meets with rebuffs on all hands from white people, especially from those employed as servants. If I 
were to go on this trip to Portland Me. I should leave Mack with Mr. Ellis until I returned, and take Bessie 
and Virginia with me. The thing I hate worse about it as far as you are all concerned at home is the fact 
that you will be made later in taking your trip for your health. If I take this Portland trip, I may not be 
back home before the 25th. 

Please tell Allston to push the gin house with all the power he has, and try and complete it before we 
commence picking cotton, if possible. I wrote to John M. Liles to build the drum that we have been talking 
about. I saw him as I came through Hamlet and had a talk about it, and he told me that he could build the 
most complete one I have ever had as they have all the necessary machinery and he is a good mechanic, and 
can make all joints perfect. Please have Allston to give him the exact measurement of the drum and shaft, 
length and sides, and if necessary send to Hamlet and bring him out to the gin house and let him take 
measurements himself.

Please get somebody to take the lead in the building of the gin house while Mr. Thompson could have a few 
hands perhaps out at the saw-mill to cut what lumber we need to do the building. 

I did want to return home by the 20th, but if I take the trip I am thinking of it may delay my return longer. 
Tell Allston to get somebody to take the lead in the gin-house work in framing it. Mr. Austin would perhaps 
be the best - he or Mr. Liles one, then you have Mr. R. C. Cole, K. D. Grant or some other good workman about 
Hamlet that you might pick up. I will make provision to pay off the workmen every Saturday night if they so 
desire it. I will write to Mr. Parsons to honor his drafts for this purpose should he need more than the $100 
I sent before I return, which will be by the 25th or earlier.

Bessie has concluded not to come back with me, but wait until later as her health is not good, perhaps about 
October. I shall be obliged to come back to Baltimore about 1st October, if not to New York, to lay in a few 
goods for my Fall trade. 

If you think you are about to be broken down, go to Ellerbe Springs for a few days, as it will benefit you 
a great deal to get away from the routine you are doing there. I stopped in Richmond as I came through and 
had Mr. Forbes to recommend a lawyer to me, and had a paper prepared and executed and it is now in the hands 
of Mr. Forbes, which will insure you and Maggie a comfortable support during life. Please, Dear Mary, look 
closely after the wants of my wife, and don't let her ways and objections affect you and Maggie in looking 
after her, even if she does not wish it, look after her anyway and contribute as much as you both can and 
keep her in a good humor if you possibly can, and recollect if she behaves like a child that she is nearly 
85 years old. My best love to her. Please give my love to all my friends, Allston and family, yourself and 
Maggie and remember me to all kindness to labor for me, black and white, and feel kindly to me and are faithful. 
                                                                 Lovingly your friend, J.H.W.

North Carolina, Richmond County - Superior Court. John Williamson Lide being sworn, doth say that John 
Hancock Williamson, late of said County, is dead, having first made & published his last will & testament; 
and that John Williamson Lide is the executor named therein. Further, that the property of said John 
Hancock Williamson consisting of real and personal property is worth about $100,000.00 so far as can 
be ascertained at the date of this application; and that Bessie W. Ellis, Maggie A. Lide, Mary A. Lide, 
Emily Lee, Arthur N. Williamson, Emma House, Carrie Mae Pegues, John Scott Williamson, J. R. Satterfield, 
W. J. Evans, W. S. Forbes, Charles Nathan Williamson, Trustee for Donovan Williamson, Lizzie Yougene, Trustee, 
Maggie A. Lide and Mary A. Lide, Trustees, John Williamson Lide are the parties entitled under said will to 
the said property. (signed) John Williamson Lide. Sworn to & subscribed the 16th of Feby 1911 T. L. Covington, CSC.

State of North Carolina - Commission to take deposition. To W. S. Hall, Jr. Greeting: We, reposing special 
trust and confidence in your integrity, do authorize and empower you to cause Mrs. T. J. Dill to appear 
before you at such time and place as you may appoint, and the said Mrs. T. J. Dill on oath to examine 
touching all such matters and things as she shall know of, and concerning a certain matter of controversy 
in regard to the will of J. H. Williamson, deceased, in our Superior Court of the County of Richmond pending, 
wherein W. J. Tolar, A. G. Tolar, A. L. Tolar, Hattie I. Tolar, John B. Tolar, Elden Tolar, Ruth Tolar, Claude 
Newberry, Gladys Newberry, Eva Byrne, Stella Byrne, Oneida Byrne, Mattie Byrne, J. F. Byrne, A. E. Byrne, 
Thomas Williamson, Nathan Williamson et al caveators, and John Williamson Lide, Executor, and others 
propounders. And the deposition in writing, by you so taken, the same to transmit, sealed and with your seal, 
to a term of our Superior Court, to be held for the County, on the [blank]. Witness, Thos. L. Covington, 
Clerk of said Court, at office in Rockingham, N.C. the 11th day of November, A.D. 1911. Thos. L. Covington, 
Clerk Superior Court. [This deposition was not located.]

State of Alabama, County of Dallas. Pursuant to the annexed commission, directing the undersigned commissioner 
to take the depositions of Miss Annie L. Alison, Mrs. Margaret L. Lee, Isabelle Youngblood, Mary B. Youngblood, 
A. M. Lee Johnson, Harriet E. Lee, Alice Lee, Clara Lee and Elizabeth Susan Lee, to be read in evidence in the 
matter now pending in the Superior Court of Richmond County, State of North Carolina, in regard to the caveat 
filed to the will of J. H. Williamson, deceased, in which W. J. Tolar and others are caveators, and John 
Williamson Lide, the executor, and others, are the propounders of said will, at the residence of Miss Annie 
L. Alison near the Town of Minter, Alabama, at 12 o'clock noon, December 28th 1911, there being present 
J. H. McLean of counsel for the propounders, and the caveators not being represented, I proceeded to examine 
Annie L. Alison, Mrs. Margaret L. Lee, Isabelle Youngblood, Mary B. Youngblood, A. M. Lee Johnson, Harriet E. 
Lee, Alice Lee, Clara Lee and Elizabeth Susan Lee, who being by me first duly sworn, depose as follows, to 
wit:-

Deposition of Annie L. Alison:
What is your name & age?  
My name is Annie L. Alison. I was 80 years old  last March.
What is your residence? Carlowville near Minter, Alabama.
Do you know John Williamson Lide? I knew him as an infant and up to when he was ten years of age, and have 
seen him twice since he was grown.
Did you know his mother? Yes, she was my first cousin.
What was her name? Mary Allston Lide.
Is his mother now living? No.
Did you know his father? Yes.
What was his name? Samuel W. Lide.
How did you know that Mary Allston Lide was the mother of John Williamson Lide?
I visited the home of Samuel W. and Mary Allston Lide before John Williamson Lide was born, and also after 
he was born and when he was quite a young infant. He was then represented to me as their twelfth child. His 
mother brought him as her child to visit at my home when he was quite a young infant. I knew him as the child 
of Samuel W. Lide and Mary Allston Lide until he was ten years of age when they moved from the State. He was 
generally known in the community in which he was born as the child of Samuel W. Lide and Mary Allston Lide.
Do you know where he was born?
He was born very near where I live in Carlowville, Ala.
Were Samuel W. Lide and Mary Allston Lide living together as husband and wife at the time John Williamson 
Lide was born. Yes, they lived together as husband and wife from their marriage to the time of the death 
of Samuel W. Lide.
Do you know Misses Maggie A. and Mary A. Lide? Yes.
What relation are they to John Williamson Lide? They are his sisters.
Did you know Dr. J. H. Williamson? Yes.
What relation was John Williamson Lide to Dr. J. H. Williamson? No relation at all.
Did you know Dr. Williamson's wife? Yes.
What were the relations and feelings existing between the family of Dr. J. H. Williamson and that of Samuel 
W. Lide?
Intimate friendship. Dr. Williamson was the family physician of Samuel W. Lide.
What were the relations and feelings existing between Mrs. J. H. Williamson and Maggie A. and Mary Lide? 
They were the warmest of friends. Mrs. Williamson seemed to be very much attached to them. She would 
very often send for them and have them spend several days at her home.
And further the deponent saith not. (signed) Annie L. Alison.

Deposition of Mrs. Margaret L. Lee:
What is your name and age? My name is Margaret L. Lee. I am 78 years old.
What is your residence? Carlowville, near Minter, Alabama.
Do you know John Williamson Lide? Yes.
How long have you known him?
I have known him since he was an infant and saw him frequently until he was ten years of age; since then 
I have seen him twice when he was on visits to my home.
Did you know his mother? Yes.
What relation was she to you? She was my first cousin.
What was her name? Mary Allston Lide.
Is she now living? No.
Did you know his father?  If so, what was his name? 
Yes, his name was Samuel W. Lide.
How do you know that Mary Allston Lide was the mother of John Williamson Lide?
Mary Allston Lide visited my home quite often and brought him with her as her child. It was generally 
known and believed in the community in which he was born and lived that he was the son of Samuel W. Lide 
and Mary Allston Lide.
Where was he born? At Carlowville, Alabama, near where I live.
Were Samuel W. Lide & Mary Allston Lide living together as husband & wife at the time John Williamson 
Lide was born? 
Yes, and during the whole period of their marriage.
What relation was John Williamson Lide to Dr. J. H. Williamson? None whatever.
What were the relations and feelings existing between Dr. J. H. Williamson and Samuel W. Lide? 
They were close friends, and Dr. Williamson was the family physician.
And further the deponent saith not. (signed) Margaret L. Lee.

Deposition of Mrs. Isabelle Youngblood:
What is your name and age? My name is Isabelle Youngblood, I am 62 years of age.
What is your residence? Carlowville near Minter, Alabama. 
Did you know John Williamson Lide's father? If so, what was his name?
Yes. I knew him as Mr. Sam Lide.
What were the relations and feelings existing between Dr. J. H. Williamson and Mr. Sam Lide? They were 
on most friendly terms, intimate friends. Dr. Williamson was Mr. Lide's family physician. 
What were the relations and feelings existing between Mrs. J. H. Williamson and Maggie A. & Mary A. Lide? 
They were very friendly and were together a great deal. Misses Maggie A. &  Mary A. Lide visited her home 
quite often and spent considerable time with her in her home. 
And further this deponent saith not. (signed) Mrs. Isabelle Youngblood.

Deposition of Miss Mary B. Youngblood:
What is your name and age? 
My name is Miss Mary B. Youngblood, I am 71 years of age.
What is your residence? Carlowville near Minter, Alabama. 
Did you know John Williamson Lide, and if so, how long have you known him?
Yes, I have known him since infancy.
[All further questions and answers identical to above.]  (signed) Mary B. Youngblood.

Deposition of Mrs. A. M. Lee Johnson:
What is your name and age? 
My name is Mrs. A. M. Lee Johnson. I am 68 years of age. 
What is your residence? Carlowville near Minter, Alabama.
Do you know Misses Maggie A. & Mary A. Lide? 
Yes, intimately, we were school mates.
What relation are they to John Williamson Lide? 
They are his sisters. They are his two oldest sisters.
Did you know Dr. J. H. Williamson and his wife? I knew them well.
What were the relations and feelings existing between Mrs. J. H. Williamson and Misses Maggie A. and 
Mary A. Lide? They were very friendly.
And further this deponent saith not. (signed) Mrs. A. M. Lee Johnson.

[The depositions of Harriett Elizabeth Lee, aged 85, and Miss Alice Lee, aged 67, & Miss Clara Lee, 65, 
all residents of Carlowville, near Minter Alabama contain identical questions and answers as above depositions.] 

Deposition of Elizabeth Susan Lee:
What is your name and age? My name is Elizabeth Susan Lee. I am 61 years of age.
What is your residence? Schuster, Wilcox County, Alabama.
Do you know John Williamson Lide, and if so, how long have you known him?
I knew him as an infant and a child.
Did you know his father and mother, and if so, what were their names?
I knew them well. Their names were Mary Lide and Samuel Lide.
How did you know that John Williamson Lide was the son of Mary Lide &  Samuel Lide? I never heard anything 
else. He was generally known as their child.
Where was he born? In Carlowville, Ala. very near where I lived at that time.
Do you know Misses Maggie A. &  Mary A. Lide, if so, what relation are they to John Williamson Lide? I know 
them well. They are his oldest sisters. 
And further deponent saith not. (signed) Elizabeth Susan Lee.

State of Alabama, County of Dallas, Pursuant to the annexed commission & notice directing the undersigned 
commissioner to take the deposition of Mrs. C. W. Lide at the residence of Miss Annie L. Alison near the 
Town of Minter, Alabama, at 12 o'clock noon, December 28th 1911, to be read in evidence in the matter now 
pending in the Superior Court of Richmond County, State of North Carolina, in regard to the caveat filed 
to the will of J. H. Williamson, dec'd, in which W. J. Tolar and others are caveators, and John Williamson 
Lide, Executor, and others are the propounders of said will, and pursuant to adjournment from the said 
residence of Miss Annie L. Alison to the residence of Mrs. C. W. Lide near the Town of Sardis, Alabama, 
said adjournment being made on account of the physical condition of Mrs. C. W. Lide, I proceeded, at the 
residence of Mrs. C. W. Lide at 10:30 o'clock A. M. December 29th 1911 there being present J. H. McLean 
of counsel for the propounders, and the cav-eators not being represented to examine Mrs. C. W. Lide, 
who being by me first duly sworn, deposes as follows, to wit:-

Depostition of Carolina W. Lide:
What is your name and age? My name is Caroline W. Lide. I am 75 years of age.
What is your residence? Sardis, Alabama.
Do you know John Williamson Lide? Yes.
How long have you known him? Ever since he was a few hours old.
Did you know his mother and if so, what was her name?
I knew his mother very intimately, and her name was Mary Allston Lide.
How do you know that John Williamson Lide is the son of Mary Allston Lide? 
I knew his mother and knew her condition just before the child was born, and was at her home a few hours 
after he was born and saw both mother and child. He has always been known as her child, and I have never 
heard the fact disputed that he was her child.
Where was John Williamson Lide born? Right in Carlowville, Alabama.
Where were you living at the time of his birth? 
About a quarter of a mile from where he was born and in an easy walking distance of the place, and was 
there frequently.
Did you know his father, and if so, what was his name?
I knew him. His name was Samuel W. Lide.
Were Mary Allston Lide and Samuel W. Lide living together as husband and wife at the time John Williamson 
Lide was born?
Yes, they lived together as husband and wife as long as I knew them.
Do you know Maggie A. and Mary A. Lide? Yes, I know them both.
What relation are they to John Williamson Lide? They are his sisters.
Did you know Dr. J. H. Williamson and his wife? I knew them both.
Where were they living when you knew them?
About three quarters of a mile from Carlowville, Alabama.
Did you know the relations and feelings existing between Dr. J. H. Williamson and the family of Samuel Lide? 
He as their family physician and a friend of the family.
Did you ever see Maggie A. & Mary A. Lide in company with Mrs. J. H. Williamson, and if so, what appeared 
to be the relations and feelings existing between them?
I saw them frequently together and they always appeared to be very friendly.
What relation are you to John Williamson Lide?
I am no blood relation; I am his aunt by marriage.
And further this deponent saith not. (signed) Caroline W. Lide.

North Carolina, Richmond County. A. J. Toler in behalf of himself and the other heirs at law of J. H. 
Williamson vs. Mary Lyde, Mag Lyde, John. W. Lyde & Emma Lee.

S. B. Bosworth being duly sworn deposes and says:
I have known Dr. Williamson for 25 years or more, In my first acquaintance with Dr. Williamson he was a 
man of normal brain & physical powers. I moved to Chesterfield County, South Carolina in about 1900; 
moved back in 1908, and lived with Dr. Williamson until 1911. In business affairs he was not at all 
like he was before I went to Chesterfield, especially mentally; was the reason I left his farm. He 
would promise to do a thing at one time, then maybe he would in an hour thereafter swear he had not 
promised to do the thing in question. 
Do you know Mary and Maggie Lyde?
I have known Mary about eighteen or twenty years. During the principal part of this time she has lived 
in the same house with Dr. J. H. Williamson. Mag has been here for a number of years, not so long as Mary, 
however. She too has been living in the same house with Dr. Williamson, also when in South Carolina. I have 
seen Mag and I think Mary also, in company with Dr. Williamson, about the grove and in the garden at the 
J. H. Williamson home place, and in their strolls they would have their arms locked one with the other. 
I have been on the place continuously almost, and the conduct above referred to was since Mrs. Williamson 
bercame disaabled. At various times I have been to Dr. Williamsons home place and gone into his room on 
business; sometimes I would see one and then the other of the Lyde women in the Dr's room, apparently 
without any business. They would usually leave when I entered the Dr.'s room. At all times of the day I 
have been to the house and called for the Doctor, I never at any time saw Dr. Williamson come from Mrs. 
Williamson's room, but after he would come from his own room, the Lyde women being in the room with him, 
and sometimes he would come when thus called for from the room of one or the other of the Lyde women. From 
what I have observed about the farm I am of the opinion that the Lyde women exerted a great influence over 
the acts and conduct of Dr. J. H. Williamson. (signed) S. B. Bosworth (x his mark) Sworn to and subscribed 
before me this 9th of March 1911. F. T. Bennett, Notary Public for Cumberland County, N.C. My commission 
expires January 12, 1913.

Kenneth D. Grant being duly sworn deposes and says:
I have known J. H. Williamson for 25 years. Have known him well for about 18 years. Dr. Williamson and I 
have always been on good terms. About four years ago he sent for me to come down and see him about building 
a cotton shed. The proposed shed was to be 12 feet high, 14 ft. wide, and 210 feet long. He asked me how 
much I would charge to build same. I told him I would have to study about it before answering him as to 
the price. "You can afford to build this shed for $12.00." He was not jesting, but was in earnest. He 
showed me where he wanted the shed. It was in the grove. I said, "You will have to dig up some of your 
trees." He said, "Oh, no, you have enough knowledge to build this shed without digging up any of my trees." 
In this connection I suggested that he did not have sufficient weather boarding to build the shed. He said, 
"Ah, I have a lot of good logging, we can weatherboard it with that." I have fixed houses for Dr. J. H. 
Williamson lots of times; sometimes he would have us to move a house, fix it up, and then decide that he 
wanted it turned around on the pillars, built up higher, and the like. He would sometimes move a house 
from one place, then soon thereafter would move the house back to the same place from where it was first 
moved. He has moved his smoke house three times in one week. He said to me last fall, that he wanted me 
to come over and build some for him, that he wanted twenty-five houses built. All these were to be built 
in the woods, out on the sand hills. He said he was going to put tenants out in those houses and make a 
bale of cotton to the acre this year on that land, and it in the woods.

On one occasion I was at Dr. J. H. Williamson's place, he and Miss Emma Lide came from out of the woods, 
claiming to have been off hunting turkey nests. It was dark when they came in. Mrs. Williamson said, 
"Dr., you had better take the lantern the next time you go to hunt turkey nests." On each time Dr. 
Williamson was ridiculed for selling whiskey I was summoned as a witness against him. I did not come 
because I was unwilling to testify against him. I preferred to pay a fine, if I had to do so, rather 
than testify against him. Every time I have been in Dr. Williamson's company for the past two years, 
I would see some actions that would make me believe that he was not well balanced as he had been in 
years before. From all I have seen and observed of Dr. J. H. Williamson for the past two or three years 
most especially, I am satisfied that he did not know the nature, extent and consequence of his acts. 
(signed) K. D. Grant. Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 10th day of March 1911. F. T. Bennett, 
Notary Public for Cumberland County. My commission expires the 12th day of January 1913.

Mack Monroe being duly sworn deposes and says:
I have known Dr. Williamson for about twelve years. During the first six years of the time I have know 
Dr. Williamson he was a sound and hardy man. I moved away and lived on Dr. Everett's place during 1907,
'08 and '09. Dr. Everett's place was about two miles from Dr. Williamson's place. I moved back in January 
1910. While I was away I think about 1908 or '09 Dr. Williamson lost control of himself and would often get 
in bad shape. He, Dr. Williamson, kept after me to move back to take care of him. Finally I did move back. 
I was attending to Dr. Williamson at the time of his death, and had been for more than a year prior to his 
death, having gone back to his place in January 1910. He would sometimes (very often) drive away without 
his grip when called off to see a patient. In April 1910 he went to my house on a call and did as above 
stated. During the year 1910 and up until his death, I stayed with Dr. Williamson in his room, (220) nights. 
Very often the Lide woman would refuse to give the Dr. good wholesome rations, and then he would not eat 
anything almost. One time he ate an old muffin that had been lying in his room for over two weeks. Often 
I have been to Dr. Williamson's room and found the Lide woman in there. Sometimes he would be crying, 
though this was not the usual thing. I have noticed his crying more since his wife died, certainly for 
the past six months. I have often heard Miss Maggie Lide say to Dr. Williamson in a harsh tone, "...py, 
you don't give us much of your time like you used to do." At a great many times I have been to Dr. 
Williamson's room would find one or the other of the Lide women in the room with the Dr. The door would 
always be fastened when I would find these women in the Dr's room. I would find things as above stated 
almost every week. The bed would most usually, in fact all the time be mashed, on such occasions. On one 
occasion Mrs. Williamson told me that the Dr. had been giving his attention to the Lide women for 40 years. 
I asked the Dr. once, "What kin are the Lide women to you?" He said, "None, but I am under 
some obligation to them." I did not ask any further questions. Mrs. Williamson needed some clothes, and 
I asked the Dr. for some money to get the cloth as Mrs. Williamson had asked me to do. Miss Mag said, "You 
don't need any money." "What is the use to buy dead people any clothes?" The Dr. said he would 
get the money from Miss Maggie, but he did not. I got the clothes myself. 

Almost every day he would have me to rearrange the furniture in his room. He had me to dig up shade 
trees in the grove about the house, which he had often admired, and had said that he would not take an 
hundred dollars for them. He would often have all the chickens about the place caught and shut up. He 
would keep them shut up for two or three days, then turn them out, and have them caught again. He tore 
out the roosts from his chicken house, put in a concrete floor, and  proceeded to put wall paper on the 
inside of the chicken house. He wanted to put a family in one end of the house and have his chickens in 
the other. He said, "Do you reckon a car load of bricks will be sufficient to fix the chicken house?"

Dr. Williamson would promise to do something, then would forget having promised to do the thing, swearing 
that he had not promised to do any such thing. He often spoke of his condition saying that he did not know 
what he was about, and that he would have to have a guardian appointed. He told the Lide Women that he 
needed a guardian. When the Dr. was away from home out of the presence of those women he would be almost 
alright, but when he got back he would get an unsettled way, being terribly dissatisfied.

Miss Bessie Ellis used to come down, and would stay a while, and everything was very agreeable, but of late 
years, especially last year, the last time Mrs. Ellis was here, Dr. Williamson was so different toward her 
from the way he had formerly been that, she told the Dr., "What in the world is the trouble with you? You 
have treated me in such a manner that I shall never come again." She said to me, "What is the matter with 
him? Is he crazy?" I heard J. W. Lide and Henry Watson whispering about what road to go with a will. The 
reason was they did not want to meet Mr. Bennett. (signed) Mack Monroe. Sworn to and subscribed before me 
this the 10th day of March 1911. F. T. Bennett, Notary Public for Cumberland County. My commission expires 
the 12th day of January 1913.

State of North Carolina, Richmond County - In the Superior Court. To the Sheriff of Richmond County, 
Greeting: You are hereby commanded to summon Mack Monroe, G. S. Bosworth, J. T. Diggs, Lucinda Hamilton, 
Kenneth Grant, Francis Sweeny, John W. Parker, G. W. Sweeny, W. J. Evans, Isaac Sweeny, J. A. Harrington, 
W. K. Diggs, H. J. Rogers, J. H. Dees. E. H. Roper & E. B. Brigman (if to be found in your county) personally 
to be and appear before His Honor, the Judge of our Superior Court, at a Court to be held at the courthouse 
in Rockingham on the 3rd Jany 1912, Wednesday next, then and there to testify in behalf of the caveators in 
a certain matter pending wherein the will of Dr., J. H. Williamson is contested. Herein fail not at your 
peril. Issued this 2nd day of January, 1912. Thos. L. Covington, Clk of Superior Court. 

North Carolina, Richmond County - In the Superior Court. In the matter of the last will and testament of 
John Hancock Williamson, deceased. To Bessie W. Ellis of Washington, D.C.; Maggie Lide and Mary A. Lide 
of Richmond County, N.C.; Emily Lee of Alabama; Arthur N. Williamson; Emma House of Edgecomb County, North 
Carolina; Carrie May Pegues of So. Carolina; John Scott Williamson of Texas; J. R. Satterfield of Alabama; 
W. J. Evans; W. S. Forbes of Virginia; Charles Nathan Williamson, Trustee for Donovan Williamson; Donovan 
Williamson; Mary & Maggie Lide, Trustees for Lide Etheredge; Lide Etheredge; Virginia Ellis; Lizzie Yougene; 
John W. Lide; Lizzie Yougene, Trustee: B. A. Lide, Guardian for Lide Etheredge. You and each of you, as 
persons interested in the estate of the late John Hancock Williamson, are hereby notified that W. J. Tolar 
and others haaving filed the bond required by law, and the case having been transferred to the Superior 
Court, for trial at term, you will appear at the Court House in the Town of Rockingham, Richmond County, 
N.C. on the 8th day of April 1912, in the Superior Court, and make yourselved parties to the said proceeding 
if you choose so to do. This the 5th day of February 1912. Thomas L. Covington Clerk of Superior Court for 
Richmond Co.

North Carolina, Richmond County - In the Superior Court. J. H. Williamson being duly sworn, doth say that 
Phebe Williamson, late of said County, is dead, having first made and published her last will and testament; 
and that J. H. Williamson is the executor named therein. Further, that the property of the said Phebe 
Williamson consisting of real property (land) is worth (doesn't know), so far as can be ascertained at 
the date of this application, and that he is the party entitled under said will to the said property. 
(signed) J. H. Williamson. Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 23rd day of November 1910. Thos. L.
Covington, Clerk Superior Court. 

Read wills of John H. & Phebe Williamson here