James FIELDS

  Noted events in his life were:

• Will, 1803, Onslow County, NC. ONSLOW COUNTY, NC - WILL BOOK A - James Fields, 25 Sep 1800

Record of Wills, Book A
1800-1825
Onslow County, North Carolina

In the name of the eternal God, Amen:
I, James Fields of Onslow County in the State of North Carolina, being in a
very low state of health but of sound mind & perfect memory, thanks be to God,
calling to mind the certainty of death & the uncertainty of the time and
manner of it, but desirous while I have opportunity to dispose of such worldly
estate God has pleased to bless me with, do make this my last will and
testament, in manner & form following, (viz.):
First, I will & bequeath to my beloved wife Rebecca that part of the
plantation that we now make of during her natural life. I also lend her the
use of a Negro fellow known by the name of Tom during her natural life, and
afterwards I give and bequeath this said fellow to my son Aron. I also lend
to her one Negro boy known by the name of Charles during her natural life &
afterwards the aforementioned Charles to be equally divided between my two
eldest sons, Jacob & Moses. I also lend her my stock of all kinds that I now
possess during her natural life & afterwards to be equally divided between my
three children.
ITEM: I give to my beloved wife one feather bed. I also lend her all the
plantation tools, together with all my household furniture that I now possess
during her natural life & afterwards to be equally divided between my three
children.
ITEM: I will & bequeath to my son Jacob all the land that I now possess above
Hoykind Branch. I also give to my son Jacob the land I bought of Samuel
Fields joining James Atkins land & the land I took up joining the same. Also,
I give and bequeath to my son Jacob one bed and furniture & also it is my
desire meanders of the above mentioned Hoykins Branch, down to a cypress stump
standing by the run of the said branch and running thence due north to the run
of Whittock River & that the said line shall be the established dividing line
between the lands of my sons Jacob and Aron Fields agreeable to the intent &
meaning thereof.
ITEM: I will & bequeath to my son Moses all the land that I now possess
between Callaway's upper line. Also, I give to my son Moses all farming tools
that I now possess.
ITEM: I will & bequeath to my son Aron all the lands that I now possess from
Callaway's upper line to Hawkins Branch, excepting that part of the plantation
whereon I now live which I have already lent to my wife during her natural
life. I then afterwards to my will is that it should belong to son Aaron.
Also I give to my son Aaron one still with my smith's tools together with my
carpenter tools, also the gun tools. Also I give to my son Aaron one bed &
furniture with a cloth loom, three hogsheads & large oval table. Also I give
to my son Aaron two carts. Also, I give to my son-in-law Joseph Key one
shilling sterling.
ITEM: I will & bequeath to my two grandchildren James Key & Peney Key ten
pounds apiece to be raised out of my estate by my executors. Lastly & to
conclude, I constitute and appoint my loving sons Jacob, Moses & Aaron
executors to this my last will and testament, revoking all other wills by me
before made and declare this only to be my last will in witness whereof I
hereunto set my hand & seal this the 25th day of September 1800.

James Fields (seal)

Signed sealed & delivered in the presents of us:
Thos. Gibson
Thomas Gibson
John Gibson

Onslow County in Court October Term 1803: The will of James Fields was proved
in open court by the oath of Thomas Gibson and the executors qualified.
Nathaniel Loomis, C.S.C.

James married Rebecca GIBSON, daughter of William (James?) GIBSON and Mary BARCLIFT. (Rebecca GIBSON was born about 1738 and died in Jul 1819.)