Will of Robert R. Hill

In the name of God Amen I Robert R. Hill of the County of Gates and State of North 
Carolina calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and being of sound mind and memory 
(blessed be God) do on this the first day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand 
Eight hundred and Sixty two make and publish this my last will and Testament in 
manner and form as follows.

Item 1st  I leave to the use of my beloved wife Catharine Hill and my two Daughters 
Sarah C. Hill and Catharine Hill during the natural life of my wife Catherine Hill the 
following real personal and chattle estate viz All the lands attached to the farm whereon 
I now live including the Old place the Parker lands the Williams Lands and the lands I 
am in possession of adjoining the lands at my death also the following negroes Ned, 
Stephen, Solomon, Jack, Hardy, Jacob, Paul, Anderson, George, Silva & child, Emma, 
Old Lucy, Lucy Kea, Lucy Goodman, Mournin, Old Jenny, Annis Neah, Milly, Rosetta, 
Albert, Cornelius, Adaline, Joe, Nancy & Ida also the use of Twelve thousand Dollars on 
Bonds or cash and as much provisions as they may want for themselves and family, my 
pair of carriage Horses, carriage harness four mules (medium value), one yoke of Oxen, 
six cows & calves, eight small cattle from one to three years old, Twelve sows & pigs or 
sows with pig, Twelve sheep, one wagon and harness, Four carts & wheels & harness, 
Fifty corn Bags, as many of the farming implements as they may need on the farm, as 
much of the household and kitchen furniture as they may need or desire and all the 
poultry on the premises.

Item 2nd I give to my two Daughters Sarah C. Hill and Catharine Hill after the death of 
my wife Catharine Hill all of the property described and mentioned in the foregoing Item 
including the lands, negroes and their increase, Bond or cash and all of the farming 
implements and stock that my wife Catharine Hill shall not have made use of during her 
life but if either one or both of them should die without leaving lawful heirs of their body 
it is my will and desire that the share or shares be equally divided between my nearest 
blood relations.

Item 3rd  It is my will and desire that my son John R. Hill and my son in law William G. 
Williams act as agents in the management of the property loaned to my wife Catharine 
Hill and my two Daughters Sarah C. Hill and Catharine Hill during the life of my wife 
Catharine Hill make a return of the same to the court of this County that they put up 
approved bonds for the faithful performance of ther duty and that they be allowed five 
per cent commission on the receipts and expenditures of said Estate.   It is also my will 
and desire that my friend Samuel R. Harrell supervise and instrut them in the 
management of said estate.

Item 4th  I give to my son John R. Hill that portion of the Wiggins Farm whereon he now 
resides and that part or portion of the Dukes lands which I now own described and 
bounded as follows commencing at a hollow bridge on the road leading from Bennetts 
Creek to Sunsbury on Israel Beeman's line thence running with said Beemans line to a 
white oak near a deading thence with sd Beemans line to a ditch bank Robert R. Hill 
Corner thence on sd ditch bank nearly a west course to a ditch at the edge of the open 
land thence down said ditch North one degree East to a water oak on the large lead 
ditch thence North one degree west to Doct H. H. Hunters line thence a South westerly 
course binding on said Hunters line to the open land thence with the various courses of 
said Hunters line to the run of Bennetts Creek thence with the various courses of the 
run of said creek to the Mouth of the Cypress swamp thence up the run of said swamp 
to Israel Beemans line and thence with the various courses of said Beemans line to the 
first station containing by estimation six hundred acres be the same more or less also 
the following chattle property three carts & wheels the farming implements he now has 
in possession, one horse buggy and harness, two mules, one yoke oxen, ten cows & 
calves, three ewes & lambs, six breeding sows and the shoats & pigs he now has in 
possession and all the household and kitchen furniture he has now in possession to him 
and his heirs forever, Also Two thousand Dollars in cash the receipt for which am may 
be found among my valuable papers, I loan to him after the death of my wife Catharine 
Hill my Iron safe during his natural life I also loan to him the said John R. Hill the 
following negroes viz Albert, Bob, Stephen, (Penner) Caroline, Henderson, John, 
Harriet, Joe, Anna, Allice and Sarah to have and to hold with their increase during his 
natural life and after his death I give them to his lawful heirs forever.

Item 5th I give to my daughter Jane Rebecca wife of Wm G. Williams One half or the full 
value of the same in bonds or cash of a tract of land known as the maple pocoson tract 
bounded by the lands of John R. Hill, David Benton, Israel Beeman and others also one 
half of the value in cas or bonds of another tract known as the Gum Pocoson tract 
bounded by the lands of Charles J. Barnes, Martin Kellogg, James W. Hill and others 
also I give to her the Piano that now stands in my parlor and Three thousand Dollars in 
cash to her and her heirs forever.   I loan to her the said Jane R. wife Wm G. Williams 
the following negroes viz Harrison, Leah, Tom, (Bob) Willis, Faith, Net, Alonza, Addie 
and Delia to have and to hold with all increase of the same during her natural life and 
after her death I give them to her lawful heirs to have and to hold forever.

Item 6th I give to my Daughter Mary Ann Hill one half of the value of the same in bonds 
or cash of a tract of lands known as the Maple Pocoson tract bounded by the lands of 
John R. Hill, David Benton, Israel Beeman and others, also one half or the value of the 
sum of a tract known as the Gum Pocoson tract bounded by the lands of Charles J. 
Barnes, Martin Kellogg, James W. Hill and others.  Also Three thousand Dollars in 
bonds or cash to her and her heirs forever.   Also I loan to the said Mary Ann Hill the 
following negroes viz:  Tom, (Jones) Will, Sillah, Stephen, Anna, Dred-Cha, Frank, Jane 
& Sophia to have and to hold with all increas of the same during her natural life and I 
give them after her death to her lawful heirs to them and their heirs forever.

Item 7th I give to my son Patrick H. Hill my Farm known as the Marsh farm bounded by 
the lands of Wm B. Whitehead, Richd & Harrison Brinkley, Isaac S. Harrells heirs, John 
Jones, Frederick K. Jones heirs, Dempsey Vann and others the embracing of the same 
in the whole four tracts also the horses and mules, farming vehicles and implements 
remaining on said Farm at my death, one yoke Oxen, six cows & calves, eight small 
Cattle from one to three years old, six sows and pigs and as much of the crop and 
provisions remaining on hand as shall be sufficient for the use of said Farm for the 
balance of the year after my death, also the Scrutoire that now stands in my bed room 
after the death of my wife Catharine Hill and my Iron safe after the death of my son 
John R. Hill, Also I give to him Three thousand Dollars in Bonds or cash to be paid to 
his agent herein after appointed.  Also I loan to him the said Patrick H. Hill the following 
negroes viz:  Annie, John, Willis, Andrew, Lewis, Kate, Weldon, Nelson, Joe, Mary and 
Cromwell to have and to hold with all increase of the same during his natural life and 
after his death I give them to his lawful heirs to them and their heirs forever.

I nominate and appoint my son John R. Hill and son in law Wm G. Williams Agents for 
my son Patrick H. Hill to superintend in his education to employ and see that the said 
Farm and Negroes are under the management of a Judicious Overseer - to attend to 
the sales of such products as are necessary to be disposed of to keep said Farm 
supplied with such articles as are absolutely necessary for its successful operation - to 
return to the Court of this County Annically a Schedule of receipts and disbursements, 
retaining a commission of five per cent on both - and deliver up and pay over to the 
said Patrick H. Hill when he shall have arrived at the age of Twenty one years all of his 
estate as herein specified and shall have there unto accrued.

Item 8th It is my will and desire that if any of the Negroes loaned to my children John R. 
Hill, Jane R. Williams, Mary Ann Hill and Patrick H. Hill should become insolent and 
difficult to manage that they be sold by those having management of them and that the 
proceeds be held and disposed of as the negroes are.

Item 9th  It is my will and desire that the balance of my property not loaned or given 
away be disposed of by my Executors hereafter appointed and that the proceeds be 
equally divided between my wife Catharine Hill, and my children John R. Hill, Jane R. 
Williams, Mary Ann Hill, Patrick H. Hill, Sarah C. Hill and Catharine Hill each to shear 
and shear alike.

Lastly:  I do hereby nominate and appoint John R. Hill, Wm G. Williams and Samuel R. 
Harrell Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me 
made and it is will and desire that my Executors receive five per cent commission on 
receipt and expenditures by receipts I mean not the amt of bonds and cash that I may 
die possessed of but the interest on said bonds and the amt arising from the sale of 
property mentioned in the 9th Item.  In witness whereof I the said Robt R. Hill hath set 
my hand and seal the day and date before written.  Acknowledged, signed sealed & 
Delivered in the Presence of Elisha Williams, Martin Kellogg.

R.R. Hill (seal)
November Court 1862:  exhibited by Samuel R. Harrell & John R. Hill executors; proved 
by Elisha Williams & Martin Kellogg.