Pierce Southampton Records
Southampton Deed Book 4 1767-1773, p.56
This indenture made the twenty fourth day of Dec. in the year of our lord one thousand/ seven hundred & sixty seven between Arthur Arrington of Edgebombe County of North Caroling of the one/ part & Rice Bolton Pierce of Southampton county of the other part witneseth that the sd/ Arthur Arrington for in consideration of the sum of seventy pounds to him in hand/ paid at or before the ensealing & delivery of these presents the receipt whereof he doth/ hereby acknowledge hath granted bargained sold aliened enfeoffed & confirmed & by these/ presents doth grant bargain & sell & confirm unto the sd Rice B Pierce & his heirs/ forever one certain tract or parcel of land situated lying and being in the count of So/ hampton containing two hundred & eighty two acres be more or less bounded as/ followeth [metes and bounds, mentions Little cove branch] being part of a tract of land containing four hundred & eighty acres/ which was made over to the said Arrington in Southampton court bearing date one thousand/ seven hundred & sixty six recourse being thereto had will more at large appear to / have and to hold ...
Signed sealed & delivered
in presence of
Thomas Chaperel
James Atkinson
John Adams
Southampton Will Book 4 1783 - 1797, p. 353
In the name of God amen January 10 day 1781 I Elias/ Williams of Southampton County being now in perfect health and/ sound memory thanks be to God and being mindful of the mortality/ of the body and not knowing how soon it may please God to call/ me I
make and ordain this my last willl and testament as/ followeth (to wit)
Impr I give and bequeath unto my nephew Matthew Pierce my black/ Mare called Ravin to him and his heirs
Item I give and bequeath unto my nephew Nicholas Williams my/ sorrell colt that is now at swift creek to him
Item I give and bequeath unto my nephew Elias Williams my old/ mare called Flower to him
Item I give and bequeath my stock of cattle hogs and sheep to be equally divided between all my brothers and sisters. I likewise give them all my household furniture of every kind to be/ equally divided between them
Item I give and bequeath all my wearing apparel unto my/ brother John Williams
Lastly I constitute and appoint my friend Rice B. Pierce/ to be my whole and sole executor of this my last/ will and testament ratifying and confirming this/ and no other to be my last will and testament
In witness where of I have set my hand and fixed my seal the/ day and date first above written
Signed and Sealed in
presence of
Nicholas Williams
Benjamin Williams
Southampton Court Minute Book 1793-1799, p. 12 Court 9 May 1793
Pierce's Heirs vs Pierce's widow ... leave to amend the bill/ by striking out the name of Matthew Pierce & it is further/ deemed and ordered that the commissioners formerly appointed make/ equal partition & division of the remaining lands & slaves whereof/ R. B. Pierce died seized & possessed (after setting apart the dower/ of the deft) between the surviving complainants & report.
Southampton Will bk 4, p.644
In the name of God Amen I Elizabeth Peirce of the Parish of Nottaway &/ county of Southampton being low in health but of sound mind & disposing meaning do make &/ ordain this my last will & testment in manner & form following _ First I give to my/ daughter Elizabeth Peirce one bed & furniture to be chosen by her from amongst all my/ beds to her & her heirs forever _ Secondly I give to my daughters Martha Cobb and/ Elizabeth Peirce all my cupboard furniture to be equally divided between them _/ Thirdly It is my will & desire that all my estate of what kind or nature soever/ to be sold & the money arising from the sale after my just debts being paid to be/ divided as follows one fourth part to my son Peter Peirce one fourth part to my son/ Bolton Peirce & the other half to be equally divided betwnn other children Spencer/ Peirce Nathaniel Peirce Martha Cobb & Elizabeth to them & their heirs forever Lastly/ I do nominate & appoint Robert Goodwyn & Joseph Vick Exors of this my last will &/ testament & I do revoke & make void all other ... of wills by me made declare/ this to be my last will & testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand/ & seal this 28th day of April 1794.
Signed Sealed Published
& declared in presence of
Josiah Cashiele
Ja. Vick
Benj. Andrews
At a court held for the county of Southampton the 9th day of Oct 1794 this will/ was presented in court by Rich. Goodwyn one of the Exors therein named the other/ refusing proved by the oaths of Cashiel & Jo Vick two of the witnesses thereto &/ ordered to be recorded & on the motion of the sd Exor oathe made according to lawe .../ is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due forme giving security whence from.
Southampon Will bk 9, p.68
The estate of Mrs Elizabeth Pierce
In account with Robert Granger Admin
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various accounts
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The Legatees entitled to this sum are Spencer Pierce Nathaniel Pierce/ Rice B Pierce Peter Pierce and the orphans of Martha Cobb late/ Pierce and the orphans of Elizabeth Lewis formerly Pierce making / in the whole sixe legatees which will give each legatee the sum / of one Hundred and Eighty one dollars this 11th day of / Dec 1819
Southampton Will bk 9,p. 157
We the undersigned arbitrators mutually chosen by Rice B Pierce Peter Pierce/ and Nathaniel Pierce heirs and legates of Elizabeth Pierce decd widow/ and relict of Rice B Pierce decd of the one part and Benjamin Cobb/ administrator of Robert Granger decd who was the administrator of the/ said Elizabeth Pierce decd of the other part to settle adjust and finally/ determine all matters in difference between the parties on relation to the/ administration of the said Robert Granger on the estate of the said/ Elizabeth Pierce decd and whereas for the putting an end to the/ said difference and dispute that the Rice B Pierce & Nathaniel/ Pierce and Benjamin Cobb by their several loans or obligations bear/ ing data the ___ day of ___ 1819 are reciprocally bound each to / the other in the sum of ___ to stand to and abide/ the final determination of us Coleen Ketchew John Jeffries and Jeremiah/ Cobb arbitrators indifferently chosen between the said parties have/ this day taking the mattters and things in difference between the said / parties under our consideration and having had due deliberation thereon the/ testi ony of the parties having been submitted to us do award and determin as folows/ that the said Bnejamin Cobb admin of Robt Granger dect pay to the said Rice B/ Pierce and Nathaniel Pierce their proportion of the estate of the said Elizabeth/ Pierce decd amounting to the some of one hundred and eighty one dollars/ each by reference to the account it will appear fully with interest/ Therein from december 30 1819 the paid given under our hand and sealed the / 21st day of Feby 1820