Winifred Perry Darnall was my 6th great-grandmother, and wife of Joseph Darnall. Some of the slaves that were bequeathed to her by her husband in 1812 appear in her 1829 will. An estate record shows who bought them after her death.
William Darnall, Elizabeth Smith, and Joseph R Darnall were all Winifred’s children. The deceased Jane Cunningham mentioned is my 5th great-grandmother, Jane (Jennie) Darnall Cunningham, wife of Nathaniel Cunningham.
From North Carolina Will and Probate Records at Ancestry.com. Download PDF here.
In the name of god Amen. I Winifred Darnall of the County of Mecklenburg and State of North Carolina, taking into consideration the frailty of uncertainty of this mortal life, and knowing it is allotted for all persons once to die, and being old, but of Sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be almighty god for the Same, after committing my Soul to almighty god, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (Viz)
1st I give and bequeath to my grand Son Elijah Cunningham, one pair of common Sheets, one Cotton Coverlid, one Check’d Counterpin, and two Stuff’d bed quilts.
2nd It is my Will that my Executor or Executors appoint men to value all my beds, bedsteads, and bed furniture of every description (except what I have given above to my grand Son Elijah Cunningham) and make them in three lots as near equal Value as can be. Which three lots when made out, I give and bequeath to my three Daughters, Elizabeth Smith, Sukey Boyd, and Winifred Smith, each one to have a lot, to be delivered as allotted by my Executor or Executors.
3rd I give and bequeath to my Son Joseph R Darnall, my negro fellow Dave. Which is now, and has been a number of years in his possession, but no legal title has been made until now.
4th I gave and bequeath to my grand Daughter Sarah Darnall first daughter of Sukey Boyd twenty-five Dollars to be paid out of the money arising from the Sale of property hereafter will’d to be sold.
5th it is my Will that all the rest of my property not mentioned above, consisting of four negroes, Sandy, Peter, Jacob and Rebecca, my part of the Crop, which is one third of the Cotton, and one half of the Corn, all my horses, hogs, cows, farming Utencils, Household and Kitchen furniture, together with all the rest, residue, and remainder of my property of what kind and nature _ to be sold and money arising from such Sale, after paying all my debts (and the money above will’d to Sarah Darnall) I will to be Equally divided among all my Children to wit my son Joshua Darnall, Joseph R Darnall, John Darnall, William Darnall, Elizabeth Smith, Sukey Boyd, and Winifred Smith, and my Son in Laws John Cauthen, James Darnall, and Benjamin Person and one Share to the deceased Jane Cunningham’s Children (viz) Eleven shares to be made one to be equally divided among Jane Cunningham’s children.
6th Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son William Darnall and my son in law Benjamin Person Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all former Wills by me made in Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this thirty-first day august in the year of our lord on thousand Eight Hundred and twenty nine.
August 31st 1829
Winifred X Darnell (her mark)
In presence of
John Bowdon Jurat
Alex Green (?)
Arthur Bowdon
A Long Way to Tennessee 