History of Chowan Baptist Association - Delke
ELDER REUBEN LAWRENCE, BORN 1787-DIED 1843, AGE 56. Served Cashie church as Pastor twenty-one years, till his death. He did also much itinerant work--fought a good fight.   (He preached the introductory Serman at the Chowan Baptist Association three times.)

State of North Carolina, Bertie County
Where as it was the wish and intention of the late Reuben Lawrence deceased. that he have made and executed a last will and testament, to have given a special legacy to His grand daughter Frances Penelope Rayner, daughter of James R Rayner, a certain Negro girl named Harriet now about twelve years of age: and knowing the wishes of the said Reuben Lawrence decd and being also willing and desirous, so far as we can do by our acts and deeds to carry out his wishes as though he had made a last will and testament: Now know all men by these presents, that we Frances Lawrence, widow of the said Reuben Lawrence and Frederic and Alpheus Lawrence and James R Rayner (the latter in right of his wife Frances) Heirs at Law of the said Reuben Lawrence decd do hereby for ourselves our and each of our Heirs, Executors & Administrators remiso, release and forever quit claim unto the said Frances P. Rayner & her Heirs, Executors, administrators or assigns and ....to the said Negro girl Harriet & her future increase forever etc.....
In testimony of all which the said Frances Lawrence, Frederic Lawrence, Alpheus Lawrence and James R Rayner have hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our seals this 20th day of April AD 1843.
Frances Lawrence; F Lawrence; A Lawrence; J R Rayner
Wit: N P P Lawrence; Miles Bagley; A W Mebane; T F White.

1845 Estate of Mrs Lawrence J R Rayner
June 15 fine coffee & cups 12.00
Pd Moses L Mizelle for funeral services 2.00

An Inventory of the personal property of Reuben Lawrence deceased which came into the hands of Frederick Lawrence his Administrator and sold by him Augt 10th 1843
1 doz Windsor Chairs Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 set Dining Table do do 1 00
1 Desk do do 25
1 set Books do do 1 00
1 Brass Clock do do 1 00
1 Looking Glass do do 25
2 Tables do do 25
1 Safe & Contents do do 25
1 Small Bed do do 1 00
3 Chests do do 50
2 Sets Andions Shovel & Tongs do do 25
1 Set water & pitchers do do 05
1 set Crockery & Spoons do do 50
1 set old Chairs do do 25
1 Bed & furniture do do 1 00
1 Table & Chairs do do 05
1 Set Bed Close do do 1 00
1 Bed & furniture do do 1 00
1 Bed & two pillars do do 1 00
1 Table & Trunk do do 50
1 Wash Bowl do do 05
1 Saddle & Bridle Nathaniel T S Lawrence 05
1 Grain Fan Alpheus Lawrence 5 00
1 Sett Black Smith Tools James R Rayner 5 00
1 work Ox Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 Ox Cart do do 1 00
1 Double Gig do 1 00
1 Single Gig James R Rayner 2 00
27 20
1 Lot Ploughs Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 Spade do 25
2 Grub Hoes do 25
1 lot Weeding Hoes do 50
1 Gray Mare do 10 00
1 Black Horse N. F. P. Lawrence 10 00
7 Sheep @ 25 cts each Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 75
1 Cow & Calf do 1 00
1 Yoke Oxen A. Lawrence 6 50
1 do Frederick Lawrence 8 75
1 Red Steer N F P Lawrence 3 75
1 Spotted Hifer R P Freeman 2 00
1 Black Spotted Hifer James R Rayner 2 00
1 Red Crumply Horn Hifer do 2 05
1 Hifer do 2 55
1 lot Hollow ware Mrs Francis Lawrence 1 00
1 Table & 3 Trays do do 50
7 Shoats do do 7 00
1 Sow & 5 shoats do do 2 50
7 Hogs do do 7 00
10 Hogs in Buckeling A Lawrence 4 75
Gig & Plough harness Mrs. F Lawrence 1 00
Hire of negro Jefferson
balance of the year 1843 Mrs F Lawrence 12 00
Caenasy do 8 00
Rhody & 3 children do 8 00
Boy George do 8 00
Boy Grunderson do 8 00
$125 30
Mrs. Francis Lawrence
700# Bacon & Pork
3000 Herrings
15 bushels wheat
The growing Crop & the corn & wheat & fodder to make fifty bls
corn & Two thousand five hundred the fodder
Articles allowed in the years Provision of
100 lbs lard
38 lbs wool

An Inventory of Notes found in the possession of Ruben Lawrence deceased & which came into the hands of Frederick Lawrence his administrator Augt 10th 1843.

One note signed & sealed by F Lawrence due 1st Jan 1837 $35.00
One note against John Hoddow? Due 1st Augt 1842 $ 5.00
One note signed by James Holder and James R Rayner
due 26th June 1840 $ 8.81
One note Against A. Lawrence due 1st June 1844 $19.75
An account of personal property advanced by Reuben Lawrence to his children in his lifetime as follows:
to Jas R Rayner & wife Frances
Hire of negro Ganzy for 1839, ’40, ’41, ’42, ’43
making five years @ $71.25 per year 356.25
negro Dick per value at 750.00
one sow & pigs 5.00
Two cows and calves 12.00
one mule colt 32.00
cash 4.00
negro girl 150.00
$1309.00
to Alpheus Lawrence & F Lawrence Hire of 3 negroes for 2 years @ $80 for year $480—
5 months labour of 2 boys @ $8 an per month 80—
5 months " at $4. 20---
Amt of the value of the slaves got on R Lawrence’s land $1455
to 1/3 of which the owner of the land would be entitled 970---
1550
½ of $1550 to A Lawrence 775.00
value of negroes allotted to Alpheus 1100.00
a mule 80.00
$1955
½ of $1550 to Fredrick Lawrence 775.00
value of negroes alloted to Fred 1100.00
one horse 80.00
$1955