Source: NC Archives in Raleigh Written: December 29, 1917 Recorded: February 9, 1918 North Carolina Cleveland County This is to certify that the records of this office disclose that: 1. Eliza J. Ward and Eva Ward Loy qualified as executrix of the will of Dr. R. W. Ward on February 25, 1918. 2. That they were discharged upon filing final settlement on February 25, 1919, said final settlement being of record in Book of Final Accounts No. 4, page 15. 3. That the will of Dr. R. W. Ward was admitted to probate and recorded on February 9, 1918 and is of record in Book of Wills No. 4, Page 219. This the 29th day of September, 1941. E. A. Houser, Jr. (Signed) (Seal) Clerk Superior Court. I, Dr. R. W. Ward of Shelby, Cleveland County, State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last will and testament revoking all other wills made by me, to wit:- I will, devise and bequeath all my real estate property that I own in Cleveland County, State of North Carolina, and also my Verona Farm situated on the South West Creek in Stump Sound Township, in Onslow County, State of North Carolina, together with all the stock and farming implements on said Farm to my daughter, Mrs. Eva Ward Loy, subject to the life estate of my beloved wife Mrs. Eliza J. Ward. I will, devise and bequeath all my interest in the Ward-Loy Drug Store both personal and real, situated in the town of Jacksonville, Onslow County, State of North Carolina to my son-in-law, H. M. Loy, and I will, devise and bequeath the store property, both personal and real, adjoining the aforesaid Ward-Loy Drug Store property to my grand children William Ward Loy and Mary Ward Loy, all property subject to the life estate of my beloved wife, Eliza J. Ward. I will, devise, and bequeath my undivided interest in the two store buildings adjoining the aforesaid store building, and now owned by J. W. Burton and myself, to my grandson, Henry Milton Loy, Jr., subject to the life estate of my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Ward. I will, devise and bequeath the two story brick building and lot situated in the town of Jacksonville, Onslow County, State of North Carolina, and now occupied by Fletcher Marine, and also the two story dwelling adjoining the property of the Jarman Hotel in Jacksonville, in said County and State to my grand daughter Miss Eliza Ward Morton who is the only living heir at law of my daughter, Mrs. Eliza Ward Morton, deceased, subject to the life estate of my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Ward, and I will, devise, and bequeath, also all the money that I now have in People’s Savings and Trust Company, of Wilmington, N. C. to my said grand daughter, Miss Eliza Ward Morton. I will, devise and bequeath all my property, both personal and real that I have not already herein disposed of in this my last will and testament, wherever situated to my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Ward during her natural life, and at her death, I will, devise and bequeath all this said property, both personal and real, contained in this item No V to my daughter, Mrs. Eva Ward Loy, and I further will, devise and bequeath that my beloved wife, Mrs. Eliza J. Ward and my said daughter, Mrs. Eva Ward Loy shall herein have the authority to sell any of the property, both personal and real, contained in this item No. V and execute titles and deeds for said property. In consideration of the fact that I have heretofore deeded a just and realonable share of my estate to my daughter, Mrs. Annie Ward Murrill, deceased, as the records of Onslow County show, for her benefit and for her heirs at law, and, therefore, I desire that her said heirs at law, shall share in my estate no more property than is herin after specified consequently, I will, devise, and bequeath ten dollars to each of my following grand children: Mrs. Annie Ward Price, Richard E. Murrill, Mrs. Mildred Lucile Warlick, Mrs. Eliza Bordeaux and Mrs. Ruth Jennings Horne, heirs at law of my said daughter, Mrs. Annie Ward Murrill, deceased, and I further will, devise and bequeath to my said grand son, Richard E. Murrill all the notes and mortgages which I hold against his property. I hereby make, constitute and appoint my beloved wife Mrs. Eliza J. Ward, and my trusty daughter, Mrs. Eva Ward Loy my Executrix of this my last will and testament to carry out the full intent and purpose herein expressed, and that they qualify as my Executrix without giving bond. Witness my hand and seal, this 29th, day of December 1917 R. W. Ward {Seal} Signed and sealed in the presence of these my witnesses W. B. Turner T. G. Hamrick J. A. Anthony North Carolina, Cleveland County I, F. L. Hoyle, Clerk of the Superior Court, in and for the above named County and State, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of the last Will and Testament of R. W. Ward, deceased, which has been duly admitted to probate by me, and been duly recorded in my office according to lay. Witness my hand and official seal, this the 9th, day of February, 1918. F. L. Hoyle {signature} Clerk of Superior Court. Recorded in Will Book #5 295 Additional Comments: Dr. Richard Williams Ward was the son of George J. Ward and Ann Humphrey. He was born about 1838 and died (according to one source) on 30 Jan 1918 in Cleveland County, NC. His wife, Eliza Jane Foy, was the daughter of Stratton B. Foy and Rebecca Ward. One daughter, Ann Ward, married Walter Barry Murrill. A second daughter, Eliza Ward, married George Lee Morton, son of Stephen Henderson Morton (originally of Onslow County and then Wilmington, NC). They were married at her father’s home. Eliza Ward (Morton) died 30 Dec 1893, of pneumonia, after the birth of her daughter, Eliza Ward Morton (source Mary Alice Woodward Logan [2006], daughter of Mordecai Levi Woodward & Eliza Ward Morton). A third daughter, Eva Ward, married Henry Milton Loy. There is a “Richard William Ward, 1st Lieut. 3rd NC Cavalry”, which I presume to be the same, Dr. R. W. Ward. Stephen Henderson Morton was a 2nd Lieut. in the 3rd NC Cavalry and approximately 5 years older than R. W. Ward. The Dr. Richard Ward Home is listed under the National Register of Historic Places: Mill Avenue Historic District (added 1990 - District - #90000439) Roughly bounded by Bluff, College, Court, W. Railroad, Wantland, Mill, and First, Jacksonville (NC) Historic Significance: Person, Event, Architecture/Engineering Architect, builder, or engineer: Unknown Architectural Style: Bungalow/Craftsman, Other Historic Person: Ward, Dr. Richard Significant Year: 1890 The home still appears to be occupied, however because of it's condition, I would guess that it is currently rental property (2006).