Ned Barnes dictated his last will and testament on 2 March 1885, leaving a lifetime interest in all his property to his wife Margaret Barnes and thereafter to their children, who were all minors. Barnes was not even 40 years old, which suggests that despite his “sound mind,” he was not well physically.

Will Book 2, page 359, Wilson County

Barnes died within days, and Charles Battle was duly appointed executor of his estate. Margaret Barnes “dissented from [Barnes’] will,” and J.A. Tynes and Daniel Vick were appointed to assess the estate and assign her a year’s support.

Tynes and Vick filed their report on 30 March 1885, setting aside $113.20 worth of items on hand for Margaret Barnes. The amount fell far short of the total she was due.

Charles Battle filed an inventory of Barnes’ belongings on 3 June 1885. He noted that Barnes’ “cotton planter belongs to the partnership of Barnes & Clark.” [Harry Clark, who was a neighbor? What kind of partnership?]

Battle filed a final account in March 1887, reflecting transactions made in December 1885. On the 26th, he had sold $147 worth of items, including a hundred-dollar horse.

Two days later, he disbursed $198.46.

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On 12 August 1869, Ned Bunn [sic], son of Abner and Mary Webb, married Margaret Edmondson, daughter of Shed and Gatsey Edmondson, in Wilson.

In the 1870 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: Gatsey Edmondson, 40; Becton, 18, Riley, 17, Nancy, 14, and Elias Edmondson, 21; Ned Barnes, 22, and wife Margarett, 19.

In the 1880 census of Wilson township, Wilson County: farmer Ned Barnes, 34; wife Margarett, 35; and children Luvenia, 9, Franklin, 8, Walter, 10, Sarah Eliza, 7, and Caroline, 5.

Estate of Ned Barnes (1885), Wilson County, North Carolina Estate Files 1663-1979, http://www.familysearch.org; note that documents from the estate of a different Ned Barnes, who also died in 1885 (but was married to Della Barnes) are intermingled in this file.