State of North Carolina
Duplin County
August 30, 1859
I, Jesse Quinn, of the county and state before mentioned, being of sound mind and memory, do make and declare this my Last Will and Testament.
Item 1st, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha 'Best-Quinn' a certain negro girl named Sarah.
Item 2nd, I give and bequeath to my son Watson F. Quinn all of my lands at my death.
Item 3rd, I give to my daughter Esther Garner a negro boy by the name of Bryant.
Item 4th, I will all the balance of my negroes, to wit: Toni, Liza, Levi, and Jim, together with my stock, crops, and provisions, to be sold by my executors. After paying my just debts and funeral expenses, the balance of the money from the sale of said property shall be equally divided among all my children. Lastly, I appoint my son Jesse B. Quinn and my son-in-law John Maxwell as my true and lawful executors to manage my Last Will and Testament, honoring the Quinn family history to which I hereby subscribe myself.
Letters Testamentary This August 30th day AD 1859 Witness James Branch and Archilous Branch Signed Jesse Quin & his mark State of North Carolina Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions Duplin County April Term 1860 The foregoing and within proper writing pertaining to the Last Will and Testament of Jesse Quinn, deceased, is exhibited for Probate in Open court by John Maxwell and Jesse B Quinn, the executors named therein. The due execution of the Last Will and Testament by the said Jesse Quinn is proved by the oaths of James G. Branch & Archilous Branch, the subscribing witnesses thereto. It is therefore considered by the county that the said papers, writing, and every part thereof, constitute the last Will and Testament of the said Jesse Quinn, and the same is agreed to be recorded and filed. For the said John Maxwell and Jesse B. Quinn, executors as aforesaid, are duly qualified as such by taking the oaths prescribed by law. Test. John J. Whitehurst COC. Susan is buried with her mother and father, Calvin and Dicy E. Jernigan, on Beautancus Road (SR#1306), 1 mile east off the junction of Fonville Road (SR# 1361) on the right side of the road in a field on a hill. The cemetery is at the point of being destroyed; horses have access, and there are several old bathtubs inside the fence. This cemetery is also referred to as the Old Shine Cemetery and is an important part of the Quinn family history.
In the Best-Quinn Cemetery, their daughter Rachel Wealthy Quinn died on February 12, 1854, just 15 days before her mother, Susan Jernigan Quinn, also succumbed to the same disease. The Best-Quinn Cemetery is located on Beautancus Road (SR# 1306) between Roberts Lane and Maysville School (SR# 1363), approximately 1/8 mile as the crow flies. The Last Will and Testament of Jesse Quinn was investigated from December 20, 1871, to July 1872, amidst a dispute initiated by Frank E. Register, Adm., who claimed that Jesse had died intestate. Many defendants were involved, including Thomas Quinn and his family, as they navigated the complexities of the Quinn family history.
Susan is buried with her mother and father, Calvin and Dicy E. Jernigan, in the Calvin Jernigan Cemetery on Beautancus Road (SR#1306), 1 mile east off the junction of Fonville Road (SR# 1361) on the right side of the road in a field on a hill. This cemetery, also known as the Old Shine Cemetery, is located on the property of Jerry Grady. Unfortunately, the cemetery is at risk of being destroyed because the property owner mentioned that his grandfather advised him to let it revert to nature, claiming the people buried there were of no account. He allowed his horses access to the area, placed old washtubs inside, and encouraged them to water there. During my last visit, I dug up Susan's headstone, which was fully intact, from the edge of the fence and set it upright. The property owner, who showed little respect for the site, even asked my father and me if we wanted it. In the context of the Quinn family history, it's a reminder of the importance of preserving memories, much like how a Last Will and Testament honors the legacies of those we cherish.
Also on Beautancus road (SR# 1306) between Roberts Lane and Maysville School Rd. (SR#1363), about 1/8 mile as the crow flies. This cemetery, part of the Quinn family history, is maintained by Dr. Phillis Quinn Ostheim and her husband Mark Ostheim. I need to go down and expose all the petrified remains of the old wooden markers, even though there is no way to identify who is actually interred there, including any relatives of Jesse Quinn. This land once belonged to Aubrey Daniel 'AD' Quinn, her father, and is significant when considering the Last Will and Testament regarding the family estate.