WILL OF JESSE BOATWRIGHT

In the name of God amen, I Jesse Boatright of the County of Cumberland being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, hereby revoking all other wills heretofore by me made.

It is my will and desire that my body be buried in a decent Christian like manner, and as to the worldly property which it has pleased God to (illegible) to own and enjoy, after the payment of my just debts which are but few, I dispose of in manner following, that is to say, I leave my wife Judith during her natural life one hundred and eighty acres of land, (illegible) of the tract I now live on, to be laid off beginning at my corner on Hatcher’s Creek (illegible) at James Andersons at an old rotten green stump, running through my land in a straight line to (illegible) Pages line, so as to include the said one hundred and eighty acres, with the dwelling house and appurtenances thereunto belonging.

I also leave to my said wife Judith during her natural life the five following slaves, that is to say George, Abram, Jack, Lidia, and Peter; also one half of all my stock of Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Hogs, also one half of all my household and kitchen furniture, one half of all my plantation tools and utensils, and one half of all my Crops on hand or growing as the case may be, and after the death of my wife, I give and devise to my son Jesse (illegible) his heirs forever the aforesaid one hundred and eighty acres of land with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, so as aforesaid left to my wife. I also give to my said son Jesse and his heirs after the death of his mother, the negro woman Lidia aforesaid and her future increase together with whatever may be left of the stock, Household and kitchen furniture, plantation tools and utensils, so as aforesaid left to his mother during her natural life.

I give to my son Richard and his heirs at the death of his mother my negro man George; I also give to my said son Richard two hundred dollars to be deducted out of his land due to me of five hundred dollars bearing date on the (blank) day of one thousand eight hundred and (blank) with interest from the (illegible) (illegible) (illegible) Bond becomes due, I have heretofore given to my said son Richard one half of the tract of land formerly lived upon, Supposed to contain ninety six acres, which is considered to be equal to the provision I can make for the rest of my children.

My son Langhorne I have already made provision for by giving him the other half of the land I formerly lived upon. Supposed to contain ninety six acres and advancing for and paying to him two hundred dollars in cash which is also considered to be equal to the provisions I can make for the rest of my children.

I give and devise to my sons Benoni and Edward the balance of the tract of land I now live on to be equally divided between them, in numbers of acres, not as joint tenants but as tenants in common, beginning at a chopt beech on Hatcher’s Creek, at the mouth of a small branch running through the same to the line of the land left their mother during her life so as to divide at(?) equally the lower half adjoining (illegible) Stephen W (illegible). I give and devise also negro boy Tom to him and his heirs forever.

To my son Benoni I give and devise the upper half of the same parcel or tract of land adjoining Mr. Charles Irving, also negro boy Phill, to him and his heirs forever.

To my son Wade I give at the death of his mother my negro man Abram to him and his heirs forever. I have heretofore given my said son Wade in cash six hundred dollars which is considered to be equal to the provisions I can make for the rest of my children.

To my son Thomas, I give my negro boy Anthony and at the death of my wife, I also give him my negro boy Jack to him and his heirs forever.

To my daughter Jenny Gibbons I leave my negro girl (illegible) and called by the name of Cinder, now in her possession, during her natural life, and at her death, the said negro Cinder and her natural increase if any to be divided among all my said daughter Jenny’s children. I also give to my said daughter Jenny two hundred dollars to be paid her in cash. I have heretofore given to my said daughter Jenny a feather bed and furniture and (illegible).

I appoint my sons Thomas and Edward Trustees to my son John requesting them to take care of his person and property during life.

To my daughter Molly Johnson I leave my negro (illegible) now in her possession during her natural life, and at her death, the said negro girl with her increase to be equally divided among the children of my said daughter Molly, to them and their heirs forever. I have heretofore given to my said daughter Molly a feather bed and furniture and (illegible).

To my daughter Betsy I leave my negro man Berry(?). If she dies leaving a child or children, I then give the said negro Berry to the said child, and if children to be equally divided among them all to them and their heirs forever and if my said daughter Betsy should die without issue, the said negro Berry to return to my estate and be equally divided among all of my children or their legal representatives. I give to my said daughter Betsy a feather bed and furniture and saddle to her and her heirs forever.

To my daughter Sally I leave my negro woman Nan and boy James during her natural life also a feather bed and furniture and saddle and after her death to be equally divided among all her children if any. If none to return to my estate and be equally divided among all my children or their legal representatives.

To my son John, I leave my negro man Liah for his use and benefit during his natural life to be under the care and management of the trustees before appointed in this my last will and testament, and if my said son John should die leaving issue lawfully begotten, then I give the said negro Liah to such issue him, her, or theirs as the case may be and to his, her , or their heirs forever, but should he die without such issue lawfully begotten then the said negro Liah return to my estate and be equally divided among all of my children or their legal representatives.

The other half of my stocks, furniture, tools, etc., not set apart for my wife, I desire may be sold and the money arising from said sale to be equally divided between my daughters Molly Johnson and Betsy Boatright and should there be any surplus from my estate after discharging the (illegible) it is my wish and desire and I accordingly direct that at the death of my wife, it may be sold together with a negro boy (illegible) and called by the name of Peter and undisposed of, and the money arising from the said sale be equally divided among all of my children or their legal representatives to them and their heirs forever.

Lastly, I nominate and appoint my friends Dr. Samuel Wilson and William M. Thornton executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have this sixteenth day of October one thousand and eight hundred and twenty one set my hand, and affixed my seal.

In presence of Jesse Boatright

Samuel Anderson X

William A. (illegible) (his mark)

At a court held for Cumberland County the 24th day of December, 1821, This last Will and Testament of Jesse Boatright, dec., was handed in court and proved by the witnesses (illegible), and ordered to be recorded. And on motion of William M. Thornton one of the Executors named in said will made oath according to Law or certificate for a (illegible) through in due forum(?) is granted him her having entered into bond securely, according to Law.

Test.

John Daniel, Jr.

NOTE: This will was copied from a Xerox of the original. All entries in parenthesis are mine (David C. Rains) and not part of the original will. The will was copied exactly, complete with grammatical errors and misspellings.

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