Last Will and Testament of Edward Stapleton

      Know all men by these presents, That I Edward Stapleton of the
      state of North Carolina and county of Rowan having taken into 
      serious consideration the frailty of my nature through the 
      infirmity of old age, together with the duty I lie under to divide
      the portion of my estate unto such of my children who through ye
      divine blessing will pay the most dutiful regard to me in my old 
      age & seeing the unjustness of some of my former proceedings of 
      making over unto my son Joshua Stapleton now living in the province
      of Maryland, the whole of my estate by deed of gift, without having
      the least security for my maintenance during life, and being now 
      fully satisfied that I was then incapable of settling my affairs 
      with discretion through frailty of nature indispositions of body 
      and soundness of mind; I do herein declare said deed of gift to be
      unjust and to be void- null and of no effect. 

      And being now fully capable of settling my estate, In such a 
      manner as is most agreeable to my own mind and not injurious to
      my children,  do of my own free will and accord give and grant 
      the whole of my estate in manner & form following.

      First of all I do make over the one half of my land goods and 
      chattels, including my improvement wherein I now live unto my 
      loving son Joshua Stapleton to be his Whole & Entire right from
      me forever. And the other half of my land lying west of my 
      improvement up the south Adkin river to the fiord & abyss the 
      fiord, generally know by the name of Renshaws fiord together with
      the other half of my goods & chattels to my loving son-inlaw & 
      daughter, James & Hannah Harris to be for their proper use & 
      behoof from me forever, and I give a field  supposed about six 
      acres  on the south side of my improvement , unto these said 
      Harris for two years, and for all & singular of my estate by 
      me made over unto my son & son-inlaw, Joshua Stapleton & James 
      Harris , they shall each of them singular & for themselves , be 
      at equal expense in providing for me sufficient meat , drink, 
      washing & lodging, wearing apparel & careful attendance according 
      as my various circumstances shall require during my natural life.  
      
      But if they both or singular any one of them shall fail to perform 
      this, then this my present obligation shall be to the failers null
      void & of no effect, but if carefully performed until my death, 
      shall be their right from me forever.

      Given under my hand & seal this 12th day of my 1780                     
      State of North Carolina}            his                       
                                  Edward   x    Stapleton
                                          mark        
                                                    
      It is  hereby certified that the within deed was duly proved 
      in open court by the oath of Samuel Luckey, recorded in the 
      clerks office according to law, and ordered to be registered.

                                                                                                                     Ad: Osborn   CC