Will of William Trotter b. March 10, 1751/52
May Term 1824
State of N. Carolina
May (?) Person County
The foregoing
In the name of God Amen: I William Trotter of the County of Person and State of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind the morbality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say principally and first of all i conmend my soul in to the had of God that gave it and my body to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my executor here after named. Nothing doubting but at the general Resurection I shall receive it again by the mighty Son of God and as Touching such worldly estate where with it hath pleased God to help me in this life I give Demise and Dispose of in the following manner and form that is to say
First I give and bequest to Thomas Trotter two Negroes Dick and Will and to Catherine Black I give three Negroes Rachell and Sam her chil and Franke a woman to Sally Michell. I give three Negroes Durcus, Inde and Stanford to Martha Sallard. I give three Negroes Abby, Henry and George. To Mary Esuras I give three Negroes Isaac, Hanna a girl Torn. To Emmery Trotter I give four Negroes Stephen, Amis, Tabb and Amos and one feather bed and furniture and two cows to. William Trotter. I give the following land the Seymore Tract adjoining James Sardin or Tardin "hard to make out. and others the C___ Tract adjoining and others and a part of the Flecher Tract adjoining the land whereon I now live his line to comemce at a Hicory corner of James Trotter's land on the west thence a Direct course to the mouth of the spring branch where on my Distillery is _____ up said branch to his Spring ford fence thence west to Cosina near the old school house bearing hence south through his lane to Henleys line together with three Negroes Gabrial, Squires and Charles. 1 feathe bed and furniture one grey mare and Two colts one yoke of Stiers and two cows. I give James Trotter one cow and I give to James Saterfield one cow also I more over give full power to my exectors to dispose of ___ and one boy mare one bay horse and one yoke of horses in any way they may think propper for the benefit of James Trotter during his natural life and after his death to be sold andd equilly devided between the heirs of said James Trotter and also I give full power to my exectors to despose of the Negroes Bob and Seneca in any way they may think propper for the use of James Saterfield during his wifes natural life and at his death between the children of my daughter Elizabeth Saterfield his wife.
I further give and bequeath unto Sterling E. Trotter the land where on I now live and dwell with the remaining part of the Flecher Tract on this side of William Trotter's line and also the Russell Tract of land joining the land of Presley Draper Dec'd and ofters five Negroes of the house following Joseph, Harmony a woman, Abraham, David and Wally with all the Malts and Distillery the wagons & gear and all the stock of every description all the plantation tools household and Kitchin furniture with all Debts due me by bond or promises and all the money now on hand out of which Legacy be is bound to pay all my last debts. He is also to have the crop that may be on hand at my death and if this crop is not finished at my death he shall retain the hands to finish it and it is moreover my will that all the _______ of those Negroes that I have severly given should devolve to those to whom they are given. Lastly I constitute and appoint Thomas Williams and Sterling Trotter my sons exectors this my last will and testament disallowing and sidasembling all former wills by me here tofore made radifying and confirming this and this alone to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereinafter set my hand and affixed my seal this 21 day of October A. S. 1821.
William Trotter (Seal)
Signed Wm. Trotter in the presents of Us.
LewisAmis ???
Samuel White
State of N. Carolina} May Term 1824
Person County
The exection of the foregoing will was duly proven in open court by the oathes of Lewis Amis as subscribing witness there to and ordered to be recorded
John Dichens Clerk