Jesse Brown's Will
Department of Archives and
History, Raleigh, North Carolina. Wills 1760 - 1830 Volume, page 33
Jesse Brown.
From Johnston County
In the name of God Amen. I, Jesse Brown of the county of Johnston and state of North Carolina being very sick and in grave situation of health but in perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this, my last will and testimony, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of the almighty God that give it and my body I recommend to the earth to lie buried in a decent christian burial at the discretion of my executor nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the almighty power of God and I as touching such worthy estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, five, dismiss and dispose of the same in the following manner and form; First I bequeath to Nancy, my beloved wife all my lands that I now possess and one mare named Bess, one bed and furniture and the kitchen furniture during her life. Then for my only son, Stephen Brown to have all the lands which I have above wild to my beloved wife Nancy and all the kitchen furniture, bed and the above named mare to belong to my son Stephen after her death also I give to my beloved wife, Nancy all my stock of cattle, hogs which is not otherwise disposed of and after her death she same or any part of the same she may leave to him to belong to my son, Stephen. He being the only and all the son I have.
Also, I give
to son-in-law, James Bunton, five shillings
Also, I give to son-in-law, John Smith five shilings
Also, I give to son-in-law, David Sears five shillings
Also, I give to Kinchens Price, my son-in-law five
shillings
Also, I give to my son-in-law, Thomas Wigs five shillings
Also, give to son-in-law, Deury Vinson five shillings
[Drury]
Also I give to my son-in-law John Frost one cow and
calf
Also I give to son-in-law Willis Helms five shillings
Also, I give to my daughter Livicy Brown one sorrel
mare named Picture and one cow and calf, and one heifer,
one bed and furniture.
This I make and ordain my last will and testament for each one to enjoy the above wild property and I do ls, legacies, requests and executors by me in anywise before named, willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testimony in witness whereof I have made here unto set by my hand and seal this twenty third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six, signed, sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Jesse Brown as his last will and testimony in the presence of us who is in his presence in _____________ in the presence of each other have thereto subscribed our names.
Jesse Brown
Jonas Frost
Reding Britte (his mark)
Jesse Brown's will Proven August Court 1806, no.---- appointed, therefore amdrs was granted to Stephen Brown who failed to give security. This reason not then bonded.
Proven again August Term 1818 by order to bonded (?)
The spelling on this typed copy is as on the original, but I have added a few commas, and periods for readability. These old documents have very few of these.