CHATHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - John Burns, 28 Jul 1848 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Will- John Burns - Will Book C, pages 230-232 Made- July 1848 - Probated Nov. 1848 In the name of God Amen, I John Burns of the County of Chatham and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory praised be God for the same, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs whilst I have strength and capacity so to do, and knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life, do make and declare this my last will and testament. First and principally I commit my soul into the hands of my Creator who gave it and my body to the earth to be interred under the direction of my executors herein after named suitable to the wishes of my relations and family and pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts, however and to whomever owing out of the moneys that my first come into their hands as a part or parcel of my estate. Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Burns, a part of the tract of land whereon I now live as follows. Beginning at the North East of the barn lot running East to Alvis Burns spring branch, then up the branch to the spring, thence West to a burch on the creek near a (looks like cropping place) thence down the Creek to the River , thence down the river to the mouth of the branch at the island , thence up the branch to the fence , thence North to Alvis Burns' spring branch where the line from the Barn strikes this branch the East to William Burns line and with his line to the pine at the Hill field , thence West to a corner in William Burns line, thence South to the line running East from the spring branch . I also give and bequeath to my beloved wife my road wagon and gun , two choice horses, two negro men , one by then name of King the other by the name of Tom, one negro woman by the name of Lucy and her child, Frank, two beds and furniture, two cows and calves, two sows and pigs , ten head of sheep and all the domestic fowls and poultry and a sufficiency of provision for herself and family for one year and at the death of my wife , my will is that the property given to her be equally divided amongst my now living children. share and share alike to wit - Henry C. Burns, W.T. Burns, Caroline White wife of William White, Winney Perry wife of Wesley Perry, Alvis Burns, J.B. Burns, Frances Burns, and Mary Makepiece, wife of G. A. Makepiece. Item, I give and bequeath to my son Henry C. Burns, one horse bridle and saddle, one bed and furniture which he has received. Item. I give and bequeath to my son William T. Burns, one horse bridle and saddle, one bed and furniture which he has received. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Caroline White wife of William White one horse bridle and saddle, one bed and furniture which she has received. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Winney Perry, wife of Wesley Perry, one horse bridle and saddle, one bed and furniture which she has received. Item, I give and bequeath to my son Alvis Burns one horse bridle and saddle, one bed and furniture which he has received. Item, I give and bequeath to my son J. B. Burns one horse bridle and saddle which he has received and he is to receive from my estate one bed and furniture. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Frances Burns one horse bridle and saddle, one cow and calf, one sow and pigs, one bed and furniture, all of which she is to receive from my estate. Item- I bequeath to my daughter Mary Makepiece wife of G. A. Makepiece in addition to what she has already received a horse worth Fifty dollars. Item- I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Martha Frances Burns, daughter of my departed son Elisha Burns, Two Hundred Dollars in cash to be paid by my Executors as soon as they can conveniently do so. The remainder of my estate both real and personal not otherwise divided or bequeathed, my will is that it be equally divided amongst my now living children before mentioned share and share alike with the exception my son W. T. Burns is to account for six hundred dollars for the hire of my negro man Adam before he can come in for his equal share. And my son H.C. Burns is to account for two hundred dollars for the hire of George before he can come in for his equal share. My will and desire is that my executors will not suffer any of my married negroes to be separated husband from wife, or wife from husband if it can be prevented, unless something should take place that makes it necessary to do so. In order to prevent lawsuits which might engender ill will amongst my children my will and desire is that if any of the children should contend that I have made advancements to some of the children or by which some of them received more than others let it be so, for I have endeavored in making this my last will and testament to do the best I could for all my children under all the existing circumstances. It is further my will and desire that my children have no lawsuits with one another. And lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my beloved sons Henry C. Burns, Wm. T. Burns, Alvis Burns and J. B. Burns my lawful executors to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament, according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I the said John Burns do herinto set my hand and seal this the 28th day of July, A.D. 1848 Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Burns to be his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other do subscribe our names as witnesses therento Nathan A. Stedman Isaac Holt Chatham County, November term 1848. This certifies that the foregoing last will and testament of John Burns was proven in open court by the oath of Nathan Stedman one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded - whereupon J. B. Burns and H.C. Burns, two of the executors thence proved appeared in open court and was qualified. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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