CAHTHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - John Lett Cook, 29 Dec 1789
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Contributor's Note:  The first wife Riter was a Harrison, her father was 
Benjamin Harrison of Brunswick Co.,Va.


In the name of God Amen ~~ I John Lett Cook of Chatham County, in the
State of North Carolina being in my perfect senses and of sound memory &
judgement do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and
form following, my soul I give to God who gave it being trusting(?) for
happiness through the merits of my Savior Jesus Christ.  Imprimis(?) it is my
desire that my body may be decently buried according to the directions of my
executors that all my just debts be first paid and the residue of such worldly 
estate as it has pleased God to bless me with I give and dispose of as 
followeth  First my will and desire is that  the tract of land that I bought 
of Kinchen Matthews supposed to contain one hundred and forty five acres be 
sold excepting fifty five acres which I have given in deed to my son William 
for and the money to be equally divided among all my children that I had by my 
first wife Riter.
Item~~My will and desire is that my negro man Robin be sold in such manner
as my executor shall think most advantagious and the money also divided among 
my children I had by my first wife.
Item~~I lend to my loving wife Winny Cook the land and plantation whereon I
now live, during her natural life or widowhood and after the death or second 
marriage of my said wife Winny  I give and bequeath the said land to my two 
sons Gideon Cook and Fearny Jenkins Cook to be equally divided between them 
when Gideon shall come of age.
Item~~I lend to my loving wife Winny one negro girl called Lett(?) during
her natural life or widowhood and after her death or marriage I give and
bequeath the said negro girl and all her increase if any to my two daughters
Gilly Cook and Cynthia Cook  to be equally divided between them.
Item~~I lend to my loving wife Winny during her natural life or widowhood
all my household furniture & stock  and all my property whatsoever that is
not heretofore divided and mentioned and at her death or marriage it is my
will and desire that it be sold and the money equally divided among my sons
Gideon Cook and Fearny Jenkins Cook and my daughters Gilly Cook and Cynthia
Cook .
Item~ it is my will and request that my last four mentioned children receive
reasonable education such as my executors their guardian shall think 
consistant with what is XXXXXXXXX to them.
Item~~I hereby nominate and appoint my loving wife Winny Cook and my friend
William Goodwin, Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking 
and dissannulling all others by me heretofore made or caused to be made.  In 
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this ninth day of April in 
the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred------

                                             Signed John Lett (his mark) Cook
Signed, sealed, published,
Pronounced, and declared
By the said John Lett Cook
The testator to be his last will
And testament in presence of us
Whose names are underwritten,
John Sawyer
Susannah (her mark) Major/Mason?? Jun??
??  Cook  (scribbled, could be M. or W. Cook)


Executor qualified
Chatham County   Term
The executors of this last will and testament was duly proved in open court
by the oath of Susannah Mason and ordered to be recorded~~~~~
And is recorded in Book A~~page 42
                        Test
        Thos. Ragland
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Other side says:
John Lett Cook's last will and Testa:
Nov. 1803
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