The will of Winship STEDMAN of Pittsboro, Chatham Co., NC. 1828 THE WILL OF WINSHIP STEDMAN, PITTSBORO, CHATHAM COUNTY, NC Will Book B, p 147. Prov. 1828 State Dept. of Archives and History Search Room, Raleigh, N.C Transcribed by Carolyn Burgess Knott In the name of God Amen. I Winship Stedman of the County of Chatham and State of North Carolina, being of perfect sound mind but low in health and weak of body do make and publish this as my last will and testament. In the first place, I give to my beloved wife Peggy during her natural life the house and lots in the town of Pittsborough whereon I now live and occupy on either one of my tracts of land as she in her discretion may select, I also give to my said wife during her natural life as many of my negroes as she may desire to retain, and all or such part of the household and kitchen furniture of every ?, horses, cattle or other ? stock or every description,- and to further my desire that my said wife shall receive from my executors from time to time out of my estate or the profits thereof as much as will support her comfortably during her life, or untill a division of my property shall take place as hereinafter provided for. In the Second place, my desire is that my store shall be kept up and continued under the superintendence of my son Nathan A., who shall continue to collect the debts, replenish the stock and carry on the business in the like manner as the same has been done during my life. The purchases to be made out of the money due at my death and by him collected or out of the sales of the stock of goods or Bank Stock which may be then on hand.--And if my said son Nathan A. should die, or a majority of my children (hereinafter named) should think it prudent and expedient and dignify the same in writing under their hand, then this buying and selling of goods and keeping up the store may be discontinued; and the profits which accrues during the time the store shall be continued after my death shall form a part of my estate and be disposed of in the manner hereinafter directed. It is further my desire, that my said son Nathan A. shall be allowed a reasonable compensation for his services in attending to the business of the store. Item, It is my will and desire if the store shall be kept up so long, that each of my children under the age of twenty one years, shall upon their arrival at that age, respectively receive from my executor, the sum of one thousand dollars, to be paid out of any collections which may be from the profits of the store, or otherwise as may be provided for by my executors Item, It is my will and desire, that if as above provided for the business of the store should be discontinued then and in that case the whole of my estate and property of every description except that given to my wife as above mentioned shall be equally divided between my said wife and my several children, namely, William W., John C., Patsy K. King, (relict of George W. King, deceased), Betsy R. wife of Joseph Ramsey, Nathan A., Elisha B., Oran A., and Robert P. Stedman and Nancy W. wife of Hasten Poe, the share of my said daughter Nancy W. to be for her benefit during her natural life and afterwards to her children in the manner hereinafter provided for, the property and advances heretofore made to my said children respectively according as the same is put down and charged to each by me in my books or responsible papers filed against him or her to be taken into account, and also the thousand dollars directed to be advanced to my younger children, as above set forth and the shares of each in that way to be made equal. Item, It is my will that the share of my estate which by the provisions of this will, may be coming to my said daughter, Nancy W. shall remain in the hands of my executors, and the survivors of them and the executors of the survivor or survivors as trustees for the sole and separate use and benefit of my said daughter Nancy W. during her natural life, without any control, or direction whatever of her said husband Hasten Poe; the said share to be used in such way as my said Executor, the survivor of them, may think advisable, so as to yield the largest yearly income for the support of my said daughter Nancy W. and Her children and after the death of my said daughter Nancy W. her said share to be equally divided amongst such children of her body as may be alive at her death. Item It is my will and desire that after the death of my said wife, the property given to her aforesaid shall be equally divided amongst all my children afterward and in the manner above directed, the share of my daughter Nancy W. to be kept and used by my executors and the survivor of them in the same way as her share of my estate above mentioned is directed to be, and to be used by said daughter, Nancy W. during her life and afterward to her children as is above directed. And lastly, I nominate and appoint my wife executrix and my sons, Nathan A., Elisha B. and Oran A. Stedman executors to this my last will and testament; And whenever there may be a division of the property aforesaid in part or final, it is my desire that all my aforesaid children other than said Executrix and Executors, may have a voice in the distribution, valuation and allotment; And should either of my said children choose or desire a certain piece, part or parcel of my aforesaid estate which said price, part or parcel may be desired by another, then I desire that it be determined by lot which of the said children shall receive the same as a proportionate part of his or her share, it being my express desire that the whole matter of the settlement may be done amicably and honorably, and without lawsuits which may engender ill will and discord in the family. NB. The following interlineation done and made before the execution of this instrument, namely, on 1st page, and ? lines from the bottom, between the words "goods" and "which" or "Bank Stock"--also on the third page and third line from the top between the words "books" and "to" the words "or responsible papers filed against him or her." In testimony of all which the preceding last will and testament, I here into set my hand and affix my seal this the thirteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty eight. I have not read the foregoing but it has been read to me by Dr.J.S.Smith who can attest the correctness of the same. It has been hastily drawn up to guard against the worst that may happen in my present affliction. W. Stedman (SEAL) Signed and Sealed and acknowledged in presence of us. J.S. Smith W.H. Strong (Qual. for himself & James S. Smith) File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by : Carolyn Burgess Knott http://homepage.USR.com/s/seeknott USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free informationon the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities,as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronicpages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. Return to the NCGenWeb Archives Table of Contents http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm#NC