CHATHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Rebecca Wilcox, 30 Aug 1808 ----¤¤¤---- Will of Rebecca Wilcox - Chatham Co. NC Record of Wills Film # 022.80001 Vol. A. pg. 158 1808 I Rebecca Wilcox of the county of Chatham in the State of North Carolina, Widow, being weak and sick of body but of sound & disposing mind and memory calling to mind the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do think it prudent and necessary to make the following disposition. First my Will is that all my just (debts) be paid by Executors to be hereafter named. And whereas the Negroes in my possession and also Lucy and her increase in the possession of James Alston and Harry in the possession of my son John Wilcox were settled on some of my Children that is to say Mary wife of John McLennan and my three oldest sons, John, Thomas and James Wilcox & my three other children having no share and title in any of the Negroes. It is my wish and desire that my children should all be provided for as near alike as can be. And I earnestly recommend to my three oldest sons James Alston, & the Guardians of my Granddaughter Jane Wilcox McLennan to consent to make an equal division of the said Negroes with my three children to wit: Elizabeth Barge, George Wilcox and Rebecca Wilcox. If such equal division should be made of the said Negroes my Will is that my seven surviving children and my Granddaughter Jane Wilcox McLennan shall all be entitled to equal shares of all the Lands of which I am seized and possessed. But, if my three oldest Children James Alston and the guardian of my said Grand daughter shall refuse to make an equal division of the Negroes aforesaid ; My will then is that my other three children Elizabeth Barge, George Wilcox and Rebecca Wilcox shall be provided for out of my Land so as for them to full as good estates as these of my children & Grand daughter holding the sd Negroes. And if my Lands should be considered more valuable than three fifths of the Negroes the overplus & residue to be equally divided amongst all my children and my said Grand daughter. And if it should be found advantageous to make sale of any or all of my Lands. I do hereby authorize & empower my Executors to do so & to make conveyance thereof to the purchasers. I give & bequeath to my son George my daughter Rebecca and my daughter Jane W. McLennan each a Feather Bed Bedstead & furniture. My silver Mug (or Tankard) I give and bequeath to my son John Wilcox all my silver spoons and other small silver plate. I give to my daughter Rebecca and my Grand daughter Jane W. McLennon to be equally divided between them. I do nominate & appoint my trusty Friends Thomas Waddell & Murdock McKenzie to be Guardian of Daughter Rebecca and Grand daughter Jane W. McLennon and wish them to take charge of their education and their property until they shall arrive at years of maturity. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca my Mahoggany Tea Table and as I have not given my son James a Bed it is my will that he shall have as much allowed him over and above his share and dividend as will purchase a Bed & furniture for him. All my other property not herein bequeathed I will to be disposed of by my Executors at their discretion Lastly I do nominate and appoint my four sons John, Thomas, George & James Wilcox, James Alston, Lucas Barge Jr. Murdock McKenzie & Thomas Waddell to be executors of this my last will and testament. Hereby revoking & making void all other wills by me made and acknowledging this & no other as my last will & testament. In witness whereof I the said Rebecca Wilcox have hereunto set my hand and seal the 30th day of August 1808. Note. The clause relating to Elizabeth Barge having paid Eighty pounds ---- and the interlinations made before the extension.? Rebecca Wilcox {Seal} Signed Sealed published and declared by the Testatrix to be her last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribing witnesses who saw each other subscribe as such. Mary Montgomery Philip Alston Drew Sr. Alston Proved Nov. 1808 by Philip Alston ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Ashby sueashby@earthlink.net -----------------------------------------------------------------------------