CRAVEN COUNTY, NC - Will - William S. Blackledge, 1856

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                   WILLIAM S. BLACKLEDGE'S WILL, 1856

[Note: Parts of this will are illegible.]

 The last will and testament of William S. Blackledge-

 In  the name of God, Amen.  I William S. Blackledge of the town of 
Newbern do make and
ordain this to be my last will and testament. That is to say-

 First  that  all  my  just  debts be paid and to effect this I direct 
my executor hereinafter  named  to sell in the first place all my 
property of every kind---- ----------------------the  plantation  and so 
much of my household----furniture in town as he may under the direction 
of  my wife think necessary. Also my land ----- lying on the lower side 
of Jennings Creek on  ---  -   -------   road  together  with a part of 
my Savannah lands beginning at John Bryan's east  corner  in  the  
Savannah  to  a  black  oak  Taylor's  Corner then direct to the cedar 
front  crossing  then  along  the  Bryan  patent lines one hundred poles 
thence to the beginning the  said  tract  joining the land of ----- ----
hereby giving my executor full power to sell all  of  this  property----
in this house at ---- to a public sale as he may think best and after  
the  application  of  the  monies raised by ----sales, that my executor 
pay the residual of my  debts, if any by  a sale of such of my slaves as 
he thinks proper.

 Secondly,  I  give,  devise  and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary, 
subject to the foregoing  clause  and  the  clause  incident  to  the  
settlement  of  my estate all my estate of every  description---in  
whatever-----son---until  he  attains  his  lawful age and his education 
is  completed  and it is my wish that my wife and children continue to 
reside together as they do  now  and  if  so  that my wife pay the 
expenses out of the income of the property devised and  bequeathed to 
her.

 Thirdly-  At  the  death  of  my  wife  all  the estate bequeathed and 
devised to her and the  increase  thereof,  I  will  and  direct shall 
be equally divided and one part thereof I give  devise and bequeath unto 
my son Richard for and during his life and after his death to be equally 
divided among such of his children as may survive himand their heirs 
absolutely.  If but one to such child and his heirs and in case he 
leaves no child or children heirs surviving then I devise and bequeath 
the estate given him in this clause -----to his sister Virginia, the 
wife of John M. H. Harrison to her heirs and separate side under the 
same circumstances and upon the same trusts as the estate given to her 
other children----------of this my wish. ------death of my wife unto my 
daughter Virgfinia, the wife of John M. H. Harrison for and during her 
material life to have and hold the same her sole and separate side free 
from the contracts of her said husband and not subject to his debts or--
-----and at her deathe, I devise and bequeath the ----- and every part 
thereof unto the children -----said daughter surviving her to be equally 
divided and if but one child surviving her to such child absolutely and 
in case she leaves no child or children, I devise and bequeath ----- of 
my estate unto her brother --------.

Fifthly, I appoint my son-in-law, John M. H. Harrison sole executor of 
this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other former wills 
made by me.

In witness of all which I -----and do herewith set my hand with seal to 
this my last will and testament----.
/s/ William S. Blackledge

In the presence of the said William S. Blackledge
/s/ illegible
/s/ Wm. C. Whitford

Craven County Court, December Term A.D. 1856.
Then was the foregoing Will of William S. Blackledge, Esq, --- offered 
for probate and the----legal execution thereof by --------.

Copied from the original hand written document, part of which is 
illegible.