Craven County, NC - Francis Sparrow Will, 1786 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Craven County Wills from books by Laura Willis Vols. 1 & 2 dunham@wk.net Craven Co. NC Wills Vol One (1709-1789) With permission of Laura Willis Will Book A, Page 154 Will of FRANCIS SPARROW In the name of God Amen, this 18th day of February 1786. I, Francis Sparrow, being very sick and weak in body, but perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, but calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make this my last will and testament, that is to say : Principally and first of, I give and recommend my soul to Almighty God that gave it; and my body, I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the same by the might power of God; and as touching such worldly estate as God has blessed me with, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my loving wife Deborah Sparrow, my Negro girl named Sid, to her, her heirs or assigns forever. I also give the use of my houses, plantations and lands to her till my son William comes to the age of eighteen years. I also give her the whole use of all my personal and moveable estate that shall not be hereafter mentioned, for her, my said wife’s support, and for raising and schooling of my said children. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Sparrow, my negro girl named Affa, to her heirs and assigns forever. Item, I give and bequeath to my son Joshua Sparrow, my Negro boy named Sentry, to him, his heirs or assigns forever. Item, my will and desire is that what money I have, and what is to me, pay all my just debts, and the remainder to be laid out to the best advantage for my wife and children, at the discretion of my Executors. My will further is that the Negro Asa, that I except, belongs to my estate, to be also for the use of my wife for raising and schooling my children, as long as she lives widow, or till my son William, comes to the age of eighteen years, then my will is that if either of the aforementioned Negroes should die, then in that case, I give the said Negro Asa, to my wife or either of my children whose Negro should die, to them, their heirs or assigns; but if they should all live, then and in that case I give the said Negro Asa, between my daughter Elizabeth Sparrow and my son Joshua Sparrow, to them, their heirs or assigns forever. When my son William comes to the age of eighteen years, and at the same time, my will is that all my personal and moveable estate that I have given my wife the use of, then be equally divided between my wife and my children that should then remain. Item, I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving wife Deborah Sparrow, my trusty friend Joshua Fulcher, and Thomas Sparrow, my son, Executrix and Executors of this my last will and testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other executrix and executors, legacies or bequests, wills and testaments by me before named, willed or bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and not other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal the date above written. Test: Nathaniel Carraway Joseph Burney Francis (X) Sparrow Will was proven in open court at the March term of 1786 by the ooath of Joseph Burney, with Joshua Fulcher qualifying as Executor. William Bryan, Clerk __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Gail Swain ___________________________________________________________________