Will of William Stevenson, 1803, Iredell County NC ****************************************************************** File transcribed and contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Karen Carty http://files.usgwarchives.net/nc/iredell/wills/stvnsn01.txt USGENWEB NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ******************************************************************. I was visiting the North Carolina USGenWeb Archives  and would like to submit the will below for the website. This man was my 5th great grandfather. He was married to Mary McClelland and their daughter, Jane Stevenson married William Alexander Sloan May 13, 1783 in Rowan County, NC. William Alexander Sloan was the son of Fergus Sloan and his wife Ann Elizabeth Robinson of Iredell County. Karen Carty St. Louis, Missouri     In the name of God. Amen. I, William Stevenson, Senior, of the State of North Carolina and County of Iredell, being at present in my ordinary state of health, of mind and of memory--thanks be to God for it--calling to mind the mortality of my body, that it is appointed for all men once to die, for that all have sinned - do make this and ordain it and no other heretofore by me made - to be my last will and testament. And first of all, I commit my soul to God, who gave it to me, and my body to the dust, to be buried in a decent manner, at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter mentioned, nothing doubting but I shall receive the same again at the Last Day by the power of Almighty God; and for such earthly things as it hath pleased God to endow me with, I dispose of them in the following manner; 1. And, first of all I allow my lawful debts fully to be discharged. 2. I leave to my loving wife, Mary, one negro wench named Betty, to be at her own disposal during life, and at her death also, if alive until then; also the negro wench named Dina, to be at her disposal during the life of my wife; and after that, if the said Dina be alive to go as I direct. I also leave to her own choose of all the beds we own, with full furniture thereunto belonging; also her own clothes, coarse and fine, also her own choose of all the horse creatures we then shall be possessed of; her own saddle and bridle; also a choose of the cattle as far as two cows and two calves; I also leave her in full possession of the house I now live in while she remains my widow; also the use of the barn, kitchen and other necessary houses thereunto belonging with the third part of this plantation I now live on, clear and unclear, with the use of all my stock, horses, cows, sheep and hogs, with all laboring instruments necessary for laboring on the plantation, except the reserves hereafter to be made; also the negro man named Henry during her widowhood, to be under her direction to labor for the family support; and if my dear wife does not choose to live in her present habitation, but would choose rather to go to live with some other of her children, she may take with her the wenches named, and Henry, and what stock she pleases, to labor for her and themselves. 3. I leave to my son, Moses the whole of the plantation I now live on, which contains 535 acres, after my wife is served of it, and two parts of it clear and unclear, till then. I also allow to him, after my wife is done with them, all of the instruments of laboring tools belonging to the plantation, the present wagon excepted; the remaining at that time of cattle, sheep and hogs I allow for his use; also all household furniture of all kinds, except beds and books, I bequeath to him. I also allow him my big house Bible and Hymn and Psalm Book with my lot in Union Library. 4. I leave and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth McKenzie, the forementioned wench, Dina, when my wife is done with her, to whom she is now left, her, with all her breed, till then, if any there be, be the said McKenzie's; and till that time comes she is now possessed of a negro boy named Jack that is to fill her room until delivered to her, and if death should prevent, Jack is to continue in her stead as their own property; but if Dina is delivered, aforesaid Jack returned and disposed of as hereafter directed. 5. I leave and bequeath to William Stevenson, son of John Stevenson, one hundred acres of land laying on the waters of Third and Fourth Creek near Statesville, being part of tract given by me to my son, Robert Stevenson, and by him exchanged to his brother James, the said 100 acres being on George Robinson's northeast corner of a piece of the same tract he bought of said James Stevenson; from thence east to a post oak sapling, being the original east corner of said tract; but not cut down, unknowingly by the cutter, is now supplied by a large standing stone set up by and before many witnesses for that purpose; from thence south to a Spanish oak joining William Simentown, Esqu.; thence west with said Simentown's till a post oak sapling on said line George Robinson's southeast corner; thence north with said Robinson's line to the beginning. And if the said William should not live to possess it, it is to pass to the next male in the family till possessed. 6. I leave to Mary Stevenson, John Stevenson's oldest daughter, one mare known by the name of the sorrel mare's colt. 7. I leave to my son, John Stevenson, the wagon I am now the possessor of, but no gears. 8. I also leave to my son, William Stevenson, all my clothes that I am possessed of, both coarse and fine. 9. I do leave and bequeath unto William Stevenson Sloan one hundred dollars, to be paid to him out of my estate, together with my full margin Bible to be given to him also. 10. My books not already mentioned I allow to be divided amongst my children at the discretion of my Executors. 11. The remaining of my estate not yet bequeathed I allow to be put to public sale, to-wit: The two negroes Henry and Jack if Dina lives to release Jack; if not, Henry is only to be sold; also what horses may remain, together with whatever bed ding may then remain as the property of the Estate, all to be sold, and the whole Estate, or the amount of it after all demands are cleared off, to be equally divided amongst all my children, male and female. Last of all I appoint my sons, John, William, and Robert Stevenson to be the Executors of this, my last will and testament, and in witness of my satisfaction with what is herein contained, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Eighth day of March, 1803. Signed with my hand and sealed with my seal in presence of us. William Stevenson Sr.   Test: Fergus Sloane O.H. Matthews, Jurat Jno. Matthews  [RED WAFER]