ORANGE COUNTY, NC - WILLS - James Nelson, 18 Oct 1798
====================================================================
     USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
         free information on the Internet, data may be used by
         non-commercial entities, as long as this message
         remains on all copied material. These electronic
         pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
         or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

         Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
         for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
         written consent of the file contributor.
		
	 The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives
	 to store the file permanently for free access.

         This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
         Archives by: Judy Graven	grannyg@mcleodusa.net
====================================================================
Orange County,NC
18 Oct 1798
In The Name of God, Amen.
I, James Nelson of the county of Orange and State of North Carolina being sick 
and weak in Body but of sound mind and memory; thanks be to God, calling to 
mind the uncertainty of Life and the certainty of Death, do hereby make, 
publish and declare this my last will and Testament in the manner following- 
(To Wit) I resign my soul to God hoping for pardon of my sins and acceptance 
in and ____ the merits of Jesus Christ the righteous, my body I resign to he 
Earth to be interred in a decent and orderly way.
I give and bequeath to my beloved Brothers George, John, Abraham and Archer 
Nelson and my loving sisters Elizabeth Waldrop and Milley Meredith Fifty 
Dollars each.
I give and bequeath to John Nelson Rencher and Sarah Rencher son and daughter 
of Jno. G Rencher and Nancy Rencher twenty dollars each and to James Rencher 
son as above forty five dollars.
I give and bequeath to Sarah Nelson daughter of Archer Nelson Twenty Dollars, 
also to Nelly Nelson, daughter of the said Archer Ten Dollars.
Whereas I hold by deed of gift the perishable property of my Father at his 
Decease, I do hereby give and bequeath the same on my Fathers Decease to my 
loving Brothers Archer and John Nelson to be equally divided between them, I 
further give my Brother Archer all my wearing apparell except my shoe buckles 
which I give to my loving sister Nancy Rencher.
I have in my possession two papers the property of William Morris which said 
papers I empower my Executors to deliver up to the said Morris upon condition 
that he pay or cause to be paid to my Executors the sum of Eighty Dollars 
which the said Morris has in property from me at cash price and deposited said 
papers as security for the reimbursing the same.
I give and bequeath unto Lydia and Elizabeth Harold, daughters of Edy Harrold 
Ten Dollars cash to be attributed for the benefit of schooling said girls.
I give and bequeath to my honoured Father one Dollar.
I give and bequeath to my loving sister Nancy Rencher my Negro wench Jane, her 
and her increases forever, as also the sum of Ten Dollars.
I herebey authorize and empower my Executors hereafter to be mentioned to sell 
at Public Sale all my property both real and personal that has not been 
heretofore donated or may hereafter be donated and after collecting my Debts 
due me; first to discharge all my just debts, then _______ that have 
heretofore or may hereafter be donated and for such services I give Each 
Executor Twenty Dollars. I give and bequeath to Edy Harold Fifty Dollars for 
her services I further will and devise that after all my debts are discharged, 
the whole of the ballance arising from my Estate to be divided into four parts 
and distributed in the manner following: (To Wit) To Nancy Rencher half a 
share to Milley Rencher one share. To Archer Rencher one share. To Archer 
Nelson one share and to James Rencher son of J G Rencher one and a half share 
and in case of his death before he shall recieve the benefit of schooling to 
resolve to Sarah Rencher daughter of said J G Rencher an in case of her death 
before she arrives of age to Jno. Nelson Rencher and so to his other children.
Lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my trusty friend George Johnston and 
Alexander Bouland my sole Executors to this my last Will and Testament 
trusting that they will have the same faithfully executed and agreeable to the 
true intent and meaning thereof making null and void all former Wills and 
Testaments, publishing, pronouncing and declaring this my Last Will and 
Testament, Signed and Sealed this eighteenth day of October one thousand seven 
hundred and ninety eight.

					James Nelson

Signed, Sealed, Published and Pronouced to be his last Will and Testament of 
us.
James Strayhorn
     his
Adam (X) Stowers
     mark

Proven May, 1799