ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Thomas Roberts, 19 Mar 1814 ----¤¤¤¤---- Will of Thomas Roberts listed in will book A-1272, Rockingham Co., NC, dated 19 Mar 1814, probated Aug 1818. Thomas Roberts In the name of God Amen I Thomas Roberts a citizen of Rockingham and the state of North Carolina do make ordain and declare this instrument which is signed by me by making my mark and sealed and (delivered) in presence of the subscribing witnesses there to be my last will and testament revoking all others. First, all my debts are to be punctually and specially paid out of any monies that may be on hand or around if any and in case of none or not a sufficiency by making sale of such part of my personal estate as can best be spared and the legacies hereinafter bequeathed are to be discharged as soon as circumstances will permit and in the manner directed. Item to my son James Roberts his heirs and assigns forever I give and bequeath in order more fully to confirm to him and his heirs the tract of land he now lives on containing one hundred and eighty acres more or less and for which he has a deed from me in fee simple which together with sundry other personal property which he has now in possession shall be in full of my bequest to him. Item to my son John Roberts his heirs and assigns forever I give and bequeath one stallion colt……..and one mans saddle. Item to my daughter Peggy Roberts her heirs and assigns forever I give and bequeath one feather bed and furniture and three head of cattle to wit one cow and calf and heifer. Item to my daughter Elizabeth Roberts her heirs and assigns forever I give and bequeath one feather bed and furniture. Item to my dearly beloved wife Sarah Roberts I give and bequeath the use profit and benefit of all the balance of my estate both real and personal. Also all monies that may be on hand if any after paying any……..as here in before directed during the terms of her natural life. Item to my son Thomas Roberts his heirs and assigns forever I give and bequeath all the land whereon I live containing five hundred acres more or less to be (possessed) by him whenever he shall become of full age or at the death of my said wife Sarah in case she should (not) survive the period of his becoming of full age. Item upon the decease of my said wife Sarah in case she should depart this life previous to the becoming of full age of my said son Thomas my will and desire is that the said lands whereon I now live together with Negro boys to wit) Isham and Phil should be rented and hired out by my executors or the services or service of them for the best prices that can be had so….the houses and plantation shall be kept in good…….until my said son Thomas shall become of full age. Item also that the balance of my personal estate shall be sold to the highest…….on …..such credit and monies arising from such sale or sales together with rents and hire as aforesaid to be put to interest until my said son Thomas shall become of full age. Item upon the coming of full age of my said son Thomas or the death of my wife Sarah should she survive that period I give and bequeath to my son Richard Roberts his heirs and assigns forever the said Negro boy Phil both of said Negroes are to be valued by three respectable freeholders owners of slaves to be chosen by my said executors or survivors of them at the time they are received by the said Richard and John, and in case my wife Sarah should survive the becoming of full age of my son Thomas and no monies for rent or otherwise should be on hand as will inevitably be the case my will is at his death that all the balance of my personal estate shall be sold in manner form aforesaid by my executors and monies arising from such sale or sales together with the valuation of said Negroes to be thrown together in one common stock and equally divided between the said Richard and John and my several daughters to wit Peggy, Elizabeth, Sally, Matilda, Susan and Nancy. The said Richard and John to hold the said Isham and Phil respectively and to pay the said Peggy, Elizabeth, Sally, Matilda, Susan and Nancy their respective proportions or distributive shares should there not be money sufficient to make each share equal to the price of said Negroes respectively that then the said Peggy, Elizabeth, Sally, Matilda, Susan and Nancy shall pay respectively to the said Richard and John their proportionable parts so that each share shall be equal and in order more fully to explain the true intent and meaning of the preceding clause my will and desire is that in case my wife Sarah shall depart this life previous to the becoming of full age of my said son Thomas and the lands and Negroes should be…..and the personal property sold as here in before directed and the monies put to interest that in that case upon the becoming of full age of my said son Thomas the said proceedings or foregoing clause shall equally apply and be executed as respects an equal division between the said Richard, John, Peggy, Elizabeth, Sally, Matilda, Susan and Nancy of said monies and Negroes….. the interest after paying the incidental charges and expenses in executing this will. Lastly I constitute and appoint my son James Roberts, Alexander Joyce and John Parish jointly and severally of this my last will and testament and I do here by…….pointedly most solemnly enjoin it on them as the service or services of them to see that these my last will and testament and every part thereof be religiously fulfilled as herein before directed without evasion neglect or delay after the crop which may then be on the ground is secured in testimony of all and each of the things herein contained I have set my hand in making of the mark an affixed my seal the 19th day of march 1814 and the independence of the United States……eight (?) signed and witnessed acknowledged in the….as his … of Alex Sneed Thomas Roberts (seal) State of North Carolina August…….1818 Rockingham County The execution of the within will and testament Of Thomas Roberts deceased and duly proved in open court by the oath of Alexander Sneed was ordered to record Robert G. Mandy CCC Transcribed by Myron Wade House, Special Collections librarian West Ga. College, Carrollton Ga. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Allan G. Joyce ztrent63@yahoo.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------