Wayne County, NC - Will of Theophilus Best Sen., 1831

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        I THEOPHILUS BEST SEN. of the County of Wayne and State of 
North Carolina being weak of body but of sound and disposing mind, 
do make and Constitute this to be my last will and testament in manner 
and form following. To wit:
        I give and bequeath to my son ROBERT BEST the following part of 
my land. Beginning at the mouth of the Davis branch on the river bank, 
and running up the said branch to the main prong, then with the right-
hand prong to the head of said branch and then a divide line to a 
sweetgum a line tree in the back line of the Bass land near the fish 
pond. Then a divide across the BEN SASSER tract of land to a water oak 
a corner of the BASS land. Then with the back lines of the land I bought 
of JAMES KORNEGAY to the river then up the river as it meanders to the 
beginning also two feather beds and furniture to be valued by a commitee 
and accounted for by him in a general divide of my estate as hereafter 
mentioned.
       I give and bequeath to my son RIGDON BEST the following part of 
my land. Beginning at a sweetgum in the back lines of the BASS land in 
the lines of the land given to ROBERT BEST and runs to the mouth of a 
big ditch then with the big ditch across the plantation to the head of 
the big ditch and then a straight line to a red oak near the DREW SMITH 
place, joining the lands of NICHOLAS WASHINGTON, then with the back lines 
of my land joining the lands of NICHOLAS WASHINGTON, JACOB HERRING and 
others round to the water oak mentioned in my bequest to ROBERT BEST, 
and then a divide line to the beginning. Also two feather beds and 
furniture to be valued by a committe and accounted for in the general 
division of my estate.
       I give and bequeath to my son BRIGHT BEST all the balance of my 
land not having before given away including my home plantation and all 
the improvments thereon. Also two feather beds and furniture to be 
valued by a committe and accounted for in the general division of my estate.
       I give and bequeath unto my son KINCHEN E BEST one horse called 
his and also two feather beds and furniture to be valued by a committe 
and accounted for in the general division of my estate. One of the 
feather beds he has in possession also Negro woman AVEY and her child ANN. 
he giving up a note which I gave payable to him.
      I give and bequeath unto my daughter JANE BEST two feather beds 
and furniture to be valued by a committe and accounted for in the general 
division of my estate.
      I give and bequeath unto my daughter CHELLY CARRAWAY, Negro woman
ELIZA, which she has in possession and all her increase, to her and her 
heirs forever.
      I lend to my son KINCHEN BEST in trust and confidence for his 
particular use and benefit of my daughter NANCY HERRING during her life, 
the following Negroes, DELIAH ANN, Negro woman NAN and her three children, 
MARIAH, HARRIET and JESSE and all and singular the increase of said 
Negroes, also all the household and kitchen furniture which she has in 
her possession and six head of cattle, also the corn and fodder and cotton 
made on the land which I rented of JAMES MCKINNE. And after the death of 
my said daughter. I give and bequeath all and singular the above named 
Negroes and their increase and the above named property to be equally 
divided between all the children of my said daughter NANCY HERRING which 
may be living at her death.
      I give to my son KITCHEN BEST one ox cart.
      I give to my son ROBERT BEST my horse called SILAM and one bridle 
and saddle called his.
      I give to my son RIGDON BEST my horse called MIDLEY and one 
briddle and saddle called his.
      I give to my son BRIGHT BEST my mare DIN and her colt and one 
saddle bridle also my household and kitchen furniture not before given 
away, one yoke of oxen and ox cart, my blacksmith tools and cotton gin, 
also fifty barrels of corn out of the next crop.
      I give to my daughter JANE BEST my gray horse and one bridle and 
saddle called his. (Meaning the bridle and saddle that goes with the gray 
horse.)
      It is my will that all my cotton which I have now on hand should 
be sold for cash to best advantage by my executors hereafter named and 
appropreated together with what money I may now have on hand and the debts 
due me to the payment of my just debts.
     (Sentence missing) KINCHEN E BEST AND BRIGHT BEST, my executors to
this my last will, utterly revoking and annulling all former wills by me 
made, and publishing and declaring this to be my only true will. In 
witness whereof and in confermation of the same I have hereunto subscribed 
my name and affixed my seal the 13th day of February 1831.

Signed Sealed Published                             THES BEST     seal
and declared to be his                         (This was his signature)
only true will in presence of
JAMES MATHEWS
N. WASHINGTON

PROBATE:  May Court 1831

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