WILKES COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Thomas Cook, 25 Mar 1819 
====================================================================
     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: Elsie Arcuri	bmbranches@bigfoot.com
====================================================================
Thomas Cook 
Will BK-3 Pages 195-198
Wilkes County NC
 
May Term 1819
 
In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Cook of the County of Wilkes in the State of
North Carolina being old and afflicted in body, but being of sound and
disposing mind and memory do here think proper to make my last will and
testament in manner and form following. In the first place I recommend my Soul
to God who gave to be disposed of at his pleasure and my Body after Death to
be Buried in the usual form of entering the remains of Deceased persons in
this Country. 

First I give and bequeath unto Joshua Martin Cook whom I claim and consider to
be my own son begotten upon the body of Charloote Cook whom I consider to be
my wife, and with whom I have lived as such for a number of years; the said
Charloote Cook having been married or commonly reputed to have been married to
one George Anderson previous to my intermarriage with the said Charloote. (to
wit) One Negro man named Charles, & one Negro girl child named Kisiah. 

Secondly I give and bequeath unto Calvin Jones Cook, whom I claim and consider
to be my own son begotten upon the body of Charloote Cook whom I consider to
be my wife and with whom I have lived as such for a number of years, the said
Charloote having been married or commonly reputed to have been married to one
George Anderson previous to my intermarriage with the said Charloote. (to wit)
one Negro woman named Virgin & one Negro woman named Hulda. 

Thirdly It is my will and desire that all my lands that I now own in Wilkes
County deeded to me and to which I have title in fee or otherwise being about
four hundred and forty acres, shall be equally divided between my two sons
Joshua Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook heretofore named as above, when the
youngest of my said sons shall arrive at the full age of twenty one years,
which said division shall be made by my executors herein after named and which
said division it is my will shall be so made that the said lands shall be
equal or as nearly equal in value as it is possible to be made. It is my will
that Charloote Cook whom I claim to be my wife heretofore married to George
Anderson shall have hold said Negroes and hold occupy and enjoy my said lands
before mentioned and described during the minority of my said sons Joshua
Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook; and should my wife Charlotte Cook die
before my said sons Joshua Martin Cook & Calvin Jones Cook arrive at the age
of twenty one years, then the said lands before described to be rented by my
executors for the benefit of my said sons; and should either of my said sons
Joshua Martin Cook or Calvin Jone Cook decease before they arrive to the age
of twenty one years; it is my will that the surviving brother have all the
said lands mentioned heretofore in this will. 

Fourthly, I give and bequeath unto Charloote Cook, Sina Cook and Henna Ritte
Cook whom I claim and consider to be my own daughters begotten upon the body
of Charloote Cook whom I claim and consider to be my wife and with whom I have
lived as such for a number of years, the said Charloote having been married or
commonly reputed to have been married to one George Anderson previous to my
intermarriage with the said Charloote. (to wit) One feather bed and furniture
each; it is my will that my three daughters above named; Charloote Cook, Sina
Cook and Henna Ritte Cook each of them receive their bed and furniture when
the said daughters above mentioned arrive at the full age of eighteen years. 

Fifthly, it is my will and desire that my said wife Charloote Cook before
mentioned have all my household and kitchen furniture to hold and enjoy said
furniture during the minority of my said daughters and sons before mentioned
and it is my will and desire that when my youngest son Calvin Jones Cook
arrive at the age of twenty one years that all of the above mentioned
household and kitchen furniture be equally divided amongst Charloote Cook,
Sina Cook, Henna Ritte Cook, Joshua Martin Cook and Calvin Jones Cook; it is
my will and desire that Charloote Cook whom I claim to be my wife heretofore
married to George Anderson shall have hold and enjoy all my stock consisting
of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep and also to have all my plantation utensils
and tools and it is my will and desire that she the said Charlotte Cook before
named keep in possession all the above mentioned living stock and plantation
utensils to have hold and enjoy and to make use of for her the said Charlootes
support and for the support and schooling or educating of my three daughters
and two sons namely Charloote Cook, Sina Cook, Henna Ritte Cook, Joshua Martin
Cook and Calvin Jones Cook and when my youngest son Calvin Jones Cook arrives
at the full age of twenty one years that all my living stock be equally
divided between my three daughters and two sons. (to wit) Charloote Cook, Sina
Cook, Henna Ritte Cook, Joshua Martin Cook, and Calvin Jones Cook. It is my
will and desire that my Negro man named Benjamin be sold and the money be
equally divided amongst my said three daughters and two sons above named as
they the said daughters and said sons arrive to the age of twenty one years my
wish is that the money that Negro man Benjamin sells for be disposed of as
follows. (to wit) When Charloote Cook arrives at the age of twenty one years
to have her equal part of said money when Henna Ritte Cook arrives at the age
of twenty one years to have an equal part of said money. When Joshua Martin
Cook arrives at the age of twenty one years to have an equal part of said
money and when Calvin Jones Cook arrives at the age of twenty one years to
have an equal part of said money. It is my will and desire that all my just
debts be paid and all the moneys that are owing to me be collected and be
disposed of as my Executors hereafter named thinks proper. 

Sixthly, it is my will and desire that all my elder children have no part of
my estate mentioned in this my last Will and Testament. The elder children
alluded to, I now proceed to mention their names (to wit) Elizabeth Jolly,
Mary Marlow, John Cook, Henry Cook, Anne Martin, Martha Ellis, Lucy Milsaps,
Thomas Cook, William Cook, Allen cook, Richard Cook and Amelia Burton. Be it
remembered that I have heretofore given unto those twelve Elder children last
mentioned what I conceive to be a just and full portion of my Estate. It is my
will and desire that if my wife Charloote Cook should marry before my said
sons Joshua Martin Cook, and Calvin Jones Cook arrive at the age of twenty one
years that the said Charloote is not to hold or have any part of my estate
mentioned in this my last Will and Testament. And I do hereby authorize,
constitute and appoint Randolph Mabery and Robert Martin my sole Executors of
this my last Will and Testament, and that I do hereby Revoke, Disannul and
make Void all former Wills and Bequeaths whether Written or Nuncupative in the
most Positive and Absolute terms, and do declare and publish this and this
only to be my last Will and Testament by me made here upon earth. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Seal the twenty fifth day of
March AD 1819. 
 
Signed, Sealed in 
the presents of                             Thomas x Cook (seal)
WW Martin 
Hicks x Combs            North Carolina
James Marlow             Wilkes County May term 1819 
                                The execution of the foregoing will 
                                was duly proven in open court by the oaths 
                                of William W Martin, Hicks Combs and
                                James Marlow, and Randolph Mabery & 
                                Robert Martin were duly qualified as executors 
                                to the said will.
                                                  Test.
                                                    R Martin Clk.