WILKES COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Thomas Witherspoon, 10 Apr 1790 ==================================================================== 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: Elizabeth M Korves korves@astro.as.utexas.edu ==================================================================== Thomas Witherspoon's Will Last Will and Testament of Thomas Witherspoon eldest son of John and Martha Pettigrew Witherspoon In the Name of God Amen -- I Thomas Witherspoon fo Wilkes County and State of North Carolina being of a low state of health in body, but of a sound understanding and memory, and calling to mind the shortness of life and the certainty of death, do constitute this mylast will and testament and desire it to be received by all as such. Imprimis - I bequeath my soul to God who gave it, and my body to be buried at the discretion of my executors, and after all my just debts is paid it is my will and desire that my earthly estate which it has pleased God to bless me with be divided among my five children in the following manner -- Imprimis - To my four well beloved sons, John, Joshua, Wesley, and David Witherspoon I will and bequeath all my land both improved and unimproved to be divided equally among my four sons afed. In the following manner, that is to say, it is my desire that my lands be rented out to some careful industrious man for a small term of years at a time in such manner for the tenant to improve the land & the rents after paying the taxes of the lands to go to the support of my four sons a fed. It is further my desire that when my sons become of age that my lands e divided among them when the come of age by lot agreeable to quantity and quality. Imprimis - To my well beloved daughter Dorcas I will and bequeath my negro girl Sara, - also on feather bed and furniture, one side saddle & her departed mother's wearing apparel. Imprimis - To my four well beloved sons, John, Joshua, Wesley, & David Witherspoon, I will and bequeath all my personal estate which is not already bequeathed, such as horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, household furniture and plantation utensils, debts due as well as bills and bonds, together with every part and parcel of my estate, to be equally divided among them. It further is my will and desire that the rents of the land afred. The use of the negro girl Sarah bequeathed to my daughter, also the use and increase of all my personal estate to go to the maintaining and schooling of my five well beloved children afed. It is also my will and desire that al my personal estate be valued by two or three judicious and honest freeholders whom the worshipfull Court may see cause to appoint and that just inventory be made out to the Court and that my Executors give bond and security for the delivery of such estate to such shares equal in value to my children afed. That is to day, John, Joshua, Wesley, and David Witherspoons, and that the benefit, increase and profit of such estate go to children which I wish to be raised in a Christian manner. It is further my will and desire that my beloved brother James Witherspoon and trusy and well beloved friend Benjamin Howard be the executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 10th day of April, 1790. Thomas Witherspoon (Seal) Signed, sealed and acknowledged In the present of Thomas Preston Anninias Allen Thomas Carlton Wm. Swanson