Will of Jacob Petry
Stokes County, NC 1803


In the name of God Amen! I, Jacob Petry, of Stokes County in the State of North Carolina, Farmer, Being in good health and of sound mind and memory, thanks be given to Almighty God, calling unto mind the mortality of men and knowing it to be the destination for all men once to die, Do make and ordain this my last will and testament viz: Principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of my Creator, Jesus Christ and my body to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my executors, and as touching such world estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to help me in this world, I give and devise the same in manner and form following

viz; 1st.  Whereas I have heretofore made over and delivered unto my two sons named Henry Petry and Jacob Petry all of my tract of land with my plantation and improvement thereon situate lying and being in Stokes County on Both sides of the Neatman Creek as by the several instruments of writing namely, Henry Petrys, bearing date the 20 of May 1795, and Jacob Petry bearing date of 26th day of February in the year of our Lord 1798, more fully and at large appears,  Now it is my will that immediately after my decease, my executors hereafter named shall make out unto the aforesaid sons, Henry and Jacob a good and lawful conveyance in fee simple for the aforementioned land to have and to hold the same for themselves and their heirs forever, reference must always be had to the aforementioned instruments of writing to all intents and purposes. 

2.  All of the remaining part of my estate shall after my death be divided as follows viz:  I give to Eva Barbara, my daughter, Married to Adam Wolf, Esq. one dollar of the United State and no more, the rest of my children shall have an equal share.  They are named John Henry, Jacob, Adam, John, Mary Catherina, Mary Dorothy, Elisabeth Margaretha, and Johanna, each and every one shall have an equal share out of my estate.

3.  And whereas two of my aforesaid sons named Adam and John are already dead, I will that the share of my estate which I have hereby given and demised unto them shall be given to their children to be divided between them share and share alike, namely Adam’s share shall be divided unto six parts amongst his six children, named Sarah, Barbara, Elisabeth, Mary, Catharina and Francis and likewise Johns share shall be divided equally unto seven parts amongst his seven children named Susanna, Jacob, William, Mary, John, Henry and George and their share they shall have and hold for themselves and their heirs forever.

4.  And I hereby make ordain constitute and appoint my trusty friends John Kraus and my sons Henry Petri and Jacob Petri Executors of this my last will and testament who are hereby empowered to pay off all my lawful debts and settle all my  accounts and I do hereby annul and make void all my former wills or legacies done by me either in writing or by word of mouth ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this eighteenth day of September in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Three.

s/ Jacob Petry    SEAL

Witnessed by John Rights, John Baker and Johnson Rutledge.  (will Book #2, Stokes CO, September Term, 1804.


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