I Tennison Cheshire, of the County of Davie and State of North Carolina and being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of any earthy existence do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say:
First. That my Executor (hereinafter named) shall provide for my body a decent burial suitble to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral expenses, together with just debts howsoever and whomsoever owing out of the monies that may first come into their hand as a part or parcel of my Estate.
Item. I give and devise unto my beloved wife Mary Cheshire the following parcel of land: Beginning at a persimmon, Isaac Holmes and my corner, standing in the lane and running with the stakes and Salem road to a white oak, William F. McMahan's corner, and thence with my lines North around all my lands on the north side of the public road, to the beginning, including the Gales tract and a (part?) of the Hawkins tract; and including free and interrupted use and accep (access) to the well opposite the dwelling house for and ____ the term of her natural life.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Mary Cheshire, the following personal property to wit: Four negroes, Stokes, Henry, George & Jin, three head of horses, Kit, Sall and and Sweets (?), twenty head of hogs, assorted two (?) cows and calves and one dry cow, her choice, all the beds and furniture, one chest in her room, which she brought here at our marriage, two Bureaus, one corner cupboard and all the cupborad furniture, one falling table, one common walnut table and one small table, one dozen ____, one clock one looking glass, one washpot and as many of the cooking utensils as she may choose, two fallying axes, three hoes, two mattocks, two ting hoes, two Saythes and cradles two mowing saythes, three plows and sintrees and clevis, three sets of plow gears (?), one cutting board knife, one _____ tackle, one cotton and one flan wheel, her new side saddle and bridle and blanket and five hundred dollars in cash. And five hundred bushels of corn, one hundred bushels of wheat, fifty bushels of oats, one hundred dozens (?) of sheaf oats, four wagon loads of hay, 1000 bundles fodder, two sacks fifty pounds sugar, fifty pounds of coffee, five hundred pounds bacon, and forty dred (?) pounds of lard, and all the poultry for one years provision. All the porg (?) personal property as bequeathed to my beloved wife Mary for and during the term of her natural life, and after her death, what may be remaining on hand, I wish sold and the money equally devided among my seven children or their representatives.
Item. I give and devise to my daughter, Nancy Gowans, one hundred and ninety seven acres of land upon which she now lives.
(I have lost the second page to this will.)