James Fletcher's Will
In the name of God Amen.
I James Fletcher senior of Wilkes County & State of North Carolina being in perfect ------ and ------- though weak in body and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, and knowing that my worldly effects say in a manner go to them not devering I do hereby make this my last will & Testament in ---- manner of following (to wit)
In the first place I give and bequeath my soul to you who gave it & hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ ------- that he wil saive both sould and body into the mansions of Eternal Glory.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Susasea Fletcher a certain part of the Tract of Land that I now live on containing three hundred acres be the same more or less. Beginning at a forked hickory and the bank of the Yadkin River a little below the House (horse?) ford and running a straight course to a prized tree at the barn thence a straight course to the bank line thence with said line a south course to the corner thence with said line to the Yadkin River thense down said River to the beginning including the dwelling house & out houses thereunto belonging for and during her natural life & no longer also I give & bequeath unto my wife Susannan Fletcher another tract of land containing four hundred acres of land adjoining the aforesaid tract including the meeting house for & during my wife Sussanna Fletchers natural life & no longer and after the dercaue (?) of my wife Susanna Fletcher I give and bequeath unto William Fletcher, son of James Fletcher Jun. the above mentioned tracts of land to hime and his heirs and assign forever. Also I give and bequeath unto the said William Fletcher son of James Fletcher Jn. the colt that my black mare is now with foal with to be delivered to the said William Fletcher when fit to be weaned to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my wife Susanna Fletcher all and every of my household & kitchen furniture and farming ----- of every kind my stock of horses cattle sheep & hogs for and during the life of my wife Susanna Fletcher & no longer and after the demasse of my wife Susanna Fletcher I give and bequeath the aforesaid household and kitchen furniture & farming utensals my stock of horse cattle sheep & hogs unto him the said William Fletcher his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my wife Susanna Fletcher my Negroes in the following manner ( Nansy executed (?) Namely Samuel a Negro fellow about the age of twenty eight years of age. David a negro boy about the age of fifteen years and Nanny a Negro wench about eh age of fifty years and Lucinda a Negro girl about the age of ten years her increase for and during the natural life of my wife Susanna Fletchr and no longer. I give and bequeath unto William Fletcher son of James Fletcher my Negro fellow Harry to be delivered to the said William Fletcher after the date of this present year. Also I give unto the said William Fletcher son of James Fletcher, Jun. after the demase of my wife Susanna Fletcher the resideue of my negroes namely Samuel a Negro fellow about the age of fifteen years. David a negro boy about the age of fifteen years and Nanny a negro wench about the age of fifty and
Lucinda a Negro girl about the age of ten years & her increase to him the said William Fletcher his heirs and assigns forever. Item. I give and bequesth unto John Fletcher Sen., son of Thomas, one hundred and fifty acres of land on the Brushy Mountains on the head of Grassy Branch to hime the said John Fletcher his heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath unto my wife Susanna Fletcher and my executor here after mentioned all my ready money Bond Notes of hand and book accounts (?) to pay my Just and lawfull debts with.
Item. I give and bequeath into James Fletcher Jun., John Fletchers Sen. son of Thomas Enoch Fletcher son of Benjamin & John Fletcher his Brother all and every of the rest of my lands not mentioned lying in Wilkes & other Countys to be equally divided between them according value to them and heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath Hugh Gilreath son of William Gilreath & the rest of his brothers and sisters (Henry Gilreath) excepted, one thousand acres of land lying on Cove Creek to be equally divided between them to them their heirs & assigns forever.
Item. I give 7 bequeath unto the rest of my heirs five shillings each and no more and lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my wife Susanna Fletcher my executrix and John Fletcher Sen. son of Thomas my executor of this my last will and testamant revoking all other wills made by me as witness my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of April one thousand eight hundred and five.
Interlined in the eighteenth line at the word Fletcher before assigned - natural life.
Signed and Sealed
In the Presents of
H. Rosysall
Samuel Profitt
Barbara Stover
James Fletcher (SEAL)
North Carolina
July Term AD 1805
Wilkes County
The within Will was duly proven in open court by the oath of Hiram Rosysall, Sameul Proffet and dr. (directed/ordered?) to be Recorded.
TEST
Wm. B. Lenoir, Clerk