Abraham Stephenson's Will

Northampton County, Will Book #1, page 427-429

In the name of God Amen. I Abraham Stevenson of Northampton County and State of North Carolina, being sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be to almighty God first, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament, principally as follows the first I commend my soul to the hands of God and my body to the ground to be buried in a decent manner at the discertion of my Exors and all my worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give in the following manner and form.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Winifred Carr nine negros known by the name of, Peggy, Jacob, Hannah, Patience, Ned, Betty, Shadrack, Allen, and Phillip to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I leave to my son in law Wm Darden the sum of fifteen negros by the name of Eady, Anarchy, Samuel, Isbel, Lucy, Charlotte, Cherry, Judy, Timfry, Dinah, Peggy, Patience, Bridgett, Deliah, Liviniah, during his natural life and after his decease I give all the said negros and their increase to my grand children, Sarah Darden, Elizabeth Darden, Priscilla and Abraham Darden to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever also I leave to my son in law William Darden the use of one negro known by the name of Fong until his son Abraham Darden comes to the age of twenty one years of age I give the said negro known by the name of Toby to my grand son Abraham Darden to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I leave to my beloved son Charles Stevenson the use of three negros known by the name of Ned, Fred, and Old Hannah during his natural life and after his death I give the said negros to his son John Stevenson to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I leave to my daughter in law Dersas Stevenson the sum of three negros known by the name of Peter, Nan, and Cherry during her natural life and after her death I give the said negros to her daughter Polly Stevenson to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I leave to my son Charles Stevenson to live on my plantation until his death but after his death I give my land and plantation to my grand son John Stevenson to him and his heirs forever and if no heirs I give to my grand son Abraham Darden my land and plantation to him and his heirs forever and if no heir I give the said land and plantation to my grand son Robt Stevenson Carr to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I leave to my son Charles Stevenson two feather beds and furniture the use of them till his son and daughter comes to twenty one years of age then I give the said bed to them and their heirs forever.

Item: I leave to the direction of my Exr to sell as much of my estate as will pay off my Just debts and charges(attest, to sell my large Sorrel horse, my young horse called independence, 1 yoke of steers, two thousand weight of good fat' pork and all the Brandy and cider and all the tobacco.

Item: I give to my Executor Wm Darden twenty five pounds prack all the rest of my Estate whatsoever kind real and personal after my just debts and charges are paid I do give unto my son Charles Stevenson to him and his heirs forever. I do appoint my sons in law Wm Darden and Titus Car my whats and sale Exrs to this last will and testament revoking all other wills by me heretoforemade ratifying this and no other to be my last will and testament In witness whereof I the said Abraham Stevenson have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the 21 day of August 1788.

Abraham Stevenson and a seal

Signed sealed and published and declared in the presence of Thos Boon, John Boon, Wm Boon

Northampton County June Court 1791.