In the name of God Almighty and All Mercifull (sic). The last Will and
Testament of John Brown the Elder of Wilkes County, NC made & concluded in
manner & form as follows. My soul I recommend to the God that made &
preserved me. My body to be decently entered at the discretion of my
executors, here in after -to-be named. And as to my worldly property, I
give & bequath unto my beloved wife Jane Brown during her natural life the
following negroes (sic), Apper, Mima, Joe, Peter, Malta, George & James.
Likewise, all the house hold & kitchen furniture, also all my stock of
horses, cattle sheep & hogs, with all the farming utensils and at her
decease, the above property to be divided eaqually (sic) between my sons--
Hugh, Hamilton, Thomas & Allen; and my Daughters--Ann & Margret--taking
from the girls part the price of two negro (sic) girls, to be here after
devised.
Second--I give to my daughter Elizabeth Stuart a negro (sic) girl called
Leah. To my daughter Ann, a negro girl called Milley. To my daughter
Margret a negro girl called Dinah.
Thirdly— It is my will that all the lands that I hold in the state of N.C.
including the place where on I now live, shall be sold by my Executors and
the amount of such sails (sic) to be eaqually divided between Hugh,
Hamilton, Tomas, Allen, Ann & Margret..
Fourthly— It is my will that all my lands in the State of Tennessee, &
land warrents (sic) shall be disposed of as follows--The tract of land on
Knob creek of two thousand acres in my own name, fifteen hundred acres of
which belong to me the other five hundred acres belongs to my son
Alexander. Five hundred acres of said tract I give to my son, Hugh. Five
hundred acres to my son Hamilton and the other five hundred acres to be
equally divided between my Daughters--Ann & Margret, and my land at the
bent of Duck river of six hundred and two acres in the name of William
Brown, whose obligation I have for a conveyance, I give to my son John.
And that all the rest of my lands & land warrents that i claim in
Tennessee shall be divided by my Executors, as they think proper, amongst
my children.
Fifthly--It is my will & desire, that of the money due me, my executors
shall pay all my just debts and if any money remains, to be applied to the
use of my Wife, and my four youngest Sons, and my two youngest Daughters.
Sixthly--It is my desire that if there is any thing not named in this
Will, my Executors shall make the necessary disposition of the same for
the use of the Legatees. I have here-to-fore given to my son James a tract
of land worth twelve hundred dollars. And to my son William I gave a tract
of land worth eight hundred dollars and two hundred & seventy-nine dollars
in cash. To my son Alexander I gave a track worth one thousand dollars.
And to my Daughter Elizabeth I gave a tract worth two hundred dollars, and
seventy dollars in cash.
Seventhly & Lastly--It is my wish that if any of the Legatees shall be
dissatisfied with this my last will, that in such case, I wish my
Executors, and they are especially directed to he she or they who may be
dissatisfied, nothing more than ten pounds for their full portion of my
estate. And I do here by appoint my sons--John Brown & Hamilton Brown
executors, to this my last will, hereby revoking former wills, gifts or
bequaths (sic) by me here-to fore made and pronounce this to be my last
will.
February 3rd 1812 John Brown
This is a copy found in the Hamilton Brown Papers from the Manuscripts
department at the University of N.C.
The original was witnessed by Solomon Doss and Jeremiah Chrisle & probated
May term A.D. 1812 in the county court of Wilkes Co.
