Person:John Thompson (346)

Will of John Thompson

Will of John Thompson, 1774

Written 18 March 1774

In the name of God Amen! I John Thompson of Rowan County in the province of North Carolina being weak of body but of sound mind and memory, Thanks be given to God, therefore calling to mind the Mortality of the Body; and that it is appointed for all men once to die: Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. That is to say, principally (sic)and first of all I give and bequeath my Soul to Almighty God who gave it, nothing doubting but I shall receive the same again reunited with my Body at the general Resurrection by the mighty power of God, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors in sure Expectation of the above mentioned. And as touching such worldly Goods as it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise & dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First, I allow my lawful Debts and funeral charges to be paid out of my moveable Estate.

Secondly, I give and bequeath unto Martha my dearly beloved Wife, her bed and bed clothes, all her wearing apparel, her Spinning Wheel & Check Reel and one black Cow, these things to be solely at her own Disposal; and also one Horse to be purchased for her about fourteen Pounds price together with her saddle, one brindled cow, one little oak chest, one iron Pot & an iron Skillet, these Things to be at her command for her use and Benefit during the term of her natural life and then to be sold and the money thence arising be equally divided amongst my surviving Children _

Thirdly: I give and bequeath my well beloved Son Alexander Thompson one half the Plantation whereon I now dwell, to be laid off on the North East of said Plantation including the House, Mill and other Improvements thereon and it is my Will that my said son Alexander give and allow my Wife Martha a comfortable maintenance on his said part of the Plantation during the time of her Widowhood;

Fourthly: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Thomas Thompson the other half of the Plantation whereon I now dwell, to be laid off on the South End, which Plantation being so divided I give and bequeath to my said two Sons and their heirs and assigns forever.

Fifthly: I give and bequeath unto my eldest Son William Thompson the Sum of fifteen pounds Pennsylvania money.

I give and bequeath unto my second Son John Thompson the like Sum of fifteen pounds Pennsylvania money.

Seventhly: I give and bequeath unto my third son Joseph Thompson the Sum of one shilling sterling.

Eigthly: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Margaret Thompson the sum of seven pounds of proclamation money.

Ninethly: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Rachel McGauchey the sum of fifteen Pounds proc. money.

Tenthly: I give and bequeath unto my step-daughter Agnes Allison two yearling heifers.

Eleventhly: I give and bequeath unto my children who may be in the Province at the Time of my death all my books to be distributed among them equitably by my Executors; and also the Waggon (sic) and Gears together with all and singular my plantation utensils & Carpenter's Tools, Household Furniture and other moveable Estate, not already mentioned I allow to be valued by two or three honest and upstanding Neighbors to be nominated for that purpose by my Executors, and then divided equally between such of my said Children as are or may be in Carolina at the time of my death, or at the time of such Division, according to such valuation as appropriate.

Lastly, I hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint my dearly beloved Son Alexander Thompson and my trusty Friend and son-in-law John Brown sole executors of this last will and Testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow & revoke all former Wills, Testaments, Legacies, Bequests and Executors, confirming this and no other to be my last Will & Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 18th day of March in the year of our Lord Christ 1774.

(signed) John Thompson

Signed, sealed, published and approved by the said John Thompson as his Last Will and Testament in witness of such have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses:

David McNeely <signed>

Hugh Allison <signed>

John Braley <signed>

[Source: North Carolina Department of Archives and History, Rowan County NC Wills, Book A-B, pp 177-178, 18 March 1774].

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