[see text for additional info on Joseph Scales, Sr.]
THE WILL OF JOSEPH SCALES, SR., 1774
WILL BOOK A, PAGE 337
GUILFORD COUNTY COURT (NC) MAY 1774
IN THE NAMEOF GOD, AMEN, I, JOSEPH SCALES of Guilford County in the province of North Carolina Planter, being weak and calling to mind the mortality of my Body, but of perfect mind and sound Memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, In the first place I recommend my Soul to Almighty God, the Author of my life, in hopes of a Joyful Resurrection at the last day and derect that my Body be Buried in a Decent and Christian like manner at the Discretion of my Executors herein after mentioned as to what worldly Substance it has pleased God to Bless me with - after all my just Debts being paid, I give, bequeath and Devise as followeth.-
Imprimis, - I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife, MARY SCALES all the land and Plantations & c, whereon I now live containing two Hundred Acres together with one Negro man named SAMSON, one Negro woman named NELL, one Feather bed & furniture, one Grey mare known by that name, Six Cows & Calves, one Gelding called black Jack, one Side Saddle & Bridle, one Still now on the aforesaid Plantation and Six head of Sheep for her proper use during her Natural life provided She remain unmarried, and after marriage or Death that then (except the land before mention'd) all I have given to my Said wife the use of, be Sold by my Executors and the monies arising therefrom to be Equally divided among part of my Children to wit:- HENRYSCALES, alias HENRYGIBSON, JOSEPH, JAMES, NATHANIEL, AGNES and BETTSEY SCALES and SARAH DAVIS & HANNAH OWINGS.
Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Son HENRYSCALES, otherwise
HENRYGIBSON, one Negro man named SCIARO and one Negro woman Named
MARMAand a Bond on JOHN GLENNfor a cirtain Sum of money the Bond he
has nowin possession.
Item I give and bequeath and Devise to my beloved Son JOSEPH SCALES Seven Hundred & Seventy five Acres of Land in the upper End whereon he now lives, part of a Tract containing One Thousand & Seventy five Acres lying and being on the great Branch of Cascade Creek in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, to hold to him, his heirs & assigns forever. and also I give to my Said son JOSEPH, one Negro woman named BETT
Item I give bequeath & devise to my beloved Son JAMES SCALES five hundred Acres of Land in the north End of a Tract of Six hundred & Ninety Three Acres lying on both Sides of Beaver Island Creek in Guilford County in the province of North Carolina to hold to him his heirs & assigns forever - and also one Negro man named DAVIDI give to my son JAMES, -
Item I give bequeath & Devise to my beloved Son, NATHANIEL SCALES the aforesaid Two hundred Acres of Land after the marriage or Death of his Mother, to hold to him his heirs & assigns forever, and also I give to my Said Son NATHANIEL one Negro man named JACOB and one Mare called the Sorrel Mare
Item I give bequeath and devise to my beloved Son ROBERT SCALES Three Hundred Acres of Land the Remaining part of the aforesaid Tract of one Thousand & Seventy five Acres on the great branch of Cascade Creek, be the Same more or less. And also I give my Said son ROBERT one Negro boy named HARRY.
Item I give bequeath and Devise to my Son-in-law JOHN DAVIS the remaining part of the aforesaid Tract Six hundred and Ninety Three Acres on both sides of Beaver Island Creek to hold to him and his heirs & assigns for ever, and I also give to my Daughter SARAH, the wife of my Said Son-in-law one Negro woman named SILVESS.
Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Daughter HANNAH OWINGS one Negro Girl named SALL, and also one Side Saddle now in her possession
Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Daughter AGNES SCALES One Negro woman Named JUDE, and also I give to my last Daughter one Feather bed and furniture
Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Daughter BETTSY one Negro boy Named ISAAC, one Negro Girl Named LETT & one Feather Bed and furniture
Item I give & bequeath to my Sons JOHN & THOMAS SCALES the Sum of five Shillings Each to be paid to them by my Executors in Sterling money.
Item I give & bequeath to my Daughters ANN HILL 8 MARY RICE five Shillings Sterling money Each to be paid to them by my Executors.
Item I give & bequeath to my Son DAVID SCALES five Shillings sterling money to be paid to him by my Executors - and my will and Desire is that my wife MARY aforesaid Clear nor cause to be Cleared no more Land on the Tract I now live on which She is to have the use of after my Decease - and further my will is that all the Residue or Remainder of my Stock, Household Goods, Personal Estate & not herein before mentiond be sold and The money arising therefrom to be Equally Divided among my wife & part of my Children to wit: HENRY SCALES alias HENRY GIBSON, JOSEPH, JAMES, NATHANIEL & ROBERT SCALES, SARAH DAVIS and HANNAH OWINGS and AGNES & BETTSEY SCALES and further my Executors are to get my Tobacco carried Down by My waggon and horses before they are Sold in order to pay my Debts- And lastly I constitute and appoint my beloved Sons HENRY SCALES alias HENRY GIBSON, JOSEPH & JAMES SCALES and PHILEMON DEATHERAGE to be my Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former Wills and Testaments heretofore made ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will & Testament.
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixt my Seal the Seventeenth day of September in the year One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Three 1773.
s/ JOSEPH SCALES (Seal)
Sign'd Seal'd publish'd pronounced and declared to be the Last Will and Testament
of the said JOSEPH SCALES who hath in our presence set his hand seal and we in his presence subscribed our hands.
5/ JOHN MORGAN
8/ THOMAS WALKER
S/ HENRY JESTER
North Carolina Guilford County SC May Court 1774
Last & testament
Then the written will of JOSEPH SCALES Deceased was proved in Open Court by the Oaths of JOHN MORGAN & HENRY JESTER & two of the Subscribing Witnesses there to & on Motion Ordered to be
Recorded Then Came in HENRY SCALES alias HENRY GIBSON, JOSEPH & JAMES SCALES and PHILEMON DEATHERAGE Who were by the said JOSEPH SCALES Decd appointed as his Executors to his aforesaid Last will & Testament Who Came into Court & Qualifyed as such agreeable to law.
Test
s/ THOS. HENDERSON CC
