Will, NC, Lincoln, John Matthews 1816 In the name of God, Amen. I JOHN MATTHEWS of the county of Lincoln and state of North Carolina being weak and infirm in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be unto God for the same, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, that it is appoint to all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say: I recommend my soul into the hands of the almighty that gave it and my body I commit to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried with a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors herein after named and as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I do give and bequeath them in manner and form following, viz. After all my just debts are discharged. I do give and bequeath to my six sons WILLIAM, JAMES, NATHAN, THOMAS, PAUL and ISAAC my lands that I now live upon to be divided in the following manner. FIRST it is my will that my son WILLIAM shall have that part which he now lives upon of land formerly the property of MILLER, ROSO and SAMPSON. WILLIAM and NATHAN may have water. SECONDLY it is my will the improvements joining … thereto the whole piece to be divided into four parts, the first running a short line half way through the middle from the west to the east. The south quarter to my son JAMES and the north quarter to my son THOMAS and after such division the other half to have a line run through the middle from north to south, the west quarter to be PAUL’s and the east quarter to ISAAC. AND it is also my will that all my stock of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep all my household furniture of all kind and all the movable together with all my plantation tools shall be sold at public sale, after my decease, and the money arising there from to be equally divided between my three daughters: ELIZABETH, MOLLEY and ANNEY. It is my will that my friends PETER LITTLE & JACOB LITTLE be the executors of this my last will and testament, making void all other wills and testaments by me made and done, ratifying and confirming this to be my only last will and testament. In witness whereof, I the said JOHN MATTHEWS hath hereunto set his and and seal this 22nd day of February 1816. JOHN MATTHEWS {seal, his M mark} Signed, sealed by the testator himself as his last will and testament in the presence of us. PETER LITTLE JACOB LITTLE Witness V. MCBEE CC Page 1 of 1 ** PAGE BREAK **