| Notes |
- # Military Service: Revolutionary Soldier. NSDAR #3217
# Will: 8 MAR 1803 Iredell County, North Carolina. See notes.
# Note:
In the name of God. Amen. I, William Stevenson, Senior, of the State
of North Carolina and County of Iredell, being at present in my ordinary state
of health, of mind and of memory--thanks be to God for it--calling to mind the
mortality of my body, that it is appointed for all men once to die, for that
all have sinned - do make this and ordain it and no other heretofore by me
made - to be my last will and testament. And first of all, I commit my soul to
God, who gave it to me, and my body to the dust, to be buried in a decent
manner, at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter mentioned, nothing
doubting but I shall receive the same again at the Last Day by the power of
Almighty God; and for such earthly things as it hath pleased God to endow me
with, I dispose of them in the following manner;
1. And, first of all I allow my lawful debts fully to be discharged.
2. I leave to my loving wife, Mary, one negro wench named Betty, to be at
her own disposal during life, and at her death also, if alive until then; also
the negro wench named Dina, to be at her disposal during the life of my wife;
and after that, if the said Dina be alive to go as I direct. I also leave to
her own choose of all the beds we own, with full furniture thereunto
belonging; also her own clothes, coarse and fine, also her own choose of all
the horse creatures we then shall be possessed of; her own saddle and bridle;
also a choose of the cattle as far as two cows and two calves; I also leave
her in full possession of the house I now live in while she remains my widow;
also the use of the barn, kitchen and other necessary houses thereunto
belonging with the third part of this plantation I now live on, clear and
unclear, with the use of all my stock, horses, cows, sheep and hogs, with all
laboring instruments necessary for laboring on the plantation, except the
reserves hereafter to be made; also the negro man named Henry during her
widowhood, to be under her direction to labor for the family support; and if
my dear wife does not choose to live in her present habitation, but would
choose rather to go to live with some other of her children, she may take with
her the wenches named, and Henry, and what stock she pleases, to labor for her
and themselves.
3. I leave to my son, Moses the whole of the plantation I now live on, which
contains 535 acres, after my wife is served of it, and two parts of it clear
and unclear, till then. I also allow to him, after my wife is done with them,
all of the instruments of laboring tools belonging to the plantation, the
present wagon excepted; the remaining at that time of cattle, sheep and hogs I
allow for his use; also all household furniture of all kinds, except beds and
books, I bequeath to him. I also allow him my big house Bible and Hymn and
Psalm Book with my lot in Union Library.
4. I leave and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth McKenzie, the
forementioned wench, Dina, when my wife is done with her, to whom she is now
left, her, with all her breed, till then, if any there be, be the said
McKenzie's; and till that time comes she is now possessed of a negro boy named
Jack that is to fill her room until delivered to her, and if death should
prevent, Jack is to continue in her stead as their own property; but if Dina
is delivered, aforesaid Jack returned and disposed of as hereafter directed.
5. I leave and bequeath to William Stevenson, son of John Stevenson, one
hundred acres of land laying on the waters of Third and Fourth Creek near
Statesville, being part of tract given by me to my son, Robert Stevenson, and
by him exchanged to his brother James, the said 100 acres being on
George Robinson's northeast corner of a piece of the same tract he bought of
said James Stevenson; from thence east to a post oak sapling, being the
original east corner of said tract; but not cut down, unknowingly by the
cutter, is now supplied by a large standing stone set up by and before many
witnesses for that purpose; from thence south to a Spanish oak joining William
Simentown, Esqu.; thence west with said Simentown's till a post oak sapling on
said line George Robinson's southeast corner; thence north with said
Robinson's line to the beginning. And if the said William should not live to
possess it, it is to pass to the next male in the family till possessed.
6. I leave to Mary Stevenson, John Stevenson's oldest daughter, one mare
known by the name of the sorrel mare's colt.
7. I leave to my son, John Stevenson, the wagon I am now the possessor of,
but no gears.
8. I also leave to my son, William Stevenson, all my clothes that I am
possessed of, both coarse and fine.
9. I do leave and bequeath unto William Stevenson Sloan one hundred dollars,
to be paid to him out of my estate, together with my full margin Bible to be
given to him also.
10. My books not already mentioned I allow to be divided amongst my children
at the discretion of my Executors.
11. The remaining of my estate not yet bequeathed I allow to be put to
public sale, to-wit: The two negroes Henry and Jack if Dina lives to release
Jack; if not, Henry is only to be sold; also what horses may remain, together
with whatever bed ding may then remain as the property of the Estate,
all to be sold, and the whole Estate, or the amount of it after all demands
are cleared off, to be equally divided amongst all my children, male and
female.
Last of all I appoint my sons, John, William, and Robert Stevenson to be the
Executors of this, my last will and testament, and in witness of my
satisfaction with what is herein contained, I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Eighth day of March, 1803. Signed with my hand and sealed with my
seal in presence of us.
William Stevenson Sr.
Test: Fergus Sloane O.H. Matthews, Jurat Jno. Matthews
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1725 - 1809 (84 years)
