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Abernathy Document

John Abernathy
18 Apr 1816, Lincoln Co., NC


(Raleigh Loose Papers, CR060.801.1, John Abernathy Will)

State of North Carolina, Lincoln County
April the eighteenth in the year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ one thousand and eight hundred and sixteen. Know all men by these presents: That in the name of God this is my last will and testament. That after all my just debts is paid I will and bequeath to my wife Susana Abernathy all the remainder of my property to keep and to have a good support during her widowhood or death except the Negro Mass but if Susana my wife should think proper to marry she is only to have the Negro girl Mirah and bed and furniture until death -- then the property above written and the increase of it is to be equally divided among the under named legatees -- further I will for the support of the family Susana my wife is to make choice of the plantation such land as she may think proper to cultivate and the remainder what she don't take my four youngest sons if they think proper may take it and cultivate it or settle on it and is not to pay rent at all and further I will that Susana my wife should furnish those of my children that is now single when they marry with a bed & furniture & table furniture so it does not injure her and also Polley Abernathy my youngest daughter is to have a good support as long as she remains single. & I will to Patsy Thompson my first daughter the Negro girl she now has in possession called Sarah & five dollars in cash as her full part of the estate or proper present or the increase of the same and at the death of Susana Abernathy all the property then on hand is to be divided as follows: Amy Oliver my second daughter is to get an equal part of the property then on hand with the other eight of my children namely Jeremiah Abernathy, my first son, and Harley Abernathy, my second son and Bary Abernathy my third son & Lot Abernathy my fourth son & also is to live where he now lives until then & also Claton Abernathy my fifth son is to be equal with the rest and Larkin Abernathy my sixth son the same -- Faney Little my third daughter the same and Polly Abernathy my fourth daughter the same and exclusive of that she is to have the Negro girl Mass and bed and furniture cupboard and table furniture but if she dies without issue is to be divided among the legatee, and in order that this my will may be attended to I appoint Harley Abernathy my second son and Bary Abernathy my third son to be my executors to fix and to settle all my affairs and to see the above mentioned property is not squandered but to take such measures they may add thereunto.
In witness whereof I set my hand and fix my seal on the day and month and year first written. John Abernathy
Signed and sealed in presence of
William Heker
William Nance
John Nantz Berry Abernathy & Harley Abernathy Exrs. Sworn

State of North Carolina, Lincoln County} July Term 1816
The within last will and testament of John Abernathy decd was proved in open court by the oath of William Heker and admitted to record. Witness Vawry McBee, C. C.

 

Transcribed by Elizabeth Ferguson