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Abernathy Document

Will of
John D. Abernathy
8 Jan 1838

In the name of God Amen I John D Abernathy of the County of Lincoln State of North Carolina being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory Blessed be god do make this as my last will and testament. First I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Susannah during her lifetime my home tract of land and the Kinder tract of land both of which as known from ____ reputation also for her life time the following negros, Viz Tom, Silah, Mary, and Mathew. I will and bequeath to my wife Susannah all my household and Kitchen furniture to be hers forever. I also will and bequath unto her during her life time all my horses Cattle Sheep and hogs and all the provisions that may be on hand at my decease. I will and bequeath to my daughter Charity Young one negro girl named Sarah. I will and bequeath to my daughter Fanny Gabriel one negro girl named Rhody. I will and bequeath to my daughter Polly Duncan one negro girl named Molly and after her deceased to be divided among her children Equally with her increas I will and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Rozzel four hundred dollars to be paid after the dec'd of my wife, I will and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth McKorkle one negro girl named Fanney. I will and bequeath to my son Jacob one negro boy named Timothy. I will and bequeath to my son Miles one negro girl named Franky. I will and bequeath to my son Franklin one negro boy named Ephraim. I will and bequeath to my son John my negro boy named Freeman. I will and bequeath to my daughter Susan Hoke one negro girl named Sucky. I further will and bequeath to my sons Franklin and John after the decease of my wife the home tract of land and Kinder tract and the mountain tract of land to be thiers forever. I further will and bequeath to my son Franklin at his mother's her deceased one negro Mary before named and her youngest child at my wife's deceased and I further will to my son John at the death of his mother a negro woman named Martha and the youngest child she may have at my wife's decease. I further will and bequeath I will and bequeath to my sons Franklin and John one negro boy named Tom to be Equal between them. My further wish is that all of my negroes not divided shall at the decease of my wife be put up to the highest bidder amongst my children the condition of the date to be at the discretion of my Execuator and the proceeds of the said sale to be equally divided among all my children. I further that all my land not herein divided may be sold by my Executors at any time they think proper, at private or bublic sale to the proceeds and the purchase of the same to be equally divided amongst all my children. I further eill that my negro woman named Selah after the deceased of my wife to any of my children that she may wish to go to forever. I hereby revoke and renounce all the wills made by me. I hereby nominate and appoint my sons William and Franklin my Executors of this my last will and testament in Testimony where of I have set my hand and seal this 8th day of January 1838.

John D. Abernathy [seal]
Signed and sealed in
the presence of us
J M Forney
Robert Perkins