Transcribed by Chris Swinson
The Last Will and Testament of J.W.S. Mills
(Record of Wills, Jones Co., Book D, p. 246)
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
COUNTY OF JONES
I, J.W.S. Mills, of the aforesaid county and state, being of sound mind, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my last will and testament:
First: My executor hereinafter named, shall give my body a decent burial, suitable to the wishes of my friends and relatives, and pay all my funeral expenses, together with all my just debts, the funeral expenses to be paid by my boys (?), share and share alike.
Second: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Alice Mills, Two Hundred ($200.00) Dollars, each and every year as long as she remains a widow, to be paid to her by my five sons as rent from my lands.
Third: I give and bequeath to my son L.A. Mills the tract of land known as the Rouse land with 5 acres of the Reddick new ground.
Fourth: I give and bequeath to my sons, Alonza Mills, Clarence Mills, Russell Mills, and Leon Mills, all of the tract of land on which I now reside, share and share alike.
Fifth: I give and bequeath to each of my daughters, Lucy Freeman, Belle Miller, Jennie Mills, and Inez Mills, all of my insurance money.
Sixth: I give and devise to my four girls all the remainder and residue of my personal property, same to be sold by my executor herein named, and the monies derived therefrom to be divided share and share alike among my four girls.
Seventh: I hereby constitute and appoint my son, C. L. Mills, my lawful executor to all intents and purposes, to execute this my last will and testament, according to the true intent and purposes of the same, and every part and clause thereby, hereby revoking (?) and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
In witness whereof, I, the said J.W.S. Mills, do here with set my hand and seal this the 9th day of November, 1920.
(Signed) J.W.S. Mills (Seal)
The foregoing one sheet was signed, sealed and published and declared by the said J.W.S. Mills to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, do subscribe our names as witnesses hereto.
C. S. Hargett
W. G. Hargett
North Carolina In the Superior Court
Jones County Before the Clerk
In the matter of the will of J.W.S. Mills, deceased.
The paper writing hereto attached and purporting to be the last will and testament of J.W.S. Mills, deceased, is exhibited before the undersigned Clerk of the Superior Court of Jones County, North Carolina, by C. L. Mills, the executor therein named, and thereupon the following proof thereof is taken by the oath and examination of C.S. Hargett, the subscribing witness thereto as follows:
North Carolina
Jones County
C.S. Hargett and W.G. Hargett, being duly sworn depose and say, and each for himself deposes and says, that he is a subscribing witness to the said paper, writing now shown, purporting to be the last will and testament of J.W.S. Mills, and that he saw him execute (or heard him acknowledge the execution of) this writing as his last will and testament, and that affiant (?) attested it in the presence and at the request of said J.W.S Mills Deceased; and at the time of its execution (or at the time its execution was acknowledged) said J.W.S. Mills was, in affiant’s (?) opinion, of sound mind and disposing memory.
C.S. Hargett
W.G. Hargett
Severally subscribed and sworn to before me, this 8th day of November 1937.
George R. Hughes
Clerk Superior Court
Jones County
And thereupon it is considered and adjudged by the Court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of J.W.S. Mills, deceased, and it is ordered that the same, with the foregoing examination and this certificate, be recorded and filed.
This 8th day of November, 1937.
George R. Hughes
Clerk Superior Court
Jones County