Will of John Stovall, 1781

Granville County, North Carolina, Will Book 1, page 313

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Stovall, of Granville County and State of North Carolina being of sound and perfect mind & memory, blest be God. I do this twenty-ninth day of July in the year of our Lord, One thousand seven hundred and eighty one make and publish this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following that is to say, first let all my just debts be paid.

Secondly I lend unto my beloved wife during her life in widowhood all my land whereon I now live, also four negroes, vist: Aggy, Anthony, Jacob & Jane, likewise all my household & kitchen furniture, likewise all my stock of horses, cattle, sheep, & hogs while she lives a widow. Secondly, when eve my marries or dies, I give & bequeath my land lent unto her unto my son Drury Stovall.

Thirdly, I give and bequeath unto my son Bartholomew Stovall, after my wife’s marriage or decease my negro Anthony.

Fourthly I give unto my son Josiah Stovall my negro Aggy, Robin and Hannah & their increase after my wife marries or dies.

Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto my son William Stovall after my wife marries or dies my negro Jacob.

Sixthly, I give and bequeath unto my son Drury Stovall after my wife marries or dies my negro girl Jane and her increase.

Seventhly, I give and bequeath unto my three granddaughters, Rebecca Stovall, Susan Stovall, Mary Stovall, daughters of Thomas Stovall, after my wife marries or dies, all my beds and furniture to be equally divided between them.

Eightly, I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law, Owen Griffin, my negro girl named Patt & her increase, my bell mettle skillet, Dutch oven and looking glass.

Ninthly, I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Stovall my negro woman Fanny and her increase from this time.

Tenthly, I give and bequeath unto my Grand Son John Stovall, son of Thomas Stovall, my negro boy James, likewise my saddle with a horse to be raised out of that part of my estate to be sold, the horse to be worth Ten or Twelve pounds V.C. to be judged by executors to be worth that sum in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy four, likewise all my wearing apparel.

Eleventhly, I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law Aaron Pinson a negro girl names Phillis and her increase from this time.

Twelfthly, I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law William Poole my negro girl named Dilsey and her increase from this time.

Thirteenth, I give and bequeath unto my son John Stovall a negro boy named Abraham.

Fourteenth, I give unto my son George Stovall five shillings sterling to be raised out of that part of my estate that is to be sold.

Fifteenth, I give and bequeath unto my son Drury Stovall my brandy still & the appurtenances.

Lastly, my will and desire is that after my wife’s marriage or death that all the remainder of my estate not already bequeathed be sold and the money arising from the sale be equally divided between all my children except my son George and I hereby constitute & appoint my sons Bartholomew Stovall, Benjamin Stovall & Drury Stovall executors of this my last Will & Testament revoking all other wills by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29^th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & eighty one.

John Stovall

Sign’d seal’d and Declared to be the last Will & Testament of the said John Stovall in the presence of us who was in the room with him.