ALEXANDER, READING B.

State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 4 Page 20
Dated 9 Nov 1864

In the name of God Amen. I Reading B. Alexander of the county & state aforesaid being in my own proper mind do make & ordain this my last will & Testament in manner & form as follows. Viz:

1st wish all of my just debts paid my body to be buried in a Christian like manner & all expenses arising therefrom to be paid.

2nd I lend to my dearly beloved wife all of my land all of my Negroes household kitchen furniture stock of all kind together with all the rest & residue of my property during her natural life.

3rd After the death of my dearly beloved wife I give to my niece Mary J. A. Swain all of my lands whereon I now live adjoining of my brother Allen Alexander also my part of the Farining (farming ?) tract of land adjoining Jesse Bateman & others also all of my negroes & increase all of my household & kitchen furniture stock of all kinds together with all the rest & residue of my property real, Personal or mixed or in any manner belonging to me or in anywise appertaining thereunto her & her heirs forever to her own property us as she may think proper.

4th I give to my brother Allen Alexander the sum of one Dollar.

5th I give to my brother Ephriam Alexander the like sum of one Dollars.

6th I give to my sister Mahale Phelps the like sum of one Dollar.

7th I give to the heirs of my sister Asenath Woodley the like sum of one dollar;

8th I give to the heirs of my sister Jemima Tarkenton the like sum of one Dollar

9th I give to the heirs of my sister Nancy Dashields the sum of one dollar-

10th I appoint my wife Keziah Alexander & Thomas J. Swain Esqr to this my will & Testament. Published & declared to be my last will & testament given under my hand & seal this the 9th day of Nov A. D. 1864.

Reading B. Alexander (Seal)

Witnesses
Hardy H. Phelps
Andrew Bateman

And it is thereupon proved the oath examination of Hardy H. Phelps & Josiah A. Phelps that Hardy H. Phelps the other subscribing witness thereto is Dead. And it is proved by oath examination of the said Hardy H. Phelps & Joseph A. Phelps they are well acquainted with the handwriting of said Hardy H. Phelps having often seen him wirte & that the name of said Hardy H. Phelps subscribed as a witness to said will is in the proper handwriting of said Hardy H. Phelps. It is therefore considered that said paper writing & every part thereof is the last will & testament of Reading B. Alexander -& the same as such is recorded this 16th day of September A. D. 1871.

Eli Spruill
Probate Judge

Return to Tyrrell County Probate Records

Updated July 16, 2001
Ellen Kroll