Submitted by Steve Davenport
March 19, 1888
The State of North Carolina
Washington County
I Jestin DAVENPORT do say I give my son Alexander DAVENPORT the land from the middle of the gum swamp J. A. FURLOUGH beginning on the main road running the main road to R. DAVENPORT lines then along his line to the middle of the gum swamp to the first station then one pise of land where he now lives, commencing in R. DAVENPORT’S line running west by his well to Stephen CLIFTON’S line then along CLIFTON’S line to Jacob DAVENPORT’S line then to Jacob’s line then R. D. DAVENPORT to the first station. I will my son Silas the piece of land joining the same. I will Alexander all this way within 12 roughs of the first peach tree then the land where he now lives commencing at the main road in CLIFTON’S line then along CLIFTON’S line to the first run then eastwardly to R. D. DAVENPORT’S then along R. D. line most to the road then west to the first station. I will my daughter Susan the rest of the land where we now live then I will to all four of my children the land from the first run to the river run then I will to my wife Sallie Ann her life line in all but my three children Alexander &, Silas &, Susan to pay the mortgage that D. B. AMBROSE holds on the land & interest I appoint my son Alexander DAVENPORT executor of this my last will & testament.
Witness my hand & seal
Jestin(his mark)DAVENPORT
Test
Stephen S. HASSELL
Stephen CLIFTON
This March 19th 1888
STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, WASHINGTON COUNTY IN THE SUPERIOR COURT
A paper purporting to be the Last Will and Testament of Jestin DAVENPORT deceased, is exhibited before me, the undersigned, clerk Superior Court for said County, by Alexander DAVENPORT the executor therein mentioned, and the due execution thereof by the said Jestin DAVENPORT by the oath and examination of Stephen S. HASSELL & Stephen CLIFTON the subscribing witnesses thereto: who, being duly sworn, doth depose and say, and each for himself deposeth and saith, that he is a subscribing witness to the paper-writing now shown him, purporting to be the last will and testament of Jestin DAVENPORT; that the said Jestin DAVENPORT, in the prescence of this deponent, subscribed his name at the end of said paper-writing which now shown as aforesaid, and which bears date of the 19th day of March, 1888.
And the Deponent Further Saith, That the said Jestin DAVENPORT the testator aforesaid, did, at the time of subscribing his name as aforesaid, declare the said paper-writing so subscribed by him and exhiled, to be his Last Will and Testament, and this deponent did thereupon subscribe his name at the end of said Will as an attesting witness thereto, and at the request and in the presence of the said testator. And this deponent further saith, that at the said time when the said testator subscribed his name to the said last Will as aforesaid, and at the time of deponent’s subscribing his name as an attesting witness thereto, as aforesaid, the said Jestin DAVENPORT was of sound mind and memory, of full age to execute a will, and was not under any restraint to the knowledge, information or belief of this deponent: And further these deponents say not.
Alexander (his mark) DAVENPORT(seal)
Stephen (his mark) S. HASSELL (seal)
Stephen CLIFTON (signed) (seal)
Severally sworn and subscribed this 9th
Day of April, 1888, before me
Thos J. MARRINER
Clerk of Superior Court