Will of Joel Reaves
Recorded in Book D Page 16
Brunswick County, North Carolina

State of North Carolina
In the name of God Amen! I Joel Reaves of the County of Brunswick and State of North Carolina, being of sound disposing mind, and considering the uncertainty of this life, do make, publish and declare the following and no other to be and contain my last Will and Testament. That is to say:

First It is my will and desire and I so direct that my Executors hereinafter named shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relations and friends; and pay all funeral expenses together with my just debts out of the moneys that shall first come into their hands as part and parcel of my Estate.

Secondly I give, devise, and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Reaves to have and to hold for and during the term of her natural life and no longer the following described property. Real and personal. viz. My plantation on Cape Fear River where I now reside, My negro slaves Nancy, Henry, & Betty, one horse, one yoke of oxen, two carts, and my Barouche; all my stock of hogs and cattle marked with a crop and two splits in the right ear, and a split in the left ear; also as many of my tools, and farming untensils as my Executors shall think necessary for her use; also one half of my house hold and Kitchen furniture, the division of said furniture to be fairly made between my said wife and my daughter Mary by my Executors.

Thirdly I give, devise and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Reaves my negroes Lucy and Ned. One half of my house hold & Kitchen furniture, also my mare named Eliza . And from and after her mothers death the following propety, viz; one horse, one yoke of Oxen. One Barouche, Stock of Hogs and Cattle, marked with a crop and two splits in the right ear and a split in the left ear. the other half of my house hold & kitchen furniture, and the foloowing slaves viz; Nancy, Henry and Betty. The foregoing negro slaves to be held by my said daughter Mary for and during her natural life and after her death to such child or children as she may leave her surviving, But in case she die without leaving any surviving child or children then Nancy and Henry to be the property of my wifes children (by her former husband) viz; Sarah E. Moore, wife of Revd WM. D Moore, Charlotte Robbins, wife of Enoch Robbins, and William Hankins, And the other slaves above named to wit. Lucy Betty and Ned to be the property of my other Children hereinafter named share and share alike

Fourthly I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son Samuel F. Reaves a tract of land containing One hundred & Seventy five acres on Daws' Creek, being the tract purchased of John Willets; also all my stock of hogs and cattle marked with a poplar leaf in the right ear and an overbi? in the left ear and also my slaves. Celia and James

Fifthly I give, devise and bequeath unto my daughter Prudence Catharine Wells my slaves Susan and her children

Sixthly I give, devise and bequeath unto my daughter Patience Ward my slaves Elsy and her children except her child Tom hereinafter given to my daughter Annie Ward and her youngest child name not known given herein to my son Joel - I also give her my said daughter Patience my slave Jack

Seventhly I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son Joel Reaves my slaves Bill, and Elsy's youngest child name not known. Also my Blacksmiths tools, together with all the iron, copper, & brass in the shop.

Eighthly I give, devise, and bequeath unto my son Solomon Reaves my slaves, Ben, Isaac & Willoughby.

Ninthly I give, devise and bequeath unto my son Solomon Reaves my slaves. Molly and Tom. In special trust and confidence nevertheless to for and upon the following uses, trusts, intents and purposes and no other, That is to say said slaves are to be held by the said Solomon his Executors & administrators in trust for the sole and seperate use of my daughter Annie Ward wife of James Ward for and during her natural life, and not in anywise subject to the debts, contracts or control of her said present or any future husband and at her death to be equally divided among her children, share and share alike.

Tenthly It is not my intention in making the forgoing disposition of my slaves to do any injustice to my children. I wish the slave to go to the persons named, but at the same time I hereby direct that they be fairly valued by my Executors excepting expressly those given to my daughter Mary. To be more specific for certain good reasons, I have given my daughter Mary a larger share than my other children The bequest to her is not to be disturbed; but I wish the Shares of my other Children to be equal in value. My Executors will therefore fairly estimate the value of the slaves given to each and those having more that a fair proportion, or one Sixth of the value of the whole, shall pay over to the other so as to make the share of each equal.

Eleventhly It is my will and I so direct that all my property Real and personal not herein devised or bequeathed be sold by my Executor on such terms as they shall think best, the proceeds thereof as also what money, I may have at the time of my death to be applied to the payment of my debts, and the charges in and about the execution of this will, The overplus if any to be equally divided among all my Children share and share alike, But before such sale, I direct that a sufficient portion of the crop stock and provisions be set apart for the support of my wife and family for one year. At the death of my wife I also direct that my Executor sell my plantation on Cape Fear upon such terms as they may think best. the proceeds, to be equally divided among all my children

Lastly I appoint my friends Robert M. McRacken, William M. D. Moore and my son Joel my Executors to carry into effect this my last Will & Testament.

Given under my hand & Seal this 13th of November A.D. 1858
Signed Sealed published & declared by the testator to be his last will and Testament in presence of Joel Reaves (seal)
who in his presence and in the presence of each other do at his request hereunto set our names as subscribing witnesses the words "and my stock of cattle & hogs" on this page erased before signing

Jesse G. Drew
James Langdon