THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
May 26, 1815
In the name of God Amen. I SOUTHEY FORBES of the County of Camden & State of North Carolina doth this 26th day of May Eighteen Hundred & fifteen make this my Last Will and Testament in the following manner To Wit. Calling to mind the mortality of man & know it is appointed for all men to die.
First. I recommend my Soul to God-who gave it & my body to earth & as touch such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give in the following manner To Wit.
Item. I give the use of all my property both real & personal unto my beloved Wife POLLY FORBES for & during her natural life for her support & she the said POLLY FORBES has liberty to sell my part of the chattle property for decent support at her own discretion, but reserving never the less a sufficient part of said chattle property sufficient to pay all my just debts to be sold by my Executor & of such as my Wife may think she can spare best. It is my will & desire that after the death of my Wife POLLY FORBES that my negro Nelly should not be Hare to any person but be under the protection of CALEB PERKINS & in case he should die then & in that case, she be under the Protection of Baptist Church in Camden known by the name of Schylo, & in case the said negro woman Nelly should out life my Wife, & become sick or old & not be able to work & maintain herself that my Executors are hereby authorised to support her out of my estate.
Item. I give unto CALEB FORBES my Son, all the property which may be at my Wife’s die, both real & personal, except one feather bed & furniture which I give at her death to MORDICAI GREGORY Son of WILL GREGORY Sen. and one negro woman Nelly which I have left in CALEB PERKINS care & of the Baptist Church in Camden as above.
Lastly I nominate & appoint my friend CALEB PERKINS my whole & sole Executor to this my Last Will & Testament revoking all former Wills by me made & owning this to be my Last. In Testimony of the same I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day & date first above written.
SOUTHY FORBES seal
Signed, sealed & delivered
In presents of
COSTIN L. SAWYER
CORTNEY BRAY
Her X mark
Camden County May Term 1822
This was exhibited in open Court & proved as the Last Will & Testament of SOUTHY FORBES dec’d. by the oath of COURTNEY BRAY subscribing witness thereto. No executor appearing to qualify is Ordered to be Recorded.
Test.
M.S. LEWIS clk
Will Book C
Page 1, 2
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse