THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
September 5, 1823
In the name of God Amen! I ASA CARTWRIGHT of Camden County and State N. Carolina being sick in body but of sound and perfect mind & memory (blessed be God) do this 5th day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand, Eight Hundred & Twenty Three, make and publish this my Last Will & Testament in manner following—that is to say—
Item. I give & bequeath unto my Sister NANCY CARTWRIGHT the part of the plantation I now live on to include the house beginning at the main road GIDEON CARTWRIGHT’S line, thence a straight course to the back line in the swamp for her part to bind on the Island road to her & her heirs forever.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my Nephew ASA GIBSON the Southern part of said plantation adjoining BRITTAIN JONES and others to him & his heirs forever, also one states musket.
Item. I give & bequeath unto ANDALINA MELINA and ALEXANDER GIBSON all of my lands lying on the Great Island to be sold when ALEXANDER GIBSON arrives to the age of sixteen years old and the money to be equally divided between them— the said Island to be rented out until that period for the support of said children—to them & their heirs forever.
Item. It is my desire that all my moveable property indoors and out of every kind and crop now growing to be sold, and all of my just debts paid out of the money arrising from said sale. If there should be any balance remaining after paying my just debts for it to be equally divided between my Sister NANCY CARTWRIGHT and JACOB GIBSON to them & their heirs forever.
Lastly I hereby make and ordain my worthy friend STEPHEN MERCER Executor of this my Last Will & Testament in witness whereof I the said ASA CARTWRIGHT have to this my Last Will & Testament set my hand & seal this day & year above written.
ASA CARTWRIGHT seal
Signed, sealed and declared
In presence of us who were
Present at the time of signing
& sealing thereof
WILSON B. WEBSTER
SIMEON BURGESS
State of North Carolina
Camden County
November T. 1823
The Last Will & Testament of ASA CARTWRIGHT dec’d was exhibited & proved in open Court by the oath of WILSON B. WEBSTER one of the subscribing witnesses thereto. The Executor therein named refusing to qualify. Ordered that the Will be Recorded.
Test.
M.S. LEWIS CLK.
Will Book C
Page 23
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse