Franklin County Wills:

Will of  Thomas Arendell, Deceased
Will Book B, page 43 Franklin Co., NC 

In the name of God amen, I Thomas Arendell of the County of Franklin and State of North Carolina being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God for it, calling to mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it s appointed for all men once to die, I make and ordain this my last will & testament, that is to say, Principally and first of all, I recommend my Soul into the hands of God almighty that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall return the same again as touching such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God almighty to bless me with in this life therefore I give and dispose of the same in the following manner.

 Item. I give and bequeath unto my dauter Edie Winston all my estate that she had in her possession at this time and one Negro boy named George and my horse named [Dance], and her mothers bead[bed] and furniture and two Cows & Calfs and forty Dollars in money to be ] possessed by her and her heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son Bridges Arendell all my Estate he has in his possession at this time and part of two tracts of land Seven Hundred and Twenty eight Acres Joining his own land and Wm. Duns and others, and one Negro man Dick and one Negro man Jack and one Negro Woman Cloe to be possessed by him, his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son Thos. Arendell all my Estate that he has in his possession at this time and all the Rest of my lands as [aren't Legateed out] and two Negro men Jim and Lewis and one Barrel [Still] and all my barrels and hogsheads and all my Brandy and all my book Accounts and one yoke of Oxen & cash to be possessed by him and his heirs and assigns forever.

 Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son in law Isaac Winston all my state he has in his possession at this time and one Negro Woman named Jenny and two cows & calfs and one feather bed and furniture & Forty Dollars in Money to be possessed by him and his heirs & assigns forever. 

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Theny Perry all my Estate she has in her possession at this time and one horse named [Simons]and my Riding Saddle and bridle and the new bed and furniture and one Hundred Dollars in money to be possessed by her & her heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Adah Wright all my estate that She has in her possession at this time and one horse named [Tossing] and One Womans Saddle and bridle and my feather bed and furniture and One hundred Dollars in money to be possessed by her and her heirs and assigns forever.

And all the rest of my Estate to be equally Divided without [?] between my two Sons Bridges and Thomas and I do utterly disavow all other forms, Wills and bequests, this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 22nd Day of May 1797. And I appoint my two Sons Bridges and Thomas my Executors of this my last will and testament.

Teste. Thos. Arendell

Wm. Ferrill
Solomon Perry
John Dent