Will of John Christmas - 1784

Warren County North Carolina Will Book 4 p. 42

In the name of God amen.  I John Christmas of the County of Warren and state of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but the perfect mind and memory thanks be given to almighty God for the same, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this transitory life and being willing to settle by worldly affairs in order to make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.  In premise, I commend my soul to God who gave it hoping through the death and merits of Jesus Christ my Savior to be made partaker of the never fading joys of immortality at the day of resurrection, and asked for what temporal Estate it hath pleas God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath the same in the manner and form following, that is to say first, I give and bequeath Richard Christmas one black three year old horse colt by the name of Ginger and also once sow and stouts if he lives to come back from the wars and if he never returns to go to the use of the rest of the Estate.

 Item.  I give and bequeath into my son Thomas Christmas and to his heirs and youngins forever all my land that I am possessed with, if dying without heir then to be equally divided between my two daughters Sarah Christmas and Rebeccah Christmas, and if either of these should die without hair then to belong to be other one of my daughters, and all the residue of my Estate I lend to my dear beloved wife Middleton Christmas, consisting of Negroes, horses, cattle and hogs and stock of all kinds and household furniture, until my daughter Sarah Christmas comes to the years of eighteen or marries and then to be divided into equal parts between my wife and children, and then my daughters Sarah Christmas to be possessed with her part of the Estate, and then the rest of the Estate to be in the possession of my wife Middleton Christmas until my daughter Rebeccah Christmas comes to years of eighteen or marries and then to be equally divided as formerly and she to possess her part of the Estate belonging to her, and then the rest of the Estate to remain in the possession of my wife Middleton Christmas until my son Thomas Christmas comes to the years of eighteen, then the Estate is to be equally divided between my wife and my son and if dying without heir then to fall to his sisters, Sarah and Rebeccah Christmas, Memorandum (Viz) the true interest and meaning of my lending my Estate to my wife Middleton Christmas was to bring up the children upon.

 Item.  It is my well and desire that my Estate be not appraised and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint William Myrick and Daniel Hoof Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills heretofore made, confirmed this to be my last will and testament whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of April 1784.

John Christmas  {seal}

 Sealed and delivered in the presence of: Joseph Mangum, Daniel (his X mark) Ball and Thomas Garrett

 Warren County July court 1784.

This last Will and Testament of John Christmas, deceased, was proved by the oaths of Joseph Mangum and Thomas Garrett, subscribing witnesses thereto, and William Myrick qualified as Executor to said deceased to the letters was granted and on motion the same is ordered to be recorded.

Test: Marmaduke Johnson CCC