In the name of God Amen, I William Watkins Senr. of the county of Richmond and the state of North 
Carolina being with health, but of Sound and Disposing Mind and Memory thanks be to the Almighty God for 
the Same calling to mind the uncertain time of curtain death do make this my last will and testament in 
maner and form following:

     That is to say, First I bequeath  my Soul to God that gave it trusting the Advocasey and mediators ? 
of my ? Before Lord and Savour Christ for ? of all my past offences and my Body I commit to the Earth 
to be decently inter at the disereton of my Excutors herein aft mentiiomed by me. As for such worldly Estate 
which it pleased Almighty God to bestow on me, I give and dispose thereof as follows to wit ?.

     I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Watkins a peice or parcel of land where he now lives. Beginng at a 
white oak in Webbs line and runs by several marked trees to the head of the north branch to my son John Watkins 
corner hickory, all the land within my bounds between that and Hitchcock Creek containing one hundred acres 
the same as ? as before and also I give and bequeath him one negro boy named Frank.

     Item:  I give and bequeath to my son John Watkins one negro boy named Saul.
	 
     Item:  I give and bequeath to son William a piece and parcel of land lying on the East side of the Big 
Branch begining at his corner with a strate line to the Branch then down Ford Branch to John Watkins line
containg twenty five acers more or? and I also give him one negro boy named Moses.

     Item:  I give and bequeath to my son Israel Watkins the remainder of my land lying on the East side of 
the Big Branch containing fifty acers more or ? and also I give him one negro boy named Ned also my land 
that is on ? the branch, I desire that it be equally divided by a line from the back to the branch.

     Item:  I give and bequeath to my son Samuel Watkins the North end of said land.
	 
     Item I lend to my beloved wife Keziah Watkins the South end of said land during life and after her death 
I give and bequeath to my son David Watkins  said land.  and also I lend to my beloved wife Kezaih Watkins two
negro  wenched named Hanah & Sussy (?) and also all my household goods and stock and my lawful debts to be 
paid out of my crop and the remainder I give to my beloved wife and after my wife death the two negros wenches 
and their increase, stock and household furniture I desire may be divided in Five Equal parts, My daughter 
Sarah James (one Part) Agtha Cole's three children (one part) My daughter Elizabeth Cole (one part) My 
daughter Frances Long (one part) Alee Watkins, my daughter (one Part) and I do appoint my son
Thomas Watkins and my son John Watkins my sole Excutors of this my last will and testament herby revoking, 
discarding and making void all other and former testaments by me at any time here before made testimony.

     Whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my Seal this twenty ninth day of July One Thousasnd, 
seven hundred and Eighty Nine
                                               Willaim Watkins  (SEAL)
											   
	Signed, Sealed and Published by the said Williaim Watkins to be his last will and testament  Will and 
testament in possesion of us the Subscribers who in his presence have as witness, subscribed here onto
John James Jr
Jacob Perkins ( X his mark)
John Cole Senr.
Note : on page 3
William Watkins last will and testament  July 29 1789
Richmond County January Court 1790
when the Watkins will was Duly Proved in open court by the oath of John
James Jr, Jacob Perkins, and  John Cole Senr
                                           Test Wm :Love,  Clerk