WILL OF ALEXANDER BLACKSHEAR State of N. Carolina In the Name of God Amen I Alexander Blackshear of Jones County and the aforesaid Planter, Being weak in Body but of Perfect sound mind and Memory (Blefsed be God =Blessed be God) do this third day of October in the year of Our Lord 1780 Make and Publish this my Last will and Testament in manner and form Following. Viz.____ First I Lend unto my Beloved wife Agnes Blackshear all my estate both real and personal of what kind or nature so___ it be During her Natural Life ______ Item I Give and Bequeath to my beloved son James Blackshear One Large Bible and one pair of Brass headed hand irons, Immediately after my wifes Death. Item I lend to my Daughter Eleanor Baily my small Dwelling house (the Cellar Excepted) also on acre of Land adjoining the same. During her Natural life or widowhood and no longer; nor is my said Daughter Eleanor to rent Lease or Let the said house and Land to any Person or Person in any Manner or Condition whatever________ Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son Elisha Blackshear One Negro Boy Joe (slave) part on Acct' what I owe him and for Other Good Causes also one Negro Woman Named Amey to him & his heirs forever, after my wifes Death ________ Item I Lend to my son Abraham Blackshear One Hundred acres of Land on the So side of Trent River including the Houses and Plantation whereon I now live; Also One Hundred acres Joining the aforesaid Land and river; Also Ten Acres On the W. side of S. River; the Latter being part of a Tract Patented by Nehemiah Randal During his Natural life and after his Death, I give and bequeath all the Land I lend to my son Abraham, unto his son Alexander Blackshear, to him and his heirs Lawfuly Begotten of his Body forever, reserving my wife's life as aforesaid________ Item I Lend unto my son Abraham Blackshear (Immediately after my wifes death) my Negro Boy Buck During his natural life and after his Death, I then give the aforesaid Negro Boy Buck, unto my grandson Alexander Blackshear (son of my son Abraham aforesaid) to him and his heirs Lawfully Begotten of his Body forever.____ Item I give and bequeath unto my son Abraham Blackshear, all my Cider Cashs of what Kind or Nature sower the (they) be, Immediately after my wifes Death ___ Item I Lend unto my Son Elisha Blackshear (after my wifes death) And until his son Jacob shall arrive at the age of Twenty one, Eighty two acres of Land on the So side of Trent river whereon my son Abraham Blackshear now lives; also Fifty acres lying on the No side of Trent river Patented by John Wallin.____Which said Lands I give and Bequeath unto my Grandson Jacob Blackshear son of my son Elisha aforesaid after my wifes death and then as soon as he shall arrive at the age of Twenty one, To him and his heirs Lawfully Begotten of his Body forever________ Item My will and Desire is that all my household and kitchen furniture Not herein before given be equally Divided Between my Daughter Eleanor Baily, Sarah Clifton and my Grand Daughter Susanna Fordham, Immediately after my wifes Death, By my Sons, James, Elisha and Abraham Blackshear to them share and share alike as equally as may be. Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Susanna Fordham, One Negro Give Named, Cunhey, to her and her heirs Lawfully Begotten of her body forever; but incase said Susanna should Die without any Legal heir Then and in that Case, I give said Negro Girl Cunhey, and her part of my household & kitchin furniture, to my Grand Daughter Mary Clifton in the same manner as they are given to my Daughter Susanna Item Also my will and Desire is that my son Abraham Blackshear pay unto my Daughter Eleanor Baily yearly, the value of five pounds in produce to commence from the Time he shall Take Pofsefsion (possession); or so Long as my Daughter shall Live in the house of Continue a widow and no Longer_____ Item My will & desire is that all my Stock of Horses, Chattel, Hogs, Sheep, (looks like a symbol of & with an e at the top) _?, and all my other personal estate not herein before Specified and Particularly Given or Mentioned to be equally Devided Between my Daughter Eleanor, Sarah and Grand Daughter Susanna Fordham, and in manner and form before mentioned to them& their heirs forever. I Hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my son Elisha Blackshear & my friend Nathan Bryan Esq., my Executors to this my Last will & Testament, hereby Desanuling all others by me heretofore made. In Testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year first His X Mark Alexander Blackshear (seal) within written signed sealed Published & declared for and as his will and Testament in presence of us who have hereunto let our names as Witnefses (Witnesses) F. Harget Benjamin Pickren State of North Carolina 1780 Jones County Court September Ten Then was the aforegoing Last Will & Testament of Alexander Blackshear Dec'D Dully proved in open Court Agreeable to Recorded in Book A. N. 1 and on page Sixty - One Law by the Oath of Frederick Harget and on page of the Jurating Witnefses (Witnesses) and page Sixty - One ordered to be Registered At the same time Elisha Blackshear one of the Executors therein Named Qualifyed agreeable to Law, Orders that S-tt-- (?) Office Accordingly. Albert Lew Bryan Cl. Alexander Blackshear Will, Jones Co., NC NC Archives CR 057.801.1 Transcribed by Martha Thayer from a copy of the original will in the NC Archives Will of Agnes Blackshear This my Will and Desire in the Name of God. After my Death. That after all just Debts is paid I give unto Elisha Blackshear, my son, one Stone Jug for the service he hath done. To my Son Abraham Blackshear one barrel of Vinegar and my Garden and to my Granddaughter Agnes, Elisha Blackshear's Daughter I give eight barrels of Corn that will be due at gathering time from John Gilbert Jr. and my pockits and Silver Clasps, and to my two daughters and Grand-daughter, that is Elender Baley, Sarah Clifton and Susana McKinsey I give all my wearing clothes and all other things belonging to me except what is above mentioned according to my husband Alexander Blackshear Will and my will and desires is that Ellender Baley, Sarah Clifton and Susana McKenzie should have my shear of the crop after made, all, both clothers and Corn equally to be divided among them, except two barrels of Corn out of my part, I give to Sarah Blackshear, My Grand daughter for Service Done by her for me. Given Under my hand & seal this sixth day of July 1793. Agnes her AB mark Blackshear (Seal) Witness present John Gilbert State of North Carolina. Jones County Court August term 1793 Then was the aforegoing last Will & Testament of Agnes Blackshear dec's. duly proved by the oath of John Gilbert the subscribing evidence and ordered to be recorded at the same time Administration on the estate of the said Agnes Blackshear dec'd. was granted to Elisha Blackshear. Attest Len Bryan C.C. Transcribed by Martha Thayer Agnes Blackshear Will Recorded in Book A page No. 78 STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA : JONES COUNTY In the name of God Amen, I, Elisha S. Blacksher of the County and State aforesaid being rather infirm in body, but in perfect memory of mind, do make and ordain this to be my last will & testament in manner and form following. 1st. Imprimis, I lend to my wife Susanna Blacksher (during her life or widowhood) my black Horse called Jack and all my household & kitchen furniture (except two beds & furniture) also one third of all my corn, meat and other provisions. 2nd, I will & bequeath to my two sons Moses Blacksher & Jacob Blacksher all my wearing clothes only, they having had their proportionable part of my Estate. 3rd. My three daughters, Rebecca, Susanna & Agnes have received their proportionable of my Estate also. 4th. I give & bequeath to my daughter Nancy my negro man named Toney and my young horse called Ball, to her & her heirs and assigns for ever. 5th. I will & bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth all my sheep. 6th. I will & bequeath to my grand daughter Susanna Huggins my black horse called Pal, and one bed & furniture. 7th. I will to my grand daughter Nancy Koonce one bed and furniture. 8th. I give to my three sons in law, James Huggins, Samuel Westbrook & Elijah Koonce all my carpenter & plantation tools. 9th. I give & bequeath to my daughter Temperance all my stock of cattle and hogs and the other two thirds of my crop and provision with all other articles of my property not otherwise mentioned also all that I lent my wife at her decease, to her & her heirs and assigns for ever. 10. I will & bequeath to my three daughters, Elizabeth, Nancy & Temperance to be equally divided between them after paying all my debts and necessary expenses all my money in hand and all thats due me on notes or accounts. And Last of all, I constitute make and ordain Benjamin Fordham Sen. & Samuel Westbrook my soul Executors to this my last Will and Testament, and uteraly disallow and revoke all and every other will in any will before named. Ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will and Testament, in Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 11th of December 1808. Elisha S. Blacksher (seal) Signed & pronounced by the said Elisha S. Blacksher in presence of us who in his presence and in presence of each other hereunto set and subscribe our names. Isaac Brown (seal) Samuel Westbrook (seal) Elijah Koonce (seal) STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA JONES COUNTY : Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions NOVEMBER TERM 1810 Then was the a foregoing last will & Testament of Elisha S. Blacksher, dec., duly proven in open court by the oath of Isaac Brown & Elijah Koonce two of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded at same time the executors therein named qualifying as such agreeable to law. Ordered that Letters Testamentary issue accordingly a true copy from the original filed in the Clerks office of Jones County. Attest: H. BRYAN CSC Abstracts of The Records of Jones County, North Carolina 1779-1868, Volume I Copyright 1963 by Zae Hargett Gwynn Printed by Kingsport Press Inc., Kingsport, TN Pg. 152, #270 Sept. 1790 Agnes Blackshear gave to her grandsons, Alexander and Jacob Blackshear, 100 acres on N. side of Trent river.... conveyed to Alexander Blackshear, deceased, who gave land to Agnes Blackshear his wife. Wits: none Pg. 204, #341-343 May 5, 1797 Alexander Blackshear to Jeremiah Parsons for 425 pnds. 100 acres on S. side of Trent river.... deeded to Alexander Blackshear, grandfather of the above Alexander, to whom he willed the land, Oct 3, 1785, and 100 acres being an undivided moiety at a placed called "New Germany" and 182 acres on Long Branch on Cypress creek... as an undivided tract will to me and held in common with Jacob Blackshear in what is today known as Jones Co., NC. Wts: Edward Groy Elijah Stout Blackshear does not name a child in his will as Alexander. However, his father names a grandson Alexander who is the son of Abraham Blackshear. Martha