This is a pretty important will, I think, as gives spouces of the Yancey girls of Halifax Co., NC, daus. of Jaconias Yancey and Hannah (Kimbrough) Alston who was wid. of James Alston, think it was. Also wf of Sugar Jones as well as wf. of (Lt. Col.) Wm Alston, son of Joseph John and Betsy Chancey of Halifax Co., NC. Also Trustees of the first Methodist chapel in America, Yeargain's Chapel, n. side of the Roanoke River, current Warren Co. Samuel wrote his will near Christmas of 1784 and it was presented at court in Jan. of 1785. In the name of God, Amen, I SAMUEL YEARGAIN, of the county of Warren, State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, returning thanks to the Supreme Being for his blessings bestowed upon me, holding to mind the mortatlity of my body and knowing its appointed for all men once to die, - at the General Resuurection at the last day to be raised to life eternal through the [intercession?] and [mediation?] of my blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, after my just contracts are complied with - I [leave?] and dispose of in manner and form as follows. Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my daughter SARAH YANCEY YEARGAN, the land and plantation whereon I now live with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging to her & her heirs to be at her disposal at the age of eigtheen years or at marriage, and if she, my said daughter, should she depart this life before she arrives to the age of eighteen years, or before she marries, I desire that the above-mentioned land and premises may descend to my granddaughter ANN ALSTON, the daughter of WILLIAM ALSTON, to her and her heirs forever. Item. I also give and bequeath to my daughter SARAH YANCEY YEARGAN elleven negroes named as follows: (Viz) Will, Charles[?], Daniel, Cate, Frank, Beck, Stafford, Milly, Charles, Tommy, & [Butcher?] and their future increase. Also the feather bed and furniture and five of my [valuable?] horses and [the?] half of my cattle, sheep, and hogs and the half of my household and kitchen furniture and plantation utensils to her and her heirs forever. But if she, my daughter SARAH YANCEY YEARGAIN, should depart this life before she arrives to the years of eighteen or before she marries that four of the above mentioned negroes may [descend?] and be left as follows: (Viz) Item. I will and bequeath to FRANCES JONES the wife of FRANCIS JONES the negro fellow named Butcher to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to PRISCILLA HURT, the wife of WILLIAM HURT, the negro fellow named Frank, to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to GILLY ALSTON, the wife of JAMES ALSTON, the negro named Stafford, to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to ELIZABETH DICKINS, the wife of JOHN DICKINS, the negro named Beck, to her and her heirs forever. Imprimis. I lend to my daughter ANN ALSTON, the wife of WILLIAM ALSTON, my land and plantation in Warren County on the south side of Ronoake River, on Little Stone House Creek to her during her natural life. And after her decease, I give the said land and plantation to my grandson SAMUEL YEARGAN ALSTON to him and his heirs forever. I also lend my daughter ANN ALSTON: (Viz.) Tom, Nan, Butcher, Ceasar, Hampton, to her [____?] during her natural life, and after her decease, my desire is that my grand-daughter ANNE ALSTON may have the negro wench Nan and her future increase to her and her heirs forever. Also I give and bequeath to my grandson, SAMUEL YEARGAN ALSTON, after my daughter ANNE ALSTON's decease the negro man named Butcher, to him and his heirs forever. and if my daughter SARAH YANCEY YEARGAN should depart this life before she arrives at the age of eighteen years or marries, I give and bequeath to my grandson, SAMUEL YEARGAIN ALSTON four negroes (Viz.) Will, Dina, Cate, and Chole, and their future increase to him nad his forever, and also I desire after my daughter ANN ALSTON'S decease, that the negro named Hampton may descend to my grandson ORRIN ALSTON, to him and his heirs forever. & [____?] after my daughter ANN ALSTON's deceased, that the negro named Tom, may [descend?] to my grandson, JOHN JOSEPH ALSTON, to him and his heirs forever. And furthermore my desire is that after my daughter ANN ALSTON's decease, the negro named Ceasar, may be set at his own liberty as a free man for sixty five years. Item. I give to my daughter, ANN ALSTON, the wife of WILLIAM ALSTON, two feather beds and furniture, and the other half of my household and kitchen furniture and plantation utensils to her and her hirs forever. I also lend to my daughter ANN ALSTON, the wife of WILLIAM ALSTON, during her natural life, after my daughter SARAH YANCEY YEARGAN' s decease if she should depart this life before she arrives at the age of eighteen years or before she marries, the three negroes: (Viz.) Charles, Tommy & Milly, and their future increase and after she, my said daughter, ANN ALSTON's decease to be equally divided amongst my grandchildren the offspring of my daughter ANN ALSTON's body to them and their heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter-in-law, ELIZABETH JONES, the wife of SUGAR JONES, who was ELIZABETH CLINCH: two negroes: (Viz) Abram & Mary and their future increase to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body and for want of such heirs to return to my grand-daughter ANN ALSTON, to her and her heirs, forever. Also my desire is the meeting house & one acre of land, it being the part of the said land I now live on may be had to the use of preaching to the comfort of the Brethren and [to?] the good of the publick and that MATTHEW MYRICK, NATHANIEL MASON, and STEPHEN SHELL, my trustees in that function do manage the said meeting [house] or chappel, and receive such preachers as they think fit to preach therein. Also to appoint FRANK JONES, JOHN DICKINS, NATHANIEL MASON, and STEPHEN SHELL as whole and the executors of this my last will and testament ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 24th day of December in the Year of our Lord 1784. Sealed, Signed & Declared by the testator. SAMUEL YEARGAIN In presence of: EDMOND WEBB ANDREW YEARGAIN JUNR GEORGE WEBB Warren County, January Court, 1785 This will was produced and ordered and [proved?] by the oath of Andrew Yeargan and George Webb, witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded [ _____?] granted to the [____?] of the Executors therein named who qualified accordingly. Teste [M. Duke Johnson??]