Dear Listers: I have an interesting will and could use the help of some of our legal experts, like Paul Drake, for this one. It is the will of Matthew Jackson, written on 11 June 1808 and his estate account begins in February 1809. It is recorded in Will Book S-1, p. 1. What is will book "S"? That's what I asked the Mecklenburg County circuit clerk. They didn't know. But that was what was on the index to wills. With a little digging around, I discovered another will book broken into three parts: CC-1, CC-2, and S. CC - Circuit Court and S = Superior Court. So this will apparently went to court and once we read its terms, we can but guess why. It leaves 150 acres of land, a new house to be built by six of his sons, slaves and specific stock and household goods, and even "the bed I now lie in" to one Lucretia Meldrum, and upon her death to her daughter Claricy Meldrum. Lucretia is to hold this land "until her death or marriage" and "during her WIDOWHOOD". The problem with this is, first, Matthew Jackson was the husband of Elizabeth Avary. This is proved by the will of Elizabeth's father, George Avary, proved in Brunswick County in 1801, and to which Mathew Jackson was exectuor. Jackson, and I presume his wife Elizabeth Avary, had moved to Mecklenburg from Amelia in 1771, per a deed there from Joseph Crowder and Mary his wife to Mathew Jackson. Jackson added to this in many subsequent purchases. Some of the later papers are filed in the normal will books by Cavil Jackson (son) ADMINSTRATOR, and others in the "S" book by Frances Jackson, the EXECUTOR. (Sons Frances and Burwell had been named original executors). This may mean that son Cavil was administrator with the will annexed IF Burwell had died or otherwise refused the burden. Am I correct to assume (always a risky proposition) that: (1) Wife Elizabeth had died, and he "shacked up" with this Lucretia Meldrum woman and a child by her, Claricy? (2) There ought to be a really juicy chancery court suit about this? (supposedly sent to Richmond to the LOV--so many of these records are being processed for the internet now, they are hard to view at the moment) (3) Just what did these terms mean at this time? Really stumped and curious on this one. I have more Jackson data. The paragraph in the will directing his six sons to build this woman a new house reads: "I also direct that the said Lucretia Meldrum is to live in the house I now live in until my sons Cavel, Francis, Burwell, Bins, Nathaniel & Beckley bearing an equal proportion shall build the said Lucretia Meldrum a dwelling house on the above mentioned land sixteen feet square in a workman like manner which if either of the above mentioned shall fail to bear their proportionate part of building the said house my will is they shall receive no part or shear of my estate." It is also names daughter Talithicuma (she had married Drury Turner in 1802, but he is not mentioned nor is Talithicum given a surname in the will) who is to have no further part of his estate, and one Nancy Thompson, likewise. (The record is not clear if Nancy Jackson who m. James Mins Thompson was a daughter of Matthew or of a reputed son of Matthew, Fleming Jackson). Also named is a son Mabry Jackson. Witnessed by: Churchwell Curtis, Jr. John T. Allen This e-mail is I suppose two-fold. One a discussion of the Jackson family and the other a question of the legalities surrounding this will. HELP! NB: Some of the data on the children of Matthew was sent to be my the late Donnadean Depew,who was a very good researcher). She stated that Matthew Jackson was a son of Williams (with an "s) and Anne Dunevant of Amelia. I have no documentation for this statement. Craig Kilby