"In the name of God, Amen.

I John Howell of the State of North Carolina and County of Wayne knowing it is appointed unto men once to die and for the better settling of my Worldly Estate do make, Ordain and Publish this my last Will and Testament in Manner and Following as (viz),

Item: my daughter Elis [Alice] a Certain Tract or Piece or Parcel of land and Plantation where on she now lives containing about two hundred acres during her Natural life and after her Death I give it to her son, Henry Cheek if living but if he Should die before his Mother I give it to my son David's two sons J. [John] William & Seth Cox [This should be James Robert instead of Seth Cox, but Seth Cox is what the will says.] said land is butted & Bounded as Follows: Beginning on the Run of Clay Creek at the Mouth of a Bottom Just above the Corner of my fence tract the Course of the fence to the corner next to the Branch then with the Fence thence the same Course with a line of Marked Red trees to Gradda Garris's line in my Branch Just Below two old __________ the rest of my Property of every Description be sold at Publick Sale all Lawful Expenses & Demands be settled and all the Money arising from sales with Money due all my Grandchildren lawfully begotten _______ my own Children that may be living six months after my Death are to have one hundred dollars each one. All the Remains of Money to be Equally Divided Between my own children that may be living at the time of my Death.

Lastly I Nominate & appoint my two Friends John Wm Sasser and Woodard Howell to be Executors to this my last Will and Testament Denying and Revolking and Disannulling all Former Wills by me made or Ratified by me in Writing Publishing this and no Other to be my last Will and Testament by me Published by me John Howell the only Testator Revoking and hereby disannulling other Will or Wills in Whereof ____ and fix my seal this 8th Day of Nov. Year of our Lord 1841