NOTE: There are quite a number of misspelled words in this document which has been transcribed verbatim. Proofreading was done with extra care to ensure those misspellings were preserved.

In the name of God Amen. I Joshua Howell of the county of Wayne State of NC being sick and weak of body but of sound and perfect mind and memory thanks be given to god calling unto mind the mortality of my body that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of almighty God that gave it and as touching my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased god to bless me with in this life. I give and dispose of the same in the manner and form following. As Viz:

Item, I give and bequeath to my son John Howell my currying knife.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Barbara my bed and furniture and cow and calf twenty pounds sterling. I lend her my negro mark during her natural life and after her decease to her heir. I give him forever my couch also I give her ....[this has only dots].

Item, I give and bequeath daughter Edia one cow and calf one bed... furniture I lend her my negro boy Lin during her and James Bradberys life and after their decease I give him to their son Bryant forever and I desire that the negro boy Charles be divided between my two daughters Barbara and Edia the one take him and the other pay half the value.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Admerl one bed furniture and all my coopers tools.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Jasper one bed and furniture.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Aliss two beds and furniture, my big table, my trunk, two cows and yearlings, two basons, one dish, six plates, two negroes Lyda and Dolly.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grand son Burwell Howell twenty dollars and ten to his sister Silviar Howell to be paid them in schooling by executors.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grand son Lewis Howell my young horse and my still only my son John and Admerl is to have the use thereof as long as they live to still their own liquor and all my sider cask also my Plantation and lands in full with all their appurtenances belonging there unto with all the utensils that remain thereon which I do lend to my son Jasper after his decease, or at the time that he is not able to take care of the same or, is forced by inability under the care of some other persons

It is my will and desire that my son Jasper have the use of my Plantation and lands to Cultivate and that he have my Negro Tom to wait on and help him get a living. I lend him my old Horse and mare, two cows and calves, three sows and pigs, that [uses Towards Hooks] all my pots, pans, pails, tubs, and piggins, my great? chest and chairs, axes and farming tools in full, and that my grandson Lewis live with them and have and equal part of the stock and crop they raise and one half the fruit that is made And if they do not agree to live together Lewis is to have all the lands that lies on the east side of the branch that runs threw the fields until Jasper dies or get helpless, and then to enjoy the whole and Jasper and Lewis and Tom is to be with all that is in their care under the care of my executors who I empower if they shall judge the best to take Jasper into their care and hire out the Negro Tom to maintain him and if required as much of the plantation as will plentifully support him during his natural life and after the death of Jasper to be hired amongst my own children and the money to be equally divided amongst all my children and after the death of Jasper to be hired amongst my own children and the money to be equally divided amongst all my children and after the death of Jasper, Lewis is to have the full of the plantation premisses and all the goods and chattels that I have lent to Jasper, to him and his heirs and assigns forever which I have left in the care and for the use of Jasper.

I desire that my sons John, Admerl and George Bradbery have my cross cut saw between them as long as she last and

I desire that all my estate real and personal of every kind, which is not before me given, be sold and all lawful debts and cost be paid and the money to Barbara and my two grand children be reserved and after all the remainder part with money in hand and money due be equally divided between all my children: John, Barbara, Edia, Amerel, Jasper and Aliss.

Lastly I appoint my three friends John Howell, Admerl Howell, George Bradbery, executors of this my last will and testament. Utterly disallow revoke and disavow all and every other will or wills Testaments Legacies bequest heretofore by me made or given ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament denying all other E? by me made and published in witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Fourteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five and in the twentieth year of the American Independence.

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in the presence of each other have hereunto set our hands. Wit. John Hooks and Anne Hooks.

14 Dec 1795 Joshua Howell

Underlined before signing. Test John Hooks.

John Howell and George Bradbery qualified July term 1799.