Will of John Douglass 19 Feb 1816 Original Will, on file in Raleigh, NC Archives CR 073.801 In the name of God Amen I John Douglass of the County of Orange and State of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but of good and perfect Mind and Memory Thanks to Almighty God and Calling to mind the uncertain state of this Mortal life - Constitute ordain and declare this my last will and Testament in Manner and form follow ing first of all I Recommend My soul into the hands of God who gave it and My body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Manner at the discretion of my executors and as for such Worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I dispose of in the following Manner & form - - - - - - - - - - - - - Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Margaret for the love and good will I Bear to her and for services done by her to me all that Tract and parcel of land and plantation whereon I now live with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging Containing one hundred & ten acres of land More or less Bounded by the lands of William Cannon James Grahams David Bradford & Jacob Garrison to her the said Margaret for ever together with all and every other article or articles of property Both real and personal of every sort and discription That I am possessed of after my Just debts and legacies are paid to be hers during her natural lifetime, and to be at her disposal at her death Item I give and bequeath to my Brother William Douglas the sum of two dollars Item I give and bequeath to my Brother David Douglas the sum of two dollars [page break] Item I give and bequeath to my Brother Henderson Douglas the sum of two dollars Item I give and bequeath to the ["living" crossed out] heirs of My Brother James Douglas deceased The sum of two dollars to each of them to be paid by my executors one year after my decease - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - and I do hereby revoke and disanul by these presents all and every Testament & Testaments will and Wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and I hereby appoint my Trusty Friends James Graham & George Garron son of Jacob Garrison executors of this my last Will and Testament this 19th day of February AD 1816 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Signed sealed and declared by the said John Douglas as his last Will and Testament in the presents of us David Bradford senr Jurat his Thomas X Bradford Geo Garrison qualified John Douglass (seal) mark George Grahams James Graham qualified Transcription by Ben Franklin of Durham, NC 2 Dec 2009. Please credit me if you use this. This information is in the public domain. Notes: First instance of testator's name is clearly "John Douglass" second instance "John Douglas", signature "John Douglass". His brothers' names both written "Douglas". First instance of James Garrison's name clearly written "Garron", other instances of this surname all clearly written "Garrison". The "page break" noted is where the original document was folded and eventually became two separate pieces. The document itself is a light brown color, hence the black and white copies are much harder to read than the original. This document has been properly preserved with conservator's tape.