Will of Jesse James - 1841 Original Will, on file in Raleigh, NC Archives CR 073.801 I Jesse James of the county of Orange and State of North Carolina being Weak in body but of Sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this instrument in manner and form following to be my last Will and testament, that is to say that my executor herein after named shall provide for my body a decent burial suitable to the wishes of my relatives and friends and pay all funeral expenses with my Just debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the moneys that my first come into his hands as part or parcel of my Estate. I give and devise to my beloved wife Elizabeth James the tract of Land whereon I now live together with the improvements and other privileges, also all my personal property of every kind and description whatsoever solely for her benefit and support and to be disposed of as she many think proper for and during the term of her natural life. 3rdly after the death of my beloved wife I will and direct that my executor sell at public sale the tract of Land of which I am in possession and which I have given to my wife during her life and such other property given to her as aforesaid as may then remain, and that the proceeds of such sale or the monies arising therefrom be equally divided between William James Milly Redmon Sarah Rhodes George James Elizabeth Dollar Jesse James Rebecca Rhosed Russell James Riley James & Polley Baldwin share & share alike after paying to the children of my son Thomas James the sum of one Dollar to be equally divided among them which sum is all that I allow my said Grand Children to have out of my estate, And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint [page 2] my trusty friend James Latta Senr my Lawful executor to all intents & purposes to execute this my last Will and testament accord- =ing to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part & clause thereof herby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore at any time make - In Witness whereof I the said Jesse James do hereunto set my hand & seal This thirteenth day of April 1841 - Signed sealed published & declared his by the said Jesse James Senr to be his Jesse X James Senr (Seal) last will and testament in presence mark of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other do subscribe our names in Witness thereof Silas M. Link Jurat John Holloway Transcription by Ben Franklin of Durham, NC 2 Dec 2009. Please credit me if you use this. This information is in the public domain.