Will of Thomas Latta - 6 Mar 1841 Original Will, on file in Raleigh, NC Archives CR 073.801 In the name of God Amen; I Thomas, Latta of the County of Orange & state of North Carolina being weak in boddy & but in a sound and disposing mind & thanks be unto God for his mercies I do make & ordain this my last will & testament this the 6th day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousandth[sic] eight hundred & forty one in the manner following Viz ---- Item & my will is that my son Joseph H Latta has one hundred acres of land on the west side or end of the plantation on which I now live & which has heretofore been surveyed & deeded to the said Joseph H Hatta & my will is that I allow my said son Joseph across the same tract end adjoining the [second "the" erased] afore said hundred acres the fifty acres he is not to have untill after the death of ["his" crossed out] my wife Elizabeth Latta but the hundred acres is for his present use & benefit which I give to him & his heir or ofsprings for ever Item) & my will is that my son John W Latta have the balance of the tract of land where I now live at his mothers deat with with[sic] the privilege to occupy it as he pleases so as not to disoblige his mother during hur lifetime he is also to have a bed and furniture ["&" ?] five hundred Dollars at his mothers deat to be divided among his his[sic] Sisters with full privilege of living on his Land with the privilege of fire wood solong as they remain single the said John W Latta has full privilege to do and act upon the said plantation as he sees proper he and his heirs for ever Item ) I give and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth a lifetime on the pla ntation whereon I now live also all my stock of negroes except she and the executors should think proper to sell Phell[? Note 1]. Also all stock of all kinds except she and the executors should think proper to sell any part thereoff for the benefit of the family also all the household and kitchen furniture with all the farming utensils------------- Item) Also my will is that all my Just debts be paid if there be amy[sic] remaining at my death unpaid---------- [page 2] Item) I have hertofore given to daughter Ann Durham a proportionable share of my property do now give her one Dollar to her & her heirs f[sic] for ever -------- Item) having heretofore given to my daughter Mary Long a portion of her property such as I could spare I now will hur two hundred Dollars more at her mother deat Item) at the death of my wife Elizabeth my will is that all my pro[sic] property except my negroes; pheeb and her ofspring with old rose and if Jack can be kept and valued so as to make a division amongst the heirs and if not to be sold to make the division agreeable to the will my will is that pheeb and her in crease with old rose should be valued and divided between my seven daughters: Elizabeth Eleanor Jam [Jane?] Arrena Amelia Rachel & Fanny and if anny two of them would take Pheeb so as that they can divide hur and hur future increase themselves my will is that my seven Daughters above named at the deat of their mother are to have three hundred Dollars in a negro or money and such as have not had bridles and saddles and flax wheels must have them Also those of them who have not had beds and furniture must have them equally furnished liked those who got beds -------------- and if the executors cannot make the division of the negroes to please the heirs they are to sell the hole and divide the money and if anny surpliss should remain after paying off the legacies agree able to the will my will is that my two sons Joseph & John have twenty five Dollars a piece for sttling the estate and if anny sur pless should remain it is to be equally divided amongst the seven sisters and my son John W Latta above mentioned and my will is that God may so direct you all that you may divide what I have left in peace and may the blessing of the lord rest and remain with you always is my desire and prairer for each one ----------------- Lastly I make & ordain my beloved sons John H Latta and John W Latta Executors of this my last will & testament hereby renounce all former wills by me made in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this day & date first written signed sealed in presence of Jamces C Latta Thomas Latta (seal) Transcription by Ben Franklin of Durham, NC 14 Dec 2009. Please credit me if you use this. This information is in the public domain. Note 1: This "Phell" seems to be an attempt to start naming slaves, the foremost amoung whom seems to be "Pheeb", mentioned lated. I have examined this closely. I assume it was going to be Pheeb, but it says "Phell"