December 9, 2013

Will of Jacob FLOWERS, 1776 - 1856

The Will of Jacob FLOWERS
My 5th great grandfather, Jacob FLOWERS Sr., left a will rich in family information. It contains the names of children, their spouses, and grandchildren. It shows Jacob to be a man of means who cared a great deal about his family. He must have been ill when he wrote the will as it was proven in court barely a year after it was written.

Will of Jacob FLOWERS, Sr.: [punctuation inserted for clarity] 

I, Jacob FLOWERS of the County of Johnston and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say:

First - 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 together with my just debts, howsoever and to whomsoever owing out of the monies that may come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate.

Item - I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Pherebee three beds & furniture, all the household and kitchen furniture not otherwise disposed of in my will, fourteen shoats, two sows and pigs, seven head of cattle if said hogs and cattle be in my posession (sic) at the time of my death all the domestic fowls and poultry, one bay mare, one pair of cart wheels, all my crop of my description and all the provisions on hand at the time of my death, and my working tools except enough of this item to pay all expenses named or herein after named in my will.

Item - I give and bequeath to my oldest daughter Mary, wife of Reddick HARPER, one dollar to be paid by my executor within two years from the time of my death out of my belongings to my estate.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Winny, wife of John HARPER, one dollar to be paid out by my executor as the above bequesth. (sic throughout)

Item - I give to my granddaughter Sally, wife of William ROBERTS, one dollar to be paid by my executor as in the former bequesths.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Sally, wife of Laban GRIFFIS (sic) one dollar to be paid by my executor as in the former bequesth.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Pherebee, wife of Elijah GODWIN, one dollar to be paid by my executors as in the former bequesth.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth, wife of Stephen GODWIN, one dollar to be paid by my executor as in former bequesths.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Emily, wife of Matthew DODD, one dollar to be paid by my executor as in former bequesth.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Harriet, wife of Wesley (sic) GODWIN, one dollar to be paid by my executors as in former bequesths.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Tempy, wife of John FLOWERS, one dollar to be paid by my executors as in former bequesths.

Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha, wife of Robert MASSINGILL, one dollar to be paid by my executors as in former bequesth.

Item - I give and bequeath to my son Jacob one dollar to be paid by my executors as in former bequesth.

And I lastly do hereby constitute and appoint my friend Robert MASSINGILL as my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same and every part and clause thereof hereby revoking & declaring utterly void all the other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. 

In witness whereof I the said Jacob FLOWERS Sr. do hereunto set my hand and seal the 28th day of July A.D. 1853. 

Signed, sealed, published and declared by Jacob FLOWERS Sr., to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence to subscribe our names thereto.

Jacob FLOWERS (seal)

Witnesses:
S. B. LASSITER
Jesse BARBER

Proven at August Term 1854.

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