Will

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF BENNETT HILSMAN, dec In the name of God Amen, I, Bennett Hilsman of the County of Franklin in the State of North Carolina, being weak of body and sick, yet being sound of mind and memory, do make this my last will and testament, first and principally bequeath my soul to God through the merits of my blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ; and as to what worldly goods it has pleased the Lord to bless me with, I leave in the following manner. (To wit): My will and desire is that my son James Hilsman have the use of the following slaves during his natural life and no longer: Old Miley, Olive, Cato, Barbara, Little Milley and Abram. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Martha Hilsman, and my grandsons, Bennett, James and Micajah Hilsman, the aforementioned negroes (to wit): Old Miley, Olive, Cato, Barbara, Little Milley and Abram with all their future increse to be divided equally between my grandchildren above mentioned, to them, their heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath unto my son, Hinde Hilsman, one negro woman, Selah (and after the death of my beloved wife, Frances Hilsman), my negro man called Gabriel, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

I leave the use of my negro woman Easter and her two children, Milley and Alice, unto my daughter Mary Baker during her natural life. I give and bequeath unto my grandchildren William Eley, Jesse Eley, Mary Eley, Anne Eley, Sarah Eley and Samuel Eley the aforesaid negroes, Easter, Milley and Alice with all their future increse at the death of my said daughter, Mary Baker to be equally divided between my said grandchildren William Eley, Jesse Eley, Mary Eley, Anne Eley, Sarah Eley and Samuel Eley, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.

I leave the use of my wagon and harness, four nice cows and calves, my bay mares Het Betty and May Harber unto my daughter, Hannah Hilsman, also my two negroes, Sarah and Jane; If my daughter, Hannah Hilsman, leaves any heirs of her body, I give and bequeath the aforementioned negro slaves, Sarah and Jane with all their future increse to be equally divided between her said heirs of her body, but in case my said daughter dies without any heirs of her body, then, and in this case, I give and bequeath the said negroes, Sarah and Jane with all their increses to be equally divided between my grandchildren heretofore mentioned (to wit): William Eley, Jesse Eley, Mary Eley, Anne Eley, Sarah Eley and Samuel Eley, to them, their heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Baker, all the remainder of my estate of what kind soever not before mentioned in this will, to her and her heirs and assigns forever.

Lastly, I constitute and appoint my sons, Hinde Hilsman and James Hilsman, executors of this my last will and testament, resolving and dismantling all and every other will or wills by me heretofore made…… In the witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16 day of December 1784. Signed, posted, declared and pronounced to be my last will BENNETT HILLSMAN (SEAL) and testament in presence of H. Hill Jurat MARCH SESSIONS 1799 John Simmons

         Franklin County
         The aforegoing will has been filed in open court and found in due form by the oath of Henry Hill, a subscribing writer.
         Hereto and on record

Source: Wills and Deed, Franklin County, N.C., Courthouse. Clerk’s Office, Book “B”, Vol. 2, Page 117

links

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