Following is the will of John Sanders, April 4, 1796. It was transcribed on May 10, 1999 by Frances Henderson from a copy provided by another family researcher, Sydney Davis. Attempt has been made to preserve the spelling, capitalization, and punctuation (or lack thereof) as in the original. Questionable transcriptions are marked [?]. People Included John Sanders, planter Jesse Sanders, son and executor Isaac Sanders, son and executor John Sanders, son and executor Abigail Ward, daughter Frances Walker, daughter Anna Boardman, daughter Ruth Sanders, daughter Rebeckah Sanders, wife Aaron [Frederick?], witness Thomas Freshwater, witness Mar______ [?] Kar_______ [?] witness signed with mark W. Snead, court official Negroes boy, Seaser girl, Alce girl Tamer [?] girl, Sue girl, Feab [?] girl, Rose boy, Jo boy, Tom boy, Dick girl, Venus girl Tener In the Name of God Amen I John Sanders of the County of Onslow and in the State of North Carolina Planter Calling to mind the mortality of life and the certainty of death do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in the manner and form as follows that is to say first I give my Soul to God that first gave it. My will is that my Just debts should be paid Item I give to my son Jesse Sanders one Negro boy called Seaser which is in his posession with the land and other things he has had, Item I give to my daughter Abigail Ward one Negro girle called alce and one Negro girle Called Tamer [?] to said Abigail Ward and her lawful heirs forever. Item I give my Daughter Frances Walker one Negro girle called Sue and one Negro girle called Feab [?] - and her lawful heirs forever. Item I give to my Daughter Anna Boardman one Negro girle Called Rose and one Negro boy Called Jo to her and her lawful heirs forever and one feather Bed and one Cow and Calf and one mare - Item I give to my son John Sanders one half of all my lands in value and one Negro boy Called Tom also one cow and calf and one Feather Bed Item I give to my son Isaac Sanders one half of all my lands in value Including the Plantation whare I now live only Reserveing my Wife's life on it also one Negro boy Called Dick and one Feather bed and one mare. Item I give to my Daughter Ruth Sanders one Negro girle Called Venus and one Negro girle Called Tener and to her lawfull heirs forever also - one mare two Cows and Calves and one Feather bed Item my Will is my wife Rebeckah Sanders Shall have a Decent maintenance out of my Estate During her Natural life [end of page] Turn Over And also all of the undivisd part of my Estate should be Equily Divided amongst my before mentioned Legatees after my Wifes Death also if Either of the before mentioned legitees should Die without lawful issue then their legacy Should be Equily Divided amongst the surviving Legatees and I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament and I do Appoint my three sons Jesse Sanders, John Sanders, and Isaac Sanders Executors to this my last will and Testament in Witness hereof I have set my Hand and seal this 4th day of April 1796. [signature] John Sanders [drawn seal] Aaron [Frederick?] Thomas Freshwater Mar_________? Kar________? [with mark] ________________________________________________________________________ Exr Qualified Onslow County In Court July term 1796 This will of John Sanders was proved in Open Court by Thomas Freshwater and Jesse Sanders John Sanders and Isaac Sanders the Executors there in named qualified thereto [signature] W. Snead