In the name of God, Amen

I Joseph Watson of the County of Lenoir and State of North Carolina Being of 
perfect mind and Memory blessed be God for the Same and Knowing that it is 
appointed for all men once to Die do this Twenty ninth day of October in the 
Year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and thirty one do make and ordain 
my last Will and Testament in the following Man, that is to Say

First I Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God and my Body to be 
buried at the Discretion of my Executor, and as if or the Worldly property it 
has pleased God to bless me with I Give and Despose of in the following manner 
viz

Secondly, I leave to my beloved Wife Casandra Watson During her natural life 
or Widowhood the lands where on now I live, one Bay mare by the name of Pigeon 
and her increase, all of my stock of Cattle and after the Marriage or arrival 
to twenty one years of age of my Two Daughters Teresy and Susan Watson then my 
Wife to Give to each of them a cow and calf One Negro Woman by the name of 
Lucy to My wife, all the stock of Hogs that I now posses except one gang, also 
one Bed & furniture.

Thirdly I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Beneter ??? Moore ???, two 
negroes “she is now in possession” (this marked through) by the of Jo. And 
Lucy Which two Negroes she is now in possession of as for the other property 
she has had her part

Fourthly, I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Rigdon B. Watson, Two Negroes known 
by the name of Hannah and Caroline, as for the other property he has his share

Fifthly I give and Bequeath to my Daughter Fanny Heath Two Negroes by the name 
of Rose and Phillis And their increase to her and the Lawful heirs begotten 
Heirs of her Body as for the other property she has her part

Sixthly I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Julia Daughety two Negroes by the 
name of Ben and Vensus, and their increase to her and her Lawful begotten 
heirs of her body as for the other property she has had her part

Seventhly, I give and Bequeath unto my Son John A. B. Watson, the Lands 
whereon I now Reside, after the death or marriage of his Mother Two Negroes by 
the name of Reuben & Silvie One mare by the name of Randy one gang of hogs in 
the pecoson one Bed and furniture to him his heirs and assigns forever

Eightly I Give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Tereacy Watson two Negroes by the 
name of Sam and Dinah and their increase to him and the Lawfull Begotten heirs 
of her Body

Ninthly, I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Susan Watson three Negroes by 
the name of Poll, Hagas and Jim and their increase to her and the lawfull 
Begotten heirs of her Body also fifty six acres of Land Lying on the Juniper 
Swamp and adjoining the lands of James Cox, Amos Rhem & others

Tenthly, all the property not before specified such as household and kitchen 
furniture farming utensials & c I Desire may be equally divided Between my 
Wife and my Son John and all that I have him tofore loaned to my Wife I desire 
at her death of Marriage for the Same to be equally Divided Between John, 
Teresy and Susan Watson. Also I Desire that if either of the aforesaid heirs 
John, Tersey and Susan Should die without lawfull issue of their Body their 
property may be Equally divided between the young surviving heirs as aforesaid 
viz John Tersey and Susan

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint My Beloved Wife Casander Watson and 
John A. B. Watson as Executors to this my Last Will and Testament Declaring 
this and this only to be and contain my last Will in Testimony whereof I the 
testator have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day and date first herein 
written

Signed Joseph Watson

Signed Sealed published and declared by the Testator to be and contain his 
last Will in presence of P. Hardee

Probated July Term 1833 on the oath of Pinckney Hardee.  John A. B. Watson 
qualified as Executor, Lewis C. Desmond, Clk
Enrolled in the Clerk’s Office July 12th 1833

A true copy made April 6, 1846, W. C. Lofton, Clk

End of Record





Return to Jones County Wills
Back to Jones County Page