NC Archives, Wayne County Wills

Will of John McKinne - Recorded May Court 1804

May the 3rd 1804 - I John McKinne of the County of Wayne in the State of North Carolina being in my senses in sound and perfect memory but being sick and remembering the mortality of my body do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Item I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth McKinne all my lands, Negroes, horses and stock of all kinds also all my beds and house hold furniture of all kinds with my plantation tools and every other part of my estate except for much of my stock and other small things as my executors may think best to sell to pay my just debts with during her widow hood or until my oldest children shall to arrive to twenty one years old.

Item My will and desire is that my three sons John, Matthew and David McKinne their heirs and assigns forever should have all my lands equally divided between them at the others arriving to the age of twenty one years.

Item My will and desire is that my daughter Sally McKinne her heirs and assigns forever shall have as many of my Negroes and as much money as will make her share equal in value to her brothers parts of my land when divided.

Item My will and desire is that if my wife should be delivered of a son or a daughter that it should share equally with my daughter Sally and her brothers of my Negroes and money till it gets & has its full share in value to make it as much as all or any of the brothers or sisters to that its heirs and assigns for ever.

Item I wish all my notes now in hand with all other part of my estate that is not given away to be equally divided between all my children at the division of my estate.

It is my will and desire that my executors shall have full power to sell or rent out any part of my estate as may appear best to them or likely to come to heart and I doth further wish an equal division in all my estate when my oldest child arrives to full age or my wife should marry and then I wish her to have a child part of all my pearshable part of my estate.

Lastly my will and desire is that my brother William McKinne, William Pope and Joseph Everett should act as executors to this my last will and testament in witness hereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and date above written.

Witnesses: Michael McKinne, Richard Cox and Sarah Jernigan

Wm McKinne, Wm Pope and Joseph Everett qualified as Executors

Slave names mentioned in Estate papers: Amy, Bobb, Chloe, Dick, Hannah & child Jack, Isaac, Jacob, Penny, Tom and Zenah.