In the Name of God Amen, I JACOB BRASWELL of Nash County and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory blessed be God do this twenty second day of August one thousand eight hundred and fifteen make and publish this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say: First I give and bequeath to my daugheter CLOAH SELLERS one negro woman named Dinah and all her increase also
Seventy five dollars in cash to be held and enjoyed by her and her heirs forever.
Item: My will is that the negro woman Pink and all her increase that I lent to my daughter CHARITY HEDGEPETH should stand disposed of as by said CHARITYs will.
Item: I give to my daughter SELAH EVANS one negro girl named Little Jude and her increase to be held and enjoyed by her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter MARY JONES one dollar in cash to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my three granddaughters NANCY, PATSEY, and HARLY JONES one negro woman Milbery, one negro boy Arch, one negro girl
Sylva and one named Cary and all their future increase to be equally divided amongst them at the death of their mother MARY JONES and if one of the said grand children should die without children or child at the time of her death my will is that the two surviving ones should heir the above negroes and increase if two of the said children should die with out having children or child at the time of their death my will is that the surviving child should heir the above named negroes and their increase to be held and enjoyed by them and their heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter PATIENCE THOMSON two negros by the name of Cliff and Harry and all their increase of the said Cliff to be held and enjoyed by her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter PATSEY ATKINSON Lucys two children namely Bynoom and Vilet and all their increase to be held and enjoyed by her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter LUCRETIA PITMAN one negro woman named Bettey and all her increase one negro boy named Lewis to be held and enjoyed by her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son JACOB BRASWELL one negro man named Toney one negro girl named Little Bess and her increase to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give to my son WILLIAM BRASWELL one negro boy named Pomp and negro woman named Lettuce and all her increase to him and her{sic} heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son BRITTAIN BRASWELL one negro man named Stephen one negro girl named Olive and all her increase to be held and enjoyed by him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son JESSE BRASWELL all my land and plantation whereon I now live also the land I purchased of DENY BRASWELL one negro man Bob one negro woman Juda one negro woman Cate boy Allen and their increase also Charles and Venis also my still and my cyder cask to be held and enjoyed by him and his heirs forever.
Item: My two old negroes woman Bess and Rose I wish to be free and to live with my children where the said negro shall think proper.
Item: I give and bequeath to my five grand children SUSANNA TEMPERANCE RHODA, NANY and JOHN ATKINSON children of PATSEY ATKINSON one negro woman named Little Vinis and all her increase to be Equally divided between them after their mothers death.
Item: My will and desire is that after the payment of all my just debts that the residue of my estate should be divided between the following persons CHLOA SELLERS, SELAH EVANS, MARY JONES, children to draw one share, PATIENCE THOMSON, PATSEY ATKINSON children (to draw one) share JACOB BRASWELL WILLIAM BRASWELL, BRITTAIN BRASWELL and JESSE BRASWELL, LUCRETIA PITMAN.
I hereby constitute and appoint my friends WILLIAM BODDIE and GEORGE BODDIE executors to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written.
Signed, sealed and declared in the presents of us
WILLIAM BRASWELL
ELIAS (X) BASS
BENJAMIN (X) BRASWELL
JACOB (X) BRASWELL (Seal)
JOHN (X) BRASWELL
The foregoing was exhibited in open court by George Boddie one of the executors therein named and proven to be the last will and testament of Jacob Braswell Sen. By the oaths of William and Benjamin Braswell two subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion ordered to be recorded. Attest H. G. Blount C.C.C.and was recorded. Attest H. G. Blount. Aug. Term 1823
Son Nathan is not listed in the will but is a proved son per Braswell Branches, Jacob Braswell to his son, Nathan Braswell, 10 Feb. 1794, for paternal love and affection, a tract of 350 acres adjoining Morris, Powell, and William Braswell. Wit: John H. Drake. Book 4 page 275 per Volume 8, Issue 1, Winter 1998/1999, article by Joyce Braswell, PO Box 53, Laurinburg, NC 28353.