Will, NC, Mecklenburg, Zenas Alexander 1826 In the name of God amen. I ZENAS ALEXANDER of the county of Mecklenburg and state of North Carolina being past middle age reflecting that death may not be far distant do order and declare this to be my last will and testament. 1st - That my body be committed to the earth in a decent and Christian like manner clear of superfluity and my executors have after to be mentioned will direct and as to my worldly estate it is my will that the following distribution take effect after my death. 2nd - I will and bequeath to my beloved wife MARGARET ALEXANDER my dwelling house where I now live with all the out houses and barns and all the land of the old tract with what I bought of JOHN ALLEN from the fence next ALLEN's to the old machine trench and to the branch next the sawmill, except what is called the ditch, and to the crop fence which encloses the meadow during her life or widowhood together with an absolute of two beds and furniture one horse gig and harness, two cows, Esther and Holly her daughter, half a dozen silver teaspoons, one set of china at $15, a dozen, dilf plates, one dozen knives and forks at $4, one dozen table spoons of [not legible] I will at her whole disposal. 3rd - I will and bequeath to my daughter ABIGAIL RUDISILL one black woman slave PRIGGY and one black girl called RITTA, together with her two beds and furniture and all the household and kitchen furnishings there that I give her after she married and also the one half of all my land that lies on the east side of the road that leads from Charlotte to Beattie's ford all to be for her and her heirs forever the land to be equal in quality and quantity and the issue of said PRIGGY and RITTA in the same way. 4th - I will and bequeath to my son AMZI W. ALEXANDER all my tract of land containing 454½ acres line in Madison County Tennessee, the horse he rides and the saddle and Bridal, a negro boy slave called Joe, all his medicine and medicine books, one bed and furniture and all the money spent on his education, him to pay each one of his brother's $100 when they come to need it or if one or more dies to make up the same to them that survives. 5th - I will and bequeath to my daughter HANNAH G. NEEL one black woman named SALLY and one named BETSY together with her two beds and furniture with all the household and kitchen furniture that I give her after she married and also the one half of all my land that lies on the east side of the road that leads from Charlotte to Beattie's ford, all to be for her and her heirs proper and all the issue of said SALLY and BETSY in the same way together with themselves. 6th - I will and bequeath to my son ZENAS C. ALEXANDER all that tract of land on the north side of the old machine branch and a part at this side including the ditch Meadows beginning at the ford of the branch at the head of the ditch then a south corner until you strike the crops fence that encloses the meadow and East with that line to the said branch below then with the branch to the mill pond and up the pond to where my line crosses said pond and with Page 1 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Mecklenburg, Zenas Alexander 1826 said lines of the LEES and BRYAN tracts till the [not legible] stone corners and comes to the 30 and still with BRYAN to the small Hickory not far from the ditch thence to the beginning in the ford of the branch and one negro boy called JOB and one other called SAM and one called PEG and one horse saddle and bridle to be valued at $100 and one bed and furniture in proportion to the rest of my beds and also that tract of land lying on the north side of Duck River eight miles below Columbia Tennessee including a bank spring in my last lease contains strike containing 200 acres running from a large white oak ROBERT's corner west to the river and up the river “to comptons”. 7th - I will and bequeath to my son ROBERT M. ALEXANDER all that tract of land on the north side of Duck River eight miles below Columbia Tennessee beginning at a stake 16 poles west from a beach POWELL's and my own corner marked Z.A, thence south to a large white oak about 100 poles off the river then west to the river and down the meanders to POWELL's corner on the bank of the river thence with POWELL's line east to the beginning, supposed to be three hundred acres and also all the land I have on the east side of Sugar Creek joining the sawmill. One horse saddle and one bridle to be valued at $100 one negro to boy named ISAAC and one black girl named LILA and one boy called BILLY and one bed and furniture in proportion to the rest of my beds. 8th - I will and bequeath to my son JAMES R. ALEXANDER all that tract of land on the north side of Duck River eight miles below Columbia Tennessee beginning at a black walnut at the head of A hollow near the old road that leads from Hunter's ford to a Squire HUDSPEATH running west on the top of the ridge to a dogwood then south to a beach POWELL's and my own corner marked Z. A. then with POWELL's line West 16 poles to a stake then south passing CLAIBORNE and ROBERTS large white oak corner to a river then up the river above Hunter's ford about 15 poles to some or a boxelder then north with GRIER's land to the beginning, supposed to be 300 and more acres and also all that parcel of land off the north west end of the BYRAM tract beginning at the second stone corner of the CLAIBORNE, BRYAN and LEE's tract then to what is called Bazel's spring then west or some north of West to a small crooked Hickory [Seerces] corner then with [Seerces] line to the beginning and one negro boy named WASHINGTON and a negro girl named LUCY one horse saddle and bridle to be valued at $100 also one bed and furniture in proportion to the rest of my beds. 9th - I will and bequeath to my son ABEL A. ALEXANDER all the residue of my land on this plantation and that adjoining it that has not been here before mentioned or what shall here after be mentioned including my dwelling house barns and other houses except my shop and the doctor shop and that is to AMZI's use if he chooses to use it for as long as he wishes to occupy it and not to claim a priority during my wife's widowhood or lifetime, and one negro boy named TONY one horse saddle and bridle to be valued at $100 one bed and furniture equal in proportion to the rest of my beds and also one negro boy slave TONE with a reserve to continue of the plantation with it my wife to assist in keeping up the farm and to support the family during my wife's widowhood or lifetime. 10th - It is also my will that my shop and all belonging to it its contents left of the use of my wife and family during widowhood for lifetime and also Page 2 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Mecklenburg, Zenas Alexander 1826 my old wagon and all my farming utensils and gear in manner above described and after marriage or death all to be sold and the profit arising to be divided amongst my four youngest sons equally or otherwise as they can agree. 11th - It is also my will that all my just debts shall be paid and for the enablement of the same I devise that my sawmill and seat and all the land beginning at the ford of the branch that leads out of my field next to the mill then nearly south to a Spanish oak a corner JAMES BYRAM made me of one acre tract then with the said lines to the creek below the mouth of the river then with said Creek passing the branch to the beginning, with the dam and what water I claim in it and also all land I claim lying on the west side of Beattie's ford Road 3½ miles from Charlotte together with what property not willed and all the residue left after debts being paid to be paid to each one of my sons as much as will get them one half a dozen silver teaspoons and my sons ROBERT and JAMES and CLAIBORNE $100 each and the balance to be divided among all my children and my wife. I also will to my wife during her lifetime or widowhood all my household and kitchen furniture with an absolute to the best bureau and small falling leaf table be at her disposal I also will to my son ZENAS C. ALEXANDER my curled maple falling leaf table the walnut bureau the pine desk and the one small table at my wife's death or on term of widowhood or before if she pleased and this cherry candle stand I will to my son ABEL A. ALEXANDER my secretary and bookcase my walnut cupboard and the cherry falling leaf table with crown and one small table spoons to my wife's use during life or widowhood. 12th - I also will to my three sons ZENAS, ROBERT and JAMES all the residue of my duck River tract of land not yet willed that lies in to Esquire HUDSPEATH to be equally divided, each one of them to pay their brother ANDREW 33 1/3 dollars. 13th - It is my will that if either of my sons dies before they attain to the age of 25 years and having no family or increase their portion shall be divided equally amongst my surviving sons and daughters. 14th - I will to my daughter ABIGAIL RUDISILL the two lots in Charlotte where on WILLIAM RUDISILL has built a tan yard. 15th - I will and appoint my beloved son AMZI W. ALEXANDER and my trusty friend THOMAS N. ALEXANDER to execute this my last will and testament. Page 3 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Mecklenburg, Zenas Alexander 1826 In witness whereof I hereunto have set my hand and seal this 21st day of May 1826. Signed sealed and delivered ZENAS ALEXANDER {seal} PARIS ALEXANDER SAMUEL NEEL JONATHAN M. HARRIS Page 4 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Mecklenburg, Zenas Alexander 1826 Mecklenburg County August term 1826. I hereby certify that the execution of this will was duly proven in court according to law and recorded. Teste, ISAAC ALEXANDER, clerk Registered in Book A page 71 Page 5 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK **