Will of James Ward 1843

In the name of God Amen I, James Ward of the County of Bertie and State of North Carolina being of Sound mind though weak in bodily health do this twenty-first day of February in the year of Our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty-three make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others. I wish my Just debts to be paid
Item 1st I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Ward the following Lands and Negroes and mills one tract of Land called the Perry Land purchased of William N Perry containing by estimation four hundred Acres be the same more or less; my interest in one Saw and grist mill. Joe Pipkin and his wife Mily, Dove and his wife Bridget; Peter and his wife Celia, Joe Berry and Andrera to her and her heirs forever. I also give to my wife one desk her choise one round Table, long dining Table four beds and furniture her choise two mules her choise Six chairs her choise Three Thousand pounds of Pork four cows & Calves one yoak of oxen one cart and wheels one press one hundred and fifty barrels corn one bofat and furniture four Sows & Pigs first choise one Loom and gear one spinning wheel and cards two linen wheels all the geese to her and her heirs forever —– ——
Item 2nd I Lend unto my wife Elizabeth Ward negroes Luke, Drew, Lewis, Simpson, Ruffin and Margaret during her natural life
Item 3rd I also lend unto my wife the plantation on which I now reside and all the land adjoin it that I own except the Perry Land which I have given her in fee simple, during her natural life.
Item 4th I give and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Ann James Ward the following Negroes viz Tony, Alston, Clem, John, Jacob, Sumner, Whitmel, Ephraim, Simon, Mary and her Children Sarah Hannah Nicy Anthony and Lucretia, Margaret and her Children viz Mariah, Stephen & Jane also Milly Mariah and Henry also after the death of my wife Elizabeth Ward I give unto my daughter Ann James Ward Negroes Luke, Drew, Lewis also I give unto my said Daughter Ann James after the death of my wife the plantaion on which I now live and all the land that I own adjoining it except the Perry Land to my Said Daughter ann James Ward to her and her heirs forever —– ——-
Item 5th I also give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Ann James Ward the tract of Land that I bought of James S Jones with the exception of one half of the profits or income arising from said Land and plantation which I have above given to my wife during her life.
Item 6th further more it is my will and desire that if it should happen that my said Daughter Ann James should die unmarried or before she arrives to the age of twenty one years in that case it is my will and desire that my wife should have the said plantation I bought of James S Jones and also Negroe man Lewis to her and her heirs forever, also negroes Luke Toney and his wife and children to her my said wife (in case of the death of my said daughter James Ann as before mentioned) to her and her heirs for ever.
Item 7 In case of the death of my daughter Ann James Ward before she marries or arrives at the age of Twenty one years as mentioned in item 6th. I wish the ballance of the property of my said daughter Ann James not otherwise disposed of to be equally divided between all my grandchildren viz Margaret W Weddle and Laura Ward and the children of my daughter Christian Norfleet to them and their heirs for ever.
Item 8 In addition to the articles given to my beloved wife Elizabeth Ward, I give and bequeath to my said wife the Barouch and harness to her my said wife and her heirs forever. —- ——
Item 9 I give and bequeath to my son in law Howell M Jones negro man Jacob Jones to him and his heirs forever.
Item 10th I give and bequeath to my daughter Christian Norfleet negroes Wright, York, Jude, Abby and after the death of my wife negroes Ruffin & Simpson to her the said Christian Norfleet and her heirs forever.
Item 11th I give and bequeath to my grandchildren Margaret Norfleet and Sally Norfleet negroes Ben, Eliza and her children, also Rachael and Esther to be equally divided between them my said grand daughters and to them & their heirs forever.
Item 12th I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann James Ward negro William and all the residue of my estate both real and personal after my debts are paid, to her my said daughter Ann James Ward to her and her heirs forever
Item 13th It is my will and desire that should any of the negroes given to my daughter Ann James so misbehave or should their conduct be such as to cause my executors to think it would be best to sell them or should the guardian of my said daughter Ann James so believe it is my will and desire that they should do so and I hereby give them full power to make conveyance by bill of sale to that effect.
Item 14th It is my desire that Isaac Norfleet the father of my grand children Margaret & Sally Norfleet should take into his possession the negroes given to my said grand daughters for their benefit when my will will authorize my executors to give them up.
Item 15 It is my will and desire that should the seven old negroes given to my wife become an expense to my wife through age or infirmity that my wife be entitled to such sum or sums out of the residue of my estate given to my daughter Ann James Ward as shall be considered sufficient for this support and I hereby authorize my executors to pay the same to my wife annually for that purpose.
Item 16th It is my will and desire that my executor pay no legacy or bequest within twelve months from the time of my death.
Item 17th I hereby appoin my worthy friends Abner Harrell of Hertford County and Isaac P Freeman of Bertie County and both of the state of North Carolina executors to this my last will and Testament. In Testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this day and date above written. Jas Ward
Signed sealed and published in presence of us the day and date above written
Thomas Brown West Mizels Willie D. Hays