Page 144 - WPA Book
P. 144
Works Project Administration – Articles from Rockingham County

HOUSES

Robert Cravens Home
Page Three

First, I desire all my lawful Debts to be paid, which I have legally contracted.
Imprimis, I give and bequeath to Mary, my Dearly beloved Wife, one four year old dapple gray horse and side
saddle, her own bed and bed clothes and her great and little Wheel, five cows and calves, ten head of sheep, five
head of hogs, sixty pounds in cash and all the household three beds and furniture thereunto (The great iron pot
only excepted) and the Negro wench called Knelly during her natural life and at my wife’s decease I will the
wench shall be sold and if Knelly has any children during my wife’s lifetime I will my wife shall give and
bequeath them to any of my children that their Mother please and half of my dwelling house and half of my
plantation during her natural life and five acres of the Great Meadow.

Item. I give unto my son John Cravens one Negro Boy named Tom and the smooth bore gun that he has now in
possession to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give unto my son William Cravens the tract or parcel of land commonly known by the name of the Great
Meadow containing one hundred forty one acres (five acres only excepted for his mother) to him and his heirs
forever but in case he has no issue it shall become his Brethren and their heirs forever and sixty pounds in
money and forty pounds to be paid by his Brother John for the Negro boy named Sip which I will to John but if
John refuse to pay the forty pounds the Negro Sip shall become William’s, and I allow a receipt for Thirty
Seven pounds to be given on that I have of Williams.

Item. I give unto My Daughter Mary the tract or parcel of land she now lives on containing one hundred-
twenty-four acres to her and the heirs begotten of her body forever and one great iron pot.

Item. I give unto my two Grand Children Zebulon and Robert Harrison that tract or parcel of land containing
two hundred acres lying and being on the East side of Linville Creek to them and their heirs forever and one
Negro child called Dina and her increase for them and their heirs forever but I will that my Daughter Margaret
Harrison shall have the service of the girl Dina if she desires it during her natural life.

Item. I give unto my Daughter Agnes the tract or parcel of land she new lives on to her and her heirs begotten of
her own body forever.

Item. I give unto Maggie my Daughter sixty pounds in money.

Item. I give unto my son Robert Cravens the half of my dwelling house and half of my plantation I now live on
during his Mother’s natural life and at her decease the whole to him and his heirs forever but in case he should
die without legitimate male issue the land to become his Brethrens and their heirs forever.

Item. I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Cravens one bay horse with a white foot four year old, three cows and
calves, sixty pounds in money, and one Negro girl named Venus about six years old and in case she should
decease without issue her part to become her sisters to be equally divided among them.

Item. I give unto my grandson Robert Cravens that tract or parcel of land containing one hundred sixty acres of
land commonly known of Waits Cabin lying on the Creek below Joseph Cravens to him and his heirs forever
but in case he should die without heirs legally begotten of his own body the said land shall become his father’s
and his heirs forever.

And to his Brother John Cravens my grandson I give ten pounds in cash to help to school him and ten pounds to
Mary Black my Granddaughter and the tract of land containing four hundred seventy acres of land I will to be
sold where Samuel Mowry now lives on.

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