Short Family Wills Rockingham, NC Submitted by Betsy Faris {Note: I have never seen the following wills. All I have to go by is what is in the original book which unfortunately is very difficult to read. I did the best I could in copying it. Unfortunately at some points it makes the original author of the documents sound like they were really not of sound mind. This is not intentional. B. F.} Will of Moses Short of Rockingham County, North Carolina, Sept. 17, 1809 In the name of God Amen. I Moses Short of the County of Rockingham being weak in body but of sound memory blessed be to God do this 17th day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred & nine do make & publish this my last will & testament in the manner following: I give to my grandsons Moses & Joab {this could be Jacob but looks like Joab} Short the land on which I now live lying on the waters of Troublyonno to be equally divided between them after the ________ occurred, to hold to them during their life & after to their increase. I also give my grandsons Moses & Joab my working clothes equally divided between them. I also give my dau. Margaret Short wife of Moses Short one Negro man named Stop to serve her years as a slave & after that to be set free, I also give to my dau. Nancy Whitter wife of Jacob Whitter a Negro woman named Letty to serve her years as a slave with her child Polly after that to be free - the child to be at their disposal to set free or keep it as a slave. I also give to Lydia Soman, Sarah Soman, Maragrot Short, Nancy Whitter the movable property equally to be divided among them after the lawful debts are paid. I also allow the Negroes to stay on the place till the crop is secured. I make & ordain James Blair & William Blair executors of this my last will - & I make James & William Blair overseers of this my last will.--. George Brown William P. ____________ Moses Short {His Seal} H________ K{?}uyho Note: Somon Could be Samson. Will of William O. Short of Rockingham County, North Carolina, March 1, 1815 In the name of God Amen. I William O. Short of Rockingham & State of North Carolina being sick & weak in body but of sound mind & memory & calling to mind the ___________ {condition?} of my body & know that it is doomed for all men once to die, do this first day of March A.D. Eighteen hundred & fifteen make & publish this my last will & testament in manner & form following: First I recommend my body to the grave to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discration {desecration} of my Executor & my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it. Item 1. First I give & bequeat to my beloved wife {Joan Short} one hundred acres of land lying up & down the road it being part of the __________ tract during her natural life or her remaining my widow taking in my mansion house, proving she should raise my youngest son Wilson Short & give him one year schooling at least but if she the said Joan Short should fail to do that she is only to have the benefit of fifty acres taking in the mansion house & lying on the South side of the land & have the benefit of the one hundred acres for five years lot her school my son or not. Also I give her one sorral mare Ja_ownby the mare of Doamon{?} Mare, also one cow & calf, one sow & pigs, one bed, furniture & her own saddle , also two flax wheels & one cotton wheel. Item 2. I give to my dau. Polly Blackburn one bay horse by the name of Friday. Item 3. I give to my dau. Sarah Do{a}gley the plantation whereon she now lived & a part of my plantation beginning at the Creek then up to the old house, & hence to the draw, for two years provided she should take on{e?} of my sons that is to say Samuel Short & board, wash, make mind for him during time of two years & also give him schooling for one of the above years for the use of said land & the bALnce of his two he is to work for her benefit. Item 4. I give to my dau. Delilah Blackburn the bALnce of the old plantation up to it. C____ings line for two years with the privilege of moving the old shop any where for her own benefit provided she should take my son L_________ Short & board, make mind for him & give him one year schooling the bALnce of the time he is to work for her benefit. Item 5. I give to my dau. Rachel Richards fifty dollars to be raised out of the ___ 0f my chattel property. item 6. I give to my two sons Samuel & Lrour {? I am only guessing at this name. My copy of this will is extremely difficult to read.} Short all of my old land to be actually divided {equal number or {{negroes{?}} soros} beginning at the Creek & running up to the South line & also give to Samuel Short my ___idly horse & to my son Lroor {?} Short my __________ mare which Delilah Blackburn is to take with my son Lrear {?} & have the use of, & food during the time she keeps him & also Sarah Doglay {Dagley} is to take the horse loft to Samuel Short & feed & use him during the two years she keeps Samuel Short. Item 7. I give to my son Wilson all the bALnce of my land to have full privileges of the whole after the death of my life or hor{?} coasing{?} to be my widow. I also give him a filly which is the only one I have. Item 8. I give to my son Aaron Short five shillings & to my son William Short five shillings all to be raised out of the sell of my chattel property to be sold to the highest bidder & after paying all of my just debts the bALnce of the proceeds is to be divided between my dau. Rachel Richard & my granddaughter Joan Short so for school to have fifty dollars & Joan to have twenty dollars & if a bALnce should remain it is to be equally divided between the said Rachel Richard & the said Jaon short my granddaughter. I also will that as much of my corn be sold for cash as will raise the sum of thirty three dollars which is money I hold in my hand due my brother Moses {?} Short as a legacy. And hereby make & ordain my worthy friend John Samson & Nathaniel Dolmany executors of this my last will & testament in I the said William O. Short have to this my hand will & testament set my hand affixed my seal this day & year above written. William O. Short His Seal Witnesses N. Dolmany George Samson May Session 1815: The execution of the within last will & testament of William O. Short was duly proved in open court by the oath of George Samson & on motion the same was ordered to be recorded. R. Galloway C.C.