Will of James Little
31 January 1842

In the name of God, amen, I, James Little of the County of Stanley and State of North Carolina, this thirty-first day of January in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty two, being in a reasonable or common state of health and of a disposing mind and memory, thanks be to God and calling to mind my mortality that it is appointed for all man to die, do make and ordain this instrument of writing to be my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First it is my desire that all my just debts be paid out of my estate.

Item 1. It is my will and I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Rosannah Little, the land whereon I now live, beginning at the ford of the river below the spring, running with the leading road up by my cotton gin to the White Thorny Branch, thence up said branch to the back line that Randle owns, thence with said back line to the line bounding the land whereon my son, Laban, is living, thence to the black gum corner on the bank of said river, thence down the various courses of said river to the beginning of that ford where I now live, also my old wagon and harness, two horse beast, two cows and calves, one beef, three ewe sheep, five barrow hogs, two sows and pigs, two plows and stocks, clevises and single trees, two weeding hoes, and mattock, club axe, one cotton harrow, all of which stock and utensils my beloved wife shall have her choice amongst my stock and all utensils my beloved wife shall have her choice. Also all my wheat on hand and half the wheat that is growing, corn with provender for feed, hay, fodder and oats, until she shall have sufficient time to make for herself, also one sack of salt with sufficient quantity of sugar and coffee with meat to serve her twelve months, if more on hand than a sufficiency, she shall have all that is on hand, also two of my negroes, a boy and a girl, her choice of my negros, also all my household and kitchen furniture, also one cotton wheel, cards and reel, loom and furniture, her choice. All the above property I have bequeathed to my wife is to belong to her during widowhood or natural life, as the case may be, also it is my will immediately after my wife's widowhood or death, all the above property to be put to public auction and the monies insuing therefrom to be equally divided between my sons and daughters.I also give and bequeath to my beloved wife fifty dollars in specie, also her side saddle and bridle.

Item 2. I give and bequeath to my son, Daniel Little, the plantation or land whereon he now lives in Cabarrus County, with all that I have put into his possession, estimated by me to the amount of nine hundred and seventy seven dollars.

Item 3. It is my will, and I give to my daughter, Elizabeth Jenkins, all my land on the north and east side of the White Thorny Branch, including my fields on the camp branch joining the lands I give my son, John, with all that I have put into her possession, estimated by me to the amount of three hundred fifty-two dollars.

Item 4. It is my will and I give and bequeath to my son, George Little, all that I have put into his possession, estimated by me to the amount of four hundred sixty dollars.

Item 5. It is my will and I give and bequeath unto my son, John Little, all that I have put into his possession, estimated by me to the amount of three undred seventy-two dollars.

Item 6. It is my will and I give and bequeath to my son, James Little, the land whereon he now lives, beginning on the north bank of Rocky River where Peter Haglers last old mill dam joined the bank, thence a straight line to a large Spanish Oak on the right hand side of the road leading to where I now live to my son, James, thence same direction to the main hollow or winter drain between the Spanish Oak and the main road, thence by said drain to the main road. Thence up said road to the White Thorny Branch, thence down said branch to my line on the west side of Camp Branch, a line of the tract I purchased of Cutherbertson and Hammon, thence down the road line to the Post Oak corner on the west side bank of road Branch thence to the Black Oak Corner of the Tretwill Tract, thence a straight line to the corner of the tract I had conveyed to me by John Burlison, standing 50 yards above the mouth of the mill Race, thence with my line to the River, thence up the various courses of the River to the beginning, with all that I have put into his possession estimated by me to the amount of four hundred sixty two dollars.

Item 7. It is my will and I give and bequeath to my son, Aaron Little, all my land on the south side of Rocky River except the land that I shall bequeath to my daughter, Polly Biggers, with all that I have put into his possession, estimated by me to be six hundred sixty dollars.

Item 8. It is my will and I bequeath to my daughter, Polly Biggers, the land whereon she is now living with all that I have put into her possession, estimated by me to the amount of three hundred and five dollars.

Item 9. It is my will and I give and bequeath to my son, Jacob Little, the land whereon he now lives, also the hundred acres I purchased of John Hagler, including of his own field, with all that I have put into his possession, estimated by me to the amount of two hundred ninety dollars.

Item 10. It is my will and I give and bequeath to my daughter, Sophia Klutz, my land beginning at the Ford of the River, thence down the various courses of the River to my son, James, beginning at the point of the mill dam, thence with his line passing the Spanish Oak up the winter drain to the road, thence back or down said road to the beginning, the Ford where I now live with all that I have put into her possession estimated by me to the amount of four hundred dollars.

Item 11. It is my will and I give and bequeath to my son, Laban Little, the land whereon he now lives which I have purchased of my son, John, with all that I have put into his possession which I have estimated to the amount of two hundred seventy one dollars.

Item 12. It is my will that all my property both real and personal, not willed, immediately after my death be put to public sale or auction and the money arising therefrom with all money and cash notes and accounts to be equally divided between my sons and daughters, by including this amount they have already received, which I have above estimated.

Item 13. Nevertheless, if my estate should not amount to sufficient sum so as to make all my legatees equal with my son Daniel in the amount he had already received, it is my will that he refund nothing but if it should amount to more, he shall be entitled to share equal.

Item 14. If any of my son or sons, daughter or daughters shall manifest a dissatisfaction to the contents of this my will, it is my will that they receive nothing of my estate except that they had already received, but the part willed to such shall be equally divided betwen those that are satisfied.