Wilkes Co., NC Will Book #4 Page 44

                         John Fosters Will
  In the name of God amen.  I John Foster of Wilkes County & State
of North Carolina being at present in reasonable good health and of
disposing mind and memory but calling to mind the Uncertainty of
life, and the certainty of death do make constitute order and Publish
this as my last Will and Testament revoking all others in manner
and form as follows (to wit.) First it is my Will and desire that
out of my estate all my Just debts if there be any be punctually
paid.  Secondly  I give and bequeath to my affectionate & beloved
sister Lucy Foster the Tract of land and plantation whereon I
now live during her Natural life and after her death to return
to the males of my estate and be disposed of as herein after direc
ted.  I further give and bequeath to her my said Sister my Negroe
Woman Amy and her Children forever to be disposed of as she may
deem fit and at her own Will and pleasure.  I further give to her
two Horses, two Cows & calves all my Stock of Hogs & Sheep all my
Houshold and Kitchen furniture plantation utensils and fifty
Barrels of corn all of which shall return to my common Stock after her 
death except the said Negroes and to be disposed of as herein after directed.
3 as I have good reason to believe that I have a Natural born Son of the
Name of Thomas Erwin Brooks the Child of Elizabeth Brooks now about
two years old.  I give and bequeath to him the said Thomas Erwin Brooks
One thousand Dollars to be put to Interest the proceeds of which to be an-
nually applied to the Maintenance and Education of the said boy &
when he may or does Arrive at the age of Twenty One years the Princi-
pal sum and any part of the Interest that may be then due shall then
as soon as practicable be paid over to him and in case he should die
before that time or afterwards leaving no lawfull Child of his own then
or in either case  his said  portion shall return to the males of my Estate
an disposed of as such.  4th It is my Will  and desire that all the bal-
lance of my disposable  Estate both real and Personal as well the
Lands and property left to my sister Lucy Foster after her death as
otherwise except her Negroes be divided between all my Brothers and
Sisters (to wit.) Thomas Foster, Anthony Foster, Sarah Kindall
Nancy Robins, Polly Robins, Francis Jones, Phoebe Jones, Elizabeth
Jones, and Mildred Goforth in Proportion to the Number of there then
living Children respectively including such of their Children deceased
that may have living Children and not otherwise.  5th  It is my
further wish and desire and I do hereby Order and appoint my friend
and Nephew Edmund Jones and my Brother Anthony Foster & my friend
and Nephew John Foster son of  Thomas Foster Executors to this my
last Will and Testament.  In testimony whereof  I have hereto set my
hand and Seal the day of February the 19th in the year of our Lord 1823
Sign'd Sealed and Acknowledged |                   John Foster [seal]
in Presence if us              | North Carolina  |
Jeffery Johnson |                   Wilkes County| Feby Term 1824
Hubbard Johnson |   Jut. |                 The above Will was duly Proved
Anthony Foster  |        |          in open court by the Oaths of Jeffery