Wilkes Co., NC Will Book #5 Page 79 February Term 1853 No 23. James M. Parks Will In the Name of God Amen I James M. Parks of the County of Wilkes and State of North Carolina being of sound m[??? Memorydo this q6th day of August 1852 make and publish t[his my last will and Testament in manner & form following tha[t is to say 1st I give my soul to God who give it 2nd I give and bequeath to my dearly Beloved Wife Mary Parks all my Estate book ?al and personal except what is hereafter [??? to my children that is to say my land I live on, Negroes, Money on hand, ???, Household and Kitchen furniture farming tool, Carriage and Waggon and Stock of every description during her natural life if she remains a widow if she should marry again then all the property willed to her to be equally divided amongst our children and she may give any part of it as she pleases provided she gives in a way to make our chil- dren equal one with another 3rd I give and bequeath to my Son William C. Parkes One Dollar and Negroe boys Aaron and Perry and all he has [??? of me which amounts to including the Negroe S????????? [one hundred dollars 4th I give and bequeath to my Son John A Parkes One Dollar and the land my Father lived on from the cross fence between me and Wm Edmund running with the River Bank west including the island then to the Cross fence above the Mouth then with the fence by the ??? of the Branch near the apple orchard then with a marked line North west to the Top of the ridge then a straight line to the ??? then running one hundred yards above the gate on the road then running within one hundred yards of the fence west of the Branch field until it comes to the path running west of the Branch xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx field ?????????? up the hill from the field then with the xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx path to the river, then with the road to within one hundred yards of the field near the ???ing House then East To the road then with the road on the top of the ridge then down the ridge left of the hollow to the Beginning. The above named land with what I have given him in all things worth twenty one hundred dollars I ???? to my wife a part of said land to culltivate as she feels are equal to the interest of this amount over and above what some my children gets until they are all made equal page 2 5th I give and bequeath to my son James H. Parkes One Dollar and Negroe boy Hugh and all he has ??????? of me making in all T???? hundred dollars but is to have Eight hundred Dollars in Negroes Money or something else he's after 6th I give and bequeath to my son Lindolph One dollar and the tract of land I bought of Wm Parkes and F.B. Parkes on the West side of Roaring River and all the back land forming except one acre forming the Mill [ & Sc]hool said land worth twenty three hundred dollars & re]serve to my wife a part of said land to cultivate as she pleases equal to the interest and the amount over & above what I have given to some of my other children until all of them are made equal 7th I give and bequeath to my son Marcus Parkes One Dollar and the land I bough of Wm Parkes on the East side of Roaring River including the Mill said and One acre on the west side of said river joining the Mill we]st and all the Back lands joining, and the islands below the mouth of Roaring River said land worth twenty four hundred Dollars by improving the Mill seals with a good grice Mill the building of said Mill to be paid for out of my money or property Marcus to have possession when he is twenty one years old. I reserve to my wife a part of said land to cultivate as she pleases that will be equal to the interest on the amount over and above what I have willed to some of my other children until they are all made equal. 8th I give and bequeath to my son Felix Parks One Dollar and Negroe boy George and One Thousand Dollars in Money or Negores when he is twenty One years old which makes Sixteen hundred Dollars and is to be made equal with my other Chil- dren hereafter. 9th I give and bequeath To my daughter Cinthia Rousseau One Dollar and Negroes Mira, Joseph, Horrace and Isaac and all the Children Mira has had since she has had her in possession and all her increase and one horse and all the other property she has received of me which is worth sixteen hundred Dollars 10th I give and bequeath to my son Oliver T Parkes one Dollar and the tract of land I live on at the death of his Mother said land worth three thousand Dollars but I deduct five hundred Dollars out of the price of said land for the support of my older Negroes he is to take care of and provide for. page 3 11th I give and bequeath to my daughter Emily Conelly One Dollar and the following Negroes Moses, Matildy, Larkin and Charles and all their increase which is worth Sixteen hundred Dollars 12th I give and bequeath to my daughter Matilda Scroggs One Dollar and the following Negroes Caroline, Elisa, Henry and Sinda and Caroline youngest child and all their increase and all the Other property she has received of me which is worth Sixteen Hundred Dollars 13th My Will is that if any of my sons or daughters should [be without Child or Children that the property they have had of me should be equally divided among their Brothers and Sisters and if any of my daughters should die and their husbands marry again that the property they have received of my Estate belongs to her children if she had any if not to my other sons & daughters 14th My Will is that my Children should be mad e]qual at the death of my wife and if there is not enough of my Estate at the death of my wife to make them equal those of my Children that have received the largest amount of pay back in such a way as will make them all equal one with an other I hereby make and ordain my wife Mary Parkes Executrix and my sons John A Parkes and Lindolph Parkes Executors of this my last Will and Testament in Witness whereof I the said James M Parkes have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written Signed Sealed published & declared by the said J M Parkes the Testator of his last will and James M Parks [seal] Testament in the presence of us who were present at the time of signing the same Wm Parks | F B Parks| Jurat North Carolina | Wilkes County | February Term 1853 The execution of the written will was duly proven in open Court by Wm & F B Parkes the subscribing witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded and the Executrix and Executors Therein named duly sworn Test W, Mastin Clk