Last Will and Testament of Joseph Harder

September 7^th 1873 Alamance County, N.C.

I, Joseph Harder of the county of Alamance and state of North Carolina Being of sound mind and memory but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say:

Item: I give and devise to my loving wife all my lands and personal property to have and to hold to her the said Anne Harder for and during the term of her natural life.

Item: I give and devise to my eldest daughter Eliza C. Rippey the wife of William H. Rippey one hundred and forty acres of land in the Joseph Rippey _____ during her natural life and then to ____ the said Eliza Rippey’s children except the life estate of my devised wife.

Item: I give to my youngest daughter Sarah F. Harder one hundred and twenty acres of the land on the home tract to include and out buildings where I now live, also forty acres of land known as the Faulkner Tract adjoining the lands of J.G. Pinnix and others, one horse and cow, Household and Kitchen furniture, one half share in Rail Road stock and Eliza C. Rippey the other except the life estate of my devised wife.

Item: I give and devise Willis Harder’s children thirty six acres of land to be equally divided lying northeast of my home tract adjoining the lands of T.?. Fonville except the life estate of my devised wife.

Item: I give to John A. Harder twelve acres of land, I also give Joseph T. Harder twelve acres of land, I also give John A. and Mary C. Harder one note I now hold on Austin Harder except the life estate of my devised wife to have and to hold in fee simple forever. I give the remainder Samuel Chelden? after death of wife provided he stays with her until he is twenty one years of age, and also to have fifteen dollars worth of other property.

Item: And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my wife Anne Harder and Sarah F. Harder my lawful executors to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intended meaning thereof, I hereby revoke and declare utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In witness thereof I the said Joseph Harder do hereunto set my hand and seal.

Signed: Joseph Harder Sept. 7^th, 1873

Signed by the said Joseph Harder to his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.

Witness: Joseph McAdams

George Loman

State of North Carolina

Alamance County

In Probate Court April 22, 1874

A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Joseph Harder deceased is exhibited for Probate and upon the oath and examination of Joseph McAdams and George Loman the subscribing witnesses thereto who state that they signed the same as witnesses at the request and in the presence of the said Joseph Harder declared the same to be his last will and testament and that said Harder was at the said declaration and signing of sound mind and dispersing? memory. It is therefore adjudged the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of the said Joseph Harder and the same is admitted to Probate and ordered to be recorded.

Signed: W. A. Albright

Probate Judge-Alamance County

TRANSCRIBED BY: LATHAM MARK PHELPS 12-15-2002