Miles, Young George and Betty
Will of Elias Brett , dated Jan. 12, 1850
In the name of God, Amen, I, Elias Brett of the County of Hertford and the State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this is my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, to-wit:
Item 1 ~ I lend to my beloved wife, Permelia Brett, two negro men, one by the name of Miles and young George, one negro woman named Betty, one bay mare, two cows, one work ox, all of my household and kitchen furniture, one cart and wheels, one dagger plow, two flank plows, one set of plow gear, two sows and pigs, forty barrels corn, four stacks fodder, fifteen hundred pounds pork, one stand of lard, all of my land which I now own except the piece known as the Elez Lewis piece which I leave to be sold at my death, the money arising from the sale of said piece of land I wish to be applied to the payment of my just debts.
The above-named property which I lent to my wife Permelia Brett, I wish her to keep during her widowhood or until my son James Edward Brett becomes twenty-one years of age. If my wife Permelia Brett should marry, I wish all of the above lent property to be sold except the land, and the money arising from sale of said property to be equally divided between my wife Permelia Brett and my five children, James Edward Brett, Henrietta Brett, Mary Elizabeth Brett, Virginia Roxanne Brett, William Elias Brett.
If my wife Permelia Brett does not marry, when my son James Edward Brett arrives at the age of twenty-one, my wish is that the said property be sold and the money divided between my wife Permelia Brett and my five children, James Edward Brett, Henrietta Brett, Mary Elizabeth Brett, Virginia Roxanne Brett and William Elias Brett, and the above lent land to be equally divided amongst my five above-named children.
Item 2 ~ All of my property which is not given away or lent, I wish to be sold and the money arising from sale of said property to be applied to the payment of my just debts, and if after paying all my just debts and expenses there should be any left, I wish it to be equally divided between my wife Permelia Brett and my five children, James Edward Brett, Henrietta Brett, Mary Elizabeth Brett, Virginia Roxanne Brett, and William Elias Brett.
AND, I do hereby constitute and appoint my brother Joseph Brett my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my Last Will and Testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and every part and every clause thereof, hereby revoking and declaring utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I the said Elias Brett do hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 12th day of January, 1850.
Elias Brett (seal)
SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED)
IN THE PRESENCE OF: )
Pipkin Vaughan)
Abner Langston)
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