Will of William Brooks 

Recorded in Feby Court 1844 Will Docket Page 21 & 22

Rutherford Co., NC

In the name of God Amen.

I William Brooks of the County of Rutherford and State of North Carolina Being of sound mind and memory, Blessed be God for his mercies, I do this day make my last will and testament in the following manner viz. 1st of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it & my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent and christian burial at the discretion of my executor who shall be here after mentioned. 2nd that my just debts and funeral expenses shell be paid. 3rd I give and bequeath to my son David Brooks one Dollar. 4th I give and bequeath to my son Constantinople Brooks One Dollar. 5th I give and bequeath to my son Samuel Brooks One Dollar. 6th I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Brooks One Dollar. 7th I give and bequeath unto my Son Isaac Brooks one Note of 15 Dollars which I hold against him also a book account of about twenty two Dollars and twenty dollars in cash. 8th I give and bequeath unto my son Moses Brooks sixty acres of land part of my home tract. 9th I give and bequeath to my Aaron Brooks sixty acres of land part of my home tract including where he now lives. 10th I give and bequeath to my son Hiram Brooks one dollar. 11th I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Hardcastle sixty acres of land to live on and enjoy until her death & then for it to belong to her legitimate heirs. 12th I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Rachel Brooks daughter of Elizabeth Hardcastle sixty acres of land including the mill shack and dwelling house where now I live also one gray mare and her increase. 13th I give and bequeath unto four of my grand children viz. Rodah, Patsy, Margaret and Hiram Brooks heirs of my son Joseph Brooks ten dollars each. 14th I give and bequeath to my grand son William McDavid Brooks sixty acres of land being a part of my home tract (son of John Brooks) the remaining part of John Brooks heirs if he has any to have one Dollar divided among them. 15th the  remaining part of my estate real and personal to be sold to pay those whom I have directed to have their portion in money then if any left it be divided equally among all the legatees. 16th and lastly I appoint and ordain Joseph Green to be my executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof  I the sd William Brooks to hereunto set my hand and seal this the 28th day of August in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty. Signed and sealed in presents of us Archibald (his x) Weeks, Abraham Kist, Jurat, J Green.   Signed William (his X) Brooks

(underneath William Mark is Eser Swam)