In the Name of God Amen. This the Eighth Day of November in the year of our Lord 1794. I William Hancks of Granville County and State of North Carolina Being Very Sick and Week in Body But of Perfect Mind and Memory thanks be to God for the Same and Calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament. That is to say Principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my Body I Recommend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Like and Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executors Nothin Doubting But at the general Resurrection I Shall Receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God and as Touching Such Worldly Estate Where with it hath Pleased God to Bless me in this Life I give and Devise and Dispose of the Same in manner and form Following. That is to say.
Item. I give and Bequeath to my Beloving Wife Sally Hancks one third of my Estate after my Just Debts is paid to she and her Heirs for Ever. Also I Lend her the Residue of my Rail and Personal Estate During of Her Widow hood or Untill my Loving Son Wm. Henry Hancks Comes of Age.
Item. I give and Bequeath to my Loving Son Wm. Henry Hancks all my Estate Real and Personal that is Not heretofore Been Mentioned to him and his Heirs for Ever and if in Case that my Loving Son Should Die Without and Heirs I give it to my Loving Wife Sally Hancks to she and Her Heirs for Ever. And I do hereby Utterly Disallow, Revoke and Disannull all and Every others former Testaments Wills and Legacies Bequests and Executors by me in any ways Before this time Named Willed and Bequeathed. Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness Whereof I have here unto Set my hand and Seal this the Day and year Above Written.
I do Hereby appoint my Loving Wife Sally Hancks and Henry Fitts(?) Senor and Maryman Barnes my Executors to this my Last Will and Testament
William Hancks -Seal
_______ _________ ________
Test.
Stephen Ellis
Susannah Hancks
State of North Carolina
Granville County
Mat Term 1795
The foregoing last Will & Testament of William Hancks was duly proven in open court by the Oath of Stephen Ellis & Susannah Hancks the Subscribing witnesses thereto & Ordered to be Recorded. And at the same time came Sally Hancks & Henry Fitts and qualified as Executrix & Executor to the same.
Test. A. Henderson Clk. August Court
Sherman(?) (orHaryman?) Barns came into Court and qualified as an Executor to this Will.
A. Henderson Clk.