JOHN H. MC LURE'S WILL
In the name of God Amen
I John H. McLure being in my sound mind and proper sences but in feeble
health and calling to mind the shortness of life & the certainty of death
and being desirous of giving directions how the little eartly substance with
which it has pleased God to bless me shall be disposed of after my decease doth
make ordain and publish this my last will and testament.
First After committing my soul to God who gave it and my body to be buried
in the dust in a decent and christian manner I next proceed to nominate and
appoint my trusty firends Even P. Alexander and Robert A. McLure as the
Executors of this my last will and testament in manner herein after
directed Next it is my will and desire that all the property of every name
and kind both personal and real whether it consist in slaves Land or stock
Except my bedding bedstead & clothing which I will hereafter dispose of
shall all be sold by my Executors without any decree of Court to sell in a
manner herein directed they shall give sufficient notice of the time and place
of sale by advertisements then sell the highest bidder on one and two years time
taking sutch securities from the purchases as will secure the payment of the
purchase moneys and retain leans on the lands or withhold the titles of the
lands untill the last of the purchase money is paid the directions above refer
to the property that will be over bringing an amount sufficient with what cash
on hands or debts due and oweing to me at my decease to pay off all my debts
which I desire shall be paid as soon as practicable after my decease my
executors to ascertain the amount of debts and of my dues then sell for cash or
on a short credit so much of my property as will complete the payment of all
just claims that may be against me in as short a time as may be practible.
I also empower and authorize these my before named Executors or other of them to
make deeds of conveyance to all my lands sold by them when paid before directed
in as full and ample a manner as I could were I present myself and it is further
my desire that my children each of them shall have the bed steads and beds and
clothing devised equally among the three there grand mother Alexander to
take charge of the beds and clothing and I bequest her to make and equal
division of them Beds clothings and all and each to get there part when they may
need them and the balance of the proceeds of the sale of my property of every
kind that may be left after the payment of my just debts to be kept at interest
& what may remain after raising and schooling my three children Sarah C.
Martha J. and Erin P. Mc Lure to be divied equally between the three to be paid
over to each when they arrive at the age of twenty one years in testimony
whereof I hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 2nd day of May 1860.
N. B. It is my desire that my crop be completed before the hands and a
sufficiency of the stock to carey on with be sold this the day & year above
written.
John H. Mc Lure (Seal)
Signed sealed &c in presence of
Test. D. H. Mc Lure
A. Delany X his mark
John Mc Renold.