This is a transcription of the will of William Galbreath which was written on the 4th of January, 1799 and probated in 1800 in Orange County, NC.
In the name of God Amen, I William Galbreath, of the State of North Carolina and County of Orange, being in perfect health and sound mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God, therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I do hereby make and ordain this to be my last will and testament. First of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hand of God who give it and my body to the earth to b buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the designation of my Executors hereafter mentioned and touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give, bequeath and dispose of the same in manner and following, VIZ.
Item 1. I give and bequeath to my eldest son Walter Galbreath five hundred acres of land in the state of Tennessee in the middle district on Mill Creek of equal quantity of the rest of the tract on one thousand acres purchased by Jeremiah Chamberlain and myself No. 1908.
Item 2. I give and bequeath to my second son William Galbreath no other lands but that already conveyed to him viz fifty acres of land lying in Orange County, North Carolina, on back creek known by the name of Mill tract also five hundred acres of land in Tennessee State conveyed to him as it stands on record in the registers of Orange County, also my Negro man named July and my walking cane and Mill stones and the irons belonging to them.
Item 3. I give and bequeath to my third and youngest son John Galbreath the plantation where I now dwell with my mansion house with all appurtenances thereto belonging to the said place; addition also my Negro man named Tony, my bay, Hogs, cattle, Jack, Saddle and bridle and my shotgun and my small chest, and my featherbed and furniture also four hundred acres of land on the Duck River on the East Side of Sugar Creek of No. 2.
Item 4. I give and bequeath to my eldest Daughter Catron Galbreath now McKimey and to her lawful issue two hundred acres of land in the State of Tennessee on the South side of Duck River on the East side of Sugar Creek, also one hundred acres of land I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Francis McKimey also 50 acres of land to my grandson William McKimey both of which shall join the above mentioned two hundred acres left to my daughter Catron of No. 2 in original Grant.
Item 5. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Galbreath now Dickson and her issues two hundred acres in the State of Tennessee, also fifty acres of Land I give and bequeath to my grandson William Dickson adjoining the said two hundred acres of the south Side of Duck River on the East Side of Sugar Creek No. 2 in the original grant.
Item 6. I give and bequeath to my third daughter Elizabeth Galbreath now Cunningham and her lawful issue three hundred acres of land in the State of Tennessee also I give and bequeath to my grandson William Galbreath Cunningham one hundred forty acres of land including a mill seat on Buchanan's Creek not far from the mouth of said Creek joining the above three hundred acres of No. 226 in the original grant with one cow and half my sheep.
Item 7. I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Galbreath two hundred acres of land in the State of Tennessee it being a part of the last mentioned tract of No. 226 including whole 140A, also my mare that I usually ride with her saddle and bridle and a bed and furniture called her own and my large Walnut Chest and Tea Table, half dozen of Chairs and my small Dutch oven, a set of cups and saucers and spoons and a set of knives and forks and half dozen of table spoons, one choice of all my cattle and half all my sheep and half dozen of delft plates and a spinning wheel, and my three large pewter dishes and the other pewter be equally divided amongst my four Daughters above named.
Item 8. I give all my other movable property not willed to be sold and debts due me to be collected to pay all my just debts and the surplus if any to be equally divided among my three sons VIZ Walter, William, and John Galbreath.
Item 9. And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my well beloved son John and my well beloved son-in-law Matthew Cunningham my whole and Sole Executors of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby utterly nominate and revoke all other wills or Testaments heretofore made and I do Testify and confirm this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness hereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 4th day of January 1799.
Test: M. Cunningham (signed) William Galbreath
Wm. Kirk
(executors qualified)
N.B. Provided that either of my unmarried children VIZ Walter, John and Ann Galbreath should be removed by Death intestate or without a lawful heir of their own body then their part of the before willed Estate to be equally divided amongst the Brothers and sisters of their own sex VIZ Walters to be divided between William and John, and John's in like manner between Walter and William Galbreath, and Ann's to be divided in like manner between her other sisters.
Witnesses: M. Cunnigham (signed) William Galbreath
Wm. Kirk
In my lifetime I have traded 250 acres of land for a gray horse at 250 dollars which a loan to be made up out of my surplus money to him on home this is lacking.
Wm. Kirk (signed) William Galbreath