In the name of God Amen

 I  Austine Hightower of Orange County and State of North Carolina being in perfect health and Sound in Mind and Memory do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit. I recommend my Soul to Almighty God who gave it and my body to the Earth to be buried in a Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executors in certain Expectation of a glorious resurrection at the Last day and as to my Worldly
Substances as hath pleased Almighty God to bestow on me I give and bequeath in the following manner Impremise my Will is that my Just Debts be first paid

Item I lend to my beloved wife Martha my Negro man Named Roger During her natural life or widowhood and at her Dicease or Inter marriage his value to be Divided amongst my children agreeable to their Distributive Shares as in the suceeding clauses Expressed

Whereas I have heretofore gave to my son William a Negro girl named Look Eight years old also a horse bridle and saddle and to my son John one hundred acres of Deeded land and an Entrey adjoining the same and to my son Austin one cow & calf and to my son Henry an Entry of Land a fether bed a cow and calf and to my daughter Amelia a negroe girl named Bass four years old all which my will is at my Deceased shall be valued and considered as part of my estate and the whole of my Estate both Real and
personal to be Equally Divided by lot amongst my wife Martha and those of my children that shall service to Matrimony or to the age of twenty one years to be paid and Delivered to them by my Executors as they shall arive to their period

And Lastly I constitute and ordain my Trusty friends and sons John Hightower & Sterling Hightower Executors and my beloved wife Martha Hightower Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament hereby Revoking all other Wills In Witness Whereof I have Set my hand and affixed my Seal this 6th Day of February 1782.

Austin Hightower (Seal)        

Signed Sealed published and Declared in presence of:


Chatham County August Term 1784 This Will was Duly Exhibited in Open
Court and proved by the Oath of John Hogan of the Subscribing Witnesses
thereto and in motion ordered to be Recorded.
 

Test
John Ramsay

Chatham County 14th April 1790

Thereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of Austin Hightower
Will given under my hand at the Clerks Office

John Ramsay Clk.
 

Transcribed by Kimberly Miller Bates