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In the name of God amen this eleventh day of May in the
year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three I Robert
Stephenson of Jefferson County state of North Carolina being
of a sound Judgment and memory as usual do thank god &c.
and now calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing it
is appointed all men to die &c. 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 unto the hand of God who gave it
me, my body I commend to the earth to be burried in a Christian
like manner at the discretion of my executor and executrix herein
after mentioned &c. and as touching such worldy estate wherewith
it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I devise and
dispose of in manner and form following towit. That my just
debts and funeral charges be first paid. Item I give to my well
beloved wife Mary whom I likewise constitute make and ordain
my executrix of this my last will and testament, the one third of
the benefits of my plantation, also the mansion house and benefits
and bed furniture and household furniture left her decease and
then to be equally divided between my two youngest children towit
Mary and Sarah Stephenson except the one third the benefits of
the land. Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth Waddell ten
shillings Virginia money. Item I give to my daughter Jean Waddle
ten shillings Virginia money. Item I give to my son John Stephenson
ten shillings Virginia money. Item I give to my son Edward Stephenson
whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my Executor of this
my last will and testament my Smith tools and to have privilege of
the Smith shop and timber for coals as long as he continues on the
plantation and Three hundred acres of land laying on Poplar creek
emptying into Clinch in Knox County in this territory. Item I give
to my two sons towit Robert Stephenson and Andrew Stephenson Five
hundred acres of land in the State of Virginia to which John
Waddle is to make me a right for which is to be divided equal
in quantity and quality between them. Item I give to my
two sons towit James Stephenson & Alexander Cammel Stephenson