Born Jemima Smith, widow of Benjamin Merrill In the name of God Amen!
I Jemima Butner of the County of Rowan & State of N. Carolina being in perfect mind & memory, but weakly in body ... as touches such worldly estate, as it had pleased God to bless me with, I dispose, devise & give in manner & form following, that is,
... I give & bequeath to my daughter Nancy my negro woman SLAGER, which is to be valued, & John, William & Charles Meril is to have an equal part of the value of said Negroe in money;
... I give & bequeath to my daughter Ellien one negro girl named ROSE, which is also to be valued & the above John, Wm & Chas Meril is to have an equal part of her value in money,
... I give & bequeath to my son Andrew Meril my Negroe boy named JAMES, which is also to be valued & the above John Meril, Wm & Chas Meril to have an equal part of the value in money,
... I give to my son Jonathan Meril my Negro boy named DAVID & he is to pay to my son Chas Meril 10 pounds current money 2 yrs after my decease
...I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 7th day of May 1801.
Jemima Butner
Contributed by: Pat Patterson, patpnyc@att.net