THE WILL OF WILLIAM COWAN, SR.
(Rowan County, NC Wills Book B, p. 196)
Written 14 August 1789

In the name of God, Amen,  The 14th day of August in the year of our Lord 1789, I William Cowan of Rowan County in the State of North Carolina...

ITEM, I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Sarah Cowan my one hundred pounds bond on George Wink of Lancaster County of the State of Pennsylvania which will become payable in May 1790, and my Negro wench called Cleary, ...also my Negro wench called Peg and my little Negro called Venus, and to her use and behoof during my said Daughter Sarah's natural life, and at her death the said two Negro wenches and the one half of their offspring if any to be equally divided amongst all the rest of my sons and daughters or their lawful representatives and that Peg have liberty to choose which of my sons or daughters she shall live with, and are to purchase her and pay to the rest their quota of her value and the Negroes to work on the plantation as usual about corn, hay, etc.

ITEM, I give and bequeath to my beloved son, Isaac Cowan my Negro fellow called Luke and to his heirs and assigns forever.

ITEM, I give and bequeath to my three sons George, William and Benjamin my three Negro boys called Minsy, Elick and Ezar to be divided amongst them as they may see cause to agree and to their heirs and assigns forever.

ITEM, It is my will and pleasure that my sons aforesaid teach or cause to be taught the Negro boys to them bequeathed as above to read and that the said Negroes be not sold out to strangers, or carried out of the State except they be fully willing for that purpose.

Contributed by: URQ5
By way of:  GFS LBall