Fields and Short Families

MARGARET SHORT WILL - Feb. 12, 1862 - Moore County, North Carolina

(copy of will received from N.C. State Archives)

I Margaret Short of the County of Moore and State North Carolina, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make/publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in maner following towit.

Item 1st; I desire my Executor herein after named to conduct my funeral according to the wishes and directions of my children and friends and to pay my funeral expenses and just debts due to any one from me out of my estate.
Item 2; I will devise & bequeath to my daughter Frances Vick wife of John Vick and at her death to the living of her body, to her and their sole and separate use and not to be subject to the duty control or control of her said husband John Vick a track of land in said County.; One hundred and sixty three acres more or less the tract of land on which said Vick and family now lives being the same allotted to said Vick & wife in the division of the real estate of the late Daniel Short since and now owned by me but the above devise of said
tract of land to my daughter Francis and her living is made subject to the payment of her husband John Vick or by his living or some one for them of a debt of one hundred dollars with all interest due thereon which said Vick now owes to me and if said debt be not paid to me my Executor is directed to collect the same, and if it cannot be paid without a sale of said tract of land or a part thereof, hereby devised to my said daughter her living then I direct my Executor to sale so much of said land as may be necessary for the payment of said debt and interest.
Item 3; the balance of my estate and property real and personal or mixed or whatever it may consist I give devise and bequeath to my children Sarah Short, Eliza Short, Ellen Short, Caroline Short and (?) Saml P. Short and their living share and share alike.
Item 4th; I desire and hope all my other children will be satisfied with this my will as I think in view of all the circumstances, I have acted rightfully and I hereby appoint and constitute Pleasant Short & B.H. Short my Executors to make _____? My will and testament and carry out it.

Margaret Shorts Will
Its several provisions.
Signed sealed and declared in presence of Us this 12 Febry 1862
A.H. McNeill
A.M. Branson
Maragaret (her mark) Short

Whereas I Margaret Short have made my last will and testament bearing date 12th Febry 1862, I do by this my writing which I hereby declare to be a codicil to my said will to be taken and construed as a part of the same Item I will direct that the interest in Item 3rd to Saml P. Short as he is dead is to be equally divided between my four daughters, Sarah Fields, Eliza Short, Ellen Fields and Carolina Short Share and Share alike. And I hereby revoke the appointment of B.H. Short and Pleasant Short as my Executors and do hereby appoint A.H. McNeill, my Executor to execute this my last will and testament and carry out its several provisions.
Signed sealed published By the said Margaret Short
To be her last will and testament
In presence of
I.H. Caddill (or J.H. Caddill)
Angus Currie
Margaret (her mark) Short

I Margaret Short do hereby release John Vick from any and all claims which I have against him.; I did have a claim of one hundred dollars.; I have been satisfied of the same, and hereby release the same as aforesaid this 10th Febry 1870.
Witness I.H. Caddill
Margaret (her mark) Short
North Carolina
Moore County

We the undersigned being (?) in law of Margaret Short having heard a paper writing read purporting to be the last will and testament of the said Margaret Short and the said paper writing appoints one A.H. McNeill Executor we hereby request the proper authority to allow the said McNeill to qualify without trouble to him

This 25th Nov. 1873
John Hancock
Brinkly Short
Benjamin H. Cole
Devotion Short
John Vick