IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I John Stroud of the County of Mecklenburg being
sick and weak of body but of perfect memory and understand and as to what
worldly Goods it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me I give devise
and dispose of in the following manner viz.
  Imprimis my Will desire is that all my just debts & funeral expenses be
first paid & discharged.
  Item all the rest or residue of my estate be equally divided amongst all
my Children (to wit) Lucy, Jesse, Mary, John, Edward, Elizabeth, Joseph,
Willis & William Stroud to them & their heirs forever.
  Item My desire is that if any of my Children die without lawful Issue
his or her part so dying be equally divided amongst the Survivors of them
& their heirs.
  Item My Will further is that my son Jesse Stroud have my bay colt paying
to my executors the sum of fifteen pounds to be thrown into my estate and
to be disposed of in manner before mentioned.
  My Will is that the wearing apparel belonging to my poor deceased wife
be equally divided amongst my three daughters Lucy, Mary & Elizabeth Stroud
and that my sister in law Christiana Hatchell have the distribution of
them.  I do hereby appoint my brother in Law William Hatchell whole and
sole Executor of this my last Will & Testament hereby disannulling &
making void all other Will or Wills by me heretofore made. In Witness
whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 27th day of October 1776.
Signed sealed published & declared
by the said John Stroud as his                    his
last will & Testament in presence	       Jno   Stroud
of us						  mark
John Robertson
Clausel Clausel
James Addams
At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 11th day of November 1776 This
Will was proved by the Oaths of two of the Witnesses thereto & ordered to
be recorded And on the motion of William Hatse[ll] the Exor. therein
named who made Oath thereto together with Solomon Draper his Security
entered into & acknowledged their bond in the penalty of two hundred &
fifty pounds & conditioned as the Law directs Certificate was granted him
for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
			John Brown Ct. Cur.