In the name of God, amen, I Macksfield Henslee of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina being in a low state of health but of perfect sense and memory thanks to Almighty God for the blessings, but taking into consideration the shortness and uncertainty of this transitory life and that it is appointed for all men once to die and being desirous to set my affairs in order before I go hence do constitute and ordain this my Last Will and Testament. (Vizr) First, I commit my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me and my body I commit it to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors whom I shall hereafter nominate and appoint and as to such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me in this life which I dispose of the same in manner and form as follows (Vizr) inprimers:

I lend to my beloved wife, Martha Henslee, my negro man named James. One feather bed and furniture, three cows and calves. One brown mare named Chance and the use of the plantation whereon I now live to be supported with timber from the land that is the most convenient to it and all my stock of hogs and geese, all my kitchen and table furniture and plantation tools and all my books with all the rest of my household stuff, except that I shall dispose of hereafter by this my Last Will and Testament, during her natural life and at her death to be disposed of as I shall hereafter direct..

Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Henslee fifty acres of land to be taken off the south side of the two hundred and eight acres of land that will be left in my tract after making him a right to a hundred and thirteen acres known by name of his land and making him the said John Henslee and David Henslee a right to one hundred and seven acres of land known by the name William Henslee's in his lifetime. I also give and bequeath to my son John one feather bed and furniture at the death of my wife to him or his heirs or assign's forever-

Item: I give and bequeath to my son David Henslee the remaining hundred and fifty eight acres of my land at the death of his Mother to him or heirs and assigns forever -

Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Henslee one feather bed and furniture and one woman's saddle and one chest all known by name of hers. I also give and bequeath and to Daughter Mary Henslee my negro man named James at the death of my Wife to her or her heirs or assigns forever-

Item: I give and bequeath to my Grand-daughter Sarah Henslee Thompson one feather bed and furniture and one womans saddle both known by the name of hers to her or her heirs or assigns forever -

Item: The remaining part of my estate that has not been mentioned I leave to be sold as my Executors may think proper and my debts paid out of the money arising from such sale, and the balance to be equally divided between my Daughters Susannah Oldham and Nancy Payne and my Grand-daughters Sarah Henslee Thompson and Elizabeth Cary Mitchell. I also leave that part of my estate that is lent to my Wife during her life, and is not disposed of at her death, to be sold by my executors at her death and the money arising from such sale to be likewise divided equally between Susannah Oldham, Nancy Payne, Sarah Henslee Thompson and Elizabeth Cary Mitchell to them their heirs and assigns forever.

Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son John Henslee and my son David Henslee whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament to be performed.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirty-first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four -

Signed: Macksfield Henslee

Nathan Williams (jurat)

Caswell County July Court 1801

The Execution of this will was duly proved in open court by the oath of Nathan Williams Esq. one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and in motion ordered to be recorded, and at the same time John Henslee one of the within mentioned Execrs referred to qualify Execur and David Henslee the other Execr qualified and took letters testamentary accordingly -

NOTE: I would like to thank another researcher, Cindy Stamps, for providing me with this information!