North Carolina -Chowan County
In the name of God-amen-I William T Forehand of said county and state considering the uncertainty of life wishing to make a proper distribution among my heirs of what worldly  goods it hath pleased God to bless me with.  Do make and declare the following to be my last will and testament.
1) I nominate and appoint my son William T Forehand executor hereof and  enjoin upon him the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses out of the first money that may come into his hands from my estate as hereinafter provided.
2) I desire that enough of my chattel property to be sold to pay amounts in section 1 above.
3) All the residue of  my chattel property after  paying my just debts, funeral expenses, and legal court charges for administration of my estate-except the legacy hereinafter  made to Lucy Hunter.  I lend to my wife Elizabeth during her widowhood.  I also lend her the use of all my lands for agricultural purposes only during her widowhood and after her death or should she marry again, the said chattel property shall be sold by my executor and the proceeds divided among my four sons hereinafter named.
4) I give and bequeath to Lucy Hunter a little girl whom we have taken to raise one Allegiance sewing machine, one best feather-bed  and bedstead and furniture to same complete including one   ??    ,four bed quilts including three she made herself , four sheets and one counterhalf? two pillows.  To be kept by my executor for her and delivered to her when she is 21 years old or marries.  If she dies before maturity or marriage then said property bequeathed to her shall be sold and divided among my four sons.
5) I give and bequeath unto Alfred L Forehand and to his heirs and offings forever the following lands: the Willis Evans tract of land lying on Bear Swamp road, containing 50 acres more or less.  Same deeded to  ??? Wm M ?Bons? Chowan see deed book E page266 office of Register of Deeds lot number 4 in division of my swamp lands as shown by plat  hereto attached and made part hereof.
6) I give and bequeath to my son Elisha J Forehand in fee and simple the following lands first the tract whereon he now lives, being a part of the Stephen Saunders lands-containing 90 acres more or less-same conveyed to me by?_______   trustee by deed recorded in book D page154 office of register of deeds.  Lot number one in the division of my swamp lands as shown by plat aforesaid.
7) I give and bequeath to my son William T Forehand in fee simple the following lands: first the Stephen Saunders -Hollowell tract containing 65 acres more or less and conveyed to me by ?CS Vance? trustee by deed you recorded in book E page 565 office aforesaid. Second  lot number 2 in the division of my swamp lands as shown by said plat.
8) I give and bequeath unto my son Peter M Forehand him and his offings in fee simple the following lands: first the tract on which I live devised to me by my father Joel containing 115 acres more or less.  Second lot number 3 in the division of my swamp land as aforesaid.
9) To my four sons above named their heirs and offings forever in fee simple,???  In common, I give and bequeath the following lands: First a tract of land in the Pocosin containing 494  acres by survey a part of which was devised to me by will of my father Joel and balance sold under said will and deeded who to me by executor of said estate J M Forehand.  Second 73 acres granted by the state under grant number 13674 recorded in deed book E page 459 office of register of deeds.  This tract I desire my sons to keep for their own purposes, not to be sold without very good reasons. Third- half of a 38 acre tract granted by the state to James Winslow and myself lying on the north of the said Pocosin tract above described.
10) the following is a plat of the division of my swamp lands containing 100 acres more or less bounded on the east by DW Byrum, on south by EJ Burke on west byWA Coffield? and on north by Eliza Welch and John E Goodwin Ans shows how I have laid it off to my sons aforesaid and same made a part of this will.
11)If my wife marry again my sons shall immediately dispose of the lands I have lent her during her widowhood and I hereby declare that conveyance by my said wife of her right to use said lands shall be null and void.My purpose being to furnish her a home while my widow.
                             Witnessed my hand(seal)  WT Forehand
                                           Aug.20,1899
witness:J R B ?athaway
            M A Hughes
            H C Privott