I, Etheldred Pridgen of the County of Columbus and State of North Carolina, being of sound and disposing mind and memory for which blessing am humbly thankful, and knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time therof and that all men must die, and being desirous of disposing of my property which it has pleased God to bles me; do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and for as follows. ovg;

1st. I do give my soul into the hands of my maker from whom I received it, and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my friends;

2nd. I do give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth one third part of my Lands and my negro fellow Ned, One horse and Cart, one bed and its furniture, Two Cows and calves Two Sows and pigs, Six seting chairs, One Table, One Loom, One Wheel and Cards, One womans saddle, One pot, One dutch oven, and sufficient support for one year, all of the above named property I do give and bequeath unto my said wife Elizabeth to be hers, only during her natural lifetime, all the above mentioned property which I have bequeathed unto my wife, it is my wish and will that at her death should return unto and belong unto my two sons John C. Pridgen and James Henry Pridgen including the lands as well as the perishable property.

4th. I do give and bequeath unto my son James Henry Pridgen one horse bridle and saddle; also one bed of furniture;

5th. I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha the sum of Two hundred dollars, one bed and furniture;

6th. I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Two hundred dollars, one bed and furniture;

7th. I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Winny Two hundred dollars, one bed and furniture;

8th. I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Theny Two hundred dollars, one bed and furniture;

9th. I do give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah one dollar.

10th. I do give and bequeath unto my son Richard the sum of one dollar.

11th. It is my will, if there would not be perishable property left at my death sufficient to discharge the above named legacies to my five daughters and son Richard, that my two sons John C. and James Henry Pridgen make up and ballance that may be needed to pay off said Legacy out of the portion of property that I have herein bequeathed to them.

12th I do hereby constitute nominate and appoint my son John C. Pridgen Executor to this my last will and testament and to invest herin with full power and authority to act in that capacity. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of November AD1848.

Signed Sealed and declared by the )
testator to be his last will and testament )
in the presence of us )
his

Kintchen X Wade
mark
W. M. Baldwin

Etheldred Pridgen (Seal)

State of North Carolina ) Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions
Columbus County ) November Term 1852

It appears to the satisfaction of this court that this paper writing has been heretofore duly proved as the last will and testament of Etheldred Pridgen it is ______by the Court that John C. Pridgen, the Executor named therein do qualify as Ececutor of the Same and that the same be recorded. Accordingly said John C. Pridgen appeared in open Court and took the oath prescribed by law to qualify as Executor.

Let the Will be recorded--- Thoa M Smith Clk.

State of North Carolina) Superior Court of Law
Columbus County ) At Fall Term 1852
Be it remembered that the forgoing will was duly proved in open court by the oath after suscribing witnesses thereto as the last will and testament of Etheldred Pridgen.

Wm Baldwin CSC

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