In the name of God Amen, I Bartley Deans, Senior, of the County of Wilson and State of North Carolina, being weak in body, but of perfect mind and mercy, blessed be God for his goodness towards me, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form following, that is to say after my decease, and being decently buried at the discretion of my Executors and friends, and all of my just Debts is paid out of what it has pleased God to bless me with, I leave the balance of my property to be disposed of in the following manner to wit:

Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Salley Hinnant and her three children, four negroes, namely the negro woman Hestor, I give and bequeath to Salley Hinnant, my daughter, the Negro Man Jerry, I give and bequeath unto my grandson William Hinnant, the Negro Boy Bunyan, I give and bequeath to my grandson Ransom Hinnant, the girl Sithey, I give and bequeath to Aby Rentfrow and all the increase she may have hereafter to them, their heirs, and assigns for ever. I also give to my daughter Salley Hinnant one Negro child named Zilley.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son James Deans, five Negroes, namely Mosey, Hack, Ben, Isaac and Molley and one hundred and forty-four dollars and seventy-five cents to be raised and paid out of my estate to him, his heirs and assigns for ever. I also give and bequeath unto Frances Deans one Negro Girl named Patty.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson Bartley Applewhite two Negroes namely Matey and her youngest child named Amos, and Seventy-two dollars and thirty-seven cents to be raised and paid out of my estate, to him, his heirs, and assigns for ever.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Grandson Elisha Applewhite two Negroes, namely Cresay, and her youngest child, namely June, and Seventy-two Dollars and thirty-seven cents to be raised and paid out of my estate to him, his heirs, and assigns for ever.

Item. I lend to my son Bartley Deans, Junior and his wife Dearing of both of their life times all the land that I own on the North east side of the little Swamp consisting of two Tracts of Land, that formerly belonged to Kesiah Williamson and was sold at her death by the Clerk Master of Equity, for a division amongst the lawful heirs, and the other tract of land lies on the North East side of the little Swamp whereon he now lives, supposed to be four hundred acres in the home tract, and about three hundred in the row tract. And I leave all the above land that lies on the North East side of the little Swamp, and I also leave the above lent land, both tracts to be equally divided between my four grandsons, namely Jackson Deans, David Deans, Jessie Deans, and Stephen Deans, and after the death of my son Bartley Deans, I give and bequeath unto my four grandsons above named all of my right, title and claim to the above lent land to them, their heirs, and assigns for ever. I also lend to my son Bartley Deans, until they are called for, the use and labor of four negro girls, Mendy. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Tempay Ann Deans, and the negro girl Linda – I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Elizabeth Little and the negro girl Charity – I give and bequeath unto Mahala Deans, and the negro girl Pashey – I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Martha Deans – my sons youngest daughter, to be divided as above mentioned to them, their heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath unto my son Bartley Deans, Junior one hundred and forty-four dollars and seventy-five cents, with what I have heretofore given him, to be raised and paid out of my estate, to him, his heirs, and assigns for ever.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Wilie Deans, one negro woman named Lear, and her child named John and one Negro Man Blacksmith, named Harry and a negro boy named Minggo, and I also give to my sons oldest daughter Mary Ann Williamson, one Negro Girl named Catey with what I have heretofore given them, their heirs and assigns for ever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Charles Deans the tract of land whereon he now lives, called the Peele land, containing four hundred and fourteen acres be the same, more or less. I also give & bequeath unto him four negroes, namely Virgil and Rachel, and their two children, namely Henry and Louis. I also give to my son Charles Deans, one hundred and forty-four dollars and seventy-five cents, to be raised out of my estate and paid over to him, his heirs and assigns for ever.

Item, I lend to my daughter Tempsy Winborn during all her life time, one hundred and fifty acres of land, called the Pecasan Land, adjoining William Hinnants land, on the south side of said land, and Nancy Godwin on the North side of said land. I also lend her five negroes namely, Thaney, Jason, Nisey, Louisa and Edmund and I give to my daughter Tempsy Winborn, one horse or mule her choice, one sow and pig, two cows & calves, one featherbed, stead, and furniture and after my decease and the probate of this will is duly proven and confirmed by the County Court of Wilson, for my Executors at the first sale at the Pecason, to deliver up all the above lend property, land & negroes, to my daughter Tempy Winborn, during of her life-time, and the increase of the Negroes from the date of this Will, if any, and after the delivery of the above lent property, to my Daughter Tempy Winborn at the pecason, I authorize my Executors to lay off and allot to my daughter Tempy, out of crop and Stock, one whole years provision, for her and her family, and stock, and after the death of my daughter Tempy Winborn, I leave all of the above lent property, both land and Negroes to be equally divided between all of Catherine Hinnants children, Lenoire Hinnant and Lucy Hinnant, and all the rest of the children that Catharine Hinnant may have, by her husband William Hinnant hereafter, to have an equal part of the above lent property with the two children that is now born, for which I give and bequeath unto them all at that day, if any more leave children.

Item, I give and bequeath to my youngest Son, Jeremiah Deans, my home plantation to him, his heirs and assigns for ever. I also give and bequeath to my son Jeremiah seven negroes, namely Darkes, Rhuben, Peter, Silvey and her two children named Louisa and Piettey and Bryant. I give him one Brandy Stile, Cap and Worm, and all the Cider Casks and two cows and calves, two sows and pigs, two Ewes and Lambs and one Mule and breeding Mare, his choice; I give him two featherbeds, bedsteads and furniture to both beds, six sitting chairs, one desk and one Chaney press, with all glass and eathernware in it. The Chaney press stands in the great house. I also give him two pots and pot hook racks, one dutch oven, one frying-pan, one gredil, one case Knifes and forks, and six table spoons and one table, to him, his heirs and assigns for ever. I also give him one years provision out of my Crop for his family and Stock.

Item, I leave all of my personal property that is not given away nor lent in this will to be sold on credit of six months with interest from the date with the land lying in Wayne County, and on the south side of Quotenaey Creake at the bridge and Hadles Mill containing one hundred and fifty acres and fore likely negro boys named Ransom, Joseph, James and Randel and the money arising from the sale of the above named property and the money that is justley due me at my death to be applied in paying of all of my just debts and the legacies given away in this will and if any remainder be left I leave it to be eaqully divided between all of my children my son Dempsey ? excepted.

I nominate, constitute and appoint my son Wiley Deans and William Hinnant my hole soles executors to this my last will and testament disannulling and revoking all other wills heretofore by me made and rattifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament in witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 4 day of July in the year of our Lord 1860.   /s/ Bartley Deans {seal}

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Bartley Deans (1776-1860) is listed in the 1850 census of Nash County and in 1860, after partition, in Old Fields Township, Wilson County. His will disposed of 44 enslaved people.

North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line], Ancestry.com.