I Wiley Short, of the County of Wilson and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do hereby make this my last Will and testament in manner & form following, to wit.
1st It is my will and desire that are all my just debts and funeral expenses shall be paid by my executor, hereinafter named, out of the first money that comes into his hands as part and parcel of my estate.
II. I hereby give and devise to my illegimate son George Short, all my real and personal estate of whatsoever name and description to him and his heirs forever.
III. I hereby constitute and appoint Seaborn Farmer in whom I have confidence, my lawful executor to take possession my property after my death, and after paying my just debts as above stated to deliver the said property to my illegitimate son the said George Short.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 3rd day of January 1894. Wiley (X) Short {seal}
Witnesses Eli Felton, J.A. Clark
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In the 1870 census of Joyners township, Wilson County: farmer Willie Short, 50, and son George, 3.
In the 1880 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: in household #198, 13 year-old George Short, farm laborer, in the household of Elizabeth Hunt, a 53 year-old white woman. At #200, Willie Short, 53, a farmer.
On 19 October 1889, George Short, 23, son of Wiley Short (living) and Violet Thompson (dead), a resident of Toisnot township, married Martha Ann Barnes, 21, daughter of Foy and Sarah Barnes of Toisnot.
