In the name of God Amen. I Mathias Furr of the County of Stanly and state of North Carolina, being in a bad state of health but of sound mind & memory thank God, and calling to mind that man must die, have concluded to make this my last will and testament, that is to say 1st my wish abd desire that after my decease my body be taken to the graveyard at Flat rock Church, and there buried in a descent christian burial the expenses thereof to be paid by my Executors, as to my property that the lord as blessed me with, I wish to dispose of it in the following manner, that is to say my wish and desire is that all my just debts be paid first by my Executors. I want them to s sell all my land property such as my wife dont want, as to the balance of my property consisting of negroes, lands, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep do give to my wife in trust during her widowhood,, and and should she marry she is to have a child's part out of it. I want my wife to give to each my sons as the marry one hundred acres of land a piece, and such property and give to them that has already married so as to make them as near equal as I can.
After my wife's decease or widowhood my wish is that the above property I gave to my wife in Trust shall be put to public sale and the money arrising therefrom shall be equally divided among all my sons and daughters share and share alike.
I have one daughter single I want my wife to give to her such property as was gave to the rest that have married
If any of the negroes should become so bad that she could not live in peace, she shall hire them out during her right over them and the money arrising therefrom whe may keep to support the family with.
And lastly I appoint my beloved wife and James J. Hartsell Executors of this my last will and testament this 9th 1856

signed in the presence of

C. Melcher
Hueston Hartsell