I Thomas Kennon of the County of Rockingham and 
the State of North Carolina being of sound mind 
and memory but concidering the uncertainty of my 
earthly exsistence do make and declare this my 
last will and testament in manner and form fol-
lowing that is to say...
First that my executor herein after named shall 
provide for my body a decent burial suitable to 
the wishes of my relations and friends and pay 
all funeral expences together with my just 
debts howsoever and to whomsoever owing out 
of the moneys that may first come into his 
hands as a part or parcel of my estate.
I give and devise to my children as follows 
to my son James one dollar to Sarah Ware one 
dollar to Jimmy Simpson one dollar to 
Richard one dollar to Asariah one dollar to 
Jackson one dollar to Jane Atkins one dollar 
to Becky one dollar. Now I give and devise to 
my beloved Wife Mary Kennon all of my 
estate both real and personal (not already 
disposed) to have and to hold to her the 
said Mary Kennon for and during the term of 
her natural life then to be equally divided 
amongst all of my children not above 
mentioned provided Cary and Eliza shall 
stay with my wife and help to raise the 
children until they are twenty one years of 
age otherwise I will and bequeath to them one 
dollar each.
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint 
my trusty friend Daniel E. Gurrant my lawful 
executor to all intents and purposes 
to (?) unto this my last will and testament 
according to the true intent and meaning 
of the same and every part and clause 
then of mine by making and declaring uterly 
void all other wills and testaments by me here-
tofore void
In witness where of I the said do here 
unto set my hand and seal the 5th day of september 
1854.
Signed sealed published and declared by 
the said Thomas Kennon to be his last will 
and testament in the presence of who at his 
request and in his presence do subscribe 
our names as witnesses thereto
Test
Rufus J. French
John Jones

Thos. Kennon dec'd
Probate of Will
ordered to be recorded in Will Book
Page 40
Sept. 6th, 1872
Thos A. Ragland
Probate Judge

Probate of
State of North Carolina
Rockingham County, In the Probate Court
A paper purporting to be the last will and 
testament of T. Kennon Deceased, is exhibited 
before me the undersigned Judge of 
Probate for said county by Daniel E. Gurrant 
the Executor there in named with the 
names or signatures of the Testator himself 
and Rufus J. French and John Jones as 
subscribing witnesses thereto one of which 
witness John Jones is reported as being 
dead the other Rufus J. French is said to be 
living in the state of Kansas. Daniel E. 
Gurrant the Executor named in the said will 
declares to qualify as such and being sworn 
doth say that he was acquainted with Rufus J. 
French before he left the county and also 
well acquainted with his handwriting having 
seen him write frequently, and seen much 
of his writing and has no hesitancy in saying 
that the signature of Rufus J. French 
placed at the end of said paper writing as a 
subscribing witness thereto is the genuine 
signature of the said R. J. French and placed 
there by himself and that he has no 
doubts on the subject further this defendant 
saith not.
John C. London being next sworn doth say that he 
was well acquainted with the handwriting of 
Thos. Kennon, the Testator of 
said will or paper writing in his lifetime having 
seen him write frequently and having 
frequently seen his writing and that he does 
not entertain a doubt about the signature 
placed at the end of said will as Testator 
thereof being the genuine signature 
of Thos. Kennon dec'd and that it was placed 
there by himslef and he further 
states that he was in like manner acquainted
 with Rufus J. French and his handwriting 
having seen him write frequently and much of 
his writing and that he is perfectly satisfied 
that the signature placed at the end of said 
will or paper writing perpetuating to 
be the signature of Rufus J. French is genuine 
and was placed tehre by himself and further 
that the defendant saith not.
J. G. Watkins being lastly sworn doth say
that he was well acquainted with Rufus J. 
French whose signature is placed after or 
at the end of the paper writing perpetuating 
to be the last will and testament of Thos. 
Kennon Deceased as a subscribing witness 
thereto and his handwriting having seen him 
write often times and has no doubt about the 
said signature being the genuine signature of 
Rufus J. French and further the defendant saith 
not.
Sworn to and subscribed before me by the 
several defendants on this the 2nd day of Sept. A.D. 
1872
Thos. A. Ragland
Probate Judge

Source:  Will of Thomas Kennon decsd. Recorded in Will
Book Page 40 Sept. 1st, 1872

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