Northampton County Courthouse
Will Book 7, Pages 313-316

In the name of God Amen, I David Ricks of the County of Northampton and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and memory knowing the certainty of Death and considering uncertainty of my Earthly existence do make and declare this my last will and Testament in manner and form as follows:

I give and bequeath unto my son R.J. Ricks my daughter Fannie D. Ricks my Daughter Sarah Williams (wife of N. E. Williams) my son John R. Ricks and my daughter Laura K. Wheeler (wife of Thomas Wheeler) all my real estate of which I may die possessed to be equally divided between them as they think best. Either by dividing this land by lot or by Selling the same and dividing the proceeds to have and to hold to them, their heirs and assigns forever.

I give and bequeath unto Fannie D. Ricks my Daughter one bed and furniture belonging hereto which stays in Small back Room of my house, to have and to hold in fee-simple forever.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Cordelia Stephenson (wife of C. P. Stephenson) one bed and furniture hereto belonging which stays in a Room of my house upstairs to have and to hold in fee simple forever.

I give and bequeath to my son in law Thomas Wheeler one Sorrell horse name Mack to have and to hold in fee simple forever. Provided said Thomas Wheeler remains with me in place during natural life otherwise said horse is to revert back to my estate.

It is my will and desire that all the balance of the property I may die possessed of be sold and after my just debts are paid the money equally divided between all my living children except Cordelia Stephenson.

I hereby nominate and appoint my son R. J. Ricks and S. K. Edwards as Exectutor to this my last will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I the said David Ricks do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 29th day of July A.D. 1895.

Signed Sealed and declared by the said David Ricks to be his last will and Testament in the presence of Paul W. Edwards
W. B. Smith

North Carolina
Northampton County
In the Superior Court

A paper-writing purporting to be the last will and testament of David Ricks deceased, is exhibited before me the under signed Clerk of the Superior Court of said County by R. J. Ricks and S. K. Edwards the executor herein named and the due execution hereof by the said David Ricks is proved by the oath and examination of Paul W. Edwards and W. B. Smith the subscribing witnesses hereto who, being duly sworn, doth depose and say and each for himself deposeth and saith, that he is a subscribing witness to the paper-writing now shown him purporting to be the last will and testament of David Ricks, that the said David Ricks in the presence of this deposant subscribed his name at the end of said paper writing now shown as aforesaid and which bears date of the 29 day of July 1895.

And the deposant further saith that the said David Ricks the testator aforesaid did at the time of subscribing his name as aforesaid declare the said paper-writing so subscribed by him and exhibited to be his last will and testament and this desposant did thereupon subscribe his name at the end of said will as an attesting witness thereto and at the request and in the presence of said testator.

And this deposant for then saith that at the said time when the said testator subscribed his name to the said last will as aforesaid, and at the time of deposant subscribing his name as an attesting witness hereto, as aforesaid the said David Ricks was of sound mind and memory of full age to execute a will and was not under any restraint to the knowledge, information or belief of this deposant, and further these deposants say not.

?Illegible word? Sworn and Subscribed before me this 13 Feby 1896
J. T. Fly the
Clerk Superior Court
North Carolina
Northampton County

Paul W. Edwards
W. B. Smith
In the Superior Court

In the matter of the last will of David Ricks. It appearing to the Court by the oath and examination of Paul W. Edwards and W. B. Smith the subscribing witnesses thereto that the paper writing prop???ded by the executor therein named is the last will and testament of David Ricks and that the same was duly executed by the same David Ricks in the presence of said witnesses and that at the time of signing the same the said David Ricks was of sound mind etc. It is thereupon adjudged that said paper writingbe admitted to Probate as the last will and testament of said David Ricks and the executor therein named qualify as such, this 13th day of Feby 1896.
J. T. Fly
the Clerk Superior Court