Kate's Notes: LuAnn Elsinger graciously provided me with a copy of the original 1795 will of Alexander Gilliland of Lincoln County, North Carolina. She also provided her own transcription of the will with some adjustments for modern (or consistent) spellings. For comparison, I transcribed the document as originally written, which includes Alexander's "creative spelling". Such spellings, if read phonetically, may provide us with clues as to the dialect or speaking voice of the person who wrote the will.

Even by this process of comparison there are some portions of the will Luann and I simply couldn't decipher with any certainty. I can guess that the horse named "Sojer", for instance, was probably Alexander's version of "Soldier" but couldn't stand behind that interpretation 100%. In some instances we couldn't venture a reasonable guess and any portions in doubt have been enclosed within brackets.

Both surname spelllings "Gilliland" and "Gilleland" appeared in the document. My transcription of the will appears first, followed by LuAnn's, which includes corrections for spelling.

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The last Will & Testament of Alexander Gilliland

In the name of God amen.  This eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord 1795, I Alexander Gilliland of the State of North carolina and county of Lincoln being frail of body but of sound memery thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed to all persons once to die I do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the first place I Recommend my soul to God Who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried with decent buriel at the discration of my executors hereafter named and as [touching] such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeth as followeth:

[indecipherable] I give and Bequeth Unto My Beloved Wife Rebaca Gilleland one mare named [Snip]  To My Son James Gilleland one Crown.  I Bequeth unto My Datter Elesebeth Wilson Eight Dolers.  I Bequeth unto My Son John the Buck colt.  Likewise I Lefe to him the End of My plantation Joining to John Dinwords Beging upon the hill over the Brench frome the South [Doar] and the Corse acrosse Both sirvays of the End Lines Nixt to John Dinwody.  I Bequeth unto My Datter Frances Gilleland the [pigen] Mear and a good Bed and furenter.  I Bequeth to My Son Robart Gilleland two hundred akers of Land Lying in Comberland and Likewise one horse Nemed Shandey.  I Bequeth unto My Son William Gilleland one Hundred akers of Land over falls Brench, one horse Calt [Foley].  I bequeath unto my daughter Marey Gilleand one horse named Sojer, one bed and furenter.  I Bequeth unto My Son Thomas Gilleland Snip's colt.  With the Remander of the land I live on  + I Bequeth to My Step Dotter Mary Wilson one Mare Calt Nell ------- 
I Bequeth unto My Stepson James McColeth a Bald Fesed Meare +  I Bequeth unto My Stepson Samuall McColleth one Colt Calt Dick +  the Remander of My Estate at the Disposing of My Execters amoungst the family ----------
And in the Last place I appoint, Constetute and ordain My Wife Rebaca Gilleland and John Dinwodey [Excuros] of this My Last Will testament and I Do hereby Ratefy and Cunfirm this and this only to Be My Last Will and testament.  In further testamoney Whereof I have hereunto Set My hand and Sell the Day Month and year first above writing --------

Sined, Seled, publised
pronounced and Deleved
By the Sed Allexander
gilleland the testater
as his Last Will and testament
In the presents of Us Who
Wore present at Sining and Seling thereof --------

James Ramsey
John [indecipherable]

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LuAnn's transciption.

In the name of God amen.  This eighteenth day of September in the year of our Lord 1795, I Alexander Gilliland of the State of North carolina and county of Lincoln being frail of body but of sound memory thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed to all persons once to die I do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the first place I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried with decent burial at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath as followeth:

[indecipherable] I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Rebecca Gilleland one mare named Snip. To my son James Gilliland one Crown.  I bequeath unto my daughter Elesebeth Wilson eight dollars. I bequeath unto my son John the buck colt.  Likewise I leave to him the end of my plantation joining to John Dinwody beginning upon the hill over the branch from the south [doar] and the course across both surveys of the end lines next to John Dinwody.  I bequeath unto my daughter Frances Gilleland the [pigen] mirror and a good bed and furniture.  I bequeath to my son Robart Gilleland two hundred acres of land lying in Comberland* and likewise one horse names Shandey.  I bequeath unto my son William Gilleland one hundred acres of land over Falls Branch, one horse called [Foley].  I bequeath unto my daughter Marey Gilleand one horse named Sojer, one bed and furniture.  I bequeath unto my son Thomas Gilleland Snip's colt.  With the remainder of the land I live on I bequeath to my stepdaughter Mary Wilson one mare called Nell.  I bequeath unto my stepson James McColeth a bald faced mare.  I bequeath unto my stepson Samuall McColleth one colt called Dick.  The remained of my estate at the disposing of my executors amongst the family.  And in the last place I appoint, constitute and ordain my wife Rebaca Gilleland and John Dinwodey executors of this my last will testament and I do hereby ratify and confirm this and this only to be my last will and testament.  In further testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day, month and year first above writing.

Signed, sealed, published
pronounced and Delivered
By the said Alexander
Gilleland the testator
as his last will and testament
In the presents of us who
were present at signing and sealing thereof

James Ramsey
John [indecipherable]

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* "Comberland" can be assumed to be Cumberland.