Will of Joshua Hopper
Written Oct 11, 1824
First and Principally, I resign my soul with the utmost humility into the hands of Almighty God, humbly hoping for a blessed immortality through the merits of my blessed Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ and my body I desire may be decently buried at the discretion of my executor, and as for such temporal estate as the Lord in His goodness and mercy hath entrusted me steward of, I give, devise and dispose of as followes, viz:
            I give unto my son Jesse Hopper all that tract of land whereon I now live, bounded by James Dillard, the estate of Joshua Lindsay and Jerry Hopper, containing by estimation 450 acres, be the same more or less; also one other tract of 150 acres adjoining the same on the north side, one cart and stears, all of my stock of cattle, sheep and hogs, all my plantation tools, household and kitchen furniture except one bed and furniture, and all my money whether in hand or out on bill bond or book account, to him and his heirs forever.
            Item: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife, Lucy Hopper, the use and benefit of my 4 negroes, namely Easter, Nancy, Martha and Perry for and during her natural life. And it is will and desire that my son Jesse afford her a comfortable and decent support and maintenance out of the property left him during her natural life.
            Item: I give and bequeath unto my 5 sons, namely, Thomas Hopper, William Hopper, Joseph Hopper and Joshua Hopper and Darby Hopper (after the death of my wife) my 4 negroes aforesaid, to be divided as follows, to wit: the said negroes to be valued and drawn for and the four sons who draw the 4 negroes shall pay the one that draws blank, one fifth part of the value of the said 4 negroes. I also give and bequeath to my said 5 sons, the residue of my land to be equally divided between them to them and to their heirs forever.
            Item: I give and devise unto my daughter Unity Odel one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever.
            Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Anny Grogan, one dollar to be paid by my Executor to her and heirs forever.
            Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Redach Stephens, one dollar to be paid by my Executor to her heirs forever.
            Lastly-I do hereby make and ordain my son Jesse Hopper, Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In whereof I the said Joshua Hopper have to this last will and testament set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Signed, sealed, published & declared Joshua Hopper
by the said Joshua Hopper, the testator as his last Will and Testament, in the presence of us who were present, at the signing and sealing thereof.
L.David
Bartho. Grogan
Jas. Vernon