Following is my transcription of the will of Strangeman Hutchins. His daughter Jane married Atha Barnett. Their son, Atha Barnett, married Margaret Mendenhall 12/19/1813 at "Mendinghall's MM" in Green Co., OH. I have made two notes (in brackets) and the rest is translation with spelling etc. intact. The original copy came from the probate Archives, State of NC. He is a (great-) grandfather to a Mendenhall (decendant). It is so delightful that he was really upset with son-in-law!! and that the problem lives 200 years later!

       I Strangman Hutchens Surry county and State of North Carolina

       being desirous to settle my outward estate while in my sound sences

       and memory & to prevent disputes after my death do make this my

       last will and Testament in manner following~~~~~~~

       First I give to my Beloved wife Elizabeth (Cox)  Hutchens all my Personal

               Estate not hereafter given to any of my children or

               grandchildren hereafter named to dispose of as she may think

               proper amongst my children and grandchildren~~~~~

       2ly it is my will and Desire that John Stanley shall have the tract of

               land he now lives on containing seventyfive acres being in the

               county abovesaid for his own Property provided he pay me or

               my Executor the sum of twentyfive pounds Virginia money

               by or before the twenty fifth day of december anno 1792

               agreeable to a verbil contract made between him the said

               John Stanley and myself.  If the money is not paid by that

               time~~then it is my desire that my son Benjamin Hutchens

               sall have the said seventyfive acres of land By setling and

               paying some demands that are against me in Virginia and

               paying the Ballance of the above mentioned sum of

               twentyfive pounds Virginia money to his mother.~~~~~~

       3ly I lend to my Daughter Mary Brooks a tract of land containing

               fifty five acres lying in goochland county in Virginia it being

               the land whereon my said daughter Mary now lives during her 

               her natureal life provided she lives seperate and apart from

               her husband Samuel Robert Brooks it is not my intent the

               said Brooks should live on my land or have any part of my

               estate whatever & after the death of my said Daughter Mary

               then I give the said fifty five acres of land to my grand

               Daughter Elizabeth Stanley Daughter of my said daughter

               Mary Brooks to her & her heiers forever

       4ly I lend to my daughter Edith Stanley one feather Bed which she

               has now in posession during her natural life and then I give

               the said Bed to my grandson John Hutchens Stanley.

       5thly it is my will and desire that whatever I have already given to my

               sons and Daughters hereafter Named the same remain in their

               posession forever (To Wit) John Nicholis Thomas and

               Benjamin Hutchens Mary Brooks Edith Stanley

               Obedience Harding and Jean Barnett (aka Jane)

       and last I appoint my son Benjamin Hurchens Executor to this my

               last will and testament Revokeing all wills heretofore made

               By me in Witness whereof I have hereunto sit my hand and        

               seal this 23th day of ye 11th month 1791

               Signed seald publised and declaired the last will and

               Testament of Strangman Hutchens in

       Presants of}                                             

       Jonas Reynolds   }                                      his

       Jonathan Johnson}                      Strangman X Hutchens    

       seal

       John Johnson                                            mark

Photographs of selected decendants of Margaret Mendenhall Barnett (1791-1875):