497, p 175. JOHN CAROTHERS. 16 Jun 1835, prb in Jan (sic) 1838
Ct. Calling to mind the mortality of man, I will to my son James
Sample Carothers the 46-acre parcel of land where I now live on
the [Catawba?] River; to my dau Elizabeth Neely the negro Sarah;
to my dau Jemima McKee the negro Judy; to my dau Esther
Ratchford the negro Phillis; to Mary Whiteside, the dau of my
decd dau, the negro Violet; to my son William the tract of land
whereon I now live; less the parcel willed to my son James, also the
negro Paris, a mare, all my farming tools, all livestock, all household
and kitchen furniture, my large Family Bible and hymn books, and
my wagon; to my grandson John Neely a filly; and to my dau
Elizabeth, in recognition of the love and affection manifested toward
me and for management of my affairs in my old age, I give her $50
over and above her share in the final distribution of my estate.
The remainder of my books are to be divided equally among
my children. I will to my son Ezekiel Carothers $100 out of the
proceeds from the sale of my negroes not bequeathed above, and the
remainder of sd proceeds, after the above legacies have been paid, is
to be divided equally among my other heirs viz: John, David, J. S.,
and William Carothers,    Elizabeth Neely, Jemima McKee,
Esther Ratchford, and one share divided among the children of
my dccd dau Mary Whiteside, but those who have been bequeathed
negroes are to receive $100 less than my other legatees. The pro-
ceeds from the sale of unwilled property are to be divided in the
same manner. Sole exr: Son James S. Carothers. Wit: Alex. Greer,
Jurat, James Mason and James Warren. B. Oates, CCC.

"Mecklenburg County, North Carolina; Will Abstracts, 1791-1868,
Book E" published 1993 - by Herman W. Ferguson

The date of probate, "Jan 1838", listed above, is probably a transcription error of the author.  Others have stated that the will was probated in April of 1838.  John Carothers supposedly died on the 28th of February 1838.

Below is shown a complete copy of the will.  This is an OCR scan of a copy of a transcription.  I believe the OCR scan to be accurate - any errors noted probably came either from the original author or subsequent transcribers.  I have made no attempt to correct any errors.  Items show below in bold were underlined in the copy I scanned

Probated April Session 1838

Be it known to all to whom there presents may come or in compassion
concern - that I John Carothers of Mecklenburg County and State of
N. Carolina - being in perfect mind and memory - calling to mind the
mortality of man and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to
die and as we brought nothing into this world and it is most certain
we can carry nothing out of it - I do hereby think proper to make and
ordain this my last will and testament in order to the disposing of the
worldly substance it hath pleased providence to bestow upon me - which
I do in manner and form following (viz).  In the first place I commit
my soul to the keeping of almighty God - from as how it derived its
existance and my body to the dust - from whence it was taken - and as
to any worldly goods I do hereby will and direct - and my desire is -
that they be disposed of in manner and form following (viz)---
1st. I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expences be
paid out of my estate by my executors.
2nd. I give and bequeath unto my son James Sample Carothers a part of
the tract of land I now live on containing by estimation 46 acres -
be the same more or less - comprehended under the following boundaries -
beginning at a hickory on the river bank and running from thence N 87
E 89 ft to a P.O. on the old line thence N 18 ft an elm - thence L or
E12 ft to a red Oak on the old line thence N 33 ft to a hickory thence
N 52 W 122 ft to a hickory thence S 15 W 26 ft to a B. J. thence W 30
ft to a water oak thence N 66 W 60 ft to a hickory on the bank of the
river  the beginning to him eht son James S. Carothers his heirs and
assigns forever.
3rd. To my daughter Elizabeth Neely - I give and bequeath one negro
girl named Sarah to her and her heirs forever.
4th. To my daughter Jemima McKee I give and bequeath one negro girl
named Judea to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
5th.  To my daughter Esther Ratchford I give and bequeath one negro
girl names Phillis to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
6th.  To the daughters of my deceased daughter Mary Whiteside I give
and bequeath one negro girl named Violet to them and their heirs and
assigns  forever.
7th.  I give and bequeath to my son William the tract of land -
whereon I now live except that part willed above with all the rights
and apportences, belonging to him the said William his heirs and
assigns forever; also one negro boy named Paris, one sorrel mare - all
my farming tools and utensils, all my live stock consisting of
cattle, hogs and sheep, all my household and kitchen furniture, my
large family Bible and Hymn Book, also my waggon and the appentances
thereunto, belonging to him his heirs and assigns forever.
8th.  To my grandson John Neely I give and bequeath my two year olde
sorrel filly with a whitefaced - to him his heirs and assigns forever.
9th. To my daughter Elizabeth Neely for and in consideration of the
care and affection that she has manifested towards me in my old age and
service rendered in the superantendence and management of my family
concerns, I will and bequeath $50 over and above the personal interest
that I give her in the final distribution of my estate.
10th.  I will and direct that my cooks not willed above be equally
divided as near as may be among all my children share and share alike.

11th.  To my son Ezekiel Carothers I will and bequeath $100 to be paid
him by my executor after my decease in full of his claim or interest
as a devisor to the proceeds arising from the sale of my negroes not
willed above - and as to the remainder of the proceeds arising from
the sale of my negroes not officially will above - after the payment
of the above one hundred dollars willed to my son Ezekiel - I will it
be distributed among my other heirs (viz) Jno Carothers, David Carothers
J. S. Carothers, Wm Carothers, Elizabeth Neely, Jemima McKee, Esther
Ratchford and the children of my daughter Mary Whitesides, deceased
one share in right of their mother, those of them to whom negroes have
 been conveyed and confirmed in my will above, each of them, to receive
$100 less than those to whom negroes have not been will above and
as to any proceeds that may arise or ascree to my estate from stock
on hand outstanding debts or sale of unwilled property or sale of
the negroes, my will is that it be equally divided, share and share
alike amongst all my children allowing to the children of my daughter
Mary Whiteside, deceased  the share in right of their mother.  And
lastly, I do by these presence confer in the right and title to all
my property heretofore given granted gifted or loaned to any of my
aforesaid heirs or devisors as fully as though each individual and
article of property was particularly named and specified -- and that
my above will may be fully executed and carried into effect - I do
by these presents constitute and appoint my son James S. Carothers
my sole executor of this my last will and testament - revoking and
disanulling all wills and testaments by me heretofore made - in
Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this
16th day of June A. D. 1835 - and should a crop be commenced at the
time of my death - William is to have the negroes to finish it -
Signed Sealed and Published and Declared in presence of:
Stop, Grier - James Mason
James Warren                               John Carothers (Seal)