Although the will is not divided into paragraphs as written, I have made each item a paragraph for easier reading.

Will of Thomas Alexander, died 1783, Cumberland County, PA

Transcript of Thomas's Will

Last Will & Testament
of Thomas Alexander Dec.
(- - - 3) characters not numerals

In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Alexander of Hopewell Township in Cumberland County and the state of Pennsylvania ????? being in perfect health Blessed be God for the same do make this my last will and testament. Imprimis I give my soul to God that give it to me and my body to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named.

Item, my mind and will is that my just debts and funeral charges first be paid and satisfied out of my real and personal estate by my executors hereafter named. Item, it is my mind and will and I do leave and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Alexander all that tract or parcel of land whereon I now live with all benefits and yearly profits thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining during her lifetime and at her decease all the ???? cattle then remaining is to be desposed of as my wife and my son William Alexander shall think most proper.

Item it is my mind and will and I give and bequeath to my son William Alexander all that tract or parcel of land whereupon I now live containing two hundred and seventy six acres with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining to him and his heirs forever and also his assigns forever after the decease of my wife Mary Alexander.

Providing alwise(?) and it is my mind and will that my son William Alexander shall pay to me the sum of two hundred pounds and also to David (no surname stated) the land he now lives on ajoyning my land whereon I live and land belonging to Nicholas Evert containing eighty six acres. The land is to be equally divided and conveyed by my son William between my two daughters Elizabeth and Amey Alexander and my will is that my son William Alexander shall pay to my daughter Margaret Alexander the sum of one hundred pounds or fifty acres of land to be divided at the end of the land I now live on and ajoyning the land my son William Alexander now lives on. My son William is to convey the said land to my three daughters Elizabeth, Amey, and Margaret and their heirs and assigns forever.

Item - I give to my son Joseph Alexander all that tract or parcel of land whereon James Burns now liveth containing sixty eight acres ajoyning the land whereon I now live and Edward Shippen Esqr to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

And I do nominate to constitute and appoint my wife Mary and my son William Alexander executors of this my last will and testament in witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand seal this twenty eight day of September in the year of our Lord 1778.

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Alexander to be his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers of our names and as witnesses hereunto in the presence of the testator.

James Cisney
Joseph Ferguson
Thomas Alexander (Seal)
Samuel Derry or Perry

Be it remembered that on the twenty sixth day of Novr in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty five the last will and testament of Thomas Alexander was legally proved (of which the foregoing record is a true copy) and letters testamentary ?????? in common form to William Alexander executor herein named on the said 26 day of NovR 1785. Inventory and account(?) to be exhibited into the register's office in the time appointed by law.
Witness my hand Wm Lyon, Reg.

Addendum to the Transcript from South Carolina
Presented by Karen Youngblood

Note: neither Karen,who found it, nor I can vouch for the authenticity of this transcript presented as an addendum to Thomas's will, but it appears credible. I can't be sure this was our Joseph, but some of Joseph Lowery's children reported their birth place as South Carolina, and he may have settled there briefly. It is a journey of several tens of miles from Morganton in Burke County, NC, to the county seat of York County, SC, but could be made fairly easily on horseback. York County, SC, was considered part of North Carolina until only a few years before the 1788 date on this document.

William Alexander makes division of land with sisters Elizabeth and Amy 1786 Oct 18th. 1787 Hopewell Township Book H page 388 Deed Book H page 345 (uncertain of 5) for following record- We Robert Killoch, of the county of York, state of South Carlina, Yeoman, and my wife Margaret, late Margaret Alexander, one of the daughters and heirs of Thomas Alexander late of Cumberland County, Penna deceased. Thomas made will 28th Sept 1778. William Alexander paid to said Margaret and her husband share of her father's estate and release is hereby made to all claims to father's estate. Dated 1st Mat (as transcribed; probably March) A.D 1788
Signed Robert Killogh
Margaret Killogh
Witnesses
Joseph Alexander
John Wallace
York County, N. (as transcribed) Carolina