First, allow me to apologize if this is the wrong place to ask this particular advice, but I need a second/third/fourth opinion on the following will, if you skip down to the list of children, three names occur in the middle and he says "whom I own as my children although Known by the Name of Johnston and McIver". The first time I read this, I thought he was talking about children he owned as in slaves, but another reading might be that he's owning [up] to/acknowledging these three children who do not carry his surname. What do you all think? I'm perplexed.

Thank you,

Matt

Chatham Co., N.C. Record of Wills - (1798-1819) Vol. A, pp. 177, 178 
N.C. State Archives film # C.022.80001
Will of James Copeland - dated 30 September, 1793 - no probate date 

In the Name of god, Amen. I James Copeland of the county of Chatham and State of North Carolina, planter, Being sick and weak in Body But of perfect Mind and Memory thanks be given unto God Calling in to Mind the Mortality of My body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say princippally and first of all I give and recomend My soul into the hand of Almighty God that give it and My body I recomend to the Earth to be Buried in decent Christian Buriel at the Discretion of my Executors Nothing Doubting But at the general Resurrection Receive the same again by the Mighty power of God and as Touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give Devise and Dispose of the same in the Following Manner and form.
First. I give to my well Beloved Wife Elisabeth all and singular My movable Estate containing My household furnature togather with my stock of Every kind of Beasts and fowls and my Land that I Now live upon and all the Lands that is Now in my posetion after all my just Debts is paid during her widowhood and then I give to my son John copeland one hundred and sixty acors. One hundred acors of the same Being part of a tract Entered by me James Copeland for My self and Daniel Copeland and the other sixty was Entered by Me James Copeland for my self also I give to my son Daniel Copeland after the widohood of my Wife I give and Bequeath the Moveble part of my property containing the household furnature and stock of Every kind to my well beloved children By Name- Lillah (?) Bryant, Daniel Copeland, Silvy Bryant, James Copeland, Liddy Branton, Elisabeth Lasetor, Frankey Lasetor, Susannah Ellitt (Elliott?), William Johnston, Sarah McIver? and Richard Johnston, whom I own as my children although Known by the Name of Johnston and McIver, Sealley Copeland, John Copeland, Dolley Copeland, David Copeland, Anney Copeland, Cloe Copeland. I likewise constitute make and ordain Daniel Copeland and Thomas Branton, the sole Executors of this My Last Will and Testament and do hereby Disavow Revoke and disanull all and Every 
other former Testaments Wills Legacies Bequests and Executors by me in any wise before named Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and testament in Witness Whereof I, the said James Copeland have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirtyeth Day of September in the Year of Our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Three. 
 James Copeland {Seal}
Signed Sealed Published 
Pronounced and Declared By the Said 
James Copeland as his last 
Will and Testament in the presents 
of us who in this presents and in the 
presents of Each other have hereto 
subscribed our Names 
Benjamin Gunter 
Richard Gunter 
Isac Bright, his mark "B"