Brunswick County NC Genweb

Will of Richard Eagles 1769
Brunswick County, North Carolina
Contributed by Nola Duffy


IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I, Richard Eagles, of the
County of Brunswick and Province of North Carolina, Gentleman, being weak in body but of sound mind & memory, and Considering the uncertainty of this Life, do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say.

Imprimis: It is my will and desire that all my just Debts
be paid out of the Profits of my Estate, by my Executors hereafter named.

I Give and Bequeath to my son, Joseph Eagles, son of Margaret Henrietta Eagles, my wife, formerly Call'd Marg't Henrietta Bugnion, his heirs and Assigns forever, the House, Plantation, Saw & Grist mills, where I now Live, together with all the lands I am now possessed of, Except such as is hereafter given to my Daughter, Susannah Eagles, or otherwise; Also I give to my Son Joseph, son to my wife Marg't Henrietta
Eagles, formerly Called Marg't Henrietta Bugnion, fifteen Negroes, Big and little, as their families shall be; also, his Choice of four Lotts of Land in the Town of Wilmington,
together with two thirds of all the stock I am Possessed of, Cattle, Horses, mares, hogs, sheep, &c.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter, Susannah Elizabeth Eagles, Daughter to my late wife, Marg't Henrietta Eagles, formerly Called Marg't Henrietta Bugnion, Six
hundred and forty Acres of Land Adjoin'g the Bank'd piece now Intend for a rice field & Bought of Hugh Blenning. Also, one third part of all the Land I now owne on the Island Commonly Call'd Eagles's Island, together with one half the number of Lotts in Wilmington, that I am possessed of Except such as are already given to my Son, Joseph; Also, one third part of all the stock I am possessed of Viz: Cattle, Horses,
Mares, Hogs, Sheep, &c.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to my Two Cousins, Jean & Elizabeth Davis, one young Negro each, about their owne Age, to them & their Heirs for ever.

Item. I give and Bequeath to my Sister, Elizabeth Davis, the House she now lives on the no. side of the mill Pond, with the field that is fenced in, as long as she Lives, after her Death, to return to my son, Joseph Eagles.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to Jeanet McFarling, for and in Consideration of her faithfull and Diligent Care & Attendance in Mrs. Eagles's life time as well as since; two Negroes, Vizt: a wench Called Caelia, and a Boy Call'd Peter, to her & her heirs forever; And it is my Desire that she, the sd. Jeanet McFarling, be and remaine in the house I now live, to have the Care of the Stock, Poultry, &c., and that my Execut'rs pay her the sum of Thirty five pounds, procl., Yearly until she is married or my son, Joseph, Come to the Years of Eighteen; Afterward as long as he shall think proper & no longer.

Item. I Give and Bequeath to John Eagleson, my Negro boy Jack, also, I do hereby Assign over to him the Mortgage of Price's Land, Commonly Call'd Judy's Branch, & four Mares & Colts.

It is my Desire that my two Molatto Boys, Natt & George, both have their freedom, when they arrive to the Age of thirty five Years. And Also that my Negro fellow, old Larry have his freedom, as soon as my son, Joseph, Comes of age, 'till which time to be and remaine on the plantation as usual, without being turn'd into the feild or other hard Duty.

Item. It is my will & Desire that all my Negroes, Except those already Bequeathed away, together with all my household Furniture, Plate, Beds, Bedding &cs., be Equally Divided between my Son, Joseph & Susanna Elizabeth Eagles, Son & Daughter of my late wife Marg't Henrietta Eagles, formerly Marg't Henrietta Bugnion, and that the remaining half of the Lotts of Land in Wilmington be the property of my Son, Joseph.

Lastly, I do hereby Nominate & Appoint, John Gibbs, Robt' Shaw, John Ancrum, & Thos. owen, Executors of this my last will & testament, revoking all other former wills by me made, ratifying & Confirming this, & no other.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal, this Twenty third day of March, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred & Sixty Nine.

RICH'D. EAGLES ( )

Sign'd, Seal'd & Publish'd & Declared to be the last will and Testament of Rich'd Eagles, In Presence of:
(The Date alter'd before Sign'd.)
JOHN, WALKER.
JNO. FERGUS.
MARY WALKER.

Codicil of the Last will & Testament of Rich'd Eagles.

'Tis my will and Desire that Mr. Wm. Dry, has a Title for a Certaine piece of Land Bo't of my Father, Rich'd Eagles & never yet Confirm'd lying and being on the Island near the sd. Wm. Dry's Brick house, he making my Heirs a Title for one Square acre out of the same, on the Side next Wilmington.
RICH'D EAGLES.
Sign'd Seal'd, Publish'd & Declar'd in the Presence of us, this 23d March 1769.
MARY WALKER,
JOHN WALKER.
JNO. FERGUS.

The within last Will and Testament of Richard Eagles, with the Codicil Annexed was proved before me this thirty first day of March, 1769, by the Oaths of John Walker and John Fergus, two of the subscribing Witnesses thereto, who swore they say the Testator sign, seal, publish and declare the same to be and contain His last Will and Testament; and that at the Time thereof, He was of sound and disposing Mind & Memory.
John Gibbs and Robert Shaw two of the Executors therein named took
the Oaths appointed for their Qualification.
Ordered that Letters Testamentary issue thereon accordingly.
WM. TRYON.

Copied from Original Will, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.