In the name of God Amen.

I Thomas BEST SEN. of the State of North Carolina and County of Currituck being sick and weak in body thanks be to God, calling 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, principally and first of all, I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent order at the discretion of my executors Zachariah BEST and Mathias BEST whom I appoint to execute this will according to law, and touching such worldy goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First, I give and bequeath to Zachariah BEST my lawful Son one feather bed and furniture, one gun and all my carpenter tools, also it is my will that my Son Zachariah BEST should maintain my true and lawful Wife Keziah on this property not legateed, during her natural life or widowhood. Also my two youngest children.

Secondly, I give to my true and lawful Matthias BEST one feather bed and furniture, one gun, one piece of furniture called a sideboard, one whip saw, and one cross cut saw, also I give to Zachariah and Matthias my two Sons one Schooner boat between them both, by the name of Polly, and canoe.

Thirdly, I give to my Son Jessee BEST fifty acres of land the piece I bought of Demps PERY and John on the north side of my Son Zachariah land, also one feather bed and furniture, one gun and one hand mill.

Fourthly. I give to my lawful Daughter Frankey BEST one feather bed and furniture, one chest, one linen wheel, one loom and harness, six pewter plates.

Fifthly, I give to my Son Edmond BEST twenty shillings current money of this State and no more.

Sixthly. I give to my lawful Daughter Polly, one feather bed and furniture and one young heifer, by name smoot, and one ewe and lamb.

Seventhly I give to my true and lawful Wife Keziah one feather bed and furniture, and one chest to dispose of as she pleases.

Eighthly. Now it is my will that the residue of my property or legateed should be equally divided between Zachariah BEST and Matthias BEST and Jessee BEST my three youngest Sons, and Frankey BEST my youngest Daughter to be equally divided, when my Son Matthias BEST sees proper. I also make and order that Zacharias BEST and Matthias BEST should be my sole executors. I also leave my two youngest children's property in my Son Zachariah's care untill they are able to take care of it themselves. Signed, sealed and delivered this 28^th day 1814.
    /s/ Thomas [his x mark] BEST    seal

In presence of us
    Caleb TOLER Esq.     Jurat
    Lydia [her x mark] TOLER

Recorded and examined the (blank) day of (blank)

[Note: Probate date is from Currituck County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions].

This will was contributed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information. Thank you!

Return to USGenWeb	Return to NCGenWeb	Return to Currituck

© 2003 Marty Holland