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I Thomas Gibbs, Senr. of the State of North Carolina and County of Hyde being infirm in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament in form following, that is to say, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be decently Intured at the discresion of my Executors and as touching such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I Will and bequeath in the following [torn].

Item I give to my beloved wife Gilly Gibbs One [torn] part of the Land I now live on, One old negroe woman named Dinah, A negro Girl named Vilet, One Negro boy named Robert, one [illegible] bed and firniture and such of other Household furniture as may seem necessary for [torn], One Young mair Named Bonney [torn] fourth part of the Cattle and Sheep during her Widowhood And furthermore it is my desire if my son Henry Gibbs should die in her lifetime without Issue Lawfully begotten of his body in such case my Will and desire is that my said beloved Wife Gilly Gibbs should [torn] in her own proper [torn] three Negroes, to her [torn] Heirs forever.

Item I give to my Daughter Debitha Gibbs One Negro named John, to hir and hir Heirs forever.

Item I give to my Daughter Mary Bell one Negro Girl named Rocksillany, to her and hir Heirs forever.

Item I give and Bequeath to my son Henry Gibbs all my Lands, All my Negroes, Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Hogs, Household and Kitchen furniture, Farming tools and farming Eutensials with every other piece or parcel of property that hath not already been mentioned in this my Last Will or in Deed of Gift before [torn] as also all the property [torn] that I have given to the use and support of my Wife at her Death, to him, his Heirs and Assigns forever.

Lastly I do constitute and appoint my Beloved Wife Gilly Gibbs Executrix and my trusty friend Benjamin Fulford Executor of this my Last Will and Testament And I do hereby utterly revoke and disannull all former Wills and Testaments by me in any wise made Rattifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. [torn]

In Witness whereof [torn] Set my hand and Seal this [blank] day of September One thousand Eight Hundred and Six.

/s/ Thomas Gibbs

Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared )
by the said Thomas Gibbs, Senr the )
Testator as his last Will and )
Testament in presence of us )
Fredk. Roper Jurat
Samuel Henry

Hyde County November Term 1807 - This Due Execution of this Last will and Testament of Thomas Gibbs, Sr. Deceased was proved in open Court by the oath of Frederick Roper a
Subscribing Witness thereto. Let it [be Recorded ?] Test B. Foreman

NOTE: Thomas Gibbs, Sr. died in October 1807. It is believed by local researchers that daughter, Mary Gibbs, married Lovett Bell who also served as Guardian to Thomas' son Henry Gibbs, a minor. Lovett Bell died c1853 leaving children Thomas Bell and Elizabeth Becton of Jones County, NC. [Above information came from Hyde County Estate Papers, DAH, for Thomas GIBBS, Sr. and Lovett Bell.]

Submitted by Ellen A. Williams, Swan Quarter, NC.