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Early Wills of Granville County, Part 4

Transcribed by Deloris Williams

Will of WILLIAM BRIDGES-1756
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen. This first day of August One thousand Seven Hundred and fifty six, I WILLIAM BRIDGES of the County of Granville & Province of North Carolina being of sound mind & memory praised be God for ye same & calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, do make, ordain, constitute & appoint this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following Viz't,
Impris, I give & bequeath unto my Daughter MARY the wife of HENRY PORCH five shillings to be paid her after my wife's decease,
Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter ELIZABETH the wife of WILLIAM FREEMAN five shillings to be paid her after my wife's decease.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my Daughter SUSANNAH the wife of JOHN HENCOCK five shillings to be paid her after my wife's decease.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my Grandson THOMAS BRIDGES son of WILLIAM BRIDGES two cows & calfs, two pewter dishes, & two plates pewter, and all that he has now in possession except a bay horse named Fidler that to be returned to my Executor the cow & calf & pewter to be paid him after my wife's decease.
Item. I give & bequeath unto AMY the Daughter of WILLIAM PORCH a cow & calf the male third (of their Increase) for WILLIAM PORCH her father, the female for herself & to be paid his after my wife's decease.
Item. I leave a tract of land of one Hundred acres & Plantation unto JOSEPH BRIDGES after my wife's decease, and to their Heirs of his body lawfully begotten and so to the Heirs of them & theirs body lawfully begotten that shall attain it, & for want of an Heir then to the next of kin and so to continue to them & their Heirs lawfully begotten & proceeding
forever.
Item. After my wife's decease then I give unto MARY Daughter of THOMAS BRIDGES one Negro Man named BOB to be delivered to her when shall attain to the age of Eighteen Years if in case my wife shall die before that, and if my wife should die before she attain to Eighteen Years, then my Executor or Executors to hire out the Negro, yearly and what comes out of the Hire to pay MARY three pounds Virginia money yearly till she comes of Eighteen Years and when she shall attain to Eighteen Years then to pay her what remained out of the hire besides the three pounds with the Negro to be delivered by my Executors to MARY the daughter of THOMAS BRIDGES and to her & her Heirs forever.
Item. I do leave unto my beloved wife SUSANNAH during her natural life all my lands, goods, Chattles & credits and after her decease any legacies being paid & my debts & funeral expenses are full satisfied & paid then I give unto my son JOSEPH BRIDGES
all the rest, residue & remainder of my Estate, he paying as is before specified & mentioned by me as my Last Will & Testament.
Lastly, I do nominate, constitute & appoint my son JOSEPH BRIDGES my sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament hoping he will Execute & perform the same as my Trust is in reposed given from under my hand & seal the Day & year above.

WILLIAM BRIDGES ("WB" his mark)


DAN'L COTTEN
AMBROSE CRANE
JEREMIAH PERRY

 

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Will of DARWIN ELWICK-1763
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

Granville County, North Carolina
In the name of God amen, the Twenty fifth day of Aug't One thousand Seven hundred & Sixty three, I DARWIN ELWICK, Gent., being of sound and a perfect memory thanks be to God, therefore do make, ordain & constitute this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, viz --
First. I bequeath my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my Maker, hoping to be saved by the meritorious Death & Passion of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer, and as for my body to be buried in Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named.
Item. I give to my niece SARAH WILLIS, daughter of SAMUEL WILLIS & MARY his wife, the one half of all my real & personal Estate, whatsoever & wheresoever.
Item. I give to the Children of BENJAMIN BARTON & ANN his wife & the heirs of her body lawfully begoten, the other half of all my real & personal Estate to be equally divided among them share & share alike, to be paid to them by my Executors after the undermentioned legacys are discharged, and if the above named SARAH WILLIS shall not be living at my decease I will that the one half of my Estate bequeathed to her, to go to ye heirs of ANN BARTON, share & share alike, as above mentioned.
Item. I give to my Aunt MARY the wife of SAMUEL WILLIS- one hundred pound sterling. (now or late of Lincoln) if she is living at my decease, if not, to go to SARAH her daughter, as above.
Item. I give to ANN wife of BENJ. BARTON , formerly ANN ELWICK o Epworth in the County of Lincoln, Ten pound sterling & provided she is not living at my decease the said legacy to come to her surviving children before mentioned.
I do hereby make and appoint ROB'T HARRIS Esq'r & JONATHAN WHITE Gent. of Granville County & WILLIAM JOHNSTON msr's of Orange County & province of North Carolina, Executors in trust of this my last Will & Testament, & I give to the said ROBERT HARRIS, Esq'r & JONATHAN WHITE Twenty pounds sterling each.
Item. I give to the said WILLIAM JOHNSTON one hundred pounds sterl as legacys in satisfaction for the trouble they may have in the execution of this my said Will, & I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made at any time, and acknowledging this only to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereto set m hand and seal the day & year first above written.
DARWIN ELWICK

Signed, Sealed & delivered
in presence of
THO'S HARRIS
ELECK JONES ("X"his mark)


Granville County Sess., November Court 1764
This will was duly proved in open court by the oaths of THOMAS HARRIS & ELECK JONES two of the subscribing evidences thereto and on motion ordered to be recorded. Then ROB'T HARRIS, JONATHAN WHITE & WILLIAM JOHNSTON the Executors therein named qualified as such which was ordered to be certified.
Test
SAM'L BENTON, CC
 

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Will of RICHARD HARGRAVES-1766
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen. I RICHARD HARTGRAVES of the County of Granville & Province of North Carolina being sick & weak in body but of sound & perfect sense & memory do make and ordain this my Last will & Testament In manner & form following.
First. I principally give my soul to Go who gave it, trusting in the Merits of Jesus Christ for full pardon & remission for all my past offences, and my bodie to the Earth to be buried at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned.
Item. I give & bequeath to my natural son RICH'D HARTGRAVES the plantation whereon he now lives with all the tract or parcell of land, also part of another tract of land joyning the aforementioned tract, beginning on DOTSON's corner a pine running partly west along a line of marked trees made this day between my two sons RICH'D HARTGRAVES & JOHN HARTGRAVES, to a white oak joyning CHADWICK's line, also another tract of land in Orange County called & known by the Upper Beaver Ponds of Haw River, also three Negroes to wit, JENNY, ISOM & SOOKY, three cows & calves or three with calf, two Ewes & lambs or Ewes with lamb, two sows & piggs, one feather bed, one pair of sheets & two boalsters, the half of the pewter where I now live, & his choice of the iron pot where I now live, to him & his heirs forever.
Item. I give & bequeath to my natural son JOHN HARTGRAVES, all the rest of my lands not before mentioned & sixe Negroes to wit, JAMMY, SUE, KATE, PHILL, BOB, LUCY & all the rest of my Estate both real & personal, to him & his heirs forever, who I leave & appoint my Executors of this my Last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 15th day of January 1766.

RICHARD HARGRAVES

Signed Sealed & Published in presence of us
GEORGE WHITE
MICH'L SATTERWHITE
ROBERT GILLAM


Granville County, August Court 1766
This Will was proved in open court by the oaths of MICHAEL SATTERWHITE and ROBERT GILLAM two of the subscribing Evidences thereto and on motion it was ordered to be recorded. Then JOHN HARGRAVES the Executor therin named qualified as such which was ordered to be certified.

Teste
SAM'L BENTON CC
 

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Will of SHERWOOD HARRIS-1763
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen. I SHERWOOD HARRIS of Granville County being sick and in a low state of health but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to Allmighty God for the same but calling to mind that it is appointed for mortal man once to die do therefore by these presents constitute and or ordain these presents to be my last Will and Testament and <illegible phrase> Estate which it hath pleased Allmighty God to bestoe on me after my funeral charges and just debts be paid I give and bequeath as followeth --
Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my loveing son SHERWOOD HARRIS one hundred and Sixty acres of land which I purchased of JONATHAN WHITE togeather with the plantation whereon HENRY WHITE formerly lived to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my loveing daughter MARY HICKS one hundred acres of land part of larger tract bought of JONATHAN WHITE whereon her husband ABSOLOM HICKS now dwells to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my loveing son in law ABSOLOM HICKS all sums of money due from him to me &c.
Item. I give and bequeath to my loveing daughter SARAH HARRIS one bay mare known by the name of Pheaby.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son SHERWOOD HARRIS one black natural paceing mare and my bridle and sadle.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loveing son JOHN HARRIS all my wareing cloaths and riffle gun.
Item. I give and bequeath to my loveing daughter JEMIMA WHITE five shillings sterling money of England.
Item. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter MERCY WHITE twenty pounds to be paid to hereby my Executors hearafter named when she atains the age of Eighteen years or marries.
Item. My Will is that JOSHUA HAYS have two hundred acres of land at the lower end of that tract of land as I bought of JONATHAN WHITE on conditions he pay to my Executors hearafter named Sixty pounds current money of Virginia on demand and failure of payment of said sum that in that case my will is that the same land be sold by my Executors and that a good conveyance made by them to the purchases of said two hundred acres of land.
Item. I give and bequeath to my loveing wife JANE HARRIS one white horse which is now in possession of JAMES FERGUSON, also one side sadle and the best bed and furniture as I now have.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loveing daughter SARAH HARRIS one feather bed and furniture.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loveing wife JANE HARRIS all the other bed and beding for the use of my younger children ANN, SHERWOOD and ELISABETH as also all my stock of cattle and hoggs.
Item. My will and desire is that all the rest of my Estate both real and personal be sold by my Executors hearafter named and the money ariving by such sale be equaly divided between my three youngest children viz ANNE, SHERWOOD and ELIZABETH HARRIS excepting one white mare as I had of one Gibson which I give to my daughter ANNE.
Item. My will and desire is that out of the sale of my estate which I have ordered to be sold that my executors make use of so much money as will vindicate the right and title of three hundred and twenty acres of land claimed under pretense of one JOHN JONES on Fishing Creek &c and I do hereby acknowledge this to be my last Will and Testament and do constitute, appoint and ordain my loveing wife JANE HARRIS and my loveing brother ROBERT HARRIS to be my Executors to this my last Will and testament and do by these presents disanul and revoke all other Wills by me made hertofore and do hearby acknowledge this and no other to be my last Will and testament in presence of several witnesses whose names are under neath subscribed this 15th day of June 1763.

SHERWOOD HARRIS

WILLIAM HENDREN
PATRICK BRADDY ("P" his mark)
RALPH HUDSPETH


Granville County
August Court 1763

This Will was proved by the oaths of PATRICK BRADY & RALPH HUDSPETH two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion it was ordered to be recorded then JANE HARRIS & ROBERT HARRIS the Executors therein named qualifed as such which was ordered to be certified.

Teste DAN'L WELDON CC
 

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Will of WILLIAM LAWRENCE-1765
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen. The Sixth day of September 1765. I WILLIAM LAWRENCE of the County of Granville, North Carolina and Parrish of, being sick in body but of good and sound memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertain state of this transitory life and that all flesh must yield to death when it shall please God to call do make constitute, ordain and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following revoking and annulling by these presents all and every Testament or Testaments will or Wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and this is to be taken only for my Last will and Testament and none other and first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my past sins most humbly desire forgivness for the same, I give and committ my soul to Almighty God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust and believe asuredly to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveness of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body as a general day of the Resurrection shall rise again with joy and through the merits of Christ's Death and Passion shall possess and Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven prepared for his Elect and Chosen and my body to be buried in such a place which it shall please my Executors hereafter named to appoint and now for the selling of my Temporal Estate and such goods and chattles and debts as it hath pleased God far above my deserts to bestow upon me, I do order give and dispose the same In manner and form following, that is to say
First.   I will that all those debts and dues as I owe in right and conscience to any manner of person or persons whatsoever shall be contented and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decease by my Executors.
Item. My will is that ninety five acres of land that I bought of SAMUEL KITRELL and sixty five acres joining the plantation whereon I now live and a young mare, two cows and calves at the discretion of.
Item.   I give and bequeath unto my Loving Wife DEBORAH all the remaining part of my lands, stock of cattle, hogs and horses and household furniture of all kinds whatsoever during her natural life and after her decease that it may be sold and the profits equally divided among all my Children.
Lastly. I do appoint my well beloved friend SAMUEL FULLER and my Loving Wife DEBORAH my whole and sole Executor and Executrix OF this my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixt my seal this day and year above written.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE

Signed Sealed and Declared in Presents of us
HENRY FULLER
MATTHEW CARLOS
WILLIAM SPEARS


Granville County Ses., August Court 1766
This Will was proved in open court by the oaths of HENRY FULLER and WILLIAM SPEARS two of the subscribing evidences thereto & on motion it was ordered to be recorded then SAMUEL FULLER & DEBORAH LAWRENCE the Executor & Executrix therein named qualified as such which was ordered to be certified.

Teste
SAM'L BENTON CC
 

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Will of DENNIS LINSEY-1761
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen I DENNIS LINSEY of Granville County in ye Province of North Carolina being through of aboundant Mercy and goodness of God tho weak in body yet of sound and perfect understanding and memory do constitute this my Last Will and Testament and desier it may be received by all as such.
Imprimis, I most humbly bequeath my Soul to God my Maker beseeching his most gracious acceptance of it through ye all sufficient merits and mediation of my most compassionate Redeemer Jesus Christ to prepare me for ye time of my dissolution and then to take me to himself into that Peace and Rest which he has prepared for all that Love and fear his Holy Name Amen.
Imprimis. I give and bequeath unto my son WILLIAM LINSEY my horse bridle and saddle and my waring cloths and my rifel gun and nine year olde hogs and ten shots.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son BENJ'N LINSEY Two hundred acres of land more or less it being ye plantation I now live on and two sows and pigs.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter MARY LINSEY one bed and furniture and one torn pot and two sheep, one goose & one weat?? the remainder part of my household goods to be equally divided between my daughter MARY and my daughter WINNEY.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter ELISABETH two sheep, on ram and one yow and five barrils of Indian corn.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter CATERN five shillings sterling
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter MARGIT all my working tules on ye plantation.
Item. I give and bequeath to my <phrase is torn in fold of paper> young cow and calf and ye remainer of ye cattell to be equally between MARY and WINNEY.
Item. I desier that ROB'T PHILLIPS should have ye care of my daughter MARY and her Estate till she arive to ye age of sixteen years or marryed.
And I desier that EPHRAM CLANTON should have ye care of my son BENJ'N and my daughter WINNEY and there Estates if ye s'd CLANTON would larne my son BENJ'N the carpenders traid if not I desier my son W'M LINSEY

[rest of will is missing]
 

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Will of JOHN MEWSHAW-1763
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen
I JOHN MEWSHAW being very sick & weak but in my proper sences I do hereby make my Last Will & Testament after giving my soul to him that gave it I do hereby dispose of my Estate as follows. I first I desire all my lawful debts shall be paid by my brother PETER.
Item. I give unto my brother PETER MEWSHAW Five hundred acres of land lying & being in Granville County the land whereon the said PETER now lives.
Item. I give unto my brother WILLIAM MEWSHAW one hundred acres of land out of the same tract before mentioned joining COOKs line & that my Father & Mother should not be interrupted during life upon the said tract of land.
Item. I give & bequeath to my brother PETER MEWSHAW my mare & saddle & bridle and all the Cattle except one cow and calf which I devise my sister RUTH shall have also to my brother PETER all my working tools & a pair of buckskin breeches & a holland shirt & a pair of check linne trowsers and a neck band & I desire my Father shall have the rest of my wearing clothes. I desire my brother PETER should settle all my affairs as an Executor & also to be kind & dutyfull to my Father & mother & tenderhearted one toward another. September 5th 1763.

JOHN MEWSHAW

Test
SAM'L WHITEHEAD
JOHH RAYMAN ("IR" his mark)


Granville County
November Court 1763

This Will was proved by the oath of JOHN RAYMAN one of the subscribing witnesses thereto & on motion it was ordered to be recorded.

Teste DAN'L WELDON CC
 

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Will of WILLIAM MOSS- 1761
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the name of God Amen. I WILLIAM MOSS of the County of Duplin in the Province of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but of sound mind memory and understanding doth make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, Viz,
First of all I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife SARAH MOSS during her widowhood, all my Negro Slaves named PAUL & DAPHNE with their two children they now have or shall hereafter have; my beloved wife taking care to educate my four children she now has with the one she now is pregnant with if it should live. That if my wife SARAH should marry before my children should come to the age of Twenty one, then all my Estate to be equally divided between my wife SARAH and her children aforementioned. But if she remains in her widowhood, then all my slaves at her death to go to my children.
And m will and meaning further is that I do hereby appoint my beloved wife to be my sole Executrix to this my Last Will and Testament. Dated this twelfth day of March in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred an Sixty one.

WILLIAM MOSS

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of us
JOHN DALLES
THOMAS CARRELL


Granville County Sess.
May Court 1762

SARAH MOSS exhibited this Will into Court & made oath that she believed it to be the true last Will & Testament of her deceased husband WILLIAM MOSS and on motion it was ordered to be recorded then the s'd SARAH being the Executrix by this Will named qualifyed as such which was ordered to be certified.

Teste DAN'L WELDON CC
 

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Will of WILLIAM OLIVER -1762
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God and God's Name amen.
I being in perfet mind sense and membrey thanks be to God for it I give my soul to God and my carkes [carcass] to Earth coling to mind the mortalitey of this lief [life]- knowing that I and all men must dy I think proper to dispose of my worley [worldly] estate
Item. I give and bequeve to my beloved sun BENJAMIN OLLIVER the plantation whare on I live and all the land belo the Meel Creek to MATTHIS's line to him and the eares [heirs] of his bodey lawfully begotten and born and ofor the want of such eares to my beloved dafters [daughters] MARY OLLIVER and LATHEE OLLIVER to them and & thare eares foreaver.
Item. I give and bequeve unto my three beloved dafters SARAH OLLIVER, POLLEY OLLIVER, MILLEY OLLIVER all the rest of my land above the Meel Creek also be eackuelly [equally] divided betwext the three to them and thare eares foreaver.
Item. I give and bequeve to my beloved wife ELIZEBITH OLLIVER all my house hold goods and chattels and all my horses, cattel and hoggs in dureing her lief and at her desese [decease] & to be divided among all my children and I leve my beloved wife ELIZEBITH OLLIVER and SIMON BECKCOM my hole executters as witness my hand and seals this twenty seaven day of May 1762.

WILLIAM OLLIVER ("X" his mark)

Witness
WM. EAVES
HENRY NIXSON



Granville County
Aug't Court 1762
This Will was proved by the Oath of both the subscribing witnesses thereto & on motion it was ordered to be recorded then ELIZABETH OLIVER & SIMON BEKCOM [BECKHAM] the Executors therein named qualified as such which was ordered to be certified.

Teste DAN'L WELDON CC
 

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Will of BENJAMIN PARTIE-1764
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen I BENJAMIN PARTIE of Granville being sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for his blessing but calling to mind that I am mortal and that it is appointed for all men to die I therefore have thought proper to make this my last Will and Testament and my body I commit to the ground to be buried at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named and as to my worldly Estate as God hath bestowed on me I give and bequeath as followeth
Imprimis. I give and bequeath unto my three Sons CHARLIE, EDMOND and BENJAMIN all my lands to be equally divided between them and their heirs and assigns for ever and my will and desire in that my son BENJAMIN PARTIE have his part of land whereon my Plantation is I now dwell on only my will is that my wife MARY PARTIE have her life or widowhood one the same Plantation.
Imprimis Item. My will I give and bequeath unto my loving wife MARY PARTIE during hr widowhood all the rest of my Estate and at her death or in case she should marrie that then my will is that all my Estate be equally divided between my wife and children except JOHN ADCOCK his wife who has already received part of her share of my estate so that my will is that she only have what she has had made equal with the rest of the Children at my wife's death or marries and constitute nominate and appoint my loveing wife MARY PARTIE whole and sole Executrix to this my Last Will and testament and do by these presents disanul and revoke all other Wills by me made and in testimony hereof I have hereunto I have set my hand and affixed my seal to this my last Will and Testament this ninth day of January 1764.

BENJAMIN PARTIE (his mark)

In Presence of
ROBERT HARRIS
WILLIAM WILLIAMS ("W" his mark)


Granville County
May Court 1764

This Will was proved by the oath of ROBERT HARRIS one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion it was ordered to be recorded then MARY PARTIE the Executrix therein named qualified as such which was ordered to be certified.

Teste DAN'L WELDON CC
 

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Will of JONATHAN PIERCE -1762
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

No. Carolina
Granville County

I JONATHAN PIRCE [sic] being very sick but thanks be to the Almighty God of Good, dispoesing mind, will and dispose of my Estate as followeth
First. I give and beqeath my soul to Allmighty God that gave it me and my body to be buried at the descretion of my Executors and after my funeral expense be discharged and my debts paid I give and beqeath my Estate as foloweth;
Item. I give my son JAMES PIRCE one feather bed and furniture and one mare colt and three cows and calves and all my hogs after my decease and two basons and two dishes and 1/2 a dozen of plates. I give and beqeath unto my son JAMES PIRCE the plantation where on I now dwell with half the land belonging to the said plantation to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I lend to my dearly beloved wife ELISABETH PIRCE one mare and two basons and four plates and two dishes and one large pott, and two cows and calves and one feather bed and furniture and one chest and two sows and pigs and two spinning wheels in during her life time or widdowhood and after her decease to be equal divided between m Children.
Item. Give and beqeath unto my son PHILLIP PIRCE one hundred and Fifty acres of land being part of a tract of land allready give to my son JAMES PIRCE and being joyning JAMES BASSEs line and SHEMUEL KEARNEY line to him and his heirs forever and one feather bed and furniture and two sows and pigs and two basons and four plates and two dishes and two cows and calves allso my will and desire is that my son PHILLIP PIRCE shall have the first colt that my mare brings to him and his heirs forever. Also my will and desire is that my son PHILLIP PIRCE should give my daughter MILLY PIRCE four pounds prock[proclamation] money when she arrive to lawfull age or marries allso my will and desire is that my son JAMES PIRCE should give my son PHILIP and my daughter MILLEY two years schooling allso my will and desire is that my son JAMES PIRCE should give my daughter MILLEY PIRCE four pounds prock money when she arrives to lawfull age or marries to her and her heirs forever allso my will and desire is that my son JAMES PIRCE should give each of my daughters NANCY PIRCE and ELISABETH PIRCE and MARY PIRCE four pounds prock when they arive to lawfull age or marries to each of them and thare heirs forever allso my will and desire is that my son JAMES PIRCE should have all my goods and chattles that is not allready given to him and his heirs forever and allso my will and desire is that my daughter NANCY PIRCE and ELISABETH PIRCE and MARY PIRCE should have one cow and calf to each of them when they arrive to lawfull age or marries to them and thare heirs forever and this I own to be my Last Will and Testament and disanulling all others Wills before made and I do hereby domminate [sic] and appoint THOMAS SHERROD and my son JAMES PIRCE and CHARLES IVY my Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixt my seal this 14th day of June 1762.

JONATHAN PIRCE ("JP" his mark)

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the Presents of us
THO'S SHERROD
JAMES PIERCE
MARY FIKE ("-" her mark)


JAMES PIERCE Executor qualified.

Granville County
February Court 1763

This Will was proved by the Oath of THOMAS SHERROD one of the subscribing witnesses thereto & on motion it was ordered to be recorded then JAMES PIERCE one of the Executors therein named qualified as such which is as ordered to be certified.
Teste DAN'L WELDON CC
 

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Will of ISAIAH PHIPPS- 1760
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen. I ISAIAH PHIPPS being sick and weak but of perfect sense and memory do make this my last will & Testament. First I bequeath my Soul into the hand of God that gave it me & my body to be buried in a Decent manner, then I give and bequeath unto my son ISAIAH PHIPPS my Plantation lying in Hamshire County in Virginia on the South side of the South Branch containing two hundred & forty nine acres of land joining BENJ'A FORMAN and JOHN WILSON and two horses which land & horses I give to him and his heirs for ever. Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife ANN PHIPPS my plantation lying in Hamshire County in Virginia on both sides of Little Capon containing two hundred & forty Eight Acres of land. And also my Plantation whereon I now live on lying on both sides of Mill Creek containing two hundred acres of land, that I bought of ANDREW HAMPTON lying in Granvill County & Province of North Carolina and also all my household goods & all my cattle & horses and hoggs, which lands cattle & horses & hoggs I freely give to my wife ANN to do as she thinks most properest with it fore ever also it is my will & desire that my wife discharge my lawfull debts, and I do acknowledge this to be my last will & testament in witness whereof I have set my hand and fixed my seal this 17th day Aug't 1760

ISAIAH PHIPPS

Test WILL'M BERRY
JOHN FOWLER (his mark)
THOMAS MOORE ("X" his mark)


Granville County Ses, August Court 1766
This Will was proved in open court by the oath of JOHN FOWLER one of the subscribing Evidences thereto & on motion it was ordered to be recorded.

Teste
SAM'L BENTON CC
 

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Will of JOHN SIMS- 1765
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen. I JOHN SIMS of the parish of Granville in Granville County of the province of No. Carolina being sick & weak of body but of perfect mind & memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that there is an appointed time for all men once to die have made ordained and constituted this my last Will and Testament, that is to say first and principally I recommend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my Executors and as touching such worldly goods wherewith it has pleased God to bless me I give bequeath demise and dispose of in manner & form following.
Imprimis. I give to my son WILLIAM SIMS his heirs & assigns forever five hundred acres of land more or less within the bounds following (viz) Beginning where my lower line crosses Great Nutbush Creek thence joining HARGROVES lines, BULLOCKS line or lines and VANDYKEs to the head of a branch called the Long Branch thence down the sound to Reedy Branch thence down the Reedy Branch as it meanders to great Nutbush Creek and thence down the same as it meanders to the first station
Item. I give & bequeath to FRANCES KEELING her heirs & assigns forever one hundred acres of land on the Northside of the Reedy Branch beginning where my upper line crosses this Branch thence down the s'd branch so far as to include the plantation where AGNES KEELING did live and to make out the s'd hundred acres in a suitable square form.

Item. I lend to JAMES WADE SEN'R and DOROTHY WADE his wife during their continuance of their natural lives and no longer the use of fifty acres of land joining ROBERT MITCHELL's line to be laid off in a suitable square form & to include the plantation whereon the s'd JAMES WADE now lives.

Item. I give and bequeath to my sons ELISHA SIMS his heirs and assigns forever one certain tract piece or parcel of land containing by estimation Six hundred acres be the same more or less - beginning where my line crosses the Long Branch thence down the s'd Branch to the Reedy Branch thence up the s'd Reedy Branch as it meanders to a large poplar blazed on two sides near the mouth of a small branch thence a straight course to be marked to cross the path that goes to HENDERSONs at the first branch and thence down the s'd branch to MITCHEL's line thence along MITCHEL's line and my out lines to the Reedy Branch thence down the same as it meanders to where FRANCES KEELING's line make off thence joining s'd KEELING's & my out lines to the beginning.

Item. I leave the land that I had of NATHANIEL BULLOCK to the child that my wife is pregnant with if it lives it & its heirs forever and if in case it should please God that it should die before it be of age or marriage that then the same to be sold and the money to be equally divided among all my children & their heirs.
Item. I give & bequeath to my son ELISHA SIMS his heirs & assigns all my smithie tools & my Negroe man SAM also one bay mare that he has in possession and one feather bed & furniture.

Item. I give & bequeath to my son WILLIAM SIMS my Negroe girl ESSIE to him & his heirs & assigns forever also one young horse one mare about five pounds in value at the age of sixteen years if required likewise one feather bed & furniture.

Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter AGNESS & her heirs my Negroe girl AMY.

Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter DORCAS SIMS my Negroe wench JANE to her & her heirs forever, likewise one feather bed & furniture

Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter SALLEY SIMS & to her heirs my Negroe girl TAMAR likewise one feather bed & furniture

Item. I give and bequeath to my son LEONARD SIMS my Mill and my will is that my sons ELISHA SIMS & WILLIAM SIMS have their grain ground toll free at the same likewise one feather bed & furniture.

Item. The rest of my Children, to wit, SUSANNAH, MARY & <phrase smudged> LUCRETIA SIMS & the infant to be born each of them a feather bed & furniture.

Item. I lend unto my loving wife SARAH SIMS during her natural life thereto as followng Negroes viz, BESS, JACK, PATT & DICK at her decease them & their increase if there be any, to be equally divided among all my children save that my son LEONARD SIMS, SUSANNAH SIMS, MARY SIMS & LUCRETIA SIMS & the Infant to be born shall have each of them a Negroe apiece & the remainder to be equally divided among all of them.

Item. I leave the money that is due to me from MR. RICHARD BULLOCK's Estate to be equally divided among five of my children viz, LEONARD SIMS, SUSANNA SIMS, MARY SIMS, LUCRETIA SIMS, & the Infant to be born.

All other debts due to me I leave at the discretion of my Executrix & Executor to support the contingent uses of the family as occasion shall serve.

Item. My Will is that at my wife's decease the stock of cattle, hoggs & horses & likewise all the household furniture be equally divided among all my children.

Item. I leave appoint & constitute my loving wife SARAH SIMS & LEONARD SIMS Executrix & Executor of this my last Will & Testament hereby disannulling, revoking & abolishing all other & former Wills, Testaments, Legacies & bequests whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Tenth Day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred & sixty five.

JOHN SIMS

Signed, Sealed & Delivered
Acknowledged in presence of
ROBT. MITCHELL
JAMES WALLACE
G. SIMS

(note: witness names are obscured on copy, however witnesses obtained from abstract)

John Sims was married to Sarah Bullock, dau/of Richard Bullock; Agnes Keeling (wife of George Keeling) was Sarah's sister, and Frances Keeling was Agnes' daughter; Agnes married 2nd to John Williams.
 

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Will of WILLIAM SMALLWOOD-1766
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God amen, I WILLIAM SMALLWOOD dangerously sick and weak, but sound in sense and memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same and calling to mind the uncertain state of this transitory life, and that all flesh must yeld to death when it shall please God to call, do make this my last Will & Testament in manner and form following, revoking all other Will or Wills heretofore made, and by these presents do constitute ordain and declare this to be my last Will & Testament.
First being sorry for my sins past most humbly beg forgiveness for the same. I give and commit my Soul to Almighty God that gave it me, and my body to be buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named.
As for my temperar [sic] Estate that it hath pleased God to bestow on me I give and bequeathe as followeth,
Item- I give and bequeathe to my son JAMES SMALLWOOD one shilling sterling
Item- I give and bequeathe to my son ELIJAH SMALLWOOD one shilling sterling
Item - I give and bequeathe to my daughter ELISABETH TARVIN one shilling sterling
Item- I give and bequeathe to my daughter MARY DUELL one shilling sterling
Item- I give and bequeath to my daughter ASSENATH FOSTER one shilling sterling
Item- I give and bequeathe to my daughter LIZZA ADCOCK one shilling sterling
Item- I lend to my beloved Wife MARY SMALLWOOD dureing her natural life the one half of the remainder of my Estate both real and personal and after her discease to be divided between my sons ELISHA & WILLIAM SMALLWOOD
Item- It is my Will and Desire that the other half be equally divided between said sons ELISHA & WILLIAM SMALLWOOD.
And I do herein constitute and appoint my beloved Wife MARY SMALLWOOD & my son ELISHA SMALLWOOD Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Thirtieth day of March 1766.

WILLIAM SMALLWOOD ("W" his mark)

Signed and Sealed in presence of
PEYTON CLEMENTS ("X" his mark)
ELIZABETH CLEMENTS ("O" her mark)
 

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Will of PHILIP TAYLOR-1765
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the name of God Amen. I PHILIP TAYLOR now of the County and Parish of Granville in the Province of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but of sound & perfect memory and knowing the uncertainty of this life do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, That is to say, First and Principally I recommend my Soul to God who gave it, trusting in the merits and mediation alone of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my past offences and my body to the Earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and what worldly Estate it hath pleased almighty God to endow me with I give and bequeath in the following manner~
Imp's. I lend unto my beloved wife MARY the tract of land whereon I now live with the tressuage [sic] and plantation thereunto belonging (instead of her dower of all my lands and tenements during her natural life and at her death to descend & to as followeth
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son PHILIP TAYLOR after the decease of his said mother my aforesaid tract of land containing by estimation Eight hundred and Eighty acres adjoyning the lands of HOWEL LEWIS to him my said son PHILIP TAYLOR his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son JOHN TAYLOR one tract or parsel of land lying on Bennetts Creek it being all that tract I purchased of my brother WILLIAM TAYLOR and GEORGE KING containing by estimation Seven hundred and Thirty five acres to him my said son JOHN his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son JAMES TAYLOR two hundred pounds current money of Virginia to enable him to buy a piece of land which sum I do appoint to be paid to him when he arrives of full age out of my estate. Neavertheless if either of my sons PHILIP TAYLOR or JOHN TAYLOR shall die without lawful issue then and in that case it is my desire and will that my said son JAMES have the said lands as before divised to my said son in line of the Two hundred pounds so that if either my said sons PHILIP or JOHN die before the same of lawful age or have lawful issue the s'd son so dying the s'd lands before given him I do hereby give to my s'd son JAMES his heirs and assigns forever.
All the remainder of my estate consisting of Negroes, stocks, goods and chattels I give to be equally divided amongst my wife and all my children I have by her to them their heirs or assigns and it is my desire that my estate be kept together except the part given to my wife which she may take out or remain with the other at discretion until my son PHILIP arrives to the age of Twenty one years or till my daughter marrys. At this my Last will I constitute and appoint my loving wife Executrix with my living brothers EDMUND TAYLOR, W'M TAYLOR & JOSEPH TAYLOR with my friend CAPT. THOMAS PERSON Executors. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 5th day of Sept 1765.

PHILIP TAYLOR

Signed sealed & Published by the Testator in Presence of
EDMUND TAYLOR
SAM'L HOPKINS
ANN TAYLOR

Granville County, August Court 1766
This Will was duly proved in open court by the oaths of EDMUND TAYLOR & SAMUEL HOPKINS two of the subscribing evidences thereto & on motion was ordered to be recorded. Then MARY TAYLOR, the Executrix EDMUND TAYLOR, WILLIAM TAYLOR & THOMAS PERSON three of the Executors therein named & qualified as such. JOSEPH TAYLOR the other Executor did not qualify which was ordered to be certified.

Teste
SAM'L BENTON CC

(At a later hearing in 1771, it was mentioned that the widow, Mary Taylor, had intermarried with Robert Crawley)
 

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Will of EBENEZER WILSON -1765
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen I EBENEZER WILSON being very sick and weak of body bur of perfect mind and memory thanks be to the Almighty for the same and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament and as to such worldly good as it hath pleased God to Bless me with in this life I give and bequeath in the following manner and form and first of all it is my will and desire that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and willingly submit my body to the ground to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors and resign my soul to God that gave till the General Resurrection.
Item.  I give and bequeath unto my well beloved sister LUCY TUCKER the ballance of a Bill of Payment due to me from JOSEPH PEACE SEN'R.
Item.  I give and bequeath unto CORNELIUS COOPER whome I likewise ordain my whole and sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament one white mare branded with an O on the near buttock also Twenty four hogs marked with a swallow jack in the right ear and a stope in the left, one Smiths board gun , one iron & one pewter dish with all the moveables to one belonging together with all my corn and to confirm this my last Will and Testament I do hereunto set my hand and affix my seal In the presence of this Fifteenth day of December in the year of Our Lord One thousand seven hundred and Sixty six.

EBENEZAR WILSON (his mark)

NATHAN McGEHE ("N" his mark)
JOSEPH HILL


Granville County, February Court 1767
This Will was proved in open Court by the oath of NATHAN McGEHEE a subscribing evidence thereto and on motion it was ordered to be recorded then CORNELIUS COOPER the Executor therein named qualified as such which was ordered to be certified

Test
SAM'L BENTON CC
 

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Will of GEORGE WOODLIEF-1765
Granville County Loose Wills 1749-1771

In the Name of God Amen. I GEORGE WOODLIEF of the County of Granville in the Province of North Carolina, planter, being of perfect sound mind and memory blessed be God, do this Twenty Sixth day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred Sixty five make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following, Viz,
First.  I give to my beloved wife MARY my best feather bed and furniture, and I do order and my Will is that all the residue of my Personal Estate be and remain in possession of my said Wife during her natural life or widowhood, to and for the supporting and educating of my five children, to wit, GEORGE, AUGUSTINE, ELISABETH, MARY, and MARTHA, and that at her marriage or decease it be equally divided among my said five children. Also I give to my son GEORGE WOODLIEF all that part of a certain tract or parcel of land whereon I now dwell, that lies on the West side Tabbs Creek. Also I give and bequeath unto my son AUGUSTINE WOODLIEF all the remainder or residue of said Tract or parcel of land including the plantation whereon I now dwell and being on the East side of the aforementioned Creek.
Lastly  I do constitute make and ordain my Well beloved friends JONATHAN KITTRELL, DANIEL HUNTER and JOHN WHITE my only and sole executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul, all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Executors by me in anyways before named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the said GEORGE WOODLIEF as his last Will & Testament in the presence of us the subscribers, viz
GEORGE WOODLIEF

SAM'L BENTON
CHARLES BRUCE
THOMAS SANDERS
JAMES KIRKPATRICK


Granville County, November Court 1766
This Will was proved in Open Court by the oath of CHARLES BRUCE a subscribing Evidence thereto and on motion was ordered to be recorded.

Test
SAM'L BENTON CC
 

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