THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
RICHARD FERIEL
In the Name of God Amen.
I RICHARD FERIEL of Pascotank precinct in the County of Albermarle and Province of North Carolina being at this time in health of body and of perfect sence and memory praise be therefore given unto almighty God for the same calling to mind the mortality of my body do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament.
Imprimis I do give and bequeath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it hoping through the meriteries death and passion of our blessed savious Jesus Christ to receive full pardon of all my sins and to obtain a joyful resurrection and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my executor here after named and as to what worldly estate the Lord is pleased to blessed upon me I do give in manned following.
I will first that all my debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged.
Item. I do give and bequeath unto my Son ERASMUS FERIEL fifty acres of land be ye land ???? or ????lying or being at ye roofs(?) end of my plantation beginning at a marked gum near my corn field by ye main swamp runing from thence about northeast course to a gum & from thence to ye farthest side of my land to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I do give & bequeath unto my Son JOHN FEREL all the remainder of my land and plantation to him & his heirs forever.
Item. And all my porsonal estat I do give to be equaly devided amongst all my children and my Son JOHN FEREL to have ye first choice therein, and I do make and ordain my sd. Son JOHN FERIEL whole and sole executor of this my Last Will & Testament in confirmation whereof I have hereunto set my hand & fixed my seal this One and Thirty Day of Janeuey Anno Dom 1738
Signed
RICHARD FERIEL
“RF”
JOHN HOUREN jurat
THOMAS JAMES
His x mark
WILLIS JAMES jurat
His x mark
Pasquotank County
July Court
Present His Majesty Justices
These may Certifie that JOHN HOUREN and WILLIS JAMES appeared in open Court and made oath that they saw RICHARD FERIL sign seal & publish the within as his Last Will and Testament and that he was of sound and disposing mind & memory at that time. And they ???? Subscribed as Witnesses thereto At the same time JOHN FERRILL took the oath appoi (torn) by law to be taken by
Executor.
Test. JAMES CARVER
Letters issued Ober 30th 1740
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
(Transcribed as written, including errors in spelling and grammar.)