THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
JOHN FORBES SR.
November 24, 1747
November the 24th Day 1747
In the Name of God Amen. I JOHN FORBES Sen. of Pasquotank County in the
province of North Carolina, Planter, being of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the Mortallity of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testatment in the following manner and form;
Item. I give and bequeath unto my beloved Son JAMES my plantation whereon I now live with ?? hundred acres of land to him and his heirs and assigns for ever only I reserve for my loving Wife MARTHA to have ye afsd. plantation and land during her natural life furthermore provided my Son die without heir that his Wife ELIZABETH to possess the afsd. plantation and land during her widowhood.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife MARTHA all and singular my moveable estate both real and personal during her natural life and after her desease whatsoever is left to be equally divided among my children. Likewise I constitute make and ordain my loving Wife MARTHA whole and sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament and disanulling all other former testaments and declaring and pronouncing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament as witness my hand and seal the day and year above written.
JN. FORBES
His x mark
Signed sealed and delivered in
The presence of us
PETER BROWN
His x mark
SARAH BROWN
Her x mark
N. Carolina
Pasquotank County
July Court Anno Dom 1750
Present His Majesties Justies
These may Certifie that PETER BROWN one of the Evidences to the within Will
appeared in open Court & made Oath on the Holy Evangelist that he was present
& saw JOHN FORBES sign seal publish and declare the within to be and contain
his Last Will and Testament and he the said JOHN FORBES was then of sound &
disposing memory (too faded to read) SARAH BROWN the other Evidences sign her
name (faded) same…….(faded) MARTHA FORBES Executrix and Qualified (rest is
very faded and almost unreadable) letter issued 10th day July Anno Dom 1750
Test. THO. TAYLOR
Letter issued 9ber 21st 1750
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
(Transcribed as written, including errors in spelling and grammar.)