THE LAST WILL OF WILLIAM BENNETT (1795, Richmond Co, North Carolina) (from previous transcription)
In the name of God, Amen.  I, WILLIAM BENNETT, SENR., of the County of Richmond and State of North 
Carolina, being now very weak in body but in my perfect mind and memory thanks be given 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 
give and reccomend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body, I recommend to 
the earth from whence it came to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executors, 
nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power 
of God.  And as to my worldly estate I give devise and dispose of in the following manner and form, 
viz: To my eldest son WILLIAM BENNETT I give and bequeath five shillings current money and no more 
as I have given him the portion allotted for him.  Again, I give and bequeath to my second son 
NIVIL BENNETT five shillings current money and no more in as much as I have already given him the 
portion allotted for him.  Again I lend to my daughter in law SARAH BENNETT the late widow of my 
son JAMES BENNETT the one third part of the land on which she now liveth and occupieth during of 
her widowhood after which I give and bequeath the whole of the tract of land it containing four 
hundred and fifty acres lying and being in the county of Anson to be equally divided between my 
two grandsons WILLIAM and SILAS BENNETT to them their heirs assigns forever.  I likewise lend to 
my daughter in law SARAH BENNETT a negro boy named Prince for the term of ten years to work on the 
said land and no where else after which term I give and bequeath the said negro to my grand sons 
WILLIAM and SILAS BENNETT to them their heirs and assigns forever.  Likewise to my grandson JAMES 
BENNETT son of JAMES BENNETT deceased I give and bequeath Two hundred and fifty acres of land in 
Anson County lying on the waters of Brown Creek on the road known by the name of the lawyers road 
to him his heirs and assigns forever.  Likewise I lend to my daughter RACHEL the wife of NICHOLAS 
CLARK my negro woman named Bett during her natural life of my said daughter RACHEL and after her 
decease I give and bequeath the said negro Bett and her increase to my grandson JOHN BENNETT son 
of JAMES BENNETT deceased to him his heirs and assigns forever.  I also lend to my daughter RACHEL 
my mulatto girl named Hannah till she arrives to the age of twenty five years.  She being two years 
old the 15th of June last and at the expiration of this term I desire her to be set free.  Again I 
lend to my daughter JANE the wife of HENRY DILLING my negro girl named Hannah during her natural 
life and after her decease I give and bequeath the said negro girl and increase to my grand children, 
NICHOLAS DILLING and RACHEL DILLING to be equally divided to them their heirs and assigns forever.  
Likewise to my grandson NICHOLAS DILLING I give and bequeath the mansion house and plantation on 
which I live possess and occupy containing one hundred and sixty one acres to him the said NICHOLAS 
DILLING his heirs and assigns forever.  I likewise give to the said NICHOLAS DILLING my young horse 
named Brittain to him his heirs forever.  I also give and bequeath to my granddaughter RACHEL DILLING 
One hundred acres of land more or less lying and being in South Carolina, Marlborough County on the 
waters of Crooked Creek, it being the land I purchased of Abner Broach to her her heirs and assigns 
forever.  I also lend to my son in law GEORGE LINDSEY my negro woman named Dinah during his natural 
life after which I lend the said negro and her increase to be equally divided between my granddaughters 
RACHEL and ELIZABETH LINDSAY both daughters of GEORGE LINDSAY to them and their lawfully begotten 
heirs forever.  I also lend to my son WILLIAM BENNETT my negro woman named Chloe during her natural 
life after which I give and bequeath the said negro woman and her increase to my grandson WILLIAM BENNETT 
the son of WM. BENNETT to him his heirs and assigns forever.  Again I give and bequeath to lawful 
wife OLIVIA one feather bed and furniture also thirty seven pounds ten shillings - which of notes of 
hand and accounts is now in possession of William Graham for the support of the Sd OLIVIA during her life 
- And as to my moveable estate not yet particularized I dispose of in the following manner and form to 
wit.  My live stock cash in hand bills bonds notes household goods etc to be divided into five equal 
parts and one of the parts to be divided amongst my son WILLIAM's three eldest children to wit WILLIAM, 
ELIZABETH and NANCY BENNETT to them their heirs and assigns for ever and one fifth part to be equally 
divided between GEORGE LINDSEY's two eldest children to wit WILLIAM and SARAH LINDSEY to them their 
heirs and assigns forever and the one fifth part to be equally divided between my son JAMES BENNET's 
three daughters NANCY ELIZABETH and SUSANNAH BENNETT to them their heirs and assigns forever.  And the 
one fifth part to my daughter RACHEL to her heirs and assigns forever.  And the one fifth part I give 
and bequeath to my daughter JANE to her heirs forever only note that her part of the cash in hand if 
any not to be paid to her the S'd JANE till the expiration of seven years, and for the special trust 
and confidence that I repose in the fidelity and integrity of my son WILLIAM BENNETT and son in law 
NICHOLAS CLARK I constitute and appoint my lawful Executors in testimony whereof I have hereunto set 
my hand and seal this 21st day of July Anno Domini 1795.

His
WILLIAM    X    BENNETT     (SEAL)
Mark
Signed and pronounced in the
presence of
Jno. Matthews
Susannah X (her mark) Mathews
Lurana X (her mark) Willis

North Carolina October Session 1795
Richmond County
Then the last will and testament of WILLIAM BENNETT SENR was duly proved in open court by the oath of 
John Mathews and Susannah Mathews subscribing witnesses thereto.  Ord to be Recorded.
Ted Robinson       D for J Terry Clk.