THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
April 10, 1736
In the name of God Amen. I THOMAS GREGORY of Pasquotank Preseink for North Carolina Planter. Being ??? perfect mind & memory Thanks be given unto God almighty. Calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that its appointed for all men once to die do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to say ??????? first of all I give & recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave to & for my Body I recommend to ???? to be buried in a Christian like desent manner ????? descretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. & as touching such worldly estate whorwith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner following.
Imprimis. I give & bequeath unto my Son NATHAN GREGORY his heirs & assigns for ever all my manner plantations where I now dwell & half of a certain tract of land containing two hundred & sixty seven acres lying on ye head of the Eataron(?)(Edenton?) Branch of Arronuse Croock on ye NE side of Pasquotank River ??? ye’s County aforsd. As more fully appoint(?) by ye pattent afore?? To be equally divided between my Sons NATHAN & SAMPSON without hurting one another after my dis??? & ??????? Son NATHAN should die without issue ye aforsaid manner plantation with it go two hundred & sixty seven acres should fall to my Son SAMPSON & his heirs forever. ???? Son SAMPSON should die without issue the aforsaid tract of land shall fall to my Son JACOB & his heirs for ever.
Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son JACOB aka JOB after my diseas my negro man Tonsy.
Item. I also give & bequeath —— my Son RICHARD GREGORY five shillings current money to RICHARD by my Executors (can’t make out rest ink has bled through)
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son WILLIAM GREGORY five shillings current money to be paid by my executors herein after mentioned—
Item. I also give & bequeath ???? my Grandson FREDZICK GREGORY five shillings current money to be paid by my executors herein after mentioned.
Item. I give & bequeath after my deseas unto my Son JACOB GREGORY, ELISABETH GODFRE, JOB GREGORY, SAMPSON GREGORY, NATHAN GREGORY, PRISILLARY GRAY all my moveable estate to be equally divided after my desseas to the above mentioned—–
Item. I do also constiute & ordain my well beloved Son JACOB GREGORY with my Son JOB GREGORY to be my only and sole Executors of this my Last Will & Testament Disallowing & disannuling all other former wills ratifying & confirming only this to be my Last Will & Testament In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred & thirty Six
THOMAS GREGORY
His “T” Mark
Signed sealed published
Pronounced & declard in
Presence of us
The day & year above written
JOHN BELL
JO. ROBERTS
JOHNN BEERCOCK
June 23d 1740
Came befor me JOHN BELL & made oath that he saw THOMAS GREGORY sign seal & publish the above as his Last Will & Testament that he was of sound mind & memory at that time & that JOHN ROBERTS & JOHN BEERCOCK signd as witnesses thereto at the same time. JACOB GREGORY took the oath appointed by Court to be taken by Executors.
Will Probated June 30, 1740
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse