In the name of God Amen.
I Soloman ASHBEE of Currituck County in the State of North Carolina, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, thanks be to God, for the same, and calling to mind the mortally of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for men once to die, do constitute, make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following.

Item. First I will that all my just debts and funeral expences be paid.

Item. I give and bequeath to my loving Wife Nancy ASHBEE the land and plantation whereon I now live together with the household furniture, which I am at this time possessed with, also all the negroes which, I have at this time in my possession and all my stock of horses, cattle, hogs, and for the use and benefit of educating and raising my children to have them taught reading, writing and arithmetic, as far as the rule of three, provided they are able and willing to take it, during her natural life or widowhood and at her death or marriage, I give the land and plantation whereon I now live to my Son Soloman ASHBEE, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Son Joseph ASHBEE, all my lands lying to the southward and eastward of the plantation whereon I now live on Roanoke Island, I also give to my Son Joseph ASHBEE fifty acres of land lying on Croatan known by the name of Spencers Point to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.

Item. My will and desire is that if either of my two Sons Joseph or Soloman should die without heir lawfully begotten of their body that the land of the deceas'd should descend to the surviving Brother, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.

Item. The land that came by my Wife lying joining Adam ETHRIDGE and Maurice BAUM SEN. lines, I give and bequeath to my five Daughters (to wit) Polly ASHBEE, Ann BAUM, Fanny ASHBEE, Sally ASHBEE and Wineford ASHBEE to be equally divided share and share alike to them and their heirs lawfully begotten of their body forever, but if either of my Daughters should die without heir as aforesaid, that her part should be equally divided among the surviving parties, to them and their heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Polly ASHBEE one negro girl by the name of Violet, two cows and calves, one feather bed and furniture, to her and her heirs lawfully begotten forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann BAUM one negro girl by the name of Jane, two cows and calves and one bed and furniture, which she hath now in possession to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son Joseph ASHBEE, one negro boy by the name of Jack two cows and calves, and one feather bed and furniture, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.

Item. I also give unto my Son Joseph ASHBEE after my Wifes decease, two thirds of the Schooner Winney and one third to my Son Soloman ASHBEE, to them and their heirs forever, and if either party dies without issue lawfully begotten as aforesaid, that the surviving party to have the whole with everything thereunto belonging.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sally ASHBEE one negro girl by the name of Moll, two cows and calves, and one feather bed and furniture to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Winneford ASHBEE, one negro boy by the name of March, two cows and calves, and one feather bed and furniture, to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Son Soloman ASHBEE one negro boy by the name of London, two cows and calves, and one feather bed and furniture, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.

Item. All the rest and residue of my estate be it of what nature or kind it may, which hath not been already given away in legacies I leave to be equally divided among all my children after my Wifes decease, together with one negro man by the name of Moses now outlying which if ever caught, I leave to be sold to the highest bidder and the money arising therefrom to be converted to the use of my children.

Lastly, I nominate constitute and appoint my loving Wife Nancy ASHBEE, and my Daughter Polly ASHBEE executrix and my Son in Law Maurice BAUM executor to this my Last Will and Testament. In testimony of which the Said Soloman ASHBEE hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal this second day of October in the year of our Lord 1801.

Soloman ASHBEE

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Soloman ASHBEE to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us
    Jacob BEASLEY    His x mark
    Adam ETHRIDGE

Recorded and examined the (blank) day of (blank)

[Note: Probate date is from Currituck Co. Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions].

This will was contributed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information. Thank you!

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