In the name of God, Amen. I Branson BELL of the County of Currituck, being of sound and perfect mind and memory (blessed be God) do this tenty seventh day of January in year of our Lord eighteen hundred and sixteen, make and publish this my Last Will and Testament, in manner following that is to say.

First. I give and bequeath to my Son Caleb BELL all the land joining the land I now live on or being a part of this tenament from a ditch near the house, runing north and south nearly from that ditch as the ditch runs on the west side as far as my land continues, to him and his heirs forever.

Second. I give to my Son Branson BELL the land on the east side of the ditch, with all the houses standing on this side of the ditch, joining Willoughby ETHRIDGE's land to him and heirs forever.

I give and bequeath to the child my Wife is now big with, a piece of land binding on Luke LAMB's line and the Beaver Dam, lined and marked to itself, containing fifty acres, to it and its heirs forever.

I give and bequeath to my Wife, two beds choice, and all the kitchen furniture with ten cows, and calves, and ten ews, and lambs, one ram, stocks of bees, the old horse, and the third of all the land. And I hereby make and ordain my worthy friend Mitchael SIMMONS executor of this my Last Will and Testament, and for him to have power and authority to sell negro Sam to be carried out of this State without fail. In witness whereof I set my hand and seale, the day and date above written.
    (signed) Branson BELL seal

Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of us
JA. BELL     jurat
Phebe STEPHENS

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

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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