In the name of God Amen.  I Edwin C. BELL of Currituck County NC being of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be God do this day of December 30 & the year of our Lord 1852 make and publish this mi last will and testament in manner following, that is to say --

First I giv and bequeath unto mi sister Betsy SNODEN mi negro man Dannel I hereby make and ordain my worthy friend and the ballance to be equally divided betwean my [unreadable] George, Samuel and Frederick also my sisters Sarah Jane SMITH Amelia WILSON Huldy SNODEN and Lucretia and I hereby make and ordain my worthy friends Isaac SNODEN and George BELL as executors of this mi last will and testament.

In witness whereof I the said Edwin C. BELL to this my last will and testament set my hand and sele the day and year above writen.
             /s/ Edwin C. BELL

Signed seald published and declared by the said Edwin C. BELL the testator as his last will and testament in the presence of us who were present at the time of signing and sealing thereof.
     Wilson SANDERLIN
     Wm. G. WILSON
     Spence GREGORY    

 August Term 1853
     A paper writing was exhibited in open court and presented for probate as the last will and testament of Edwin C. BELL, dec'^d., whereupon a jury was empannelled & sworn to try the issue whether this paper writing purported as the last will & testament of E.C. BELL, dec'^d., is his last will & testament executed in due form to pass both real & personal estate, and two of the witnesses thereto, to wit, Wilson SANDERLIN and Spence GREGORY being called & sworn upon the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, did depose & say that they saw said E.C. BELL execute said instrument as his last will & testament that it was done in their presence and at his request and in the presence of each other and that the testator was of sound & disposing mind at the time.  Whereupon the jury did return as their verdict that this paper writing propounded as the last will & testament of Edwin C. BELL, dec'^d., is his last will & testament executed in due form to pass both real & personal estate and the same is admitted by the Court to probate as the last will & testament of said E.C. BELL & ordered by the Court to be recorded.  And the executors therein named, to wit, Isaac SNOWDEN & George BELL, having renounced letters of administration with the will annexed are committed by the court to Geo. F. BELL, he having entered into bond with Wilson SANDERLIN and W.F. FEREBEE as his sureties in the sum of $3000.00 as directed by the court, and qualified as such administrator.

[Source: Microfilm G.030.1548672 - Currituck Co., NC Wills (original) 1841-1924; Vol. Ansell-Woodhouse]

This will was contributed by Kay Midgett Sheppard. 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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