In the name of God, Amen I John BELL of the State of North Carolina and County of Currituck being much indisposed in body but of a sound sience and memory thanks be given God for the same and knowing it is once appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following Viz.

Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my Son William BELL one silver dollar to be paid him out of my estate as his full portion of my estate with what he has already received to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Joshua BELL a piece or parcel of land that tract of land I bought of Arthur TURTNE situate in Gibbs Woods containing thirty acres being the north east part of the tract I bought of TURTNE to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Joshua a piece or parcel of my home tract on Bells Island beginning on the sound side at James WHITE SEN. line thence northwardly along the sound to a ditch thence up the ditch to a white mulberry tree thence westwardly through the plantation by a line of marked trees stakes thence by a line of marked treesto the marsh thence southwardly binding on the marsh to said WHITES line, thence eastwardly binding on said WHITEs line to the first station, also an equal priviledge of all my marsh land on said Bells Island with my Son Hillary BELL the forementioned land and marsh go to him and his lawful heirs forever also I give and bequeath unto my foresaid Son Joshua BELL one feather bed and furniture, also my best gun two canoes and also one young black mare called Fly also the one half of a whip saw also the one half of a cross cut saw to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Hillary BELL a piece or parcel of land being a part of the land I bought of Arthur TURTNE laying in Gibbs Woods binding on the thirty acres that I have left in this will and testament to my Son Joshua BELL on the south side being the northeast part of the aforesaid tract being already laid off and a line of marked trees round it containing twenty acres of land to him and his heirs forever also I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid Son Hillary BELL the remainder part of my home tract on Bells Island being the Mounore(?) part of said plantation whereon I now live and whereon my dwelling house now stands and also one equal priviledge of all my marsh land on said Bells Island with his Brother Joshua BELL to him and his lawful heirs forever also my will and desire is that if either of my two Sons Joshua or Hillary BELL should die without lawful issue then and in that case the deceased part to go and decend to the survivor or surviving one of the two Brothers Joshua or Hillary and the lawful heirs of each survevor

Item: I give and bequeath to my Son Hillary BELL one feather bed and furniture and one small blue chest and one half of my still one cow and calf also one half my whip saw also one half of my cross cut saw also fifty dollars to be raised out of my estate to him and his lawful heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to Son Joshua BELL one cow and calf his choice also the one half of my still and I also leave my Son Joshua the use of the still until my Son Hillary comes to the age of twenty one then a division of the still between Joshua and Hillary BELL I also lend the use and benefit of my small orchard on Berry clearing to my Son Joshua BELL until my Son Hillary comes to age then to my Son Hillary BELL and his lawful heirs forever.

Item: I leave the one third of the land and plantation that now own in Gibbs Woods whereon my Son Matthias BELL now lives on that is the one third of the land and plantation to be sold at public auction and the proceeds to be equally divided between my two Sons and three Daughters Joshua BELL and Hillary BELL and Mary BELL and Frances BELL and Betsey BELL to them and their heirs forever. The land to be sold for twelve months credit

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Matthias BELL the remaining part of my land and plantation wheron he now lives that I have not already given away now left to be sold also all the marsh and porcoson to him and his heirs forever

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary BELL one Negro woman named Chloe and child Heziah and one feather bed and furniture one blue chest one linen wheel to her and her lawful heirs forever

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Frances BELL one Negro woman names Sue, and two children Milla and Love one bed and furniture one walnut chest and one linen wheel to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Betsey BELL one Negro man named Isaac one Negro girl named Barbara one feather bed and furniture one walnut desk to her and her heirs forever

Item: my will and desire is that my just debts be paid out of my estate and after settling the debts and legacies all monies due and oweing to my estate be equally divided between my three Daughters namely Mary, Frances, and Betsey to them and their lawful heirs forever

Item my will futher is that all the remainder of my personal estate of every kind and nature soever that is not already given away in legacies be sold after my decease by my executor on a credit of six months and the proceeds of cash fall to be equally divided between my three Daughters aforesaid Mary, Frances and Betsey to them and their lawful begotten heirs forever.

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my friend John HILL my whole and sole executor of this my Last Will and Testament hereby and disannulling all other former wills before by me made hereby revoaking and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of May anno. Dom 1806
        /s/ John BELL     seal

Signed sealed published and pronounced in the presence of us who were present at the signing the same
    Test William DOXEY
            Powers POYNER     jurat

Recorded and examined the 22'^d June anno. Dom. 1806.

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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