In the name of God Amen, I William BERNARD of the County of Currituck and province of North Carolina being in sound mind and memory Thanks be to Almighty God for the same do therefore make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following (Viz)

First I recommend my soul to the hands of them that gave it to me, and my body I give to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in a christian like manner by and at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as for my temporal estate I dispose of as followeth------

Item: I give and bequeath to my beloved Wife Margret BERNARD one negroe wench Sarah and one negroe man Mustipher her lifetime the use of him, the use of one negroe girl Grace her lifetime, I give to my beloved Wife Margret BERNARD all my stock of cattle, hogs and sheep that belongs to the plantation whereon I now live to be her and her heirs forever, one black mare called Fidal and coalt, one roan mare Flower, one black horse called ???swager, one mare coalt called Pigeon one called Pleasure and all my kitchen utensials (except one iron pott) and all my house hold furniture except feather bed and furniture and one pewter dish, two pewter plates and one bason to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to Caleb ETHERIDGE one iron pott and one feather bed and furniture and one pewter dish and two pewter plates and one pewter bason to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to Tully DAUGE one roan mare called Fan.

Item: I give and bequeath to Samuel DAUGE son of Tully DAUGE one negroe Grace after my Wifes decease to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my Brother Caleb BERNARD one negroe boy Jack, and one blen(?) sow and pigs, and one black Sow to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my Brother Robert BERNARD one negroe man Narro to him and his heirs for ever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my Brother Jesse BERNARD one negroe woman Rachel and one negroe child Luce furthermore I give one negroe man Cain to be divided between my two Brothers Robert and Jesse BERNARD likewise all my cattle I formerly used to live to be equally divided and one bay mare coalt and ???coalt and one roan stallion and all my notes of hands debts dues and ??? after paying my just debts to be equally divided between my two Brothers Robert and Jesse BERNARD, likewise my gun to my Brother Jesse BERNARD and mustipher, to them and their heirs forever.

I do nominate and appoint my Brothers Robert BERNARD and my Brother Jesse BERNARD executors of this my Last Will and Testament in testimoney whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of December 1781
    /s/ William [his mark] BERNARD     and a seal

signd, seald and pronounced in presence of
    Asahel [his mark] LEE         jurat
    Nancy [her mark] WHITE   jurat

Recorded and exam. this 10^th day of April Anno Dom 17 [worn off, but probably 1782].

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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