In the name of God Amen, I Edmond BOWREN of Currituck County in North Carrolina being very sick and weak but in perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God Cauling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die , do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of the Almighty God give it, and body I recommend to the earth to be buried in disent christain burial at the descretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate whare with it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I giv and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First I giv and bequeath to my Grand Son Mitchel BOWREN Son of Josiah BOWREN dec. one hundred and forty five acres of land that I bought of William GOODMAN lying on the north side of the said land that I bought of William GOODMAN beginning at a corner ash tree standing between the said land and William NORTHERNs land and thence westerly along Nick swamp road the various courses there of to the west line, thence southardly along the west or head lines so far as a direct line that I shall include one hundred and forty five acres of land to him and his heirs forever, also I give to him one hand mill forever to be left in the care of my executors until he shall come to a lawfull age.

Item: I giv and bequeath all the remainder of the land I bought of William GOODMAN to my two Grand Sons Joseph BOWREN and Malicha BOWREN son of Malicha BOWREN but reserving the use of the said land to my Son Malicha BOWREN his life time, and his wife to have the use of one third part of the said land, if in case he should leav her a widow, so long as she remains his widow but if she should intermarry then she is to have no manner of wright to any part of the said land, and after their Father death they are to have the forsaid land and if they should depart this life before they come of age of one and twenty years and leave no heir of their own lawfull begotten or known Brothers nor Sisters lawfully begotten of their Father Malicha BOWREN, to heir the land from them then in case one half of the said land I giv to James ETHERIDGE a child that was sworn to my Son Malicha and the other half of the land I giv to my Sisters Son Edmond MONCREEF and his heirs forever, Also give and bequeth to my two Grandsons Joseph BOWREN and Malicha BOWREN one negro girl called Lyd to be divided between them forever.

Item: I giv and bequeath to my Grandson Edmon BOWREN Son of Maxemn. BOWREN the plantation that I bought of Solomaon COX lying on the east side of nothims road but first reserving the use of the said land to my Son Maxemn. BOWREN his life time and his widow if in case she should leave one long as she remains his widow and no longer to have any wright in any part of the said land after the death of my Son Maximn. BOWREN then for the forsaid Edmond BOWREN to him and his heirs for ever.

Item: I giv and bequeath to my Son Maximn. BOWREN the [inserted word "use"] Midle plantation during his life time and after his death to go to his next Son if any if no other Son to his Son Edmond BOWREN know living and his heirs forever but if in case he should have another Son hereafter born to him and his heirs forever I also giv to my Grandson Edmon BOWREN the hand mill that did belong to my Grandfather to him forever

Item: I giv and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Frances BOWREN Daughter of my Son Josiah BOWREN one negro girl cauled Amy to hir and her heirs forever and to be hired by my executors for the use of her.

Item: I giv and bequeath to my two Grandsons Joseph BOWREN and Malicha BOWREN one negro girl cauled Lyd to them and their heirs for ever.

Item: I giv and bequeath to my Daughter Mary POWERS the use of a negro girl cauled Sarah, and after her death she and her increas to her Daughter Francis POWERS and hir heirs forever.

- Item: I giv and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Sarah the Daughter of my Son Maximn. BOWREN my mare cauled Piggeon her colt and two cows and calves and two ewes and lambs her for ever.

Item: I give the remainder of my horned cattle to my Son Malichia BOWREN for ever.

Item: I give to my Son Maxin. BOWREN two ewes and lambs for ever

Item: I leave the remainder of my sheep to be equally divided between my children and Grand Children.

Item: my will and desire is that after my just debts are paid with what money I have left in the house with the remainder of my estate that I have not given away in legacies if any left be divided between my children and Grand children.

Item: I do likewise constitute and appoint Maxen. BOWREN and Malichia BOWREN executors to this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disolve revoke, and disanul all and every other form or Testament wills, legacy, bequeaths, by me in any ways before named, Wills bequeaths, ratified and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight.
    /s/ Edmond BOWREN

signed seal in presents of us
    Fredrick BUSH
    Lewis COX

Recorded and examined this 7^th day of February 1778

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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