I Amanda Burgess of the County of Currituck and State of North Carolina being of sound mind and disposing memory but in ill health, and knowing the uncertainty of life, do make and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following.

Item first.  I give and bequeath to my beloved son James COWELL all of my house hold and kitchen furniture.  Also twelve fat hogs to kill for pork and twelve out or wood hogs, besides two sows.

I also give and bequeath unto my said beloved son James COWELL my two young mules and young horse or colt, my yoke of oxen and ox cart, his choice one horse cart which I bought of John BURFORT and four milch cows his choice and all of my sheep, to have and to hold unto him his heirs and assigns in fee simple and forever.

Item second.  I give and bequeath unto my said beloved son James COWELL negro man More, negro man Lam, and boy Charles, to have and to hold said slaves unto him, his heirs and assigns in fee simple and forever.

Item third.  I give and bequeath my large Family Bible to my beloved grand daughter Ellen WHITHURST [not sure about this last name] to her and her heirs forever.

Item fourth.  It is my will and desire that the residue of my worldly effects not already disposed of or given away shall be applied for the purpose of paying my just debts together with the money already on hand and should the money on hand together with what may be reallized from the sale of those things not given away give a surplus after paying my debts, then it is my will and desire that said surplus be equally divided between my grand children - each one to share alike.

Item lastly.  I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved son James COWELL my executor to this my last will and testament and I do hereby declare all former wills heretofore made by me to be nul and void and of no effect.  In testimony of which I do hereunto set my hand and seal this the 28^th day of Oct. in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three.
        /s/ Amanda BURGIS

Signed  sealed and published and declared by the said Amanda BURGESS to be her last will and testament in the presence of us, who at her request and in her presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.
     M.T. JARVIS
     B.M. BAXTER 

     A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Amanda BURGESS, deceased, is exhibited for probate in open Court by James F. COWELL, the executor therein named and the due execution thereof by the said Amanda BURGESS is proved by the oath and examination of B.M. BAXTER and Martin T. JARVIS, subscribing witnesses thereto.  It is therefore declared by the Court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of the said Amanda BURGESS and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed.  And thereupon the said Jas. F. COWELL, executor as aforesaid, duly qualified as such by taking the oath required by law.

Exhibited May Term 1866
Recorded in Book No. 4; page 259 & 260
    J.W. BAXTER,CCC

[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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