Benjamin Cowell, Sr.
Oct. 5, 1752 - March Court 1756

In the Name of God Amen.  I Benjamin COWELL SN^r of the County of Curretuck & Province of North Carolina this fifth Day of October In the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred & fifty two being in Perfect health & Sound Memory Do make this my last will & Testament In the manner & forme following (that is to say) Imprimus it is my will & Desire that all my Just Debts & funeral Charges be forthwith paid after my Decease with all Convenient Speed by my Executors hereafter Named.

Imp^s  I give & bequeath to my well beloved Son Benjamin COWELL During his Natural life & the Natural of Sarah his wife one hundred acres of Land on the East Side of Great Alligator in the County of Tyrell In the Province afsaid out of the Land known by the Name of the Dutchmans Ridge being the Eastermost Side of the Said Land bounded on the East by the Land of John WILLCOKES and West by a Marked oak & from thence by a line to be made from Said oak (being a Chestnut oak) North & South to the Extent of the west & East line of Said Land and after the Death of my Said Son & his wife to his Son Luke and the heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten for Ever.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Son Solomon COWELL Two hundred Acres of Land Lying and being In the County of Tyrell In the Province of North Carolina on the East Side of Great Alligator begining at a hickory then Runing a west Course to a Blazed? _____ then North to a line of marked trees then Binding on Richard McCLUREs line to have and to hold the Said two hundred acres of Land to my Said Son Solomon and to his heirs for Ever.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Son William COWELL one hundred Acres of Land out of the above Mentioned Tract Joyning my Son Benjamin on the west Side and bounded on the west Side by a line North & South (parrelel to that between him and Benjamin) from a hickory already marked to him & his heirs Lawfully begotten of his body for Ever but if he Should Die without Such heirs then to Return to my Son John & the Lawfull heirs of his body for Ever.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Son Butlor COWELL & to the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten for Ever one hundred Acres of Land on the west Side of the above Land given to William bounded west by a North and South line as by a hickory above, being the Extent of the Dutchmans Ridge west and Down that line North one hundred & sixty poles then East untill it meets with Williams line & if he Dies without Such Issue then to my Son John & the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten for Ever.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Rebecca COWELL & to the heirs of her body Lawfully begotten for Ever Seventy five Acres of Land and to my well beloved Daughter Dorcus COWELL and the heirs of her body Lawfully begotten for Ever one hundred and fifty acres of Land Lying and being on the East Side of Great Alligator and Part of a Tract of Land Called the MULBERY Land to begin at the Eastermost Side of the Mulbery Ridge to be regerlerly taken off after fifty acres taken off ___________________________ here after then Next to that fifty acres then next to that is [next 2 lines obliterated by tape] hundred and fifty acres to be taken off as afs^d which S^d hundred & fifty acres to be Equally Devided between my two Daughters as afs^d Rebecca & Dorcas and if Either of the two Shall Die without heir then my Desire is that the longest Surviver of the S^d two to Inherrett the others part of S^d hundred & fifty acres.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Son Edmond COWELL and to the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten for Ever three hundred acres of Land it being the whole Contents of a Pattent Called the HOLLY Land lying & being in the County of Tyrel on the Eastermost Side of Great Alligator and if he Should Die without Issue then to my Son John and the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten and I Likewise give to my S^d Son Edmond one Good feather bed & furniture & Two Cows & Calves to him and his heirs for Ever.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Son John _______________ his body Lawfully begotten for Ever fifty acres of the ______ Land together with fifty acres of Land it being ______ Called Mulbery Land and the Same as is Mentioned to be given in the  __________ of Rebecca & Dorcus Lying & _______ __________ as aforsaid.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Son Thomas COWELL one hundred acres of Land Lying on the East Side of Great Alligator and being part of a tract of Land Called the Mulbury Ridge bind by a Line to the westward and to the eastward by a Line of Marked trees to Divide Him from the Land hereafter to be given to his sister Elizabeth.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Elizabeth COWELL and to the heirs of her body Lawfully begotten for Ever the Northenmost part of the Land known by the Name of the Mulbery Ridge Devided from her brother Thomas by a Line of Marked trees but if my Said Daughter Should Dye without Such issue then to Return to my Son Thomas and to the heirs of his body Lawfully for Ever.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Mary COWELL my Negro Girl Named Lettice to her and her heirs for Ever and if she Dye without heirs of her body Lawfully begotten then to fall to my Daughter Elizabeth and her heirs for Ever Reserving the use of s^d Negro to my wife During her widowhood but if Elizabeth Should die without heir Lawfully begotten of her body then the Said Negro is to Return to my Daughter Dorcus and the heirs of her body Lawfully begotten for Ever only Reserving her first Child to my Daughter Rebecca.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Rebecca COWELL my Negro woman Named Bess Reserving _________  _____ the use of Said woman to my wife During her widowhood and her Increas to her and her heirs for Ever.

Imp^s  I Give & bequeath to my Son Edmond

Imp^s  I Lend the use of all the Rest and Residue of my Personal Estate to my wife Elizabeth COWELL and after her Marriage or Death which Ever Shall happen first then to be Eaqually Devided amongst my children that is to say Rebecca Butlor John Thomas Elizabeth & Dorcas and their Heirs for Ever and I also Do Constitute & appoint my Said wife Elizabeth and my Son  Solomon COWELL whole & sole Executors of this my Last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seal the Day and year first above writen holding this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament.
    /s/ Benj [his x mark] COWELL [his mark was a B on its side]    Seal

Signed Sealed & Delivered in the Presents of us
    Jos. CAMPBELL
    John WOODHOUSE
    Jordan ROGERS

  North Carolina  }     March County Court Anno Dom 1756  
Currituck County }
    Present His Majesties Justies

These may Certife that Joshua CAMPBELL and John WOODHOUSE apeard in Open Court and made oath That they Saw Benjamin COWELL SEN^r Sign Seal publish & Declare the within writting to be and Contain His Last will and Testament and that the Said Benjamin COWELL was then and at that time of Sound and Disposing Memory and at the Same time Elizabeth COWELL Executrix apeard and Took the Executors oath In Due form of Law orderd that His Honour the Secretary have Notice thereof as Letters may Issue as the Law Directs.
    Test
        William SHERGOLD CC

[Written on the back of this will is: Recorded in the Secretarys Office in Book N^o. 9 folio 67; 15 Copy Sheets]

[Source: North Carolina State Archives - MARS ID: 12.96.1.489 (folder)]

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!

© 2006 Kay Midgett Sheppard