Thomas Dudley
Dec. 15, 1755 - Mar. 15, 1757

In the name of god amen December the 15^th day 1755 I Thomas DUDLY of Corawtuck County and _______ of north Carolina being well __________ in years but in perfect sences & memory thanks be to god for the same and knowing the uncertanty of this ______ing life & that it is appointed once for all men to dye am minded to Settel my affairs in maner and form following that is to say I doe make and ordain this my Last will and testement and first and princaply I give and bequeth my sole to god who gave it _______ing that thereon? the merits of _______ _______ ____ Redemer I shall Receve forgiveness an Resereckion for all my sins and my body to be buried in the Earthe in Such desant & Christion maner as my Executors heareafter mentioned Shall think _______ and Con____utants and as for what worldly goods god in his mercy hath lent unto me I give and bequeth as followeth.

Item I give & bequeth unto my wife mary DUDLY all that part of my estate that I had with hir to hir and hir heirs forever.

Item I give and bequeth unto my Daughter mary WILLIAMS one negro garil named ______ to hir and hir children.

Item I give and bequeth unto my Son William DUDLY one negro woman Called Nan to him and his heirs forever after the Death of my wife Mary DUDLY.

Item I give and bequeth unto my Son Thomas DUDLY the plantation and tract of land the one half of the plantation and tract of land wheareon I now live to him and his heirs forever allso I give unto my Son Thomas DUDLY two negro boyes Called Jack & Shadrick to him and his heirs forever.  Allso I give to my son Thomas DUDLY fifty acors of marsh Called [smudge] Island to him and his heirs for ever all so I give unto my Son Thomas DUDLY [smudge] horse.

Item I give and bequeth unto my grand Son Malakie DUDLY the one half of the plantation and tract of Land wheareon I now live to him and his heirs for ever allso I give to my grand Son Malakie DUDLY fifty acors of marsh Joyning on Moses _____ to him and his heirs for ever all so I give unto my grand Son Malakie DUDLY one negro garil Called Dinah? to him and his heirs for ever.  I give unto my grand Son Malakie DUDLY one Cow and Calf.

Item I give unto my two Sons William DUDLY and Thomas DUDLY all my wareing Cloth to be equelly Devided between them.  all the Remaining part of my estat not heare to fore mentioned after my just Depts is paid I give to my Son William DUDLY and my Son Thomas DUDLY and my Daughter Mary WILLIAMS to be equely Devided amoungst them.

I doe make ordain Constatute and apoynt my two Sons William DUDLY and Thomas DUDLY my whole and Sole Executors of this my Last will and testement in Witness wheare of I have Set my hand and Seal the day and year first above writen.
    /s/ Thomas DUDLEY

Sined Sealed and Delivered in the presance of us
    Charles WILLIAMS    Jurat
    Thomas WILLIAMS    Jurat
    Solomon [his x mark] ASHBE
    Oen SLATTER [Owen Slaughter in probate]

Currituck County To wit:

At a Court held for the said County at the Courthouse for the Same on the 15^th Day of March Anno Dom 1757
    Present His Majesties Justices

    These may certify that Charles WILLIAMS & Thomas WILLIAMS two of the subscribing Evidences to the within Will appeared in open Court and made Oath upon the holy Evangelists that they were present and saw Thomas DUDLEY sign, Seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within to be and contain his last Will and Testament and that the said Tho^s DUDLEY was then and at that Time of sound and disposing Memory and that he also Saw Solomon ASHBEE and Owen SLAUGHTER the other subscribing Evidences sign their Names thereto at the same Time.
    When also appeared Thomas DUDLEY, Son of the Testator, one of the Executors of the within Will and took the Executor's Oath in due Form of Law.
    Ordered that the Secretary of this Province have Notice thereof that Letters Testamentory may issue thereon as the Law directs.
    By Order Will MEARNS CC

[Source: North Carolina State Archives - MARS ID: 12.96.1.603 (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