In the name of God Amen.  I Thomas DUDLEY. SR. of the state of North Carolina Currituck County being in good health & of sound and disposing mind do make & publish this my last will & testament in manner & form as follows.

Item the 1.  I lend to wife Rhody DUDLEY all of estate both real & personal as long as she remains my widow.

Item 2^d.  After the death or marrage of my wife Rhody DUDLEY I give to my son Thomas DUDLEY JR. three hundred dollars to be paid to him out of my estate.

Item 3.  After the death or marrage of my wife Rhody DUDLEY I give to my two daughters, namely Frances DUDLY & Rhody DUDLEY the ballance of my estate both real & personal to be equily divided between them to them & there heres forever.

Item.  I leave my wife Rhody DUDLEY executrix to this my last will & testament revoking all former wills by me made.  In witness whareof I have hereunto set my hand and caused my seal to be fixed this 24^th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty six.
        /s/ Thomas [his x mark] DUDLEY SR.    Seal

Signed & acknowledged in the presents of us
     John B. JONES
     E.W. JONES

[At the bottom of this page is a $1.00 revenue stamp with the following notation written on it.]
    JWB CCC  [JWB is J.W. BAXTER, Clerk of Court]
    Nov. T. 1865

State of North Carolina}    Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
    Currituck County     }    November Term 1865

The within paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Thomas DUDLEY, dec^d, is exhibited for probate in open court by Rhody DUDLEY the executrix therein named, and the due execution thereof by the said Thomas DUDLEY is proved by the oath and examination of E.W. JONES, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, it is further proved by said witness that Jno. B. JONES, the other subscribing to said will is dead, that he is well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Jno. B. JONES having often seen him write and that his name subscribed to said will is in his own hand writing and the witness further proves that he saw said Jno. B. JONES subscribe said will as a witness, that he subscribed it in his presence, and in the presence and at the request of the testator.  It is therefore considered by the Court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will & testament of Thomas DUDLEY, dec^d. sufficient in law to pass both real & personal estate and the same is ordered to be recorded & filed.  And therefore the said Rhody DUDLEY came into Court in person and dissented to said will and renounced as executrix thereto and her dissent & renunciation are ordered to be recorded and therefore John M.? WILLIAMS is by the Court appointed administrator with? testament annexed upon entering into bond which bond is filed.  Then he duly qualified as administrator by taking oath required by law.

On the back of this will was written - The Last will & Testament of Thomas DUDLEY, SR. of Knotts Island Currituck County North Carolina

Nov. Term 1865
Recorded in Book No. 4; page 152
    /s/ 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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