Marmeduke Etheridge
Feb. 3, 1734 - Nov. 5, 1735

In the name of God amen.  The Third Day of febeuery in the year of our Lord God 1734.  I Marmeduke ETHERIDGE of Coratock precinct in the County of Aulbenmarl and province of North Carolina planter being very sick and weak in body but of a perfect mind and memory thanks be Given unto God therefore Calling unto 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 and first of all I Give & Recommend my Soul into the hand of God That Gave it and for my body I Recomend it to The Earth to be beried in a Christian like and Decent manner at y^e Deseretion of my Executrix 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 where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I Give Devise and Dispose of The Same in the following manner and form.

Imprimiss I Give and bequeath To Caleb BELL the Son of Sarah BELL my message [messuage] plantation land and houses by him freely to be possessed and Injoyed and I ordain the sum of 25 pounds in bills to be Ceaveyed [conveyed?] out of my moveable Estate To be paid unto The Treasury in Due Time To Redeem the mortgage.

Item I Give and bequeath unto Caleb BELL and Mary BELL and Marmeduke BELL The Three last Childrin of Sarah BELL all the Rest of [my] moveable Estate To be equaly Divided between Them after the Discease of Sarah BELL Their mother whom I make and ordain my onely and sole Executrix of this my last will and Testament by them freely to be possessed and Injoyed and I Do here by utterly disavow? and Revoke all other wills and Testaments by me before mentioned In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand ____ the Day and year above writen.
    /s/ Marmeduke [his M mark] ETHERIDGE

Signed Sealed and pronounced by the Said Marmeduke ETHERIDGE as his last will and Testament before us the Subscribers
    John HOUREN
    Joseph BOUREN
    Peter DAUGE

This within will was proved in Currotuck Court by the Oaths of Joseph BOWRING & Peter DAUGE the Subscribing Evedences thereunto & the Exec^x therein Named took the Ext^s Oath.
    Test: Thos LOWTHER  Clk. Cor^t

[On the back of this will is written: Letters granted Novem^r y^e 5^th 1735.  Recorded.  Returned by M^r LOWTHER without fees.  No Let^s Iss^d]

[Source: North Carolina State Archives - MARS ID: 12.96.1.665 (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