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Currituck County Wills
In the name of God Amen, I Catharine MARCHANT of the County of Currituck and State of N. Carolina, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this writing to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following.
Imprimis my desire is that my funeral be conducted in a plain but decent manner at the discretion of my executors
I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Martha ARMSTEAD the sum of forty pounds, Virginia currency, to be paid as is here after directed---
Item I do hereby authorize and request that the following negros to wit. old Keziah, John, Andrew, Peter, young Keziah, Silva, Juda, and China be divided into three equal parts or lotts by my friends Edward DOUGHTY, George CORPREW, and Archer DAVIS or any two of them, which negros so divided I give and bequeath the one third to my Son Thomas MARCHANT, one other third to my Grand Daughter Elizabeth WHITEHURST which third is to be subject to the condition hereafter stated and the remaining third to my Grand Children Abiah, Ann, Catharine, and Martha ARMSTEAD the first and last mentioned third I hereby give to my Son and Grand Children ARMSTEADs and to their heirs for ever.----
Item I desire the legacy of forty pounds be raised the sale of some stock and furniture to be made for that express purpose the remainder of my stock of horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep I desire may be divided by the persons who are nominated to divide ye negros, or any two of them, into three equal parts, one of which I give to my Son Thos. MARCHANT, one other third to my Grand Daughter Elizabeth WHITEHURST and the remaining third to my Grand Daughters Abiah, Ann, Catharine, and Martha ARMSTEAD, the properties as which are hereby bequeathed to my Grand Daughters I desire may be sold to the highest bidder and the proceeds appropriated to their use in the manner above stated with this exception, that if my Grand Daughter Elizabeth WHITEHURST shall die under age and without a child that all her share of the proceeds arising from such sale, as well her third of the negros shall go to and be injoyed by my Grand Children Abiah, Ann, Catharine, and Martha ARMSTEAD to whom on that want, I bequeath the same in fee simple that is to them and their heirs for ever----
I do hereby nominate and appoint Archer DAVIS and Thomas MARCHANT to be executors to this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all others by me made In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of January 1797.
/s/ Catherine [her mark] MARCHANT and a seal
signed seald published and declared in presence of
Malachi READ jurat
Archelaus TURTEN jurat
Sarah [her mark] MARCHANT
I declare this writing to be a codicil to my Last Will I give to my Grand Daughter Elizabeth WHITEHURST a negro girl calld Rilley subject to the same conditions with that on which the other property is devised to her.
I leave to my negros George and Mingo, their liberty and hereby require that they be immediately set free on my death. Witness my hand and seal this fifteenth day of January 1797.
/s/ Catherine [her mark] MARCHANT and a seal
signed seald published and declared in presence of
Malachi READ jurat
Archelaus TURTEN jurat
Sarah [her mark] MARCHANT
Recorded and examined this 18th May 1797
This will was contributed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse. 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!
© 2002 Marty Holland
