In the name of God Amen. I Thomas RUSSELL of the county of Currituck in North Carolina. Planter being very sick and weak in body but in proper mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die and turn to dust again. I do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say principally first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent and Christian Burial at the discretion of my' executor nothing doubting but at the morning of the glorious resurection when this mortal body of mine shall be waken out of the prison of the dark and silent grave by the sound of the trumpet I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First and foremost to my two youngest sons William RUSSELL and Benjamin RUSSELL to each of them my well beloved sons I give one horse and one feather bed piece with the furniture belonging thereto and to my beloved daughter Abigail RUSSELL I give and bequeath unto her the mare and one feather bed with furniture belonging thereto.

Secondly the remainder of the said estate I give constitute grant and bequeath to Margaret RUSSELL my dearly beloved wife as long as she remains my widow with one feather bed and furniture and after my decease or if the said widow contracts matrimony she shall forfet all rights and privileges belonging thereto the whole to be then equally divided between the two daughters and two sons That is Abigail RUSSELL, Comfort Applestal CHANDLER, William RUSSELL and Benjamin RUSSELL. Excepting one bed and furniture belonging to the said widow Margaret RUSSELL which I give and bequeath to my little Grand-daughter Love RUSSELL at said Widows decease and futhermore I give constitute and convey to my two youngest sons William and Benjamin RUSSELL a Bond signed by Francis BROWN for three hundred forty pounds proclamation money of North Carolina given in the year sixtynine which I ___ grant all legal and lawful authority to procure the same as I myself might was I present personally and if recovered to be equally divided between William and Benjamin RUSSELL and to my [nothing written here] Willard RUSSELL I give four shillings six pence sterling.

Futhermore I constitute and ordain the above said William and Abigail RUSSELL the Executors of this my Last Will and Testament all and singular my goods chattels and tenememt by which I hereunto set my hand and seal this the 4^th day of March one thousand seven hundred sixty nine.
    /s/ Thos. [his x mark] RUSSELL and a seal

Signed sealed published and declared by Thomas RUSSELL as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names
    Daniel LINDSEY
    William CHANDLER JUNIOR
    Samuel SPOONER

Recorded and Examined the 21^st day of April 1770

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!

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