In The Name of god amen.  I John SIMSON of Knots Island in the y^e County of Corotuck north Carolina being Sick & weak but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given to god therefore calling to mind the uncertainty & Instability of this transitory Life & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die doe make & ordain this my Last will & testament in manner & forme as follows that is to Say I recommend my Soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection to receive the Same again [smudge] the mighty power of God my Body I recommend to the Earth to be decently Interred at the descretion of the Exce^r & Exec^x hereafter Named & as for my worldly Goods w^ch almighty god of his Infinite mercy has been pleased to bestow upon me in this Life I give & Bequeath in manner & form as follows after my Debts & funeral Charges paid.

Imprimis  I Give & Bequeath unto my Loving Wife Sarah SIMSON the use of my plantation during hur natural Life or widdowhood & after her decease it to fall to my Son James SIMSON to him & His Heirs for Ever & if he die without lawful Heirs to fall to my Son Joshua SIMSON.

Item  I give & Bequeath the plantation that Thomas EVANS now lives on to my Son Solomon SIMSON to him & his Heirs for Ever & the marsh belong^g to y^e Said plantations I give & Bequeath to the use of both plantations both assisting to repair ye out Side fence & the thirds of orchard I give to my wife but if Either of my Sons Should die w^th out Lawful Heir to fall to my youngest Son Joshua SIMSON to him & his heirs for Ever.

Item  I give & Bequeath to my Daughter Mary EVANS a year old Heffer.

Item  I give & Bequeath to my Son William SIMSON a year old Heffer.

I Give & Bequeath the Rest of my Estate as follows to my Loving wife to have the use of all my s^d Estate both real & personal w^ch then Shall be? remaining during her natural Life or widdowhood and after her decease to fall to my youngest Son Joshua SIMSON Leaving my Loving wife & my Son in Law Thomas EVANS my whole & Sole Exec^r & Exec^x of this my last will & testament ___ring? & disanulaing all wills by me made heretofore ratifying & Confirming this my last will & testament & no other to be my last will & testament as witness my Hand & Seal this 19 day of march 1744/5.  Interlined before Signed & Sealed
    /s/ John [his I mark] SIMSON        an seal

Signed Sealed pronounc^d and Declared the Last Will & testament &c
Test
    Henry WHITE
    Hilra WHITE

At a General Court Held at the Court House in New Bern the Second Tuesday in March in the XXVII Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Second Anno Dom 1754 before James FASELL Esq^r Chief Justise

The within Last Will & Testament of John SIMPSON Dec^d was proved in open Court by the Oath of Henry WHITE one of the Subscribing Witnesses thereto who on his Oath Declared that he saw the Testator Sign Seal Publish & Declare the within Writing to be his Last Will & Testament and that he was of Sound Sence & Disposing Memory at the time of Executing the same & that he saw Hilra WHITE the other Subscribing witness Sign in the Presence of the Testator & in his presence & the Surviving Executrix Sarah SIMPSON having Qualified by taking the oath of an Executrix Ordered that The Secretary have Notice that Letters Testamentary may Issue accordingly.
    /s/ Jn^o SNEAD CCC [Gordon Jones states John SNOAD but it looks like SNEAD to me]

[Source: North Carolina State Archives - MARS ID: 12.96.1.2050 (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!

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