In the name of God Amen I Henry SPRATTEN of the County of Currituck & The Province of North Carolina being at this Time very Sick & weak in body but of Perfect sense But Calling to mind the uncertainty of Death and knowing that it is appointed for all men once To die do make and Ordain This to be my last will and Testament and first of All I Give my Soul To my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to Santify? and Redeemed me Trusting Through his mercy I shall be Received into his Everlasting Kingdom & my Body I Give To be Buried in the Earth after a Christianlike manner at the Discrchons of my Executrix hereafter Mentioned and of my Worldly Goods I Give & Despose as followeth

Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Brother Peter SPRATTEN my Gun and Sword and a pair Blue Yard Stocking Blue County? Cloath Jackett & Breaches.  I Give and Bequeath unto my Brother in law Thomas TATUM my wearing [smudge] hat?.  I Give and bequeath unto my welbeloved wife Mary SPRATTEN all the remance [remainder?] part of my Moveably Estate be it of what kind soever it will During her Widowhood and then if in case she doth Marry then To be Equally Devided between her and her Three Childred.

Item I lend to my welbeloved wife my plantation and land I now live on During the Space of Twenty Years Ensuing the date and in Case my Daughter Ester SPRATTEN Should Die without And after that Time To my Daughter Esther SPRATTEN.  I Give my Plantation and Land to her and her Heirs for Ever and if in Case my Daughter Esther SPRATTEN Should die without Heirs and my wife Should die Then I Give and Bequeath my Plantation and Land unto my Brother Peter SPRATTEN and to his heirs for Ever.  In witness Where of I have hereunto Set my Hand and lastly I do Appoint my welbeloved wife Mary SPRATTEN my whole and Soul Executrix of this my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and seal this tenth day of January 1750.
    /s/ Henry [his x mark] SPRATTEN       seal

Signed Sealed and Delivered In the presence of us
    Rob^t FLETCHER
    Will^m WHITE

   North Carolina  }    April County Court 1751
 Currituck County}

Present His Majesties Justices
    These may Certifie that William WHITE one of the Subscribing Evidences to the within will appeared in open Court and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of almighty god that he was present and Saw Henry SPRATTING Sign Seal publish & Declare the within to be & Contain his last will & Testament & that the said Henry was then & at the Time of Sound & Disposing Memory and also that he saw Robert FLETCHER the Other Subscribing Evidence Sign his Name thereunto at the same time.  Then also appeared Mary SPRATTING in Open Court Executrix and took the Exe^rs Oath in due form of Law.  Ordered that Nat^hl RICE Esq^r Secretary of the said Province have Notice thereof that Letters Testamentory Issue thereon as the Law Directs.
    Test  Rich^d McCLURE Clk Cur^t

[On the back of the will is written: Letters Issued April 12^th 1751]

[Source: North Carolina State Archives - MARS ID: 12.96.1.2147 (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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