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In the name of God Amen, I Nathl Spence WEST of the State of North Carolina--Currituck County planter, being very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God for it, 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 -- Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors, 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 wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form --
Item: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Rebecca WEST all my whole estate, that is to say Viz. land, negroes, stock and houshold furniture to her to be [worn off]ibly possest with, during her widowhood or life, Also it is my will that my above named wife whould not have the liberty of selling or making any conveyeness of any of my land or negroes.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Edward WEST my plantation and tract of land wheron I now live to him and his heirs forever, likewise one bed and furniture.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Spence WEST a tract of land known by the name of the Reedy Branch Neck to him and his heirs forever, likewise one bed and furniture.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my two Sons Obediah WEST and Jonathan WEST that tract of land as I bought of Frances BROWN to be equally divided between them to them and their heirs forever, If either of the two said Brothers dies without heir the land is to belong to the other, likewise I give to said Jonathan WEST one negroe girl called Grace to him and his heirs -- likewise I give to the above named Obediah WEST as much money as the said negroe Grace shall be appraised to at the division of my estate, the said money to be raised out of my moovable estate, also I give to the said Brothers each of them one feather bed and furniture.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my three Daughters that is to say Rebecca WEST, Mary WEST and Julian WEST, all the remainder of my negroes to be equally divided between them at the time of the marriage or death of their Mothaer, to them and their heirs forever, and also I give each of them one feather bed and furniture. Likewise it is my will that the remainder of my estate shall be equally divided between all my children thats living at the marriage or decease of my said Wife. Also it is my will that Edward WEST and Spence WEST shall furnish Obediah WEST and Jonathan WEST with timber.
Further I do constitute and appoint my well beloved Wife Rebekah WEST and my Son Edward WEST, my Executors to this my Last Will likewise I do publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament as witness my hand and seal this fourth day of October 1780.
/s/ Nathaniel Spencer* WEST seal
Signd seald published and declared in presence of us
Obediah WEST
Rebeckah WEST
Recorded and examined this 16th day of December 1780
*[Note: Although in the signature it does appear that Nathaniel West's middle name was spelled "Spencer," this signature is not in West's own hand, but is in the clerk's handwriting. Given that the name is "Spence" everywhere else in the will, it seems reasonable to assume that the name was actually "Spence." --M. H.]
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
