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Franklin County, Wills, Inventories 1785-1797, Vol. A, Page 39
Last Will and Testament of BENJAMIN BELL, deceased -March Court 1789
In the Name of God Amen I BENJAMIN BELL of Franklin County & State of
North Carolina being of good and sound memory thanks be to almighty God & calling to remembrance the uncertain Estate of this Transitory Life and that all
flesh must yield to death when it shall please God to call, do make constitute ordain and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner and form
following revoking and annuling by these presence all and every Testament or Testaments will or wills heretofore by me made and declared Either by word or
writing and this is only to be take for my last will and testament and none other and for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods chattels & Debts
as it hath pleased God for above descrete to bestow upon me I do order and dispose of the same in manner and form following (that is to say) I will that all
these debts & dues as I owe in right or conscience to any person or persons whatever shall be well and truly paid by my Executors hereafter mentioned --
Imprimis, I lease unto my wife LUCY BELL the Plantation & Land whereon I now live during her widowhood and after her marriage her third only also two
Negroes (that is) PETER and PHEBE I lend unto her, her life also I desire that wife LUCY BELL shall have the use and labour of four Negroes (that is) JOE
MOLLEY AMEY and SUE to work on my lands & plantations and with the profit thence arising to support & maintain my four daughters & son equivilent to
the profit of their labour and when they aor either of them shall marry or arrive to the age of Twenty one years my wife LUCY shall deliver them or either
of them their legacies as they shall arrive to the age of Twenty one
years or marry hereafter mentioned --
Item- I give and bequeath to my son BENJAMIN BELL all my lands, plantations &c being in the County aforesaid to him his heirs and assigns forever also two
Negroes (that is) PETER and PHEBE after the decease of my wife LUCY BELL to him his heirs and assigns forever also a Bay filly called Flower also all the
stock thereafter mentioned lent to my Wife her life after her decease to him his heirs and assigns forever also one half of my household goods afer the
decease of my wife to him and his heirs forever --
Item- I lend to my wife LUCY BELL during her life or widowhood three cows and calves & four Beef cattle her choice also a Bay horse called Dawrey Also a Bay
horse called Buck also all my stock of hogs and sheep also all my household furniture of what kind soever also all my plantation tools also all my crop of
corn now on my said plantation also all kinds of hogs heads barrels stands &c--
My will and desire is that all my stock of cattle the residue of my wife's legacy be continued on my plantation & there be supported until my daughter comes
of age (that is) Twenty one or marry then to receive their part hereafter mentioned also I give my wife a sorrel horse and saddle to her and her heirs
forever --
Item- I give and bequeath to my daughter NANCY BELL one Negroe girl named MOLLY and a cow and calf and yearlin to be delivered her by my wife, her marriage
day or at the age of Twenty one years, unless my wife has entered for a crop if that may happen not to be delivered untill the crop be finish'd to her and
her heirs forever --
Item- I give and bequeath to my daughter PATSY WILLIAMS BELL one Negroe girl named AMY also one cow & calf and yearlin to be delivered her at her marriage
day or at the age of Twenty one years unless a crop be entered for by my wife if that may happen not to be delivered untill the crop be finished to her and
her heirs forever --
Item- I give and bequeath to my daughter POLLY BELL one Negroe man named JOE also one cow & calf and yearlin to be delivered her at her marriage or at the
age of Twenty one years unless a crop be entered in for my wife if that may happen not to be delivered untill the crop be finished to her and heirs forever
--
Item- I give & bequeath to my daughter TEMPY BELL one Negroe girl named SUE also two cows & calves & two yearlins to be delivered her at her marriage day
also one
half of my household goods after the decease of my wife to her and her heirs forever--
All the residue of my Estate not herein mentioned (that is) one sorrel mare one yoke of oxen my chest of shop joyner tools four barrels of brandy one
whipsaw one cut saw & pair of well stones I request to be sold and the money arriving from the sale thereof to discharge my debts and the remainder if any I
leave to educate my son BENJAMIN BELL as far as my Executors shall think proper the remainder if any to cloth and educate my daughter TEMPY BELL as far as
my Executors shall think proper --
I also appoint my well beloved wife LUCY BELL & SAMUEL JONES my Executors to see this my last will and testament thereforesaid In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd Day of January in the year of our Lord 1789.
BENJ'N BELL
Sign'd Sealed & publish'd & Declared in presence of us
ARTHUR DURLEY Jurat
JOHN JOHNSON Jurat |
