Contributed by Ginger Christmas-Beattie

Item: I give and bequeath to my son Henry Christmas to him and his heirs forever all my land.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my three children to them and their heirs forever all my estate that will be found in the hands of my wife at the time of the division Viz! Henry, Mary and Martha CHRISTMAS, and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Thomas Christmas and William Duke Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void and null all form or wills heretofore made, and confirm this my last will and none other to be my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of April in the year of Our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven. John CHRISTMAS {seal} Presence of W. Kellow and Thomas Green.

North Carolina State Bute County May Court 1777 This will was presented in court and proved by the oath of William Kellow and Thomas Green the witnesses hereto, and the same was ordered to be recorded, and letters testimonial was granted to Thomas CHRISTMAS and William DUKE the executors who were qualified accordingly. Test Thomas Macken C.C.

Contributed by Ginger Christmas-Beattie

The condition of this obligation is such that if the above bound Temperance Christmas Admrx. Of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of Thomas Christmas, deceased late of the county of Bute do make or cause to be made a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the deceased which have or shall come to the hands, knowledge or possession of the said Temperance Christmas or into the hands or possession of any person or persons for her, and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the Secretary's office and one attested copy thereof to the County Court where orders for Administration passed within ninety days after the date of these presents, and the same goods, chattels and credits, and all other goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased at the time of his death which at any time after shall come into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for her, do well and truly Admr. According to law, and further do make or cause to be a just and true account of her Administration within one year after the date of these presents, and all the rest and residue of the said goods, chattels and credits which shall be found remaining upon the Administratrix account the same being first examined and allowed by the Governor and council, Superior Court or County Court, shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons respectively as the same shall be due pursuant to the true intent and meaning of the Act of Assembly in the case made and provided and if it shall appear that any Will and Testament was made by the said deceased and the Executor therein named do exhibit the same into the said making request to have it allowed and approved of accordingly if the said Temperance Christmas being thereunto required do render and deliver the said letters of Administration, approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the said Court then this obligation to be void else to be and remain in full force.

Temperance Christmas {seal} (her mark)
Nathaniel Peebles {seal}
Thomas Christmas {seal}
Sealed and delivered in the presence of:
Bute County February Court 1770
This bond was acknowledged in open court and whereupon it was ordered to be recorded.
Test Benjamin McCulloch C.C.
 

An inventory of the estate of Thomas Christmas, deceased taken the 13th day of February 1770, to wit:
1 set of Smith tools sold for 12£ 5S, 3 beds and furniture of feathers, I bed without furniture of same kind, 19 head of sheep, 26 hogs of different sizes, 3 iron pots, 1 frying pan, 4 dishes pewter, 4 pewter basins, 6 pewter plates, 2 tin pans, 2 jugs, 1 candle stick, 2 smooth bored guns, one of them sold for 12£ 10S, 1 box iron heaters, a parcel of joiners and carpenter tools, 2 chisels and 1 gauge of turners tools, 1 spinning wheel, 1 sword, 1 looking glass, a parcel of old books, 1 chest, 1 table, 1 case of knives and forks, 4 chairs, 1 hone razor and strap, 4 bells, 3 pair cards, 1 fiddle, 3 bedsteads, 1 loom, 12 geese, 1 mans saddle and bridle, 1 woman's saddle and bridle.
 
Returned February Court 1770
Pr. Temperance Christmas, Admrx.

A just account of the sale of the estate of Thomas Christmas, deceased March 23rd, 1770

Joseph Hackney some carpenter joiners & turners tools 1£ 0S 6P
Philemon Hawkins 1 jointer hand saw & sword 1
William Neal 1 smooth gun 2 5
Benjamin Ward 1 fiddle 25 / & Dutch oven 8 / 1 13
Thomas Wright 1 razor hone & strap 7 6 6£ 6S
 

Temperance Christmas Admrx.
To 2 pots 15/ 1 bed & furniture 6£10S 7£ 5S
To 1 " 80/ 1 " 8"6" 12 16
To 1 " 86/6 and 1 box iron & candle stick 4/ 4 10 6
To some pewter and 2 jugs 1 13
To 1 table 5/ and 1 chest 4/ 9
To 10 chairs 31/ 1 woman's saddle 40/ 3 11
To 1 mans " 10/ 15 head of sheep 81/ 4 11
To 1 frying pan 4 25 head of hogs 101/ 5 5
 

This ended the copy that was sent to me.
 

Warren County North Carolina Deed Book 3 pp.229-230

This indenture made this tenth day of February one thousand seven hundred and seventy by and between William Duke of the county of Bute in the province of North Carolina of the one part and Thomas Christmas of the county and province of the other part. Witnesseth that the said William Duke for and in consideration of the sum of five pounds to me in hand before the sealing and delivering hereof have bargained, sold and made over unto the said Thomas Christmas a certain tract or parcel of land situate lying and being in the county of Bute and bounded as follows, to wit, beginning at Wolbanke's old line at post oak thence along a line of new marked trees Howze's new road to a black jack, thence down the said road to two pines thence along a line of new marked trees Charles Burk's line on a hickory thence along said line to the corner of the said Burk's line on a pine thence along Wolbanke's old line to the beginning containing one hundred acres more or less with the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, interests and profits, thereunto belonging of every part thereof unto the said Thomas Christmas his heirs and assigns forever to have and to hold the said misusage tract or parcel of land with the appurtenances thereunto belonging to the only proper use and behoove of him the said Thomas Christmas his heirs and assigns forever and the said William Duke doth for himself his heirs and covenant promise and agree to and with the said Thomas Christmas that the premises aforesaid and clear of all manner of encumbrances and the said Thomas Christmas his heirs and may and notwithstanding any act or thing committed, done or suffered shall and lawfully may and ever hereafter have hereunto hold, use, occupy, process and enjoy the same. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal the day and year first above written.

William Duke {seal}

Sealed and delivered in presence of: James Moore and John Christmas

Bute County February Court 1771

William Duke acknowledged this deed to Thomas Christmas to be his act and deed and on motion the same is ordered to be registered.        

Thirdly I give and bequeath to my two beloved Sons Joel Perdue & Morris Perdue the land and plantation Where on I now live to be devided between them at the discreation of James Moore and that they may have the benefit of the land as Soon as They have judgment to manige their Businesòs

As also I do appoint James Moore and my wife Sarah Perdue My hole and Sole executeers of all my Buisneòs in witness where of I have here unto Set my hand and fixed Seal the 24^th Day of March 1768 . .

In preòants of us

 Suòanna Moore Juror

This will was proved by the oaths of Susanna Moore & Ann Moore the Witneòses hereto and on Motion it was Ordered to be recorded