Will of William Kendrick-1776

Will of William Kendrick January 12, 1776 Bute County, North Carolina In the name of God, Amen, I William Kendrick of Bute County in the Province of North Carolina being in perfect health and memory Thanks to God, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life as knowing it is appointed to all men once to die and desirous to settle things in order to made constitute and appoint this and no other to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first and principally I give my soul to God the giver thereof in hopes to receive the same again at the Joyful Resurrection at the last day with a full and free pardon of all my sins and transgressions through the Death and merits of my blessed Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ and my body to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner, and as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in Mercy hath lent me my will and desire is that the same be employed and disposed of in manner and form following, and first my will and desire is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid. Item: I leave and bequeath to my son John and James to them and each of them one shilling sterling. Item: I leave and bequeath to my daughters Mary, Sarah, Rebecca and Martha to them and each of them one shilling sterling. Item: I leave and bequeath to my grandson Benjamin Thornton Forty Shillings Virginia money, to be paid to him when he shall arrive at the age of eighteen years. Item: I leave and bequeath to my son Jones all that part of my land below the first main branch running below the plantation whereon I now live, it being the land my son James formerly lived on, to him and his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I leave and bequeath to my son Isham after my wife's death my plantation whereon I now live together with all the land thereunto belonging not before mentioned to him, his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I leave and bequeath to my son Jones aforesaid after my wife's decease my Negro wench named Cate and all her increase to him his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I leave give and bequeath unto my son Isham aforesaid after my wife's disease my Negro wench named Linder and all her increase to him and his heirs forever, and my will is that after my wife's decease the rest of my estate not before herein mentioned be equally divided between my two sons last mentioned [to wit] Jones and Isham to be divided in the effects and that nothing be sold of my estate on account of division and lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my well respected friend Captain Philip Burford Executor and my well beloved wife Sarah Kendrick Executrix to this my last will and testament utterly revoking and voiding all other will or wills by me made allowing this to be my last. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of January 1776. Signed and Sealed and declared in presence of:
John White
Druery Jackson	William Kendrick [Seal]
Benja Edwards