New Hanover
County, NC Wills Book C, page 18
In the name of God Amen, I Anthony Bourdeaux of the county of New
Hanover and Province of North Carolina, being very sick and weak, but
of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, 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,
First of all, I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of the
Almighty God that gave it me and my body I recommend to the earth to be
buried in 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 mortal
estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give
and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
First I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife, Priscilla Bourdeaux,
the third part of all my personal estate and to peaceable enjoy my
house and plantation, and all privileges pertaining to the same during
her natural life or widowhood and—
Also, I give and bequeath to my oldest son, Anthony, the one half of my
land, the upper part including my plantation after his mother's decease
or widowhood;
Also, I give and bequeath to my second son James, the lower half of the
said land.
Also, I give and bequeath to my oldest daughter, Martha, one shilling
sterling.
Also, I give and bequeath to my sons, Peter and Daniel, that tract of
land laying to the west of Long Creek, to be equally divided between
them.
Also, I give and bequeath to my three youngest sons, John, Israel and
Isaac, a certain tract of land laying in Duplin County in the north
side of Rockfish Creek, and after my just debts is all paid, the
remainder of my estate to be appraised and divided between my daughter,
Priscilla Larkins, and my youngest daughter Ann Bourdeaux, in
proportion with my sons and the remainder of my estate to be equally
divided between three of my sons according to their several
disadvantages in the land before mentioned; and I do hereby utterly
disallow, revoke, disannull all and every other former testaments,
wills, legacies, bequeaths and execution ratifying and confirming this
and no other to be my Last Will and testament in witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of August in the year of
our Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-six.
Signed, sealed and declared by the said Anthony Bourdeaux as his Last
Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the
presence of each other have here so subscribed our names: Moses
Yarbrough and Peter P. Lamb
I also appoint and ordain my well beloved wife and my friends James
Larkins and Timothy Bloodworth my sole executrix of this my Last Will
and Testament.
August 14, 1767
To all before whom this shall come is to give notice and declare there
being a small mistake in my Last Will and Testament it came to my mind
to alter and rectify that small mistake being in my perfect senses and
right understanding, not disallowing my will only to alter this small
part which is concerning that tract of land in Duplin, that it may be
sold immediately or at any time when proper for the benefit of the said
three sons, and which is mentioned in my will do them and only theirs
therefore, I do hereby impower my well beloved son James Larkins to
make sale of the said land as he shall see best for their use and
benefit, as witness my hand and seal the 14th day of August 1767.
Witnesses: Anthony Bourdeaux and James Bourdeaux
New Hanover Inferior Court April 1769
The written Will was produced to the Court and proved in the oath of
Peter Lamb, one of the subscribing evidences, in due form of law. Also
the written codicil to the Will of the said Anthony Bourdeaux, proved
on the oath of Anthony Bourdeaux, Jr. in due form of law. And at the
same time, Priscilla Bourdeaux, executrix therein named, qualified such
agreeable to law, ordered such letter testamentary accordingly.
13 May 1769, John London
