In the name
of God Amen, I Butler Ashford of Wilmington, being weak in body but of
sound mind and memory thanks be to God, for the same, I do constitute
make and ordain this my last wil l & testament in manner and form
following (viz)
FIRST: I recommend my soul to Almighty God who gave it to me and my
body to be buried in a decent manner at the direction of my executors
and as to such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, I
give and devise in the manner and form following (to wit)
FIRST: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah Ashford the house
and lott I now live on, on the hill in the Town of Wilmington, on the
North side of Orange Street containing sixty three feet one way &
thirty tree the other, also one half a marked lot containing one
hundred feet in length & thirty three deep - also I give to her
three Negroes (viz) Easter, Daniel & Buck also one half of the
furniture I posses which I give to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sussannah Asheford the remaining
part of the Lott on the North side of Orange Street adjoining Shadrick
Springs also I give her my Market Wharfe lot on the north corner of
Market Wharfe also the vacant lott above the church, and for her not to
take papers on until she arrives to the age of eighteen years or
marries. Also I give her two small Negroes Harriett & Ben also the
other half of my furniture to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
And I do hereby nominate or dain and appoint my beloved wife Sarah
Asheford & my beloved friend Richard Bradley my whole executrix and
executor to this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal this the 6th day of July 1806.
Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of us
Nath. Loomis
Charles Eayton
Onslow County; in court Oct., Term 1806
The written will was proved in open court by Nat. Loomis & Sarah
Ashford the Executrix therein named, qualified agreeable to law Ordered
to have letters testamentary.
Nat. Loomis, C.S.C.
Interlined between the 25th & 26th line before
Signed
Butler Ashford (seal)
