The Last Will and Testament of
JOSEPH PRITCHARD
February 2, 1824-December 1825
State of North Carolina
Pasquotank County
I JOSEPH PRITCHARD being in a weak state of health but of sound mind and disposing memory do make and ordain this instrument of writing to be and contain my Last Will and Testament for the disposal of my worldly estate in manner & form following Viz.
Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter ABIGAIL PRITCHARD One feather bed & furniture 3rd choice, One trunk, One side saddle, One linen wheel and Fifteen dollars in cash to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter PENNINAH PRITCHARD One trunk, Seventy Five dollars in cash to be applied as far as is necessary to the use of educating her.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter SUSANNAH PRITCHARD One Hundred dollars in cash to be applied as far as is necessary to the use of educating her.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter ARENATH & MARY ANN PRITCHARD each One Hundred & Fifty dollars to be applied as far as is necessary to the use of educating them.
Item: My will and desire is that my boy Joseph Morris (of color) that I bought of George Morris should be hird out for the benefit of my estate until he arrives to a age of Twenty One years on such conditions that the person who hires him shall learn him to read the scriptures.
Item: I give and bequeath my boy Jonah (who was laid at my door in a state of helpless infancy? To Joseph Parker and Aaron White two of the Trustees of the yearly meeting of Friends of North Carolina for the use of said yearly meeting to them & their success in office, now this ???? that Mary a colored woman with whom I have placed him shall have him until he arrives to the age of Twenty One years if she wishes to keep him and if she should chose to keep him, that he be hired out until he arrives to the age of Twenty One years for the benefit of my estate on condition that he be learned to read the scriptures.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Joseph Parker Aaron White & Morris Nixon Three of Trustees of the yearly meeting of Friends of North Carolina (for the use of Sampson Dozier & family) a small piece of land that I purchased of Josiah Davis & Wife adjoining the lands of Bailey Davis heirs & others as my deed Will show them and their successors in office for the use of sd. Sampson & family.
Item: I give my Executers hereafter named full power and authority to sell all my lands except the small piece I have given away to the best advantage when they may think proper and on such credits as they may deem best, and also to sell my personal estate not given away and the money arising from the sale of both the lands & personal estate I will to be equally divided between my Seven Daughters viz. REBECCA MORRIS, BETSEY, ABIGAIL, PENNINIAH, SUSANNAH, ASENAH, & MARY ANN PRITCHARD to them and their heirs forever.
Item: I give & bequeath unto old Pathena Pritchard (of color) the use of one acre of land (where she is abut to build her house) during her life & I wish my Executors hereafter named if the should effeat a sale of my lands to exapt the use of one acre as aforesaid for her use and that she have the privilege to clear it or not as she may think proper.
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my Brother BENJAMIN PRITCHARD my Son in Law DAVID MORRIS and my friend Morris Nixon executors to this my Last Will & Testament (torn off) by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this and no other, to be my Last Will & Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2d day of the 2d mo in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Four.
JOSEPH PRITCHARD seal
Signed sealed & pronounced by the sd. JOSEPH PRITCHARD to be his Last Will and Testament in presence of us
Samuel Pritchard jurat
William Pritchard
In addition to the foregoing Will made the 2d day of 2d mo. 1824 my Will L& desire is that if Cesar & Tishy Morris of color can pay for the land whare they no live I bought of Mary Tomson & her Two children the price of One Hundred & Two dollars with the interest from the date of the deed which is the cost that my executor before named should give them a deed for the same L& if they cannot purchase the land that they should pay at the rate of Twelve dollars for each & every year for the due rent L& to keep the same in good repair, the rent to commence the first of 1825 & when my executors shall think proper that they should sell the same in addition to the rent of my lands and apply the money arising therefrom with the rest of my estate as before mention this the 30th of 10th mo. 1824
JOSEPH PRITCHARD seal
Witness
Samuel Pritchard (jurat)
Alfred White
State of North Carolina
Pasquotank County
December Term 1825
This Last Will and Testament of JOSEPH PRITCHARD dec. was exhibited and proved in open court by the affirmation of Samuel Pritchard one of the subscribing witnesses thereto David Morris one of the executors therein named appeared in open court and qualified to the same as the law directs. Ordered that the will be recorded and Letters Testamentary issue.
Test. Charles Grice Clk
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
(Transcribed as written, including errors in spelling and grammar.)
