JOHN TORSKEY (1747 Will)

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
OF
JOHN TORKSEY
November 10, 1745

In the name of God Amen I JOHN TORKSEY of Pasquotank County in the Province of North Carolina being sickly and weak of body but of perfet mind and memory thanks be given unto God for it calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is apinted for all men to die do mak and ordain this my Last Will and Testement that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul in to the handsof God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried at the descration of my executers and as tuching such worldly estate whore with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I dispose of in the following manner and form—–

Itom. I give and bequith to my well beloved THOMAS TORKSEY one negro man named Bossen and eight burels of pork thet he owes me and one feather bed to him and his heirs for ever.

Itom. I give and bequeath to my well beloved Son BENJAMAN TORKSEY the plentation that I now live on and all the land thar unto belonging and one feather bed to him and his heirs for ever.

Itom. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Daughters ELIZABETH and SUSANE
— negros if there be to many of my negro woman named Jeane with ??? self and her two childern Pegg and Wappen and thare encrease betwn this and tim of delivery and if not to memey what there is liven at the time and if thare be more then fore of the sead negros my said Dafters to have which fore thay please to them and hares lawfull begotten of thare one bodys and if my childern that are liven and my will and desire is that shall not recive thare said negros nor devide them tel such time my youngest Dafter SUSANE arrives to the age of eighteen years or the day of marrye only my will and desir is that my Daughter ELIAZBETH shall have the use of the sd. Negro garl Pegg at the day of marrye tel the time of devition then to be equally devided between them likewise I give and bequeath my two Daughters each of them a good ??? furniture and a stone jugg at the day of mariage likewise my will and desir is that if ?? are be a negro or negros of the sd. Jeane and her childern and theire in creese then the fore apinted for my two Daughters to be equilly devided between my two Sons THOMAS and BENJAM and the rest of my estate to be equally divided among my four childern above named likwise I constitute make and ordain my two Sons above named my hole and sole Executere of this my Last Will and Testement and I do utterly dissalow ?????(to dark) testament heretofore as witness my hand and seal above written

                                                                                             JOHN TORKSEY
                                                                                                  His “E” Mark
                                                                                           (the E is backwards)

sined sealed and acknowledge
in presents of us

A BURGES

JOHN WRIGHT
His Mark

ABASANA PURKENS
His Mark


North Carolina
Pasquotank County

April Court Anno Dom 1747
Present His Majesties Justices

There may ?? Wm. Burgess(?) Wright(?) two subscribing Evidones to the within Will appared in Opon Court and made Oath upon Holy Evangelist that they ware presant and saw JOHN TORKSEY sign seal publish (too dark) to be his Last Will & Testament, and that the said JOHN TORKSEY was at said time of sound disposing memory and that they also saw Abasana Perkins the other subscribing ?? sign his name thereto at the same time.Then also approved BENJAMIN TORKSEY Executor and took the Oath appointed for his qualification & ordered (too dark) Honorable N. ?? Esq. Secretary — Notice that letters may issue

Witness Thomas Taylor Clerk of County
Court att Broomfwtosthe(?)

Thos. Taylor Clerk
day of July 1747


Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse

(Transcribed as written, including errors in spelling and grammar.)


 

WILLIAM E. WRIGHT (1797 Will)

Will of

WILLIAM E. WRIGHT 

1797

In the name of God amen. I William Wright of the county of Pasquotank and state of North Carolina being of sound mind and perfect memory bless God do this 23rd day of May in the year of our Lord 1797 make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form as followith that is to say.

First: I give to well beloved wife Lydia Wright one negro man named Davis, one negro woman named Cherry, one negro boy George, one negro girl named Anney, one negro boy named Charles, one mare and colt called fanny, one fether bed and furniture, one set chainey, one half of all the negroes that is to fall to me at the death of my sister Esther Vaughan, six falg bottom chairs, two cases of knives and forks and silver tea spoons, all the pottery in my yard, one iron pot the best I have, one skillet, one creaper, one cow and calf her choice of my stock, one sow and six shoats, one blue chest, one seal skin trunk to her and her heirs forever. I also leave to her the said Lydia Wright the use of my land and plantation that I bought of John Browning during her natural life and after her death to go to my son James Wright and his heirs forever and if he the said James Wright should die under the age of twenty years my will and desire is that my said wife Lydia Wright should have one half of the said land and my nephew George Callis the other half they and their heirs forever. I also give to sd wife all the porke corn and bacon I have now by me.

Item:  I give and bequeath unto my son James Wright all the remainder of my estate whatsoever both indoors and outdoors after my just debts are paid to him and his heirs forever.

I also nominate and appoint my trusty friend John Lane my whole and sole executor to this my last will and testament in witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and date above written in the presents of us.
                                                                                              William E. Wright    (seal)
Jehu Cartwright
John Smithson jun.   Jurat


Pasquotank county June term 1797
Presents the worshipful justices
These may certify that the last will and testament of William E. Wright dec’d was exhibited in open court by John Lane the sole executor therein named and proved by the oath of John Smithson one of the subscribing evidences thereto and at the same time the said executor appeared and was qualifyed by taking the oath by law presented. Ordered that the will be recorded and letters testamentory aforesaid.

                                                                                             test,  Enoch Relfe CC


Contributed by Harry Schoettle


 

CHARLES WRIGHT (1772 Will)

Will of

CHARLES WRIGHT

1772

In the name of God amen.
The seventeenth day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy two I Charles Wright of the county of Pasquotank and province of North Carolina planter, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory God be thanked and calling to mind the frailty and mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed once for all men once to die. Do make and ordain this my last will and testament and as touching this worly estate whence with it hath pleased God to bless me within this life I give and dispose of in the manner and form following.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving wife Anna Wright two negroes to wit F__ and Genne, also two good feather beds and furniture, one fifteen bottle case and one safe and one bead chest and one looking glass, one ball faced mare and one rone horse and one young halton named Jockey and all my hogs and two cows and calves, four ewes, one large puter dish and one half gallon bason and one small quart bason and all at he earthen ware and all my chairs and one small oval table and one eight gallon pot and one four gallon pot, one tea kettle and one baking kettle and one dutch wheel and one great wheel and pr cards and one dozen spoons. Also I leave to my beloved wife Anna the use of my houses and plantation whereon I live and timber to support it during her widowhood. Also I leave to my said wife the use of my negro boy Lemeck during her wodowhood.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son Auguston Wright on condition he shall make over all his right in the land I shall mention and I give to his other brothers, to each one he shall make a title and also to make over his right in that part I give to his sister he compling with the above conditions. Then I give to my said son Auguston Wright and his heirs forever one hundred acres of land be the same more or less buted and bounded by a ditch across the plantation and a branch to the beaver dam and from the ditch down chesnut oak glade to Smiths line and if my sd son Auguston Wright shall refuse to comply with the above condition. Then I give and bequeath the aforesaid land to be equally divided between his other brothers born of Mary my first wife. Also I give to my sd son Auguston Wright one bay mare and several other things he has all ready in his possession.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Cartwright a piece of land called Sattle neck binding on the beaver dam and across the mouth for fifty acres of land be the same more or less to her and her heirs forever and one cow and calf and all that I have given her in possession. Also I give to my Dughter Elizabeth one negro girl named Dol.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son Levy Wright one young sarrol horse. Also I leave to my aforesaid son Levy the use of fifty acres of land lying in Richneck binging on the beaver dam during his natural life and after his decease to my son Auguston Wright to him and his heirs forever. Also I give to my sd son Levy one feather bed and furniture and one small gun.

Item: I give and bequeath to my two sons Charles Wright and Lot Wright the remainder of my land that is not given away to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever. Lot having his part in the plantation that I have reserved to my wife. Also I give to my sd two sons each of them a feather bed and same furniture. Also I give to my son Charles Wright two three year old heifers. Also I give to my son Lot Wright two two year old heifers. Also I give after my wifes decease or marriage one negro boy named Lemeck equally to my two aforesaid sons Charles and Lot Wright. Also I give to my son Charles one large gun.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son Zecekiah Wright one negro boy named Luke.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughters Alameth Wright, Anna Wright and Miriam Wright one negro girl named Hagan and her increase to be equally divided among the aforesaid girls when the youngest comes to age of twenty one or would have come to that age.

Item: I leave the remainder of my estate to my wife Anna Wright in consideration for her to raise my five youngest children and pay all my just debts and also constitute and appoint my loving wife and John Squires executor and executrix to this my last will and testament. Ratifying and confirming this and no other to contain my last will and testament and I do disanul and revoak other will or wills made by me in witness here of I have here unto set my hand and seal.
                                                                                          Charles Wright  (seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by me Charles Wright to be my last will and testament in presence of:
Isaac Gilford, jurat
William Wright jur.
Asa Burgess


Contributed by Harry Schoettle 


 

JOHN WRIGHT (1772 Will)

Will of

JOHN WRIGHT

1772

In the name of God amen. The 32 June 1772 I John Wright being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory that is be given unto the Almighty God for it and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally. First of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned and touching my worldly estate wherewith it has been pleasing God to bless me with in this life I give and bequeath in the manner and form following.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son John Wright one hundred and fifty acres of land that I bought of John Forbes and Barbasa Blo___ to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my said son one negro boy, six cows and calves and nine sheep and one young horse for his part of my estate in as much as I have given him considerable before.

Item: I give unto my two sons Cornelius Wright and Barnaba Wright my plantation and land hereunto belonging whereon I now live to be equally divided I give to them and their heirs forever but in case either of them should die without an heir lawfully begotten of their body his part I give to my son Wm. Wright to him and his heirs forever and in case both sons die in like manner I give the other part to my son Peter Wright to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my sd two sone Cornelius and Barnaba Wright each of them a young negro and to each of them two feather beds.

Item: I give and bequeath my son William Wright fifty acres of land know by the name Great Island to him and his heirs forever and two likely young negroes and two feather beds.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my three sons Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright one negro woman named Venus and her increase and a negro woman Rachael and her increase. Excepting Eastys and Judah is left out. I also so give to each of afsd three sons two good feather beds to each of them and the afsd negroes and their increase as aforesaid to be equally divided to my afsd three sons (camed over first time, brought over first time) Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright, when the youngest comes to age or marriage.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Lydia Gilford seventy shillings proclamation money for her part in so much as I have given her considerable before.

Item: I reserve the use of my negro woman named Nevda and her increase to my daughter Pussa Lindsay which said negro I have had lent to my said daughter and do reserve the one of the aforesaid negro and her increase to my daughter Pussa during her natural life. At her decease I give the afsd negro woman and her increase to be divided equally amongst all the children of my said daughter and for want of such children I give the afsd negroes to be equally divided amongst my six
children to wit: Cornelius Wright, Barnaba Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Matthew Wright.

Item: I reserve the use of my negro girl named Till and her increase to my daughter Nancy Morgan which said negro I have had lent to my said daughter and do now reserve the use of the said negro girl and her increase to my said daughter during her natural life and her decease I give the afsd negro to be equally divided amongst all my said daughters children and for want of such children then I give the afsd negroes to be equally divided between my six children to wit: Cornelius Wright,
Barnaba Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias
Wright.

Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Jean Wright one third part of my plantation and land I live on and one third of my movable estate during her natural life and at her decease my will and desire is to be equally divided amongst my six sons to wit: Cornelius Wright, Barnabas Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my six sons the rest of my estate to wit: Cornelius Wright, Barnaba Wright, William Wright, Peter Wright, Gamiel Wright and Mathias Wright to be equally divided between them my said six sons (camed over second time, brought over second time)

I nominate and appoint my four sons Cornelius Wright, Barnaba Wright, William Wright and Peter Wright executors to this my last will and testament and I do utterly revoke and disannul every other will and testament retifying and confirming this and no other to contain my last will and testament.

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and delivered by the said John Wright as his last will and testament in presence of us the day and date first written.
William Wright (jurat)                                                               John Wright   (seal)
Mary (mark) Wright
John Squires


North Carolina
Pasquotank county
Sept court of Pleas and Quarters Session 1772
Presents his majesties justices
The last will and testament of John Wright was exhibited by Barnaba Wright one of the executors thereto proved in due form of law by the oath of Wm. Wright at the same time the said executor qualified by taking the oath by law appointed. Ordered to be registered, ordered that the secty have notice.
                                                                                            test Frederick Blount


Contributed by Harry Schoettle