The Last Will and Testament of
THOMAS PRITCHARD
June 22, 1755-July 1760
North Carolina
Pasquotank County
Be it know unto all men by these present that I THOMAS PRITCHARD of the place afsd. being sick & weak in body of sound & disposing mind & memory thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the motality of my body & knowing that it is appointed once for all men to die the time when uncertain L& now for the settling of my personal affairs I do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to say princepaly first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it & my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors heareafter named & as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and despose of the following manner & form that is to say I will that all those just debts & contracts as I do owe in right to any manner of person or persons be well & truly contented & paid or ordained to be paid in convenient time & place after my decease by my Executors hereafter named.
Item: I give to my Son THOMAS PRICHARD Three Negro boys one named Jacob, one named Dick and the other called Nedd; also I give to my afsd. Son THOMAS one young mare called Pleasure her and her increase also Two young cows & Two calves and Two sows and pigs and one black walnut ovil table also one good feather bed and furniture three leather chairs, half a dozen new pewter plates Two dishes and basons One two handle silver cup Two young stears about Three years old One middle sized iron pot also all my shoe makers tools also Two young Ews and Two lambs also one small cedar chest and One large white chest with a double dancet? Lock and one Twelves bottle case.
Item: I give to my Son JOSEPH P RICHARD Three Negro boys named Sam, Will and Boson also One young mare colt her and her increase also Two cows and to calves, young ones also Two sows & pigs & Two young ews and lams & Two Three year old stears also One writing desk also One small square Black Walnut table also One iron bound chest and One god fether bed and furniture and Three leather chairs & half a dozen new pewter plates to new pewter dises and Two new pewter basons & four silver spoons and One middle sized iron pot also One Twelve Bottle case red coular.
Item: I give to my Two Sons One brass kettle and the wind mill throes together with the iron works there unto belonging and one hand mill to be equally divided between them.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving Wife ELIZ. PRICHARD one negro man named Moses one negro woman called Dinah and One negro woman called Moll to her and her heirs forever, also all the remainding part of my whole estate to my true and Loving ELIZABETH PRICHARD to her and her disposing forever, and furthermore my will is my Wife ELIZ. Have her third in my above mentioned land during the term of her widowhood but if she should happen to marry then my will is that my afsd. Wife ELIZ. Peaceably surrender all her rights of dowry and thirds of all the above mentioned land to my Sons afore mentioned.
Lastly: I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my true and Loving Wife executrix of this my Last Will and Testament & likewise my loving son THOMAS PRICHARD and my loving Cosen JOSEPH PRICHARD and my trusty friend Thos. Nicholson Executors of this my Last Will and Test. Revoking disannulling and making void all former or other wills lagacies bequests & exers. By me before this time made named willed and bequeathed ratifying & confirming this and no other to be my Last Will & Testament.
In witness wereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this Twenty Second day of the Sixth month commonly call’d June in the year One Thosand Seven Hundred & Fifty Five.
THOMAS PRICHARD seal
Sing’d seal’d published pronounced
And declared by me the said THOMAS PRICHARD
To be my Last Will and Testament in the presence of
Samuel Swann Jur.
John Ferrell
Thos Grandy
North Carolina
Pasquo. County
July Court 1760
Present his Majesties Justices
These may certify that Sam Swann Esq. Appeared in open court and made oath on the Holy Evengelist that he was present & saw THOMAS PRICHARD sign seal publish pronounce and declare the within to be and contain his Last Will and Test. & that he was at that time of sound & disposing memory & that he also saw John Ferrell & Thomas Grandy the other Two evidences sign their names there to at the same time. Then appeared THOMAS PRICHARD exec. Was duly qualified ordered that the Honerable Rich. Speight Esq. ??? have notice that letters issue.
Contributed and transcribed by Judy Merrell Brickhouse
(Transcribed as written, including errors in spelling and grammar.)