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BENJAMIN BUNDY (1728 Will)

The Will of

BENJAMIN BUNDY

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, the fift day of october, one thousand, Seven hundred and twenty Eight. Benjamen Bundy, of pascuotank, in the province of North Carolina, being Sick in body, but of Good and perfect memory; thanks be to Allmity God; And Calling to remembrance the uncertenty of this transitory Life, and that all flesh must yeld unto death when it Shall plese God to Call, Do make, Constitute, odain and declare this, my Last will and testament, manner and form following, Rovoking and adnulling by thes presents all and Every testament and testaments, Will and wills, heretofore by me made and declared, Eigher by ward or writing, and this to be taken only for my Last will and testament, and none other, I Do Gieve and dispose the Same in manner and form following: that is to Say,

First, I Will that all those debt and dues as I owe in Right or Conscience, to any manner of person or persons What So Ever, Shall be well and truly Contented and paid, within Convenient time after my decese, by my Executors hereafter named.

Item. I Give and bequeve in witness unto my Loving wife, Hannah Bundy, the plantation whereon I now Lieve, together with a tract of Land Containing two hundred Eakers adioyning unto my Sd. plantation, during her naterell Life: and in Case my wife, hannah, die without Ishue begotten by my own body, then I will and bequeive the Said Land unto my Loving brother, Samuell Bundy, to him his heirs and assigns for Ever.

Item. I give and bequieve unto my Loving brother, Samuel Bundy, a certain tract of land Sirvaid by William Norris, Sinaor, Liing in Griffens Swamp, to him his heirs and assigns for Ever.

Item. I gieve and bequieve to my Sd. brother, Samll, one negro named torn, to him his heirs & assigns for Ever; and allso one young horse; and furthermore, in Case my wife Should marry After my decese, then I will and bequieve to my Sd. brother, Samll., one feather bed and furniture.

Item. After the decese of my now wife, I give and bequieve my negro Jack, unto my Sd. brother, Samll, him his heirs for Ever.

Item. I gieve and bequieve unto my Loving wife all my personable Estate, both goods and Chattles, that Came to me by her; and the Rest of my personible Estate att the decese of my Sd. wife, to go to my Sd. brother Samll., his heir or Assigns.

Item. I Except onn mare Coalt for my Cosen, Mary Ions.

Item. I gieve and beqeieve Unto my loveing Brother, Samill, all my Right and title to a tract of land Survaed by me and Tho.m Jesup, Lieing in griffens Swamp, To him, hie heirs or assigns for Ever.

Item. i do appoint my Loving wife, hannah bundy, and my brother, Samll. Bundy, my Sole Executors.

In wittness I have here Set my Seal.
                                                                                           the
                                                                                  BENN ± BUNDY. (Seal)
                                                                                        mark of

Signed Sealed and delivered In
the presents of Us:
ZACHARIAH FIELD
THOMAS WOODLEY
         the
JOHN X PHITT
      mark of

No. CAROLINA, SS. Octbr 26th,
1728.

Thomas Woodley & John Phitt, Two of the Evidences to the aforewritten will came before me & made Oath on the holy Evangelists, that they Saw Benjamen Bundy, decd., seal & Execute the same as his last will & Testamt., he then being of perfect mind & Memory.
GALE, C. J:

 

Contributed by Nola Duffy

Copied from Original Will filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

Source: NC Wills & Inventories – Grimes

 

EMANUEL LOW (1727 Will)

WILL OF

EMANUEL LOW

1727

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, the Second Day of the First Month in the Year of our Lord, 1726/7. I, Emanuelle Low, of the prec’t of Pasquotanck, & Province of North Carolina, being Sick of Body but or perfect mind & memory, considering that it is appointed for all men once to dye, Do make & ordain this to be my Last Will & Testament, in Manner following:

1st., I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God, my maker; and my body to the Earth to be interred by me Executrix hereafter named, without any funeral pomp, only about Six of my Friends & Neighbours.

2’ly. I Give & bequeath unto my Loving Daughter, Anna Letitia Low, and to her heirs for ever, my Plantation whereon I now Live, w’th five hundred Acres of Land Adjoining to it; also, one negro Girl Called Zilpah w’th her Increase for ever; also, one bed & furniture, to her, the sd. Anna Letitia Low, and her heirs for ever.

31y. I give & bequeath unto my Grandson, George Low, Son of my Beloved Son, Nevil Low, Decd., and now in the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Plantation where my Cousin Robinson now Lives & the Plantation called New Abbey, with four Hundred Acres of Land adjoyning to it, to him, the Sd. George Low, & to his heirs for ever; also, one feather Bed & furniture, & one Negro boy called Pompey; also, my Seal Scutcheon of Arms.

4’ly. My Will & meaning is that either my Daughter, Anna Letitia Low, or my Grandson, George Low, they or either of their Heirs, shall be disposed to sell the Lands by me given, that the same shall be sold and disposed of to one or the other of the partyes aforesd, and to no other person or persons whatsoever.

To prevent any Dispute that may arrise after my Decease, by any pretension my Grandson may make as heir to his father, Nevil Low, to the Lands cmmonly called the Town point, Lying on the mouth of the North West side of Newbegun Creek, & now in possession of Jno. Conner; It is my Will that my Daughter Anna Letitia, her heirs or assigns shall keep in possession all ye before mentioned Legacies, w’th Lands & all other things by me bequeathed to him, ye Sd. George Low, in this my last Will, untill he renounce all Such pretensions in Such manner as the learned in the Law shall think proper: but is my sd. Grandson refuse to comply as before mentioned & offer to Molest the Sd. John Conner, his heirs or assings in his Just Right and Title of the Said Tract of Land by me Sold & conveyed to him & his heirs, Then, I Do revoke all that part of this my Will, unto my sd. Grandson, And Do give & bequeath all that Legacy, as Lands, & other things thereinmentioned, unto my Daughter, Anna Letitia Low, and her heirs for Ever, she paying him Twenty pounds.

Item, My Will is, that all my Estate, both Real & Personal be & remaine in the possession of my Loving Wife, Ann Low, during Life, the personall Estate to be disposed of by her between my Loving Daughter, Anna Letitia Low, & my Grandson George, as shee shall think most proper.

Lastly, I appoint my Loving Wife, my whole & Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament, to see the Same duly Executed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the day and year afosd.

                                                                                                  EMANL. LOW   (seal)

Signed, Sealed & delivered in
the presence of:

W. NORRIS,
EDMD. GALE.
CHAS. BULL.

A Codicil:

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, The last Will of the afsd. Emanl. Low as follows: Whereas in the former Words of my Will was omitted my Intentions about my Grandson, George Low, therefore to prevent Disputes, My Will is that my Grandson, George Low, Shall not Enjoy the Legacy by me given untill he come to the age of Twenty one Years & in the mean time to continue in the Hands of my Executrix.

Item, I give unto Johanna Pearce, five pounds.

In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this 8th. Day of March, 1726/7.

                                                                                             EMANL. LOW  (Seal)

Test. WHORRIS JOSEPH JORDAN
FILECHRISP JORDAN

A Codicil:

Item, Whereas, in my last will & Testament, I appointed my loveing Wife my sole Executrix, I doe now no ways to Abbrogate or make Voyde any part of my sd. Sill, but Joine my Daughter, Anna Letitia Low, Executrix, with my loveing wife Ann Low, to See this my Last Will & Testament duly Executed.

Item, Whereas, I am administrat’r to Wm. Vaughn, Decd. I do appoint my said Executrixes to be Executrix’s or administratr’xs, giving and bequeathing to my Sd. Executrixs all my right or interest in and to my Sd. Administratorships.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand and Seal, this 20th. day of Febry. 1726/7.

                                                                                               EMANL. LOW   (Seal)

Test: JOHN CONNER,
JOSHUA SCOTT
               her
JOHANNA X PEARCE
              mark.

PASQUOTANK PR’CT, COURT. July 18, 1727.

The Two foregoing Codicile annexed to this Will was proved ye first by the solemn affirmation of Mrs. Filia Chrish Jordan, one of the Evidences thereunto. The other by ye like solemn affirmation of Joanna Pearce, one of ye Evidences thereunto, who likewise attested that she Saw the other Evidences Sign thereunto.

Test. THO: WEEKS, Cl. Cur.

PASQUOTANCK. SC.

These are to certify, that on this 24th Day of July, 1727, personally came before me Mrs. Anna Low and Anna Letitia Low, Execxs. to the above Will and made their Solemn affirmation to the performance thereof.

Certifyed Pr. Me, JNO PALIN.

NO. CAROLINA. SC.

The above Will was proved in due Form by the Oath of Edmond Gale,
Esqr., one of the Evidences, Augt. ye 2d. 1727.

Before Me, RICHARD EVERARD.

Recorded in Will Book 3, page 156.

Contributed by Nola Duffy

Source: NC Wills & Estates – Grimes

 

LEWIS ALEXANDER KNIGHT (1732 Will)

WILL OF

LEWIS ALEXANDER KNIGHT

1732

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I, Lewis Allexr. Knights, of pasquotank, in the province of North Carolina, being sick and weake in body but of perfect mind & Memory, Thanks be unto ye almight God for the Same, & knowing that all men Must Certainly Die, doe in order Thereunto make This last will & Testament, in manner & form following, (Thats to Say), first and principally, I give and bequeath my Soul into the hands of almight God that gave it, trusting in the merits of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ; and my body to the Earth from whence it was taken, at the discressions of my Executors hereafter named; and as Touching Such Estate as the allmighty god hath bestowed upon me in This Life, I give and bequeath the same as followeth:

Impr., I give and bequeath unto my Loving Wife, Ann Knight, this my plantation whereon I now live, during her natural Life; and after her Decease, I give and bequeath unto my Son, Emmanuel Knight, this part of my plantation on the River; and the other part Joying to Thomas Armours, I giveto my son, Lewis Knight, devided at the middle of the piney ground, to them and the heirs of their body Lawfully begotten for Ever.

And alsoe, my will is that my two Sons before mentioned, Shall be at their liberty at the age of Eighteen years from the Command and Service of any manner of persons Whatsoever, as also the Rest of my Children to be there own men at the age aforesaid.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son, Emmanuel Knight, my Chest.

I give and bequeath all the rest of my Estate unto my wife, whom I appoint and Nominate my whole and sole Executrix of This my Last will and Testament, Revoking & Renouncing all other wills and Testaments by me heretofore made or nominated.

Witness my hand and Seale, this 17th. Day of March 1731/2.

LEWIS: ALEXND: KNIGHT   (Seal)

Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced, declared to be the Last will & Testament of Lewis Alex. knight, in presence of:

JERAME SWEENY
TIMOTHY MEADES
            her
MARY X SWEENY
          mark

PASQUOTANK PRECINCT. Aprile Court, 1732.

The above will was proved in open Court by ye oath of Timt. Meades and That he say wary Sweeny & Jerame Sweeny, Sign ye same.

Test: W. MINSON, Cle: Cou:

                 his

WILLIAM X MIDLTON
                mark.

Proved by ye Oaths William Middleton, & Willm. Evens, Evidences In open Court.
Test: CHARLES DENMAN, Clk.

Letters granted 22th. april, 1728.

Copied from Original Will, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

Recorded in Will Book 1, page 78. Office of the Secretary of State.

Contributed by Nola Duffy

Source: NC Wills & Estates – Grimes

 

MARY FORSTEN (1665 Will)

WILL OF

MARY FORTSEN

Whereas there is a patent Granted unto mee, Mary Fortsen, wife to Fredrick Fortsen, for a divident of twoe thousand acres of land for mee, my heirs or assignes, ye said Land Lying & being att Paspetank, of w’ch divident there is disposed by ye Said Fredrick Fortsen & my Self nine hundred Acres, my right title and intrest of w’ch I doe by these presents assigne & sett over unto my Said Husband, to enable him to give bills of Sale for ye Same nine hundred Acres of land.

Now, know yeu, That I, ye said Mary Fortsen, being Sicke, yet having my perfect senses, considering ye cartainty of death & ye uncertainty of ye houre thereof, I comitt my Soule Unto God Almighty; & my body to ye Earth whence it came; De-
siring to dispose of ye remainder of ye said divident of land beinge elleaven hundred acres;

I doe by these presents, give & bequeath unto my son, Theophilus Fortsen, all ye Said P’cell of Elleaven hundred Acres of Land, to have & enjoy ye Same after, ye decease of my said Husband, for my will & intention is y’t my Said Husband
shall enjoy ye same during his life. But if my said son shall come to dye before my said husband, then he to dispose of ye sd. land according to his pleasure.

And it is also my intention & will, y’t if my said husband shall think fitt to dispose of any part or p’cell of ye sd. land, it shall be lawfull for him to doe it. Soe yt the proceed thereof be imployed in Cattle for & to ye behoofe of my Said Son, Theophilus Fortsen. Provided allwaise yt. if it shall please God to send me safely delivered of ye child I goe wth, all yt ye same shall have Equall Share wth ye said Theophilus.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seale,
the 20th day of June, 1663.

                                                                                                 MARY FORTSEN (seal)

Testrs.

ye marke I of JNO. LAWRENCE.
ye mke W of WILLIAM EMLY.
ye mark 0 ELIZABETH ROSY.
ye marke 0 of ELLINOR WADELL.

Recorded ye 15th novemb’r 1665.

Test. THOMAS HARRIS Cle: Co.

Contributed by Nola Duffy

Edited and proofed by Mary Maarbjerg

Copied from Original Will, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.

Source: NC Wills & Inventories – Grimes