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Colony of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Dated 21 March 1754
In the name of God Amen the March ye 21 1754. I John Bently of the province of North Carolina and county of Tyrrell, Planter being very sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is apointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principly and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Cristian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worly estate where with it hath pleased God to bles me in this life I give and demise and dispose in the folowing manner and form.
Item - I give and bequeth to Sarah my dearly be loved wife one half of my manner plantation & dwelling house to be peacibly porsest with during her life and likewise one mare bridle and side sadel and half my hogs and one third part of all my other estate excepting one pare of stones.
Item - I give to my well beloved son Isac Bently the land joyning ye plantation when he hath use of it and two thirds of my other estate and half my hogs and one pare of mil stones.
I give to my honoured mother one half of my plantation and the house where now she lives in peacable persesion during her life and then to Isac Bently and likewise give to my brother William Bentely and James Bentely three hundred and twenty acres of land on the south side of the mil swamp between Colen Poloc line and William Gardner line to them and there are to be equely devided and peacible porsest with excepting the tar eil and lighwood to finish him and I make and ordain William Gardner Junr. and Isac Garner my soul my soul Executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly dissallow and revoke and disanul all and every other former testements wills legaseies and former bequeths and executors by me in any wise before named will and bequethed ratified and confirmed this and no other my last will and testement in witness where of I have here use to set my hand and seal the day and year above written sined sealed and published pronounced and declared by the said John Bentely as his last will and testement in the presence of us the subcribers
John (his -x- mark) Bentely
Test: Luke Mizell, Jurat
Mary Gardner
Sarah Mizell
North Carolina
Tyrrel County
June Court 1754
Present his Majestys Justices
These may certify that Luke Mizles one of the subscribing evidences to the within will, came into open court & made oath of the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, that he saw John Bentley sign seal publish pronounce the within writing to contain his last Will & Testament and at the same time he saw Mary Canady & Sarah Mizle sign their names as evidences to the said will. Then appeared William Garner & Isaac Garner Executors and quallified themselves by taking the oath as the laws in such case directs. Ordered that the honble James Marray Esq. Secretary of the said province have notice thereof that Letters Testamentory I issue accordingly.
Test Evan Jones, Clerk of Court
Recorded in the secretary office in book no. _____ 102
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