Secretary of State
Colony of North Carolina
Tyrel County
Dated August 1754

In the name of God Amen, I James Fox of North Carolina in Tyrrel County Planter, being aged and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the morality of my body and knowing that all men must die do make and ordainthis my Last Will and Testament that is to say Principally 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 Christian burial at the descretion of my Executors not doubting but at the General Resureation I sahll receive the saim again by the mighty powerof God and as Touching such worldly Estate whearewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give & demis and dispose of the saime in the folowing manner

Primis - I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Fox my Plantation whereon I now live and all my lands injoyning to it. I likewase give to her my daughter my Negro boy named Pompe and likewise one fether bed and furniture whereon I now lie. Likewise one chest and one trunk two cows and calves.

Item - I give to my daughter Susanna Alexander the wife of William Alexander my negro Wench named Cale but not her increase.

Item - I give to my daughter Mary Wise five poiunds Cars. Money of Virginia to be leaved out of my estate before decided.

Item - I give to my son Thomas Fox one negro boy named Minggo and if in case my daugher Ann Fox should die without issue the land and negro shall go to the next heir in Law. My will is Thomas Fox and Ann Fox and Susanna Alexander the wife of William Alexander that my personal estate shall be equally devided betwext the three afore mentioned and if incase the negro Wench should have any more increase taht it shold be equally devided betwext them the afore said three and all which is afore bequeathed and given to them and their's forever.

My will is that Thomas Fox are my Executor and Ann Fox Executrix to this my Last Will and Testament and I do heareby disallow Revoak and disanul all former wills whatsoever but ratifiing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In witness wheareof I have heare unto set my hand and fixt my Seal ___ day of August 1754.

James (his -x- mark) Fox

Signed Sealed and
acknowledged in
the presence of

Joshua Alexander
Abrm. Jennet
Benjamin B. Chapman

North Carolina June the 3d 1755

Present his majestys Justices

These may certifie that Abraham Jennet one of the subscribing Evidences to the within will came into open Court and proved the same by making oath on the holy Evangelist of Allmighty God that he saw James Fox sign seal publish and pronounce the within writing to contain his Laast Will and Testament and at the same time he saw Joshua Alexander and Benjamin Chapman sign thire names as Evedences to the said will. Then appeared Thomas Fox and qualified Executor by taking the oath as the law in such cases directs Ordred that the Secretary of the said province have notice thereof that Letters testamentary issue accordingly

Test. Fr. Ward Clk Ct.

Return to the Tyrrell County Probate Records

Updated August 18, 2001
Gordon L. Basnight