In the name of God amen: I, Benjamin Spruill Ser. of Tyrell County and State of North Carolina being of tolerable health of body and sound disposing mind and memory thanks be unto Almighty God for the same but calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. Principally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gove it and my body to the earth to be buried in a christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter to be named, nothing doubting that at the resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and dispose of in the following manner and form, after my just debts be paid that is too say.

Imprimise - I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Anne Spruill six negroes Viz: Bob Jim Will Little George old Jinny and young Jinny them & their increase to her and her heirs forever. I also give my wife one riding chair with the harness one side saddle three feather beds and furniture her choice of all in the house one desk and book case now standing at Mr. John Ellis one blue chest with one third part of all the remaining of my household and kitchen furniture except the beds they being already mentioned to her as a gift I also except my new mahogany desk also give her one horse named Reuben one mare called Nancy Burncomb also five cows and calves and two yoke of oxen three young steers fifteen head of sheep to be all two forty heads of hog one year old and upwards also one third part of all my bonds notes books debts & money after all my just debts be paid to her and to her heirs forever. I also lend to my beloved wife the use of the plantation and house with all the land belonging to the same that bought of Isaac Bateman als one platation I bought of Jonathan with all the land belonging to the same during her natural life, I also give to my well beloved wife all the tools belonging to the same during above mentioned with one cart to her and her heirs forever. I also lend to my beloved wife the use of three negroes Viz: Jere Terese and Silvy during her natural life & at her decease to return my three children Rosinah George Evans & Ann Edmund Spruill as hereto fore mentioned. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son George Evans Spruill the plantation I bought of Richard Davis with all the land thereunto belonging as thereunto mentioned by deed from said Davis & wife containing one hundred and ninety one acres be the same more or less to him his heirs forever. I allso give and bequeath unto my son George Evans Spruill one plantation I bought of Isaac Bateman with all the land thereunto belonging as mentioned by deed from said Bateman and wife contain one hundred and severty acres be the same more or less to him and his heirs forever, at the deceased of his mother. I also give and bequeath unto my son George Evans Spruill the plantation I bought of Jonathan Bateman with all the land thereunto belonging as mentioned by deed from said Bateman and wife containing one hundred and fifty five acres including one deed I bought of Henry Alexander for twelve acres of land be the same more or less to him his heirs forever at the deceased of his mother -- I also give and bequeath onto my son George Evan Sprull five negroes Viz: Joe Isaac Peg Former and Pat them & their increase to him and his heirs forever --- I give and bequeath unto my George Evans Spruill three feather beds and furniture four cows and calves three three year old heifers ten head of sheep one three year old mare with her increase to him and his heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Rosinah Spruill the plantation I bought of Ebenezer Bateman with all the land thereunto belonging as mentioned by deed form said Bateman containing fifty acres be the same more or less to her and her heirs forever. Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rosina one piece of land I bought of Jonathan Bateman as mention by deed form said Bateman and know by the name of hog Island and joining the land of Abraham Smith desd. and the land called poplar Neck containing one hundred acres be the saem more or less to her and her heirs forever. I also give unto my daughter Rosina five negroes Viz: Aron Lou Little Bob Edy and Wyne with all the increase to her and her heirs forever. I also give unto my daughter Rosina one negro girl namd Tuse at the deceased of her mother said girl and her increase to her and her heirs forever. Also I give to my daughter Rosina four cows and calves three three year old heifers and ten head of sheep and three ewes three feather beds and furniture and one three year old mare with her increase to her andher heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeat unto my beloved daughter Ann Edmunds Spruill the plantation of John Swain with all the land thereunto belonging as mentiond by deed from said Swain containing sixty sight acres be the same more or less to her and her heirs forever. And farther give power and request my executrix & executor to be hereafter named that if the aforesaid John Swain should at any time on or before the twenty fifth day of Decm. In the year of our Lord 1802 will and truly pay into the hands of my executrix or executor two hundred and fifty nine dollars to be paid by them to my daughter Ann E Spruill in that case I do impower and request my executrix and executor to make the aforesad John Swain a good rite by deed for the same piece of land before given to my daughter Ann E. Spruill I also give and bequeath to my daughter Anne E. Spruill five negroes Viz: Cain Able Will Lache and Hannah them and their increase toher and her heirs forever, I also give to my daughter Ann E Spruill one negro girl named Silvy at the decease of her mother with her increase to her and her heirs forever --- I also give and bequeath to my daughter Ann E. Spruill three feather beds and furniture four cows and calves three three year old heifer ten head of sheep and they all ewes and one htree year old mare and their increase to her and her heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Benjamin Spruill my Marriner plantation I now live on with all the land thereunto belonging containing seventy five acres be the same more or less to him and his heirs forever. Also I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Spruill one plantation know by the name of Bobs Quarter with all the land thereunto belonging which is contained in four deeds which I bought of different persons Viz: one deed of Joseph Cheson containing one hundred and thirth three acres also one deed of Charles Spruill conatining eight acres - Also one deed of Stephen McKabe containing thirty nine acres also one deed I bought of Thomas Spruill containing twenty acres - the four deeds contain the above named plantation with all the land thereunto belonging containing two hundred acres be the same more or less to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Spruill one plantation know by the name of Hawkins with all the lands thereunto belonging containing one hundred and four acres be the same moer or less to him and his heirs forever. I also give unto my son Benjamin Spruill one piece of swamp joining the Hawkins plantation and running to the westward between the lands of Jno. Mcrae & Edward Everton containing twenty acres be the same more or less to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Spruill eight negroes Viz: Sivils Coper Jack Yellow George Mose Owens Moia Dinah & Cloe they and their increase to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequath unto my son Benjamin Spruill three feather beds and furniture one new mahogany desk also all the remaining part of my stock except what is already bequeathed as before mentioned consisting of all my horses cattle sheep and hogs also all the remaining part of my household and kichen furniture with all my book debts bonds & notes and money that is to say two thirds of them after all my just debts is paid with all the remaining part of my estate. I leave constitute and appoint my well beloved wife Anne Spruill and B Spruill whole & sole executors of this my last Will and Testament ratifying and confirming this to be my last Will & Testament disalowing revoking & Disanuling all other wills bequeath or legacy ever before by me made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and fixed my seal this twenty first day of August one thousand seven hundred & ninety one.

Benj. (his -x- mark) Spruill (Seal)

John Swain
John Marriner
Jesse Spruill

Minutes
Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions

April Session 1800

The last will and testament of Benjamin Spruill deceased was introduced in open court & proved by the oaths of John Swain John Marriner & Jesse Spruill ordered to be recorded.

Personally appeared Benjamin Spruill and Ann Spruill in open court and qualifyed executor & executrix to the last will & testament of Benjamin Spruill deceased according to due form of law.

July Session 1800

On motion of the executor(s) of Benjn. Spruill executor(s) of Benjn. Spruill and Anne Spruill his executrix that they sell at six months credit of his three youngest children their horses sheep and cattle and the beds of their {three unreadable words} beds with bond & security Rosannah George E. Spruill.

January Session 1802

Roseanna Spruill came into open court and chose Ann Spruill her mother as guardian and hath given bond in the sum of two thousand pounds William Spruill and John Marriner coroner securities.

Ordered that Mrs. Ann Spruill be appointed guardian to George Evans Spruill & Ann Edmunds Spruill and hath given bond in the sum of four thousand pounds Wiliam Spruill and John Marriner coroner securities.

January Session 1803

Ordered that Mrs. Ann Spruill be allowed twenty five pounds for boarding and cloathing Nancy Spruill daughter of Benjamin Spruill deceased account filed.

Ordered that Henry Norman Richard Wood and Charles Spruill or a majority of them be appointed to audite and settle the accounts between Benjamin Spruill executor of Benjn. Spruill deceased and the guardian of the heirs of said Benjn. Spruill deceased.

April Session 1803

Benjamin Spruill Junr. returned in court the audited accounts and division of the estate of Benjamin Spruill deceased filed.

July Session 1807

Ordered that Ann Spruill be appointed guardin to Ann Edmunds Spruill orphan of Benjamin Spruill deceased and has given bond in the sum of three thousand pounds currency James Hoskins and Benjamin Spruill Junr. Esqrs. her securities justices present Samuel Spruill John Tarkenton Joseph Ansley Levi Bateman and M. E. Cator Esquires.

January Session 1808

Ordered that Charles Spruill James Hoskins and John Marriner or a majority of them audite and settle the accounts of Benjamin Spruill deceased heirs with the guardian and make return to next court.