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Colony of North Carolina
County of Tyrrell
Dated 5 March 1748/9
In the name of God amen: the 5th day of March in ye year of our Lord 1748/9 I John Ward in the County of Terryl in the Province of North Carolina being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thank be given to God though calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die do make and ordain this 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 for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried Christain like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life. I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
Imprimis - It is my Will and I do order that in ye first place all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied.
Item - It is my Will and I do lend unto my dearly and well beloved Wife all my manner and plantation in the county of Terryl on which I now live with all my Stock of Cattle Sheep Horses Negro named Tom with all my household furniture __ until the day of marriage or day of her death freely by her to be possessed and enjoyed.
Item - I give and bequeath unto Michael Ward my dearly and well beloved son after the decease or marriage of my wife Thirty five pounds Virginia money which is due by bond from Caleb Howell of Beaufort County to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my dearly and well beloved son John Ward after the decease or death of my wife one negroe man named Tom with three cows and calves running on little Catanknee to him and his heirs forever but if the said Negore man dies before delivered to the said John Ward then I give unto the said John Ward an equal share of my stock of cattle when divided into 4 parts to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto my dearly and well beloved son David Ward after the decease or marriage of my Wife my plantation on which I now live on containing about 180 acres of land to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Noble my dearly and well beloved daughter one plantation containing 140 acres of land or thereon lying and being in Terryl County on which she now lives after the decease of marriage of my wife and I likewise give unto the said Elizabeth Noble ten head of Cattle to her her heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath unto Dorcas Overstreet one hundred acres of land lying and being on little Catankne joyning to John Ward's land to her her heirs and assigns forever freely to be possessed and enjoyed.
Item - It is my will that after the aforesaid parties have received these my gifts then I give and bequeath all the remainder part of my Estate to be equally divided between Michael John David Ward and Eliz. Noble to them their assigns forever.
I likewise constitute make and ordain Michael Ward and John Ward my only and sole executors of this my last Will and Testament and do hereby utterly disanaul all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies and Executors by me in any wise before this time named Willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness wereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year aforewritten.
John (his -x- mark) Ward
Signed Sealed Published
pronounced and declared
by the said John Ward as his
Last will and testament
in presence of us.
Griffeth Howell
John (his -x- mark) Butler
Elizabeth (her -x- mark) Butler
North Carolina
Tyrrel County
September Court 1750
Present his majestys justices
The Last will and Testament of John Ward was exhibited into open court and proved on the oath of John Butler subscribing evidence thereto and on motion of Michal Ward and John Ward who qualified as executors to sd Will praying on _____ for Letters Testrementary which was granted and order that the Honorable Nathan Rice Esq. Secretary or his deputy have notice thereof that letters may issue according dated at the Clerks office this sixth day of September 1750.
Test Evan Jones Clk
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