North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Original Will at N. C. Archives
October 8, 1770

In the name of God Amen I James Wiley of the county of Tyrrell and the province of North Carolina being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory praised be the almighty and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last wil and testament in maner and form following following viz. first I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God my maker and my body to be buried in a Christian like and desent maner at the discretion of my executors and as for such worldly goods as it hath God to bestow upon me I give and dispose of the same in maner following viz. first I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Rebecka Wiley and my daughter Zilpha Wiley the use and occupation of my plantation and land whereon I now live as farr as the cross fence which parts my field from my son Thomas Wiley's field and then down to the Tarkill Branch then down the said Tarkill Branch to the swamp during my said wifes natural life and during the time that my said daughter Zilpha lives single and at the day of my wife Rebecka's death and the day of my said daughter Zilpha's marage or death I give and bequeath the said plantation and land unto my granson James Wiley son of Thomas Wiley to him and his heirs forever - -

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Wiley all my land on the east side of that cross fence which parts my corn field from my said son Thomas Wiley's, during his natural life and during his wife Elisabeth's widowhood and at the day of my said son Thomas Wiley's death or the day of his wife Elisabeth's death or marage I give and bequeath the same unto my granson James Wiley to him and his heirs forever - -

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Rhodey Long one feather bed and furniture at her mothers decease - -

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elisabeth Gayler one feather bed and furniture at her mothers decease -

Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Zilpha Wiley my working desk and one ovel table and one feather bed and furniture - -

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecka Finney one pewter dish - -

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Rebecka Wiley all my stock of horses cattle and hogs and sheep together with all the residue and remainder of my household goods and utensils and all the residue and remainder of my whole estate of what nature or kind soever --

And I do hereby nominate ordain and appoint my well beloved wife Rebecka Wiley whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke and disanull all former and other wills by me made hereby ratifying and alowing this to be my last will and testament -

In testimoney whereof I the said James Wiley have signed sealed and published this as my last will and testament this eighth day of October anno dom 1770

(no signature)

Signed sealed and published
and declared by the said
James Wiley to be his last
will and testament in the
presence of

Tyrrell County May Court 1771
Thomas Leary came into court and swore that he wrote the afsd will of James Wiley at his request in his life time & after he had wrote the same he read it to the testator in his life time who approved of the same but before evidence could be had he got worse & was out of his sences & died without signing the same

Thomas Leary

Test Fr Ward
Fr Ward Junr.

(Transcriber's Notes. Tyrrell County marriage bonds include the following marriages: Rebeckey Wiley to James Fenney, 10 Jan 1764, security Thos Wiley & John Bivins, witness Fr Ward; Rodia Wiley to Isaac Long, 10 Sep 1767, seurity James Finney, witnesses Fr Ward & Fr Ward Jr; Zilpha Wiley to James Gaylard, 26 Feb 1771, security Benjamin Gaylard & Stephen Gaylard, witness Fr Ward & John Street; James Wiley to Lurana Sutton, 5 Sep 1785, security William Spruill, witness T. Mackey.)