Bertie County North Carolina Will Fleetwood, William-1769 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by "Howard Fleetwood" WILL OF WILLIAM FLEETWOOD THE FIRST BERTIE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA JUNE 12, 1769 In the name of God, Amen. William Fleetwood of the County of Bertie and province of North Carolina being through the abundant mercy of God tho weak yet of a sound and perfect understanding may constitute this my last will and Testament and define it may be received and taken by all as such. Voz imprimis. I most humbly bequeath my soul to God my maker beseeching his most gracious acceptance of it through the sufficient merit and mediation of my compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ who gave himself to be an atonement for my sins and is able to save the uttermost as that came to God by him seeing he ever liveth to make Intercession for them and what trust will not reject one returning penitent sinner when I come to him for mercy. In this hope and confidence tender upon my soul with comfort. Thus by beseeching the most Blessed and Glorious Trinity one God most Holy most merciful and gracious to prepare me for the time of my departure on and to take me to himself into that peace and rest and incomparable felicity which he has prepared for all that love and fear his Holy Name. Amen. Blessed be God. Imprimis. I give my body to the earth from which it was taken in full assurance of the resurrection from thence the last day and as for my burial define it may be decent without Pomp or ceremony at the discretion of my dear and loving wife and mhereafter named who I doubt not will manage it with all requests providence. And as to my worldly estate I will and positively state that all of my debts be paid. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my dear and loving wife Elizabeth Fleetwood all my perishable part of my estate during her natural life or widowhood after such legacies are taken out as are hereafter named. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my son Henry Fleetwood two hundred and fifty acres of land more or less lying on the east side of Bucklesbury pocosin beginning at a corner tree at the head of Thomas Ashburn's land then running eastward along a line of Marked trees to a corner a hewed post and then running to the head of a small branch a dividing line between him and his brother William then down this branch to the line in the pocosin the along the pocosin line when it is discovered to the Thomas Ashburn’s line to the first station. To him and heirs and assignees forever. ITEM:I give to my son William Fleetwood two hundred acres of land or any as left lying on Bucklesbury pocosin beginning at a hewed post a corner mentioned his brother Henry's line then running down a line of marked trees through the head of Horsepen Branch to a corner against the mouth of a little branch coming out of the Horsepen branch then a west course through the Horsepen branch to the little branch then up the pocosin little branch to a wallowing hole made buy hogs then continuing the same course to the inward line in Bucklesbury pocosin then up the line in the present line to Henry's line to the first station. To him his heirs and assignees forever. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Cake one sow and pigs to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susannah Sanderline one sow and pigs to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Cook four sows and pigs to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter Winnefred Weston one sow and pigs to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my son John Fleetwood three hundred acres of land on Wills quarter swamp as appears by the patent and plot to him his heirs and assignees forever. One calf yearling two years old the cattle to him and to his disposal. ITEM: I give to my son James Fleetwood one hundred acres of land more or less lying on the east side of Flat swamp known by the name of Manuel Olsfield as appears by the deed to him and his heirs and assignees forever one cow and calf one year old to him and to his disposal. ITEM: I give and bequeath to my son Jeremiah Fleetwood two hundred acres of land lying on the North side of the Hay Meadow Swamps as appears by the deed to him his heirs and assignees forever. One cow and calf to him and to his disposal. ITEM: I give to my daughter Elizabeth one feather bed and furniture one cow and calf to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give to my son Edmond the remainder part of my land Buckles pocosin as appears by his brother Henrys divided of the survey of land to him his heirs and assignees forever one cow and calf to him and to his disposal. ITEM: I give to my daughter Sarah one feather bed and furniture one cow and calf to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give to my daughter Judith one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give to my son Thomas Wygons one parcel of land on the west side of briery branch beginning at Mr. Todd's line where a cart path (that goes to Hardy Todd's) crosses it then along the Pline to the Briery Branch then to the road then up the road to the above cart path then along cart path to the first station to him and his assignees forever except he dies without children and if he dies without children or before comes to the age of twenty one years then to fall to the youngest brother. One cow and calf to him and to his disposal. ITEM: I give to my daughter Charlotte one Feather Bed and furniture and one cow and calf to her and to her disposal. ITEM: I give to my son Hardy all my land and Manor Plantation whereon I now live as appears by the deed except his brother Thomas Wygons divided as above mentioned, and except his mothers life or widowhood in it but at her death or marriage to be at his disposal to be delivered to him when he comes to the age of twenty one years but in case he dies before he comes and without lawful heirs then to fall to his youngest brother if any or if not to his next oldest from himself or above himself. ITEM: I give to my five youngest daughters to wit Elizabeth, Sarah, Judith, Charlotte, and Penny my Negro man Caesar be sold or hired out and the sale or hire to be equally divided between them and the money put to till they are of proper age to receive it. ITEM: Then and lastly I do constitute and appoint my well beloved wife Elizabeth Fleetwood and my son James Fleetwood and my friend William Hardof this my last will and testament for whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of June in the year of our Lord 1769. Signed Sealed and Declared in the presence of Edward Hardy John Hardy James Aster ========================= ======= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.