Bertie County NcArchives Wills.....Jesse Cotten November 25 1802 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Laurie Cotton-Johnson gracie402001@yahoo.com March 17, 2004, 7:44 pm Source: Allan James Cotton - descendant of Jesse Cotten Written: November 25 1802 Recorded: July 1803 In the name of God, Amen I, Jesse Cotten, of Bertie County being of sound mind and perfect memory, blessed be God do the 25th day of November in the year of our Lord 1802, make and publish this my Last Will and Testement, that is to say that I give my body to the earth to be buried in in a decent manor and my love to God who gave it and shall dispose of my worldly goods in the following manner. I lend unto my well beloved Wife the land and plantation where I now live. During her natural life and plantation essentials. Such as is now on the plantation also I give unto my Wife six cows and calfs, four sows that belong to the plantation Also I give unto my Wife my grey horse and bay horse also I give unto my Wife all my household and kitchen furniture also three feather beds and furniture. I also lend unto my well beloved Wife during her natual life the following negros, Jacob and Trixee and Patti and their increase. I give unto my Son Lewis Cotten one negro named Dannel, one feather bed and furniture, two sows and pigs to him and his heirs for Ever. I give unto my Son Cullen Cotten one negro named Peter one bed and furniture to him and his heirs for ever. I lend unto my Daughter Elizabeth Cotten one negro girl named Nancee but in case she should have an heir lasfully begotten of her body then it is my will to give the said negro Nancee to her and her heirs for Ever. I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth one feather bed and furniture. I give unto my Daughter Caroline in case she has an heir Lawfully Begotten of her body one negro named Dorcas to her and her heirs for ever. I give unto my Daughter Polley in case she has an heir Lawfully Begotten of her body one negro named Beck to her and her heirs for Ever. I give unto my Daughter Dolley in case she has an heir lawfully Begotten of her body one negro named Joan to her and her heirs for ever. I give unto my Son Jesse Cotten one negro named Mark to him and his heirs for Ever. I give unto my Son Godwin Cotten one negro named Tom to him and his heirs for Ever. I give unto my Son Lewis Cotten one negro named Lormon to him and his heirs for Ever. It is my Will and Desire that all my Negros that I have given away and lent should be kept together on my Lands and put unter the care and direction of my Son Lewis Cotten for which service and trouble it is my desire to give him one fourth of everhting he can raise and make untill he marries, also the Negros which I have not given away to be included among them and in case any accident should befall my Son Lewis it is my desire that my Son Cullen should take place if my Executor thinks he is competent to mange the estate and turn it to the same advantage that my Son Lewis has done! and that my Son Lewis shall have the care of the Estate untill my Son Cullen comes of the age of twenty one years. In And as my children shall come of the age of twenty one years or marries it is my desire that they shall have Legaces already given away. I give unto my Beloved wife Working Chair and _____ ____ (unreadable) It is my Will and Desire that if any of the children Legaces or Negros should die before the resid?? of my Estate is Equally Divided among them, that it should be made good out of the property that is still remaining not given away. It is my Will and Desire that my Wife and children shall have the use of my Land and Plantation lying on Roanoke River for six years or until the year Eighteen Hundred and Eigh??? and if my wife shall dye before that time, it is my Desire that an Equal Division of all my Estate that is not given away should take place and be Equally Divided among my children then living at my wifes Death, or the time above stated after paying my Just Debt that is land, negros due. And Hereby make and ordain my beloved Wife and my Son Lewis Cotten and my Brother Godwin Cotten Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I Jesse Cotten have to this My Will and Testament set my hand and Seal the day and date above written. Signed Sealed published and Decreed in presence of us Joseph Benthall X Catherine X(her mark) Hayes Jesse X (his mark) Cotten Nancy X (her mark) Kinnehorn [Seal] State of No. Carolina July ?, 1803 Bertie County The Last Will and Testament of Jesse Cotten ?? as proved in open court by the oath of Joseph Benthall one of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be Recorded in Book 8 George Gray ? Page 19 This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/ncfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb