BERTIE COUNTY WILL - Patterson, Robert - 1717 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bebenjohn@aol.com Bebe Fox Below is the 1717 will of Capt./Col. Robert Patterson, a fairly large land owner in old Chowan, current Bertie. His wf., Janet, held land in her own name too but I don't know the description of this land and would like to. There is an extensive list in Hathaway's Lost Tribes, under the name of Robert Patterson, of the men who lived on either side of the Meherrin. I recall that it was a militia list. Robert had but one son, John Patterson, who m. in the mid 1730's, Sarah Tapley, wid. of Philip Mulkey. The couple removed to new (1752) Orange Co., NC, where John became one of the first eight justices. If anyone can identify places and people below I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Bebe Fox *** In the name of God the Father, Son and holy Ghost, three persons in one God, amen. This twenty-fourth day of June in the year of our Lord Christ seventeen hundred and seventeen, I Robert Patterson of CHOWAN PRECINCT in the PROVINCE OF CAROLINA, being of sound mind and of a dysposing memory, praise & glory be given to Almighty God for the same, and well considering the fragility of human nature and mortality of my body, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following. First and principally, i bequeath my soul to God who gave it me and my body to the earth from whence it was taken, to be buried at the discretion of my executrix hereafter named,hoping for a joyful resurrection at the last day when my body and soul will be resurrected by the merits of the precious blood of my own blessed Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ. And as touching such worldly estate as it hat pleased God in mercy to bestow upon me, I give divise and dyspose therof as followeth: Imprimis. It is my will and desire that all such debts as I in equity and conscienes owe to any person or persons may be truely and honestly satisfied contented and paid within convenient time after my decease by my executrix hereafter named. Item. It is my will and desire that my well beloved wife JANET PATTERSON may have my new dwelling house and plantation during her naturall life and three hundred acres of land adjoying therunto upon MEHERRIN CREEK up to the RIVER BRANCH in [pl]ace of her right of dower of all my lands during her naturall life and the remainder over after her decease to MY SON JOHN PATTERSON and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. Item. I give unto my daughter ELIZABETH PATERSON my plantation known by the name of PINKERTON'S CLEARING with two hundred acres of land adjoyning therunto upon both sides of a small gut or creek, I say unto my daughter Elizabeth Paterson and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever. Item. I give unto my daughter Janet Paterson two hundred acres of land joyning upon MEHERRIN RIVER bounding upon the land hereby divised to her sister Elizabeth commonly known by the name of PINKERTON'S land, I say unto my aforesaid daughter Janet Paterson and to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever. Item. I give unto my well beloved friend James KEEN one hundred acres of land at a place commonly known by the name of GRUBBY NECK next beginning a line which was Thomas BROWNS, I say unto the said James KEEN and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. Item. I give unto Simon SIMONS my [friend] one hundred acres of land next adjoyning the land before divied to james Keen, I say unto Simon SIMONS and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. Item. I give unto my godson John PARKS the son of John Parks and Elizabeth his wife one hundred acres of land adjoyning to the land before divised to Simon Simons, I say unto the said John Parks and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. Item. I give unto Andrew ROSS the son of Andrew Ross of Nansemond County and Mary his wife one hundred acres of land lying and being upon a place known by the name of the Beaverdams adjoyning to the land of Daniel McDANIEL, I say unto the said Andrew Ross and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. Item. All the rest of my lands wheresoever I give to my only son John Paterson and to his heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. Item. I give unto my two daughters Elizabeth and Janet each of them a fetherbed and furnituree and each of them one breeding mare and a cow and calf and each of them one iron pott, one pewter dish, and two pewter plates. And to my son John Paterson two cows and calfs and one horse and mare, one iron pott, one dish, and two plates, all which to every of my children as a legacy, to them and every of them. Item. I give to Andrew Ross, junr. of Nansemond County one young mare or horse as a legacy. Item. All the rest of my estate I give use therof to Janet Paterson my dearly beloved wife during her naturall life for and towards the bringing up and educating my children and after her decease then to be equally divided by due proportion among my aforesaid children. Lastly. I do hereby nominate appoint and ordain Jannet Paterson my dearly & beloved wife sole executrix of this my last will and testament. in witness wherof I hereunto set and afix my hand & seal the year and day first above written. Signed, sealed poblished and declared by the testator in the presence of us to be his last will and testament. Robert Patterson Signed, sealed, and published in the presents of us James Long J. 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