CHOWAN COUNTY, NC - Will - John Bonner, 1753.

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Copied from Original Will, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State, 
by John B. Grimes; North Carolina Wills and Inventories, pub. 1912. Now
located in the NC Archives, Raleigh, NC.

                          John Bonner, 1753

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN.  The Eleventh Day of November, and the year of our 
Lord God, One Thousand, Seven Hundred and fifty Three. I, John Bonner, of 
Chowan County, in the Province of North Carolina, Planter, being very Sick 
and weak in Body, but of perfect mind and Memory, Thanks be given unto God 
for it, Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing 
that it is appointed for 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 my Body 
I recomend to the Earth, to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the 
Discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting byt at the general 
Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God: and 
as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me 
in this life, I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following 
manner and Form:

Imprimis.  I Give and bequeath unto my God Son, Thomas Ecleston, Two Negroe 
Boys, Jack, and Cato., Six Cows and calves, & m Riding Horse, to be 
deliver'd him when he comes to Age, and if he should die without Heir 
Lawfully begotten of his Body, the same to return to my Brother, Thomas 
Bonner.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my Cousin, William Howcott, one Negroe Boy 
Named, Bob. and if he should Die without Heir, the said Negro Boy to be 
Divided between his Two Sisters, Elizabeth and Mary Howcott.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my Cousin, Edward Howcott one Negroe Girl 
Named, Grace. and if he should Die without Heir, the said Girl, to be 
divided between the aforesaid Elizabeth and Mary Howcott.

Item. I Give and bequeath to my Sister, Sarah Howcott, One Gold ring.

Item. I Give and bequeath to my Sister, Martha Howcott, One Gold Ring.

Item. I give and bequeath to my Brother, Thomas Bonner, my Plantations 
whereon I now Live, and all the Land that I have now in my Possession, 
Likewise all the Rest and Residue of my worldly Estate. (Except such as is 
herein before mentioned.)

I Likewise constitute and Appoint the aforesaid Thomas Bonner, my Sole 
Executor of this my Last Will and Testament; I Likewise leave John Benbury 
and Henry Bonner as Trustees to see that my Will is fulfilled according to 
my Desire. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, disannul all and every 
other former Testatments, Wills, Legacies and Bequests, and Executors, by 
me in any ways before Named, Willed and bequeathed; ratifying and 
Confirming 
this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the Day and Year 
above written.

                                     John Bonner. (Seal)

Signed, Sealed and Declared by
the said John Bonner, as his last
Will and Testament, in the Presence
of us:
Jere'h. Michener.
Jno Smith X.
George Liles. Jurat

North Carolina, Chowan County SS. January Court, 1754. Present His Majestys 
Justices:
   These may Certify that George Liles, appeared in open Court and made 
oath that he Saw John Bonner, Sign, Seal, Publish and Declare the within to 
be and Contain his Last Will & Testament, and that he was then and at that 
time of Sound & Disposing mind and memory, and that he also Saw John Smith, 
& Jeremiah Mitchener, Sign there names thereto at the same time. Then 
appeared Thomas Bonner, Exr. to the within Will and was duly Qualified by 
taking the oath by Law Appointed.
   Ordered that the Secretary of sd. Province have notice that Letters 
testamentary issue thereon as the Law Directs.
                            Test. Will Halsey, Cler. Cur.