Dobbs County, NC - Will of William Caswell, 1785

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In the name of God Amen

I William Caswell of Dobbs County in the State of North Carolina,
being very weak in Body but of sound mind and understanding, and
knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to Die, Do this
Twenty Seventh Day of December in the Year of Our Lord One thousand
Seven hundred and eighty four make and Declare this to be & contain
my last Will and Testament

First I most humbly recommend my Soul to almighty God from whose
Bounteous hands I received the same, in hope that in and through 
the merits of Jesus Christ and his Sufferings, the same will enjoy
Peace, Happiness and rest in the Glorious World to come

Secondly I desire my remains may be interred at the Burial Ground
near the Red House, in a plain decent and Christian like manner

Thirdly I desire that all just Debts from me owing and the Expences
of my Funeral be paid as soon as the same can conveniently be done

Fourthly The remainder of my estate both Real and Personal (wherewith
God hath blessed) Except such part I shall herein after otherwise
dispose of I give Devise and bequeath to my dear and well Beloved
Son Richard Caswell to hold to my said Son and his Heirs and assigns
for ever, But as all Human things are Transitory and tis very
possible my said Son may die before he arrives at Lawfull age, that
is, twenty one years, and if such event shall happen then and in such 
case I give Devise and bequeath all the Real and personal estate so
as above given to my said son, to my Brothers Dellam Caswell, and
John Caswell share and share alike to hold each his respective share
and to their respective Heirs & assigns forever

And as it is my very great desire that my son Richard Caswell be
Educated in the best manner possible consistent with his property
I impower the Executors of this my last Will and Testament to sell
and dispose of any part of my Real and personal estate before
mentioned for that purpose and to make Titles to the same, and to
pay such monies to my Esteemed, Trusty and Honorable Friends Richard
Dobbs Spaight and John Sitgreaves Esquires who I constitute and
appoint Guardian to my said son during his Nonage and most earnestly
recommend him to their (paper missing) Beseeching them to do me this 
last Friendly office and to spare expences that can with any degree 
of propriety be supposed to be consistent with my son's fortune

Fifthly I give and bequeath to Mary the Daughter of Bridget Conner one 
negroe Girl called Seal and a negro Boy named Bill the son of Binah if 
the said Mary shall live to be of the age of eighteen years, if she 
dies under that age then the said Negroe Girl and Boy to go to my Son 
Richard under the Limitation above mentioned, (paper missing) the said 
Mary to have the benefit of the said negroe Girl Seal and Boy Bill so 
long as she may Live, if the (paper missing) Contingency happens

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint Winston Caswell William White
Executors of this my last Will and Testament and request they will
execute the same according to (paper missing) true intent and meaning

                   In Witness whereof I have hereunder (paper missing)
my hand and seal at Newington the day and Year (paper missing) above
written

Signed Sealed published & declared  }
by the Testator as and for his last }         Wm. Caswell  {Seal}
Will & Testament in presence of us  }

Wm. White
John (his x mark) Lovick
Winston Caswell
Rd Caswell

State of North Carolina }
    Dobbs County        }   April Court 1785

                          Then was the within last Will and Testament
of William Caswell esquire exhibited into Court and proved by the Oaths
of Richard Caswell Esq'r, Winston Caswell and William White - Subscribing
Witnesses thereto who swore that the said last Will & Testament was 
Written and Signed in the presence of the Test(paper missing) at his
special instance and request, in his last Sickness and (paper missing)


Source:
David L. Swain Papers
PC 84.7
North Carolina Archives & History

David L. Swain, Buncombe County, jurist, legislator, Governor (1832-1835),
UNC president (1835-1867) & founding member of North Carolina Historical
Society

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Guy Potts - gpotts1@nc.rr.com
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