Will of John Parrott County of Dobbs, NC April 5, 1791 State of North Carolina By the Instance of the County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Dobbs. It being certified to us that John Parrott late of Dobbs County, is dead and hath made his last will and testament in writing, a true copy whereof is hereto annexed, which will, having been duly proved before us and Jacob and Benjamin Parrott, the Executors therein named, having taken the oath of an executor according to law. These are therefore to empower the said Jacob, John, and Benjamin Parrott to enter into and upon all and singular the goods and chattels, rights and credits of the deceased and the same into his possession take, wheresoever in this state to be found, and an inventory to return according to law and all the just debts of the deceased to pay and the residue distributed agreeable to the said deceased will. WITNESS: Winston Caswell, Clerk of the Court at Kinston, the 5th day of April, A. D. 1791. W. Caswell, Clerk In the name of God, Amen. I, John Parrott, senior, of Dobbs County, in the State of North Carolina, planter, being very sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed unto 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 surrender my soul to God, who gave it and my body to the dust, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. IMPRIMIS. I give and bequeath unto my son, Jacob Parrott, one plantation tract or parcel of land containing three hundred and fifty-five acres (more or less) including the improvements where he lived. Beginning at the south of the Great Branch and running up the meanders of the same to Red Oak Rollins' corner in Harberts' line, thence with Harberts' line S. 30 E. 50 poles to a pine, Harberts' corner, then south ten degrees, east to the back line of Spencer Catowells patent, then north fifty-three degrees, east running the course of Catowells patent line to his second corner, then north eighty poles to a white oak in Carruthers line near the main road, then with road to Loosing Swamp and up with meanders of the same to the beginning to him and his heirs forever. ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son, John Parrott, one plantation tract or parcel of land including the improvements where he lives. Beginning at the run of the Great Branch where McClendons line cross at a Sassafras and running north fifty degrees, west running the course of McCLendons line to a Hickory, Harberts Corner, thence south eighty-five degrees west along Harberts line to McClendon's third corner, then south forty-five degrees east being the given line of a patent bearing date October 13, 1783, to Joshua Williams' line, and with said Williams line to Jacob Parrott's line and with his line to the beginning,, to him and his heirs forever. ITEM. I lend to my beloved wife during her natural life or widowhood the plantation where I now live, including the house, orchard, and that part of my cleared land that is below the branch in my plantation with all the lower part of the land belonging to said plantation. ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my son, Benjamin Parrott, the land and plantation whereon I now live. Beginning at the mouth of Great Branch and running up the meanders of the same to a Sassafras, his brother John's corner with this line to McClendons line and with McClendons line south 30 degrees west to the present dividing line between me and Mills Hutchings, thence along said line north thirty degrees east to the Loosing Swamp, and down the Meanders of the same to the beginning, as also Horse, saddle, and bridle (already called his) one feather bed and furniture, two ewes and one lamb, one cow and calf and heifer, to him and his heirs forever. ITEM. I give and bequeath to my son, Joshua Parrott, eighty pounds good and lawful money to be raised and levied out of my estate and paid to the said Joshua by my executors, as also one feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever. ITEM. I give my negroes, Volentine and Phillis to labour on my plantation one year in order to raise the above mentioned sum of money. ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Amy Parrott, my negro man Volentine as also thirteen head of cattle, already called hers, one feather bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Selah Parrott, my negro woman, Phillis, and her increase, five head of cattle, already called hers, one feather bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever, as also one mare. ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Elizabeth Parrott, my negro boy, Frank. ITEM. I leave my cattle to be equally divided among my beloved wife and children, viz: Joshua, Simon, and Elizabeth, and my sheep between my wife and children as follows, viz: Joshua, Simon, Amy, Selah, and Elizabeth. My pewter I give to be equally divided between my wife and my three daughters, viz: Amy, Selah, and Elizabeth. After my lawful debts are paid, I give and bequeath unto my son, Simon, twenty-five pounds to be raised out of my estate and the residue of my estate I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Elizabeth, and lastly I make, ordain, constitute, and appoint my three sons, Jacob, John, and Benjamin Parrott executors of this my last will and testament, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. in writing whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of February 1791. John Parrott Signed, sealed, etc, in the presence of us. Baker, Simon House, Willis Witherington, STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA DOBBS COUNTY April Court,1791 Then was the written will duly proved by Simon House and at the same time the executors, therein named appeared and qualified as such. Order of the Clerk upon letters Testamentary accordingly. W. Caswell, Clerk ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Francis R Hodges 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. Return to the NCGenWeb Archives Table of Contents http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm#NC **************************************************************************