GATES COUNTY, NC - Will - John Darden 1796.

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Will of John Darden - November 29, 1796
Gates County, North Carolina
Source:  NC Archives and History, Raleigh, NC

In the Name of God Amen I John Darden of Gates County & State of North 
Carolina being of a sound and perfect mind and memory, do make 
constitute and ordain this to be my last will and Testament in Manner 
and form following / that is to say, first and principally I recommend 
my soul to God that gaveith being & trusting to receive a pardon for all 
my sins, and made eternally happy for what worldly estate I am blessed 
with I do give and dispose off as follows Viz,

First  I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Hare all my tract of 
land whereon I now live, with all the appertenances thereunto belonging 
to him and to his heirs & assigns forever

Secondly  I give and bequeath unto my grandson Joseph Hare all my land 
on the northside of the run of the Elm swamp being the land & plantation 
whereon his father Joseph Hare now lives, with all the appertenances 
therunto belonging to him and to his heirs & assigns forever

Thirdly  I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Peggy Griffin my 
negro woman Cate to her & to her heirs & assigns forever

Fourthly  I give & bequeath unto my son in law James Griffin the sum of 
ten shillings in full for his part & shear of my estate to him and his 
heirs and assigns forever

Fifthly  I give and bequeath unto my daughter Peggy Hare my three negros 
namely, Davey, Jim & Lucy to her & to her heirs & assigns forever

Sixthly  I give and bequeath unto Jethro Sumner my girl named Cherry, 
also one feather bed & furniture to him & his heirs and assigns forever

Seventhly  I leave the use of my plantation whereon I now live together 
with my five negros / namely / London, Sinder & her child, Peter & 
Coffee, with all my stock of cattle and of every other kind and all my 
household furniture unto my wife Mary Darden during her natural life or 
widowhood she not to waste Embezel or destroy any part thereof, and at 
the change of her life either by death or marriage to be disposed of as 
here after mentioned

Eightly  I give and bequeath to my daughter Peggy Hare / wife of Joseph 
Hare, all my estate of every nature or kind whatsoever that is not 
heretofore disposed off, after her mothers death or marriage to her and 
to her heirs and assigns forever

Lastly  I nominate and appoint my friend Jethro Sumner to be sole 
Executor to this my last will and Testament

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty 
nineth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven 
hundred & ninety six

                      John (his mark) Darden      (Seal)

Signed sealed & by the testator declared to be his last will & Testament 
in the presence of

Amos (his mark)Parker
Jethro Sumner
P? Wiggins