Granville County, NC - Will of Lewis Collins, 1785 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the name of God Amen. I Lewis Collins of the State of North Carolina in the County of Granville being in sound health & memory but calling to mind the uncertainty of this Life do make and ordain this my last will & Testament in manner & form following- First & Principally I give my Soul to God who gave it trusting in the Merits of my Savior Jesus Christ for perfect remission of my sins & my body to the Ground to be disposed of at the discression of my Exrs hereafter named. Item I lend to my Dearly beloved wife Elisabeth the Tract of Land & Plantation whereon I now live during her natural life and the Negroes Viz: Cupid, Plimoth, Peg, Amey, Peter & Plimoth with the whole of my stock, household furniture. She, my said wife complying with my following bequests Viz: Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Janis Gaden a Negro wench named Violet, a Feather bed & furniture, one horse & saddle two cows and calves the same being already delivered but if it should please God that my said Daugther die without lawfull issue then the Estate given her to return to & be divided among my other children. Item: I give & bequeath to my Daughter Betsy Robinson in Virginia Two negroes Trudy? and her youngest child which child I don't know the name of as its born since I delivered the wench with their future increase also cattle bed & furniture wch things are already delivered to her, her heirs & assigns forever. Item: I give & bequeath to my son Edward Collins, a negro Girl named Choice & one Mare & saddle already delivered. one bed & furniture two cows & calves to him his heirs & assigns for ever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Lewis Collins, a negro boy named Joseph with one horse and salle. One bed and furniture, two cows & calves, to him his heirs and assigns for ever. Item: I give and bequeath to my Son Wiley Collins a negro girl named Phillen? one horse and saddle one Bed & furniture, two cows & calves, & fifteen pounds specie for schooling dollars at six shillings to him his heirs & assigns for ever. Item: I give & bequeath to my Daughter Diannah Carter Collins One Negro Boy named Isom, with one horse & saddle. One bed & furniture, two cows & calves also a seald skin trunk to her, her heirs & assigns for ever. Item. After the Death of my said wife, the Estate left or lent her, I give to be divided among my five children Louis [sic], Edward, Lewis, Wiley & Diannah Carter or their representatives but if any of them die without lawfull issue, then to those living or leaving issue. Except my land which I leave to my best? last? son or his heirs & assigns for ever. Item. I lastly I constitute and appoint my Loving Wife Elizabeth & my sons Edward and Lewis Collins Executrix & Executors of this my said Last will & Testament. Given under my hand & seal this 16th day of September in the year of our Lord 1783. Lewis Collins Sealed signed & published by the said Lewis Collins to be his last will & Testament Before us John Taylor, Jurat Mourning Matlock {her mark} all the Exrs qualify Granville County May Court 1785 This will was duly proved by the oath of John Taylor esq. and ordered to be recorded, then Elisabeth Collins qualified as Executrix & Edward Collins & Lewis Collins qualified as Executors to the said Will. Reuben Searcy, CC. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Meredith Clapper ___________________________________________________________________