Halifax County, NC - Will of Mary Read, 1781 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Halifax County North Carolina Will Book 3 PP. 15-16 Will #271 In the name of GOD Amen, I Mary Read, of the County of Halifax in North Carolina, widow being very weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto GOD, calling into mind the mortality of man and knowing that it is appointed for men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament, as touching such worldly estate where with it has pleased GOD to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. . . . First, I give and bequeath unto my son-in-law James Read, four cows and four calves or yearlings, one large Bible also one wheat riddle and sifter and one hogg. ITEM: I give and bequeath unto John Windom, one negro man named Mingo, one feather bed of furniture and one chest. . . . ITEM: I give and bequeath unto Amy Harrison, one Negro woman named Peg, one feather bed of furniture, one chest, three cows and calves or yearlings. . . . ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved son Aaron Read Pendry, sixteen heads of cattle. . . . ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my two sons Moses Read Pendry, and Jesse Read Pendry, one brandy still, also one horse, all my hoggs and cattle that is not above mentioned, to be equally divided between them. . . . ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Dorcas Mobley, my best feather bed of furniture. . . . ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Lydia Barker, one Negro boy named Ted and one horse. . . . ITEM: I also give and bequeath unto my above-mentioned son Jesse Read Pendry, all and every part of my estate which is not before mentioned, together with all my debts by him freely to be possessed and enjoyed. I do hereby constitute and ordain my two sons Moses Read Pendry and Jesse Read Pendry, executors of this my last will and testament. Disannulling all other wills and ratifying and confirming this to be my last will in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of March in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight. Signed Published and Sealed in Her Presence of us MARY X READ Thomas Harvey, Sarah Nevill Mark Sarahann Harvey Thomas Harvey Halifax County August Court 1781 Then this will was exhibited in open court by the executors and duly proved by the oaths of Thos Harvey and Jesse Read Pendry, subscribing witnesses there to, whom their oaths did say that they saw the testator Mary Read sign, seal, publish, and declare the same to be her last will and testament and they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the testator and at her request whereupon the executor aforementioned was truly qualified according to law and on motion ordered to be recorded. Test. Wm. Wooten, C.C. Transcribed by Helen L. Tice from a photocopy of the original. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Helen L. Tice ___________________________________________________________________