MARTIN COUNTY, NC - Will - John Ward, 1804. ========================================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Andy Anderson May 2000 ========================================================================== From original on microfilm. WILL OF JOHN WARD Signed 17 Aug 1804 and proved Martin County September Term of Court, 1810. Martin County Will Book 1, page 433 In the name of God. Amen. I, JOHN WARD, of the State of North Carolina and County of Martin, being weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, therefore calling to mind the mortality of the body and knowing it is appointed once for all men to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say, principally and first of all I give my soul to God, Who gave it me, and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Christian-like manner, and as touching my worldly goods it hath pleased to God to bless me with in this life, I give, dismiss and dispose of in the following manner and form: First, I lend to my loving wife, SALLEY WARD, all my movable property, both within and without, till her death or marriage, and at her death or marriage to be as hereafter mentioned. Item, I give to my son, JOHN WARD, all my land lying on Smithwick's Creek, including my plantation, and one gun and all my working tools, to him and his heirs forever. Item, I give one piece of land lying on Turkey Swamp and one Negro boy called (Ewen?), to be equally divided between all my daughters, namely: NANCY TICE, MILLEY (KISSTE?) WARD, NEOMEY WARD and PENNY WARD, to them and their heirs forever. My desire is that the rest of my property that I have not mentioned at the death or marriage of my wife be equally divided between all my children, and I choose and ordain my loving wife and KEDAR BIGGS to be my executors to this, my last will and testament, and I do hereby revoke and disannul all other wills or executors by me willed or bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament, in confirmation I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th of August, 1804. /s/JOHN WARD {seal} Signed, sealed and declared by John Ward to be his last will and testament in presence of us: Test.: ROBERT WARREN JOHN BIGGS WILLIAM BIGGS, JR. State of North Carolina} September Court (1810?) Martin County} Then the foregoing instrument of writing was proved in open court by the oaths of John Biggs and William Biggs, Jr., two subscribing witnesses, to be the last will and testament of John Ward, and ordered to be recorded.