ONSLOW COUNTY, NC - WILL BOOK 2 - James Coston Sr., 11 Apr 1853
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JAMES COSTON WILL
State of North Carolina
County of Onslow
Will Book 2


I, James Coston Sr., of the County of Onslow and State of North Carolina, 
being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly 
existence, do make and declare this my last will and testament, in manner and 
form following, that is to say.
ITEM 1st I loan unto my beloved wife Clarissa Coston my home land beginning at 
the flat Laurel running with the line that divides my land from the lands of 
Daniel W. Russell to the head of Bear Swamp down said swamp to Wallace's 
Creek, then up the various courses of said creek to the first little branch 
that heads into the sound Pecoson, then with the edge of said pecoson to the 
lands of Joseph Howard, and so on down to the beginning, with my dwelling 
house and out houses together with all of the other improvements thereon, to 
have and to use during her natural life.
ITEM 2nd I give unto my son Isaac W. Coston all of my lands on the Rockey Run 
prong of the north east with all of the improvements thereon, to have and to 
hold to him and to his heirs, in fee simple forever.
ITEM 3rd I loan unto my son John A. Coston the use of the lands whereon he now 
lives, beginning at the dividing line between my land and the lands of I. N. 
Sanders on the west side of Wallises Creek, then down said creek opposite a 
little branch that runs through an old field where I once resided, then up the 
various courses of said little branch to a maple standing near the westward 
edge of the above named Old field, then a due west course to where my land 
joins the lands of Col. E. W. Montfort, then north with my outside boundary 
sound to the beginning with all of the improve meets thereon to have and to 
hold and use the same during his natural life; and at the decease of the said 
John A. Coston, I give the above named lands (in item the third) with all of 
the improvements thereon, to be equally divided among the children of the said 
John A. Coston, to have and to hold unto them forever in fee simple.
ITEM 4th I give unto my son Erasmus H. Coston all of my lands lying on the 
west side of Wallises Creek not otherwise disposed off, to have and to hold 
unto him and his heirs, also one other tract of fifty acres lying on the east 
side of the head of Wallises Creek to have and to hold unto him and his heirs 
forever in fee simple.
ITEM 5th I give unto my son Robert W. Coston all of my land lying between 
Wallises Creek and Ben Hall's swamp up to Bear Swamp including the Gillett and 
Howard & Barber tracts of land, to have and to hold unto him and to his heirs 
forever in fee simple.
ITEM 6th I give unto my son William M. Coston the land whereon he now lives 
known as the Hatsell's lands beginning at the mouth of the Hatsell Branch 
running up the various courses of said branch to the pocoson, the with the 
pocoson to the head of Wallises Creek, then down the various courses of said 
creek to the beginning, to have and to hold unto him and to his heirs forever 
in fee simple.
ITEM 7th At the decease of my wife, Clarissa Coston, I give all the lands with 
the improvements thereon to my daughter Ruthy S. Coston (which I loaned to my 
said wife in Item first) to have and to hold unto her and to her heirs forever 
in fee simple.
ITEM 8th I loan unto my beloved wife two feather beds & furniture to be of her 
first, and second choice also one sorrel mare and one cart, also four cows and 
calves, to be her choice out of my home stock, and also all the cattle that 
Timothy Haskins has in his care belonging to me, also three ewes & lambs, also 
two sows and piggs, also eight fatining hogs all to be of my said wife's 
choice.
ITEM 9th I give unto my daughter Ruthey S. Coston one feather bed & furniture 
to be the third choice.
ITEM 10th I give unto my son Isaac W. Coston one feather bed & furniture to be 
the fourth choice.
ITEM 11th I give unto my son Erasmus H. Coston one feather bed and furniture.
ITEM 12th I loan unto my beloved wife Clarissa Coston all my household and 
kitchen furniture not otherwise disposed of to have and to hold and use during 
her natural life and at the decease of my said wife, I will that all of the 
above loaned live stock with the increase there, together with all other 
personal property, shall be sold and the amounts arising therefrom to be 
equally divided among my lawful heirs.
ITEM 13th I give unto my beloved wife my large family Bible and the balance of 
my books equally divided according to valuation and given to my children; 
David H. Coston's children to have an equal share in place of their father, 
David H. Coston deceased.
ITEM 14th my will and desire is that all of the residue of my estate after 
taking out the divises and legacies above mentioned, shall be sold, and the 
debts owing to me collected and if there should be any surplus over and above 
the payment of debts, expences and legacies, that such surplus shall be 
equally divide and paid over to my lawful heirs to share equally in equal 
proportion share to share alike to them, and each and every of them their 
executors, administrators, and assigns absolutely forever.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons Isaac W. Coston and 
Erasmus H. Coston my lawful Executors to all intents and purposes to execute 
this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of 
the same, and every part and clause thereof, hereby revoking and declaring 
utterly void all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
In witness whereof I, the said James Coston Senior, do hereunto set my hands 
and seal, this the 11th day of April AD 1853.
(signed) James Coston

Signed sealed published and declared by the said James Coston Sr., to be his 
last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in 
presence, do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.
Philip Koonce
Elijah N. Bell

State of North Carolina}
Onslow County}
Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions June Term 1853.
Then was a paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James 
Coston deceased, offered and admitted to probate on the oath of Philip Koonce, 
one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, and the same ordered to be recorded 
and filed as such last will and testament whereupon Isaac W. Coston and 
Erasmus H. Coston, the executors therein named appeared in open court and was 
duly qualified as executors aforesaid, when it was further ordered by said 
court that letters testamentary give to them.
Jasper Etheridge, CCC (county clerk of court)