Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Benton, Samuel February 18, 1770 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/nc/ncfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ben Franklin ben.franklin.ffru@gmail.com May 2024 Source: Loose Will, NC Archives CR 073.801 Written: February 18, 1770 Recorded: Apr 1770 Testator: Samuel Benton In the name of God Amen I Samuel Benton of the County of Granville in the province of North Carolina being of perfect sound mind and memory blessed be God. do this Eighteenth day of February in the year of our Lord Christ One thousand seven hund[red] & Seventy make and publish this my last Will and testament in manner following Viz. first my Will is that the debts due to my Estate by my Executors hereinafter mentioned [be] collected with all possible expedition, and that he or they making such Collection be allowed one half of all the sums by him or them received or Collected from persons not being Inhabitants, or having Estates within this province --- Secondly my Will is that my said Executors do at any time after my decease and at their own discretion cell and dispose of my Seat called by the name Oxford including One thousand Acres of Land be the same more or less, and out of the money arising, a sufficiency by then immediately applied in discharging of my Just debts, and bestowing suitable Education to such of my Children as shall not have received a competency thereof -- And I do hereby authorise and impower my said Executors to make and execute a Deed or Deeds thereby conveying the property of said Lands & premises unto the purchaser or purchasers Thirdly My will & desire is that my said Executors do when requested provide a convenient Seat in or about the neighbourhood wherein Benjamin Hardy & Thomas Crawford now dwells or else where and erect sufficient buildings thereon for my beloved wife Frances to dwell at during her natural life & widowhood and at her decease or marriage my Will is that the property of the said Land [page 2] and premises be immediately vested in my son Sam Fourthly I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Frances my Stock of all kinds together with all my household furniture & working tools. My Will is likewise that three Negro Slaves (to wit) Sambo Gabriel & Sarah remain in the possession of my said wife during her natural life & Widdowhood and at her decease or marriage my Will is that the said three Negro Slaves be by my Executors exposed to Sale and the monies arising thereby by them applied to the payment of Legacies. and the overplus if any to be equally divided between My Son Sam & others of my younger children whom Shall then survive ------ Fifthly I give and bequeath unto my son Jesse Benton my Case of Pistols and ten pounds to buy a sword Sixthly I give to my beloved Daughty[sic] Betty Bruce Ten pounds to buy her a hunting Saddle & a ring Seventhly I give and bequeath unto my Daughty[sic] Penny One small Negro Girls Slave called & known by the name of Lynda --- 8thly My will and desire is that a young Negro Girl Slave if not raised in the family be purchased and the property thereof be vested in my Daughter Patty --- 9thly I Give to Sons Samuel & Augustine all my property & claim of Lands lying on the waters of Smiths Creek in Johnston County to be equally divided between them, and in case either of them should decease before arrival to full age my Will is that the Survivor Inherit the whole 10thly My will is that in case any Surplus shall remain after payment of my Debt and the several legacies here in before men= =tioned [page 3] that it be equally divided between my Son Sam & his younger Brothers & Sisters 11thly My Will and most earnest desire is that my said Executors Cautiously observe & direct the tuition of my three youngest Sons & that each of them closely pursue some crediable & advantageous employment until arrival at full age --- And lastly I do hereby appoint constitute make and ordain my Son Jesse Benton & Charles Bruce my whole & Sole Executors of this my last Will & testament utterly disallowing revoking & disannulling all & every other Will or Wills testament or testaments by me heretofore made ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last Will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal the day & year first above written ------ Signed Sealed Published & declared Samuel Benton (SS) by the Testator Samuel Benton as & for his last Will & Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto Bromfield Ridley Samuel Henderson Thomas Henderson Granville County April Inferior Court 1770 The written Will was proven by Thomas Henderson one of these subscribing witnesses thereto who swore that he saw the within mentioned Samuel Benton sign Seal publish pronounce the same to be & contain his last Will & Testament was of sound disposing mind & memory. Jesse Benton one of the Executors therein named came into court & was duly qualified. Ordered that Letters testa -mentary issue to him accordingly Test Js. Edwards C.C Additional Comments: Not found in Orange County will books. The Granville County Cross-Index of wills lists this will as "Not Recorded", with the earliest wills recorded in the will books for Granville County as 1772. Recorded Apr 1770