Orange County NcArchives Wills.....Watts, Josiah July 6, 1788 ************************************************ 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, Will Book Volume B, pages 39-39A Written: July 6, 1788 Recorded: Aug 1788 Testator: Josiah Watts In the Name of God. Amen. ~~ I Josiah Watts of the County of Orange, & State of North Caroline Merchant. being weak in Body but of sound mind & perfect memory thanks be to God. for his mer= -cies & unbounded goodness towards me, & calling to mind the certainty of death. & not knowing the day, or how when it shall please God to call me from this Stage of Action; & willing to settle my worldly affairs in such manner so as to hinder any disputes that may or might hereafter arise of or concerning the disposal of the same, do make, constitute, & ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following ~~ Imprimis. My Soul I bequeath to Almighty God who gave it, trusting & relying in him for pardon & forgiveness of my Sins, thro the merits & intercession of my Redeemer Jesus Christ the Righteous my Body to be com[m]itted to its mother Earth to be inter'd in a decent & Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors ~~~~ 2d I will & desire that all my lawful debts should be duly discharg'd & paid off & to that end Do request & desire, constitute & appoint my loving Brother Thomas Watts of County & State aforesd. & Jno. Grant Rencher of County & State aforesd. my Executors to this my last Will & testament, & in order to enable them to settle & pay off all demands that may come against me to take into their possession all my books of Merchandize. To Wit. one Set of Books, titled Courtney & Watts in partnership, another my own Accounts & another set Watts & Lytle in partnership [page 2] Which sd. three setts of Books are now in the possession of Wm Lytle Esqr. together with sundry Goods unsold & not accounted for, also sundry Bonds & Notes of mine in his possession, all which sd. Books, my Executors to have property stated & settled so that Justice may be done to all my Creditors, as far forth as they shall extend ~~ 3rd After all lawful debts are duly discharg'd the residue of my Estate both real & personal to be equally divi= =ded between my loving Wife Susanna & my loving Daughter Susanna, as also a sum of Money due me in South Carolina, to be equally divided between them In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix[ed] my Seal this sixth day of July one thousand seven hundred & eighty eight making null & void all former Wills & Testaments or other Instruments of Writing, acknowledging this as my only last Will & Testament Sign'd seal'd Acknowledg'd } J Watts (seal) & pronounce'd this my last } Will & testament in presence } of the subscribing Witnesses } Exrs quallified Vincent P. Williamson William Courtney Jurat Augt. Term 1788 [Will Book Volume B, page 39] In the Name of God Amen I Josiah Watts of the County of Orange & State of North Caroline Merchant, being weak in Body but of sound mind and Perfect memory thanks be to God for his mercies and unbounded goodness towards me, and calling to mind the certainty of Death, and not knowing the day or how when it shall please God to call me from this Stage of Action and willing to settle my worldly affairs in such manner so as to hinder any disputes that may or might hereafter arise of or concerning the disposal of the same, do make constitute, & ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following ~~ Imprimis. My Soul I bequeath to Almighty God who gave it trusting and relying in him for pardon and forgiveness of my Sins thro the merits and intercession of my redeemer Jesus Christ the righteous, my body to be commit[t]ed to its mother Earth to be entered[sic] in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors ~~~~ [2d] I will and desire that all my lawful Debts should be duly discharged and payed off, and to that end do request and desire constitute and appoint my loving Brother Thomas Watts of County and State aforesaid & John Grant Rencher of County and State aforesaid my Executors to this my last Will and testament and in order to enable them [Will Book Volume B, page 39A] to settle and pay off all demands that may come against me, to take into their possession all my books of Merchandise to wit one Set of Books titled Courtney & Watts in partnership another my own accounts, & another set Watts & Lytle in partnership, Which said three sets of Books are now in the possession of William Lytle Esqr. together with sundry goods unsold and not accounted for also sundry Bonds & notes of mine in his possession all which said Books my Executors to have property stated & Settled so that Justice may be done to all my Creditors as far forth as they shall extend [3rd] after all lawful debts are duly discharged the residue of my estate both real and personal to be equally divided between my loving Wife Susannah & my loving Daughter Susannah as also a Sum of money due me in South Carolina to be equally divided between them, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix'd my Seal this Sixth day of July one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Eight making null and void all former Wills and Testaments or [other] Instruments of writing acknowledging this as my only last will and Testament J Watts (seal) Signed Sealed Acknowledged & pronounced this my last Will and Testament In presence of the subscribing Witnesses Vincent P. Williamson William Courtney Jurat Additional Comments: Will Book Volume B, pages 39-39A Recorded Aug 1788 Estate Papers comprise 37 pages and are found in a folder labeled "Watts, Josiah (1791)". No family history found.