Tyrrell County, NC - Will of John Ward, 1750

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North Carolina
Secretary of State Original Wills, 1663-1790
Will of John Ward, 1750

Also recorded in Craven County NC Deed Book 5, p. 137-140
Note: Ward lived in Tyrrell County. His will was recorded in Craven 
County since the government headquarters at that time was in New Bern, 
located in Craven County.

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This transcription made from a photocopy of the original will. I have 
retained all original spelling & punctuation.
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In the Name of God Amen, the 5th Day of March in the Year of Our Lord 1748/9 I 
John Ward of the County of Terryl in the Province of North Carolina being very 
sick and weak in Body but of perfect Mind and Memory thanks be Given unto God 
therefor [sic] Calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it 
is Appointed unto all Men Once to Die do make and Ordain this my last Will and 
Testament that is to say Principally and first of all I Give and recommend my 
soul into the hands of God that Gave it and for my Body I recommend it to the 
Earth to be Buried in a Christian like & Decent manner at the Discretion of my 
Executors Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the 
same by the mighty Power of God and as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith 
it hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I Give devise and Dispose of the 
same in the following manner and Form.

Imprimis. It is my Will and I do Order that in the first place all my just 
Debts and Funeral Charges be paid & satisfied.

Item. It is my Will and I do lend unto my Dearly and beloved Wife all my Manner 
and Plantation in the County of Terryl on which I now live with all my stock of 
Cattle sheep horses Negro Named Tom with all my Household Furniture, etc. until 
the Day of Marriage or Day of her Death freely by her to be possessed and 
Enjoyed.

Item. I Give and bequeath unto Michael Ward my Dearly and Beloved Son after the 
Deceased or Marriage of my Wife Thirty five Pounds Virginia Money which is Due 
by Bond from Caleb Howell of Beaufort County to him and his Heirs and Assigns 
for Ever.

Item. I Give and bequeath unto my Dearly and well beloved Son John Ward after 
the Decease or Death of my Wife One Negroe [sic] Man Named Tom with Three Cows 
and Calves running on little Catanknee to him and his Heirs for ever but if the 
said Negroe [sic] Man dies before delivered to the said John Ward then I Give 
unto the Said John Ward and Equal share of my stock when divided into 4 parts 
to him his Heirs and assigns for Ever.

Item. I Give and bequeath unto my Dearly and well Beloved Son David Ward after 
the Decease or Marriage of my Wife my Plantation on which I now live on 
Containing about 100 Acres of Land to him his Heirs and Assigns for Ever.

Item. I Give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Noble my Dearly and well beloved 
Daughter One Plantation Containing 140 Acres of Land or there about lying and 
being in Terryl County on which she now lives after the Decease or Marriage of 
my Wife and I likewise give unto the said Elizabeth Noble ten Head of Cattle 
to her Heirs and Assigns for Ever.

Item. I Give and bequeath unto Dorcas Overstreet One Hundred Acres of Land 
lying and being on little Catanknee Joyning [sic] to John Wards Land to her, 
her Heirs and assigns for Ever freely to be possess and Enjoyed.

Item. It is my Will that after the aforesaid Parties have received these my 
Gifts, then I Give and Bequeath all the Remainder part of my Estate to be 
equally Divided between Michael John David Ward and Elizabeth Nobles to them 
their Heirs and Assigns for Ever. I likewise Constitute make and Ordain 
Michael Ward and John Ward my only and Sole Executors of this my last will 
and Testament and do hereby utterly Dissanul [sic] all and every other former 
Testaments Wills Legacies and Executors by me in any Wise before this Time 
named Willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be 
my last Will and Testament. 
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year 
afore Written. 					 

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced                  John X Ward his mark
and Declared by the said John Ward
as his last Will and Testament. In
Presence of Us

Griffeth Howell
John X Butler his mark
Elizabeth X Butler her mark

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This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by
Timothy Hudson
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