Edgecombe Co., North Carolina Wills, Vol. C, 1785-1796
(C. Avis Catalog entry #520)
"North Carolina, Probate Records, 1735-1970," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939L-VZCW-K?cc=1867501&wc=32LK-829%3A169764201%2C170997401: 21 May 2014), Edgecombe > Wills, 1785-1796, Vol. C > image 298 of 385; county courthouses, North Carolina.
[transcribed as close to the original as possible]
p. 179
In the name of God Amen. This twenty second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and ninety three -
I John Lewelling of the county of Martin & state of North Carolina being in sound and perfect mind and memory blessed by God Knowing it is appointed unto all men once to die do make and ordain this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following viz First and princepally I recommend my soul in the hands of the Almighty God who gave it me and my Body I commit to the earth to be Buried in a Christian like and decent manner and as [?] those worldly goods and Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give bequeath and dispose of them in manner and form following
Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Bowers my wife's Daughter six pewter plates and one small pewter Dish to her and to her Heirs forever. I Lend unto Mary Bowers one negro woman named Lucy and one negro girl named Milly and after the decease of my wife I Lend unto Mary one negro man named Nepton for and during the term of her natural life and after her death I give & bequeath said negros unto the Children of the said Mary Bowers then living them and their Heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto Cloe Bowers my wife's daughter six pewter plates and one small pewter dish to her and to her Heirs forever my will and desire is that there shall be a negro girl purchased out of my Estate between the age of fourteen and twenty years of age which said negro girl I lend to said Cloe and her husband William Bowers during their natural Lives also one negro man called Jim and after the death of my wife one negro woman called Silvy with her increase from this time after the decease of Sd Cloe and William my will and desire is that said negros shall be equally divided among the Children of Sd Cloe then living.
Item I give and bequeath unto Clarry Southerland my wife's daughter ten Pewter Plates and one small Pewter dish to her and to her heirs forever I lend unto Said Clarry Southerland one negro girl named Rachel and one negro girl Named Pine and after the death of my wife, I also lend Said Clary one negro man named Sam for and during the Term of her natural life and the life time of her husband John Southerland and the decease of said Clary and John my will and desire is that Sd negroes and Increase shall be Equally divided among the Children of Said Clarry then living -.
Item I give and bequeath unto Charlotte Staton my wife's daughter ten Pewter Plates and one small Pewter dish to her and to her heirs forever. My will and desire is that Mony shall be [?]d out of my Estate at convenient times to Purchase a negro girl between the age of Fourteen and Twenty years of age, which said negro girl, I lend unto Sd Charlotte and Arthur Staton During there natural life times likewise one negro girl child Called Chane and after the death of my wife one negro man Called Isaac and after the death of Sd Charlotte and Arthur my will is that Sdnegro's and increase shall be Equally Divided among the Children of Sd Charlotte then living.
Item I give and bequeath unto Gracy Mooring ten Pewter Plates and one small Pewter Dish to her and her heirs forever. I lend unto said Gracy Mooring One negro girl named Trabany and one negro boy Named Charles and after the death of my wife I also lend unto Sd Gracy Mooring one negro man named Lewis for and During the term of her natural life and the life time of her husband John Mooring and and after the death of said Gracy & John my will and desire is that Sd negro's and increase shall be Equally divided among the Children of Sd Gracy then living.
Item I give and bequeath unto Anness Moor my wife's Daughter ten Pewter plates and one small Pewter Dish to her and to her heirs forever, I lend unto Sd Anness Moor one negro girl Nance also one negro woman named Chane after the death of my wife one negro man called Tony and after the death of Sd Aness & William my will and Desire is that Sd negro's and increase be Equally among the Children of Sd Anness then living.
Item I give and bequeath unto Susannah Mooring my wife's daughter ten Pewter Plates and one Small Pewter Dish to her and her heirs forever I Iend unto Sd Susannah Mooring one negro girl named Hassly and one negro boy named Sampson And after the death of my wife I also lend unto said Susannah one negro man named Lukes for and during the term of her natural / life and the life time of her husband James Mooring and after the death of Susannah and James My will is that Sd negro's and increase shall be Equally divided among the Children of the SdSusannah then living.
Item I give and bequeath unto John Lewelling son of my wife, one negro man named Phillip one negro man named America one negro girl named Harry one Mullato Charlote one negro man named Bob all my will and desire is the Sd negro Bob shall make my wifes Shoes during life after the death of my wife I give Sd Lewelling one negro girl named Bete & increase from this time and likewise one half the household and kitchen furniture likewise working Utentials likewise horses Cattle hogs sheep and Bees etc likewise my part of the Water Gress Mill likewise my Still, all my desire is that his Mother shall have the liberty of stilling her liquor [2?1?] still during the term of her natural life which Property I have given to my son John Lewelling I give to him and his Heirs forever -
The other half of the Household and Kitchen furniture working Utentials and stock of every kind I lend to my wife during her life and after her decease my will and desire is that Part of my Estate shall be Equally divided among her daughters My will and desire is that Tony Isaac Neptone Sam Lewis & Luke be four of them hired out every year and the other Two to be kept upon the Plantation the money so arising for the Hire of Sd negros be advanced for giving my wife a genteel maintainance during her lifetime if any be left at her decease my will and desire is that it shall be Equally divided among her daughters.
Item I give and bequeath unto John Lewelling all my Lands Excepting as much as his mother can tend with two hands & one fourth Part of the Orchard during her life. And I do further make and ordain constitute and appoint Colol Nathan Mayo, William Wallace & my son John Lewelling to be joint Executors to this my last Will and Testament Hereby revoking and disannulling all other and former wills by me heretofore made if any such should be found wratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament. In witness whereof the above John Lewelling hath hereunto set his hand and fixed his seal the day and date above Written Signed Sealed and delivered to be the last will and Testament of the said John Lewelling
Signed sealed } Joh Lewelling
in the presence of }
Mathew Burnett
Martha Cross
Frances [her mark] Burnett
Edgecombe County August Court 1794
The within will was duly proven in open Court by the Oath of Mathew Bunnet a Subscribing Witness thereunto. Executors were at the same time Qualified and the will ordered to be recorded.
Test Edward Hall CC