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In the name of God Amen.  I Reuben Burrus of Mattamuskeet in Hyde County being well in health and of perfect mind and memory but calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make constitute and ordain this my Last Will and Testament hoping the Lord my Soul will save through his mercy my body to be buried in a decent manner; then first of all I delieve? my just debts to be all paid and then as touching such worldly property as the Lord hath blest me with I gave and dispose of it in the following manner and first of all, I lend to my dear wife the land and plantation where I now live with the house and household furniture only such as shall be named hereafter to be disposed of otherwise also all the farming instruments with one horse Kind Able to plow during her natural life also I lend her one negroe man named Barney and one named James and one negroe woman caled Patience to my wife Barbary Burrus during her natural life to support on.  I also lend her ten head of sheep with their increase and all my cattle and hogs for her use and purpose to support on as she and my Executor may think most proper.  I also gave to my son Allen Burrus one negroe man called Bill which he has now in his possession to him and his heirs forever.

I also gave to my son Elisha Burrus one hundred acres of land on the Bank joining my brother Zachereas line on the S. West side and running to a certain boundary between Elisha and my son John S. Burrus running with his line across from sea to the sound and then across the creake containing by estimation half both track on each side the creaks joining the said John Burrus on the N. East side with all the Houses and all the improvements and all the benefits as pertain to it to him and his heirs forever.  I also gave and bequesth to my son Elisha one negroe man called Martin which he has now in his possession to him and his heirs forever and I gave and bequeath to my daughter Sabrina Farrow one negroe girl called Jane to her heirs lawfully begotten of her body forever.  I also gave and bequeath to my daughter Marina Styron one negro girl called Jude and twenty five acres of land lying on the Sheap Ridge being half my right there to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body forever.  I also gave and bequeath to my son John S. Burrus all that tract of land on both sides of the creak joining Elisha on the S.W. side running to Quidleys and Bratchams line containing one hundred acres be the same more or less.  I also gave my son John S. Burrus one negro man by the name of Able and one bed and bedsted and furniture and twenty five acres lying at the end of the hill joining Styron line on the N.E. to him and his heirs forever.  I also leave my part of the vessel cald the Lodge to him when she is paid for.  I also gave and bequeath to my daughter Polly S. Burrus one negroe girl cald Carolina one bed and bedsted and furniture and twenty five acres of land on the bank on the Sheap Ridge, and twenty five on the end of the hills joining John S. Burrus and one red Heffer at the Bank, to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body forever.  Also at my wife Barbary Burrus death I give to my son Robert W. Burrus the plantation where I now live with all the buildings and fencing and benefits and privilege belonging or appertaining to it and twenty five acres in the marsh joining Allen Burrus and one negro man named Barny and one bed and bedsted and furniture to say the mahogny one and my large dining table and my church Bible and one negro woman called Patience and old man Jarvis and what few cattle I have on Mattamuskeet to him and his heirs forever and all the rest of my property that is not disposed of otherwise to be equally divided after my wifes death amongst all my children, viz: Allen, Elisha, Sebrina, Merina, John, Polly, and Robert S. Burrus.  Only should Patience have another child I desire John and Polly to have it between them for their use and benefit for ever.  I also constitute and ordain my sons Allen Burrus, Elisha and John S. Burrus sold Executors to this my last will and Testament disowning all other and acknowledge this to be my last will and Testament.  Sealed and Signed in the presence of us this 17^th of October 1826.
            /s/ Reuben Burrus
Attest: Tho. Saunderson, Vincin W. Saunderson

Hyde County    SS November Term 1828
    Then was the last will and testament of Reuben Burrus, dec'd., exhibited into Court and duly proven by Tho. Saunderson an evidence thereto and ordered to be recorded.
        Test. Benj. Foreman, Clk.

    At the Court aforesaid Allen Burrus one of the Executors therein named came into court and qualifyed as an Executor thereto.
        Test. Benj. Foreman, Clk.

Other records pertaining to this will:
Source: Hyde Co., N.C. Record of Wills; Bk. 4
    May Term 1829
        Inventory of the property belonging to the estate of Reuben Burrus, dec'd., taken 5th Dec'r. 1828.  Mentions 8 Negroes: Nancy, James, Abel, Barney, Patience, Carolina, Jane & Ann; also mentions 1/3 of the schooner Lodge; 1 tract of 45 acres; 1 tract of 100 acres at the Banks; 3 tracts of 50 acres each; and one 25 acre tract.
        Account of sales of the property of Reuben Burrus sold by Allen Bururus, Ext'r., Dec'r. 27, 1828.  Various buyers included: Barbara Burrus, Allen Burrus, Elisha Burrus, William Hall, Thos. Saunderson, Benders Ensley, Robert Burrus, and BlackwellL & Spencer.

Source: Hyde Co., N.C. Record of Wills; Vol. 5
    February Term 1831
        The estate of Reuben Burrus, dec'd., in account current with Allen Burrus, ext'r.  In obedience to an order of Court, we have examined the account and find a balance of $67.25 due the executor this 28th Feby. 1831.
    /s/ David Carter, C.J.H. Lamb

This will was contributed by Kay Midgett Sheppard. No part of this document may be used for any commercial purposes. However, please feel free to copy any of this material for your own personal use and family research. If you find anything in these records that pertains to your families, it is strongly suggested that you look at the original record on your own to check for errors or possibly other additional and helpful information. Thank you!

© 2011 Kay Midgett Sheppard