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I, Easter Tunnell of the County of Hyde and State of North Carolina, being of sound mind and memory, but considering the uncertainty of my earthly existence, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say:

First that my executor herein after mentioned, shall provide for my body a decent burial, suitable to the wishes of my relations and friends, and pay all funeral expenses, together with my just debts, howsoever and to whomsoever owning, out of the moneys that may first come into his hands as a part or parcel of my estate.

Item.  I give and devise to my son Alexander B. Tunnell that part of the Milby tract of land whereon I now live lying west of the road leading to the house excepting a half acre lot sold to Henry Gibbs dec^d containing seven acres.  Also all that part of the Zorobabel Tract of land wich [which] devised to me by the will of my father Adam Gaskins, both of the above named tracts was devised to me by my Father Adam Gaskins.  Also the land which I bought of Joseph C. Tunnell joining Festus A. Gibbs containing twenty four acres and another piece bought of Joseph C. Tunnell joining Dixon Swindell containing six acres with all the privileges they heretofore belonged, to him & his heirs forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to Benjamin F. Tunnell, Joseph C. Tunnell, Hetty Brooks and Dianna G. Gibbs a negro woman slave named Lidia and negro girl slave named Malvina and their increase to them their heirs and assigns forever.

Item.  I give & bequeath to Joseph C. Tunnell & Allexander B. Tunnell the residue of the proceeds of the sales, Horses, cattle and all other chattle property if any left after paying my burial expenses and all my just debts.

And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friend & son Joseph C. Tunnell my lawful executor to all intents and purposes to execute this my last will and testament according to the true intent and meaning of the same, and every part and clause thereof, hereby revoking and declaring utterly void, all other wills and testaments by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof I the said Easter Tunnell do hereunto set my hand and seal this 30^th day April 1852.

/s/ Easter Tunnell

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Easter Tunnell to be her last will & testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence do subscribe our names as witnesses thereto.
    Dixon Swindell
    Joseph Swindell

North Carolina }      Hyde County SS
  Hyde County  }      November Term 1865
    A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Easter Tunnell, deceased, is exhibited for probate in open court by Joseph C. Tunnell, the executor therein named, and the due execution thereof by the said Easter Tunnell is proved by the oath and examination of Joseph Swindell one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, and also that the signature of Dixon Swindell the other witness thereto is dead was proved to be in his own hand writing.  It is therefore considered by the Court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of the said Easter Tunnell and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed.  And thereupon the said Joseph C. Tunnell, Executor as aforesaid, duly qualified as such by taking the oath required by law.
    Test.  W.W. Spencer, Clk.

[On back of will - Recorded by Geo. W. Swindell, Clk. Page 41 & 2 Will Book No. 2]

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!

© 2009 Kay Midgett Sheppard