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Joseph Tunnell
Feb. 27, 1843 - May Term 1843

In the Name of God

I, Joseph Tunnel of the State of North Carolina and county of Hyde make and ordain this my last will and testament in form following To wit--

First I give to my beloved wife Esther Tunnel all my household and kitchen firniture. Allso all my stock, horses, hogs and cattle. Allso I give my wife all of my land adjoining the land whereon I now live during her widdo hood. Allso three Nigroes, nigro men Simon and Crates? Nigro woman Leucy during hir life time provided she pays my debts and she is at liberty to sell as much of the above described property as will pay them. Allso to maintain my children Dianna, Hetty & Elexander and to school Ellexander. I leave my wife one judgment against Tho. Ballance for twenty dollars & thirty fore dollars in cash to pay as judgment obtained against me by Jas. Adams.

Item 2^d: I give my son Joseph Tunnel twenty fore acres of land and plantation whereon I now live beginning at the public road and ajoining the lands of Marcus Swindell to be devided by a line runing east & west. Allso six acres of swamp adjoining Dixon Swindell. Allso one Nigro girl by the name of Nance.

Item 3^d: I give my son Sam'l. T. Tunnel fifteen acres of land more or less lying on the east side of the leading ditch and adjoining the public road. Allso one Nigro girl by the name of Betsy.

Item 4^th: I give Benjamin F. Tunnel twenty fore acres of swamp land ajoing Saml. G. Watson. Allso one Nigro woman by the name of Lid and one Nirgo girl by the [name] of Elender, the said Nigors Lid & Elender to remain on the plantation for the use of the plantation untel all my.debts are paid.

Item 5^th: I give & bequeath to my son Elexander Tunnel all my land on the west side of the leading ditch in the plantation whareon I now live not otherwise disposed of. Allso one Nigro boy by the name of Andrue. Allso one Nigro man by the name of Cratus? to become in possession of him after the death of his mother, Esther Tunnel.

Item 6^th: I give to my daughter Diana one Nigro boy by the name of Barny.

Item 7^th: I giver to my daughter Esther one Nigro woman Jude. Allso after the death of hir mother I give to my daughter Esther a Nigro woman and her increase by the name of Leusay. Allso Simon.

My will is after the death or wido hood of my beloved wife that all my household and kitchen firniture and all of the stock be equaly devid between my six children--Benj. F., Samuwell T., Esther, Joseph, Diana, and Elexander Tunnels.

Item 8^th: I give and bequeath to my son Elexander Tunnel six & half acres of land adjoining Dixson Swindell.

My will is that the crop begun shall be finished and the produce to be hous'd before it is disposed of.

I leave my son Benjamin F. Tunnel my whole and executor to this my last will and testament whereunto I set my hand and affix my seal Feb. 27th 1843.
    /s/ Joseph Tunnel

In the preasants of us
V.W. Saunderson
James McClaud

State of North Carolina }    Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions
           Hyde County       }    May Term 1853
    The execution of this paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Joseph Tunnell was duly proved in open Court by the oath of Vincent W. Sanderson a subscribing witness thereto as a will to keep both the real & personal estate therein contained & ordered to be recorded
    Test. R.M.G. Moore, Clk. CC.

And Benjamin Tunnell who is appointed executor therein qualified as executor thereto.
    Test: R.M.G. Moore, Clk. C.C.

[On back of will - Recorded in Will Book [no number given]; pg. 231 - 22^nd June 1843. /s/ R.M.G. Moore, Clk.

This estate 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!