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In the name of God Amen. I, William Watson of the county of Hyde and state of North Carolina, being of sound sence mind and memory but calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for me once to die doth therefore make this my Last Will and Testament first revoking and making null and void all other wills heretofore made by me or for me, making this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament in manner & form following, Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my well beloved son, Israel Watson eight acres of land on the South side of Mattamuskeet Lake and adjoining the land [of] William Watson And Caleb Swindells, decd. also one mare called Blaze to him and his heirs and assigns forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife, Sophia Watson, one horse named Champain and one linin wheel. I also lend my said wife one feather bed and furniture and one chist during her natural life, then I give the said feather bed and furniture to my well beloved son William Watson and the chist to my beloved Daughter Sophia Watson.

Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son William Watson, one cow & calfe.

Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son William Watson my well beloved son Benjamin Watson and my well beloved Daughter Sophia Watson all my pot iron ware to be equally divided between them.

Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Benjamin Watson one hundred and twelve & a halfe acres of land on the Southside [of] Mattamuskeet Lake also the Plantation whereon I now live, During the term of my Lease for the same with the crop on the same and he is to pay all my hirelings wages. I also give my said son one cow & calfe one blaed fase mare named Venus one gun one house frame and twenty-five barrels of corn now in the crib to him, his heirs and assigns forever. It is also my desire that amediatly after my decease that my said son Benjamin shall be invested with full power to recover his legacy left by this Will and act with it in every respect as if he was twenty-one years old.

Item: I give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Sophia Watson one feather bed & furniture, one linnen wheel one woolen wheel one loom with all its Harness and materials thereto belonging and one cow & calfe.

Item: I give and bequeath to Sarah Benson, Daughter of Masa Benson, one heifer yearling.

Item: I give and bequeath all the residue of my property that is not particularly mentioned in this will to be equally divided between all my children. Lastly and all, I nominate and appoint my well beloved sons James and William Watson my whole & sole executors to this my Last Will and Testament. Mattamuskeet February 9^th 1800
Signed, sealed, acknowledged this instrument of writing to be my last will and testament in the presence of
Joseph Masters
Amos Neal
William Murrey

/s/ William Watson Seal

August Term 1801 - This Last Will and Testament of William Watson, decd., was exhibited into court & duly proved by the oath of William Murry and evidenced thereto.
    Att: Ben. Foreman, Clk.

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!

© 2010 Kay Midgett Sheppard