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John Williams, Sr. of Carteret County
June 6, 1787 - Probate: ????

In the Name of God Amen, I John Williams, Senior of the Island of Oucracock in Cartwright County State of North Carolina (Marriner) being Sick and Weak of Body but of perfect mind and Memory thanks be given unto God, And calling to mind the Immortality of my Body and knowing it is Appointed for all Men once to die, Do make Ordain and constitute this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say. Principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, And my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors not doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the might power of God, AND as touching such Wordly [sic] Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this Life, I give devise, bequeath, and dispose of the same, as follows. I give and bequeath unto my beloved Sons John Williams, Joseph Williams, and Benjamin Williams and to the Heirs of their Bodies lawfully begotten for Ever Jointly and equally amongst them or to be by them divided in such manner as they may hereafter find most convenient and suitable to themselves, All my Lands, Tenements, Orchards, Gardens, Ways, Waterways, Beeches, Marshes, Fencing and all other Appertenances, Rights, Rents, and Privaledges whatsoever thereunto belonging, Situate lying and being on the Island of Oucracock in Cartwright County, State of North Carolina Beginning at the marked Live Oak Tree growing near the present dwelling House of William Howard, Junior and running from thence East North East unto a marked Cedar Tree near the present Dwelling House of John Neal, And running from thence along the Old Line of Francis Jackson, Senior unto a well known Stake in the Marsh And running from thence East North East close along the Sound Side unto the little Swash, And running from thence a streight line unto the Sea Shore on the Opposite side, And running from thence close along the Sea side unto the line of William Williams, at which place it shall end. Also unto my said beloved Sons John Williams, Joseph Williams and Benjamin Williams I give and bequeath One Bed each with the necessary furniture thereunto belonging, but it is my Will and I do desire that my dearly Beloved Wife Elizabeth do first make choice of the Bed I have herein after in this my Will bequeathed unto her. Also unto the Heirs lawfully begotten of my late beloved Daughter Mary Gaskins I give and bequeath the Sum of Five Shillings lawful money of this State. Also unto the Heirs lawfully begotten of my late beloved Son James Williams I give and bequeath the sum of Four pounds lawful money of this State. Also unto the Heirs lawfully begotten of my late beloved Son Francis Williams I give and bequeath the Sum of Four pounds lawful money of this State. Also I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Jane Gaskill Five Ewe Sheep. The rest and residue of my Sheep, Horses, and Cattle I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Sons Joseph and Benjamin Williams to be devided between them in such manner as they may hereafter find most convenient and suitable to themselves. Lastly I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth One Bed with all necessary furniture thereunto belonging And it is my Will and I do desire that she do take the said Bed as above bequeathed her first from out of the number of Beds that may be in my Dwelling House at the time of my Decease without any interuption whatsoever. All the Rest and residue of my Effects whatsoever together with my present Dwelling House, out Houses, Furniture, Apparel, Utensils, Corn money, Watches, Plate, Rings, Notes, Bills, Bonds, Debts, dues and Demands of any kind whatsoever, I also Will give and bequeath unto my said dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth to be by her freely and without molestation possessed and enjoyed during the term of her Life, But it is my Will and I do desire that my beloved Sons Joseph and Benjamin Williams to live and reside in my said Dwelling House with my said dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth so long as they may find it convenient to themselves provided they do behave themselves in a peaceful and Dutiful manner to their Mother, But on the contrary my said Dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth shall have full power to put either or both of them my said Sons Joseph and Benjamin out of my aforesaid Dwelling House and keep them out thereof during her life time. And it is further my Will and desire, that after the Decease of my Dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth every thing herein Willed and bequeathed unto her my said Wife shall devolve to and be the joint property of my beloved Sons Joseph and Benjamin Williams and the Heirs of their Bodys lawfully begotten (my Dwelling House only Excepted). And after the Decease of my said dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth it is my Will that my said Dwelling House and Out Houses shall decend too and be the sole right and property of my beloved and youngest Son Benjamin Williams to be by him and the Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten possessed for Ever. And I do hereby make and constitute and appoint my beloved Sons William and Joseph Williams to be my Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disannul, revoke, and make void all and every other former Will, Testament, Legacy, Bequest, and Executors by me in any ways before named Willed and Bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Sixth day of June in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty Seven.

/s/ John [his mark] Williams

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and declared by the said John Williams to be his last Will and Testament In the presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names. Solomon Bragg William Onell

Original Filed at DAH, Carteret County Wills, 1744-1921 (C.R. 019.801.10) - Courtesy of Ellen A. Williams