RICHARD WILLIAMS' DAUGHTER, CHRISTIAN, MARRIED SAMPSON BRASWELL, SON OF JOHN & ALICE OF ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY VIRGINIA
In the name of God Amen the twenty eight day of September 1761, I RICHARD WILLIAMS of the County of Bertie in the province of North Carolina being sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye Do make and ordain this my Last will and testament. That is to say principally and first I Recommend my Soul into ye hand of god thatt gave itt. And my Body I Recommend to ye earth to be Buried in a Decent Christian manner att the Discretion of my Extr. -- And as touching my worldly estate, wherewith itt hath Pleased God to Bless me in this Life. I give Demise and -- Dispose of the same in the following maner and form --
Imprimis. I give an Bequeath to my Son RICHARD WILLIAMS to him and his heirs forever A certain parcell of Land where in ELIAS DEAVENPORT now Liveth containing two hundred and fifty Acres more or less. Bounded as followeth Beginning att a maple WM. ANDREW'S corner. then South thirty degrees east one hundred and twenty five poles then North forty five degrees east three hundred and twenty pole to ye pattern line then along ye pattern line North Thirty degrees West to ye corner. then along ye pattern Line South forty-five degrees west to ye first station--
Item. I give and Bequeath to my son BENJAMIN WILLIAMS to him and his heirs forever the plantation Whereon I now live and two hundred and fifty acres of land Joining thereto bounded as follows Begining at my son RICHARDS corner in the Low grounds of ye river then south thirty degrees east one hundred and twenty five pole then North forty five degrees east three hundred and twenty pole to ye patten line then along ye patten line North thirty degrees west to my son RICHARDS corner then South forty five degrees west along his line to ye first Station.
Item. I give and Bequeath to my Son GEORGE WILLIAMS to him and his heirs forever one hundred and forty Acres of Land Joining to my son BENJAMINS Land being ye remainder part of the patten. Likewise my grist Mill and seventeen pounds proclamation money to be raisd out of my estate. (Turn Over) To pay for A certain parcell of land which I agreed with Jacob Thomas for.
Item. I give and Bequeath to my Son REUBEN WILLIAMS to him and His heirs forever A certain parcell of land Lying Gravelle County on tar River containing 320 acres more or less Beginning att a cypress standing in The river than A North course to the patten Line. Then Along ye patten Line up ye River to a red oak. then South to The River. Then down ye river to
first station. ----
Item. I give and Bequeath to my Son SIMON WILLIAMS to him and his heirs for ever ye remainder part of thatt patten Which I give to my son REUBEN. ----------
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter CHRISTIAN BRAZELL to her and her heirs for ever ye plantation whereon she now lives. ---------
Item. I give and Bequeath to my daughter SARAH WILLIAMS to her and her heirs for ever one negro girl named ROSE.
Item. I give and Bequeath to my Sons SIMON and REUBEN WILLIAMS all my the cattle that belongs to my Plantation on Tar River to be equally divided between them.
Item. I Lend to my Loving Wife MARY WILLIAMS ye Remainder Part of my estate during her Life and After her Decease I leave itt to Be equally divided Between my Seven Children viz. MARTHA RICHARD ELIZABETH MARY REUBEN BENJAMIN and GEORGE WILLIAMS. --------
I also make and ordain WM. ANDREWS and ARTHUR BROWN Sole Executors of this my Last will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannull all and every other former Testaments will or wills made by me confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament ----In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and fixt my seal the day and year above written.
Signd Seald in ye presence of: Henry Abbott, Jurat
Arthur Bell Will (?) Holland Signed: RICHARD (R) WILLIAMS
BERTIE CO., NC WILL IN LOOSE PAPERS, ESTATE BOX, N. C. STATE ARCHIVES