At a Court held for Chowan Precinct at ye house of William Branch, July 17, 1716, present the Worshipful Thomas Bray, Jno Byrd, James Beasley, Thomas Garrett, Jr., Justices
The Last Will and Testament of Richard Swinson proved by oath of Mary Swinson and Gilbert Halliday
NORTH CAROLINA
In the Name of God, Amen. This twenty-fourth day of April One Thousand Seven Hundred and sixteen years. I Richard Swinson of the south shoor of Chowan and County of Abelmarle being aged and sick and weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory (thanks be to God) Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making null and void all former wills by me made either by word or writing and this only to be taken for my last will and no other in the manner and form as after follows (viz) -
Impris I give and bequeath my soull into the hands of Almighty God who gave it to me hoping full and free pardon of all my sins throu the merits of Jesus Christ my ever blessed Redeemer and my body to the earth to be Interred according to the descretion of my Exect. Hereafter mentioned and as for my Temporal estate which it hath pleased God in his mercy to bestow upon me,
I give and bequeath as followeth
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Richard Swinson the plantation I now live on (after the death of my dear and loving wife) with all houses and appurtonances thereunto belonging or roputed deemed taken and known to portain and belong to the said plantation to him the said Richard and to his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto Richard Kanaday my son in law that plantation whereon he now lives containing One hundred acres more or less and bounding upon the Pocoson to the little bridges to him the said Richard and to his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son John Swinson Two hundred acres of land lying up the Creek and binding on the land given to Richard Kanaday going quott across the Neck with all its appurtenances to the said John and to his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Richard my gun and one chestnut colored mare with her increase as also a cow called Buck and her increase and further it is my will that Richard dwell on the Manner plantation with his mother and to be aiding and assisting her for her future living after my decease.
It. I give unto my son John an heifer called Good Luck and her increase to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
It. I give and bequeath all the rest and remainder of my estate both real and personall unto my dear and loving wife for her future support and mentinance during all the days of her naturall life and after her death to be equally divided among all my children each having an equall share.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my oldest son William One Hundred and Fifty acres of land lying up the Creek and bounding upon the land given to my son John to him and his heirs (with this proviso only and no otherwayes) that is to say that he my said son William shall come and dwell upon the land with his wife as a good Christian ought to doe but and if my son William shall bring any other evil person or the person or body of one Ann Green or any of her relatives by blood then the said land to be at the full disposal of his Mother my dear and loving wife to be given by her to any of my children.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons Richard and John to each of them one ewe with the increase.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son William one ewe lamb in full of all my estate both real and moveable and no more to be given unto him after the decease of his mother.
Item. My will and desire is that none of my sons nor my son in law if they have a mind not to live in the Neck that they soll their land to no stranger but that it either desond to their heirs or be sold to one of their brothers or their heirs and I hereby constitute my dear and loving wife Elizabeth Swinson and with her Richard Kanaday my son in law to be Exet and Exectx of this my last will and testament. In witness wherof I have hereunto sett my hand and seall the day and year first above written.
Signum
Richard Swinson (Wax Seal)
Signed Sealed and Published and declared by Richard Swinson to be his last will and testament before and in the presence of
Mary Swinson
Gi Halliday