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State of North Carolina Craven County Court March Term 1791
Last Will and Testament
In the name of God, Amen. The Seventeenth Day of December 1759 Simon Beesley of Craven County in his majestys Province of North Carolina Planter being sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto god therefore calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is apointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and Testament. That is to say princaply and first of all I give and Recommend my soul unto the hand of God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in Christian Decent manner at the decretian of my Executor nothing doubling but at the eternal resurection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as Touching such worldly Estate whewith it hath pleased god to bless me in this life. ____ I give demise and depose of in the following manner In promise I give to Fearnot Beesley my beloved wife with all my household goods with all my Maovable Estate both quick and dead enduring her natural life the maintenance of my children I also nominate my beloved wife Fearnot Beasley my whole and Sole executrixe this my last will and Testament during her natural life and if in case my said wife should die before the children come to the age of Twenty one years old it is my desire that William Brice Fonville be executor in the room of beloved wife Fearnot Beesley.
Item. I give to my beloved son Ezekiel Beesley my Plantation whereon I formerly lived laying upon the mouth of the Rattle snake Branch containing one hundred acres of Land to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body and for want of such heir I give the mentioned above land to my beloved Daughter Dorcas Beesley to her and heirs.
Item. I give to my my beloved son Elisha Beesley the Plantation whereon I now live containing one hundred acres of Land to him and his heirs.
Item. I give to my beloved Daughter Elizabeth Beesley one hundred acres of Land Laying on the upper side of Rattle Snake Branch know by the name of Walnut Point to her and her heirs forever. In case my said daughter Dorcas Beasley should die without any heirs lawfully begotten to her body It is my will that my daughter Dorcas Beasley have the above mentioned land which I will my Daughter Elizabeth Beesley may have no right to dispose of the above land except to her brother Ezekiel and Elisha
Item. I give to my Daughter Dorcas Beasley Two fether Beds and two pots after her mother is deceased and a small chest after her mother deceased.
I do hereby alterly disalow all other former wills legaties and bequest and execute by me in any ways before name willed and Bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testament. In Witness wherof I the said Simon Beasley have hereunto let my hand and seal the day and year above written
Signed Stated Published premounced and declared by the said Simon Beasley as his last will and Testament in the presence of us.
| Solomon Beesley
Samuel Slade Jur. Entered in the Register office in book, letter N page 246 & 247 & 240 |
Note: Will was apparently water or fire damaged, recopied
and submitted along with the original