| Notes |
- Will: Sons: Richard, William and John (plantation divided between them and one negro each), Samuel (plantation in Pitt Co., lyng on Sami, Tison's branch, and one negro), Seth (plantation), Daughters: Mary, May, Ann Forbes, Prudence Stone and Elizabeth Stafford. Wife Elizabeth. Executors: William and John Stafford (sons). Witnesses: John Alexr, Willey, Chas. Hollingworth. Clerk of the Corth: Jno Burwin.
Last Will & Testament of William Stafford
New Hanover County, NC
In the name of God, amen. I, William Stafford, of New Hanover County in the Province of North Carolina being sick in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to Almighty God for it, but being well assured as it is appointed for all men to die. Therefore, I do order make and dispense this my last will and testament manner following, viz: I resign and recommend that when it shall please God to call my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping to attain to everlasting life through the ______ and mediation of my Blessed Saviour, Jesus Christ. As to my body, I desire that some convenient time after my death according to the discretion of my Executor, hereafter named, it may be committed with Christian burial to the Earth. And also, as touching the worldly goods and estate which it has been pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose of in following:
In ______, I leave to my loving wife, Elizabeth Stafford, the plantation I now live on and all the negroes during her widowhood.
Item: I give and bequeath to my two daughters, Mary May and Ann Forbes, one shilling sterling a piece.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Prudence Stone, Ten Pounds.
Item: I give to my son, Richard Stafford, one shilling sterling.
Item: I give to my son, William Stafford, and my son, John Stafford, a piece of land joining to George _George and Benjamin Gurley to be equally divided between them, and two Negroes, Sambo to William Stafford, and Ned to John Stafford.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, Samuel Stafford, a plantation in the Hill country lying on Sam Tison's branch, one hundred and eighty acres and one Negro boy, Gabriel.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, Seth Stafford, the plantation I now live on after the decease of my wife containing twenty-five acres and one Negro boy child, Melica.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Stafford, one Negro girl called, Phillis.
Item: All other of my moveable estate which I have not yet disposed of, I leave to my loving wife, Elizabeth Stafford, during her natural life, and after her decease, my desire is it may be equally divided amongst my four sons: William, John, Samuel, Seth, and daughter, Elizabeth, likewise.
Two plantations, one lying on the south side of the meadow Branch containing one hundred and eighty acres of land, and the other lies on Sightwood Swamp containing three hundred and eighty acres land which I desire should be sold by my Executor, hereafter mentioned, and the money equally divided among my five children, viz: William, John, Samuel, Seth, and Elizabeth, and, if either of these children decease without this lawfully begotten, then and in this case, the part of the deceased to fall to them living.
I constitute and appoint my son, William Stafford and John Stafford, to be my full and sole Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all other wills declaring this my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 31st day of August in the Year of Our Lord 1765.
William Stafford (Seal)
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered
in the Presence of Us
John Alex. Willey
Charles Hollingsworth
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- 1765
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