Source: North Carolina State Archives Written: March 8, 1796 Recorded: September 1845 State of North Carolina In the Name of God Amen - I Joshua Sutton of the County of New Hanover & State aforesaid being very sick and weak in Bodey but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God and calling to mind the mortality of my Bodey and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dey Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament 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 to the Earth to be Buried in a Deacent Cristain like manner at the Discretion of my Execturs nothing Doubting but at the general Resurection I shall receive the same again in the mity Power of God and as touching such worldly where With it has pleased God to Bless me in this Life I give Demise and Dispose of the same in the following maner and form --- First I give and bequeath unto my son Benjaman Sutton one tract of Land Containing three hundred acres lying on the west side of the White Oak Swamp on Mores Creek--- Item I give to my son Anthoney Sutton Two hundred acres of Land on the north side of his Brother Benjamans on said white oak Swamp and allso the plantation whereon I now Live after his mothers Decease also one hundred acres of Land over Mors Creek where Derden Livd. Then I give to my Son Joshua Sutton Two Hundred acres of Land Lying to the north side of his Brother Anthoneys Land and said white oak Swamp Item I give to my Son in Law Jacob Sheperd one hundred & fifty acres of Land Lying on Long Branch Item I give to my Two Sons Benjaman & Joshua Three Hundred acres of Land lying on mulberrey one hundred and Fifty apiece the Lower part to Benjaman the uper to Joshua Item I give unto my Two Sons Benjaman & Joshua Each of them one Fether Bed Item I give to my beloved wife Nansey Sutton the use of three fether Beds one Desk Chest & Case With all the houshold furniture that I Leave During her natural Life and after her Demise I give to my Dauter Becke one fether Bed and to my Son Anthony one fether Bed and to my Dauter Comfort one fether Bed and all the Rest of my houshold furniture to be Equely Divided amongst all my Childron after my wife’s decease Item I give to my Son Anthony one negro garl named Lot Item I give to my Daughter Comfort one negro girl named Salina then I will that my negro wench Dol be sold to pay Debts then I Leave the use of all my other Negros to my wife - During her Life then to be Equelly Divided amongst all my Children Except Anthony & Comfort that I have allredy given negros too then I leave my hors Rainbow to be sold to pay a debt to Fentress and the Black mare I Leave to my wife But the Increas to be Divided amongst amongst those of my Children that has not had any hors given them then I give to Benjaman Joshua Nansey Rebecker Anthoney & Comfort three cows and calves a piece then I leve my Dry Cattle To be sold to rase money to School my Children Item I Leave Two horses for the use of the plantation and the other hors hors kind I leave for Breaders and the Increase to be Divided amongst those of my Children that had no horse given them then the Remainder of the horse kind to belong to Benjaman & Joshua then I Leave my sheep to be Divided amongst all my Children only Sarah Barrow and Betsey Sheperd that has had sheep given them Item I give to my Son Joshua my Blacksmiths tools wriding Sadle and wareing Cloths & one Rifle & one Smoth Bore Gun Item I leave Two hundred acres of Land where Ethonton Rachel now Lives to be sold and Rail paid out of the the money and the rest of it for rest the Family with all the plantation tools and I here by make and ordain my Beloved wife Nancey Sutton Executrix and my Son Benjaman Sutton Executor of this my last will and testament and that my Son Benjaman Shall take the land, plantation and tools to Crop it and Draw one thiurd of the Crop for him self the other Two thirs his mother for the use of the family. and I do hereby uterly Disalow revoak and Disanul all and Every other former testaments wills Legeseys Bequeths and Executers by me in any wise Before named Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and testament and I do Substitute & apoint Wm. Sam’l. Ashe & James Fentress my true and trusty friends to see this my Last will and testament proved In Cort. God Save the world amen In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and Seal this Eighth Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred & Ninety Six Joshua (his mark) Sutton Signed Sealed published pronounced & Declared By the Said Joshua Sutton as his Last will and testament in the presents of us Elender (her mark) Rachel John Warden James Fentress The last Will and Testament of Joshua Sutton Dec’d. exhibited into Court and proved by the oath of James Fentress in due form of Law - at the Same time Benjamin Sutton therein named qualified as Executor March Term 1796. - Geo. Gibbs, D’Clerk Recorded in Book C page 405 by order of Court at Septr. Term 1845, Teste L. H. Marsteller, Clk.