Will of James Godwin, Sr. - Carteret County, NC - May 1858

In the name of God, Amen.  Now be it known that I, James Godwin Sr., of the county of Carteret and state of North Carolina being of sound mind and disposing memory to make, publish and declare this my last will and testament as follows.  I give devise limit and appoint to my son James Godwin Jr. a certain piece of land lying in Jones County and on the north side of Hunter’s Creek on which he now lives and give bequeath to him and his heirs and assigns forever so far as one hundred acres.  I give to my son William Godwin a certain piece or parcel of land also in Jones County that he lived on to the eastward of Ceraney (ss?) Branch including the house he lives in and also the boxes he tends the same to his heirs and assigns forever.  Also, I give to my son Edward Godwin a certain piece of land also in Jones County on the Westward side of Cerass Branch
and with Wm. Mundens line and to Richard D. Bell’s or Redding Scott’s line the same to his heirs and assigns forever.  I give to my wife, Elizabeth Godwin the balance of my lands in the County of Jones and Carteret during the term of her naturalife, and at her death I leave it with my executor to do as he may think best to let the lands be sold and divide the money equally between my three children, Lucy Godwin, Elizabeth Godwin, and Willis Godwin or to have the lands equally divided between them the same to their heirs and assigns forever, also I leave it with my executor to sell my stock and collect what is due my estate and pay my lawful debts and dispose of the balance as he may see proper.  I also make constitute and appoint my friend Jeremiah J. Pelletier to be executor of this my last will and testatment.

In testimony where of I the said James Godwin Sr. have hereunto set my hand and seal the 31st day of April AD 1858.                  James (X) Godwin (Seal)

Signed, sealed, published and delivered by said James Godwin Sr. as his last will & testament in our presence who at request of our testatrix and in his presence of each other have  become witness hereto.

T.R. Wilson
Wm. S. Bell

Carteret County Court May term AD 1858.  The forgoing paper writing purporting to be the last will & testament of James Godwin deceased is exhibited for probate in open court by Jeremiah J. Pelletier, the executor therein named, and the due execution thereof by the said James Godwin, as proved by the oath & examination of T. R. Willis & William S. Bell, the
subscribing witnesses thereto.  It is therefore ordered by the court that the said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will & testament of the said James Godwin, and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed and thereupon the said
Jeremiah J. Pelletier, executor as aforesaid, duly qualifies as such by making the oath required by law -

Jas Runsby - Clerk of Court.