Attempt has been made to preserve the spelling, capitalization, and
punctuation (or lack thereof) as found in the copy secured
at the NC Archives on Nov. 8, 1986 and transcribed by Frances Henderson
on May 26, 1999.
Individuals named
Mary Cavenagh
Abraham Wade, one of two eldest sons
Jacob Wade, one of two eldest sons, and executor
Enoch Ward, son and executor
Ananias Cavenagh, decesaed, bought land from Edward Ward
Elizabeth Canada, eldest daughter
Mary Thompson, daugher
Joanna Simpson, daughter
Sarah Benthall, daughter
Henrietta Chadwick, daughter
Jane Davis, daughter
Cavenagh Simpson, grandson, son of Joanna
Ananias Canada, grandson, son of Elizabeth
Sam Leffers, witness
Jos Davis
Peleg (?) Durfey (?)
In the Name of God Amen I Mary Cavenagh Widow, of Carteret County in
the Province of North Carolina being weak and
sick but of Sound Mind and Memory do make Ordain and appoint this and
this only my last Will and Testament first I bequeath
my Soul to God who gave it, and my Body to the Dust to be buried in
decent manner as my afternamed Executors shall direct
and appoint: and as to what Worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bless
me with I Will and dispose of it as follows, that is to
say. Imprimis, after all my just Debts and Funeral Charges are paid
and Answer'd I give and bequeath unto my two eldest Sons
Abraham and Jacob Wade one Negro Man Named Windsor jointly between
them, to be divied [divided?] and disposed of as
they shall think proper: to them their Heirs and Assigns for ever.
I also bequeath unto my said Son Jacob two Cows and Calves
to him his Heirs and Assigns.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Enoch Ward One Tract of Land lying
and being in said County of Carteret at a place
called Bells Neck (as mentioned in two Patents the one granted to Ananias
Cavenagh deceas'd and the remainder Land which
was purchased by said Cavenagh of Edward Ward) to him a Negro Woman
named Sarah, one girl named Violet, a girl named
Junior, a girl named Dinah & a girl named Lucy, them with their
Issue to him his Heirs and Assigns for ever. I also bequeath
unto my said Son Enoch all my Household Furniture Plantation Utensils
and all my Quick Stock beside what is mentioned
already and shall be hereafter mentioned in other Legacies to him his
Heirs and Assigns for ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest Daughter Elizabeth Canada the
Sum of Twenty Pounds, Proclamation Mony, to her,
her Heirs
[end of first page] (and)
and Assigns for ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Thomson the Sum of Ten
Shillings Proclamation Mony to her, her Heirs and
Assigns for ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Joanna Simpson the Sum of
Twenty Pounds Proclamation Mony to her, her Heirs
and Assigns for ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Benthall the Sum of
Twenty Pounds Proclamation Mony. and one Cow and
Calf to her, her Heirs and Assigns for ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Henrietta Chadwick one Negro
Gril Named Rose to her, her Heirs and Assigns for
Ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Jane Davis one Negro Girl named Flora to her, her Heirs and Assigns for ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto Cavenagh Simpson, son of my said Daughter
Joanna Simpson one young Mare to him his Heirs
and Assigns for ever.
Item I give and bequeath unto Ananias Canada, Son of my said Daughter
Elizabeth Canada one Mare to him, his Heirs and
Assigns for ever.
And lastly revoking all former Wills I appoint my said Sons Jacob Wade
and Enoch Ward Executors to Execute this my last
Will and Testament according to the true intent and meaning hereof.
In Witness whereof I the said Mary Cavenagh have
hereunto set my Hand and Seal this Fifteenth Day of April in the Year
of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and Sixty
Eight.
Mary Cavenagh [her mark and drawn seal]
The Name Ward was interlined
before the executing of
these presents,
Seal'd Sign'd and Deliver'd
in presence of Sam Leffers
Jos Davis
Peleg Durfey [?]
[Note: If you know who this last witness was, please let me know. Peleg
Durfey or Crleg or Arleg just don't compute in my
brain as a man's name!!]
Carteret June Court 1768
This May Certify that Sam Leffers Came into Court and made Oath on the
Holy Evangelist that he Saw Mary Cavanagh Sign
Seal & Deliver the foregoing Writing To Be Her Last will and Testament
and That he Saw Jos Davis & _ _ leg Durfey
Evedince The Said [runs off the page]
Test R. C.[?} Read C. I. [J?} C.