WILL OF GEORGE READ - 1755 In the Name of God Amen, I George Read of Carteret County in the Province of North Carolina calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing it is appointed for all once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, in manner and form, following.
First I commend my Soul in the hands of Almighty God, that created it, and my body to the earth from whence it was taken.
I will that my beloved wife Anne shall have the house and plantation whereon I now dwell during her natural life if she remains a widow.
I give and bequeath unto my son Robert Read his heirs and assigns forever, the aforesaid house & plantation after the decease of my wife.
I also give and bequeath unto my son Robert, his heirs & assigns forever, all my other lands which I have in Carteret County or in the Island of Barbados, provided my son be living at my decease or have a lawful male issue at my decease. But in such case my said son Robert should die before me or not leave male issue that and in such case, I give & bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Read, her heirs and assigns forever, the house & plantation whereon I now live and my largest bible the said bible to be delivered her at the age of fourteen years.
I will & desire that if my aforesaid son Robert should die before me or not having lawful male issue that then, and in such case I give and bequeath unto my daughter Frances her heirs and assigns forever, a Piece of Land wch I Lately bought of George Cogdell, called or known by the name of Snows Point.
I will and Desire that if my aforesaid son Robert die before me or not leave lawful male issue that in such case I give & bequeath my daughters Sarah & Frances Read and their heirs forever the land I bought off Joshua Nash which sd land is to support the other land with rail timber and firewood.
I give and Bequeath to my said son Robert my watch & razor and wearing Apparal & feather bed and furniture which is kept upstairs.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha the wife of Israel Christian five shillings sterling money & I give unto the said Israel all my navigation books and Surveying books.
I give unto my daughter Anne the wife of John Morgan on shilling sterling.
I will and order that my son Robert shall pay unto each of his sisters that is to say unto Sarah Read and Frances Read the sum of six pounds proclamation money when they shall respectively arrive at the age of sixteen years.
I give and bequeath to my wife Anne, & unto my daughters Sarah and Frances all the rest & residue of my personnel estate to be divided among them each one third.
Lastly I appoint my wife Anne to be my executrix of this my last will & testament desiring my good friends Thomas Lovick & David Shepard Esqrs. to be aiding and assisting to her in the execution thereof hereby revoking and making null & void all other will or wills heretofore made by me In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th Day of May 1753.George Read Signed sealed published and delivered in presence of:
George Cogdall
Gregg Yarbrough
Jacob ShepardSeptember Court 1755 Carteret County
Present his Majesties Justices these are to certified that Jacob Shepard made oath in open court that he saw George Read sign seal publish and declare the written instrument of writing to be and contain his last will & testament & that George Cogdall and Gregg Yarbrough were present at the signing the said will and that Ann Read therein appointed executrix qualified as the law directs
Test. Jacob Shepard Deputy Clerk
©1999 Joel S. Russell. All rights reserved.