In the Name of God Amen, I, David Shepard, of Carteret County, in the Province of North Carolina, being weak in body, but of Sound Mind and Memory, and calling to mind the Mortality of my Body, that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following: I commit* my Soul unto the Hands of God that gave it, hoping through the Merits and Mediation of my Blessed Saviour to receive free pardon of all my sins; and my body I committ to the Earth from whence it was taken, to be buried in Christianlike manner at the Discretion of my Executors. And as to such Worldly Estate as it has pleased God to endow me with, I Dispose of it in the following manner, to wit:
First, I give and bequeath to my son, Solomon Shepard, a piece of Land on the West side of Black Creek which I bought of Lankisthur Lovett; and a piece joining to it which I took up myself; and a piece of Land on Boague Sound, known by the name of Smiths Hammock whereon he now lives; and a Piece on the head of Broad Creek which I took up myself; and a Negroe man named Sanko, and a negro man named Fryday. and a Negro man named Jim, to him and his Heirs forever, he paying Sixty pounds to my Estate for the said Negro Jim, to be disposed of as hereafter shall be mentioned
2th. I give unto my Grand son, David Shepard, son of Solomon Shepard, One Plantation on Boague Sound, at the Mouth of Goose Creek, which I bought of Thomas Townley, and known by the name of Townleys Point; And a Negro Girl named Seanev, to him and his Heirs forever-
3th. I give and bequeath unto the Heirs of my Son, Jacob Shepard, Deces'd, a piece of Land on Boagues Sound, called Whitehall, and a piece of Land on the South Side of Newport River, known by the name of Mount Pleasant; and a piece on the North side of Newport River whereon John Barber once lived; and a Negro man Named Harry, which said Lands he was possessed of in his lifetime & Disposed of in his Will to his Heirs.
4th. I give and bequeath to my son, Elijah Shepard, the Plantation whereon I now live, and a peaw of Land on the South side of Newport River Called Snows Neck, and a piece of Land on Boagues Sound known by the name of Bartroms Point, whereon he now lives; and a Negro man named Cuff, and a Negro man named Darbey; and a Negro man named Felix; and a Negro woman named Rachel he paying for the two last Negroes mentioned to my Estate the sum Twenty Pounds, to be divided as shall hereafter be mentioned; and if my son Elijah should die without Heirs Lawfully begotten of his Body that then, the Plantation on Boagues Sound whereon he now lives, shall be given to my grand son John Shepard, son of Jacob Shepard Dr and his Heirs forever; and the Plantation I now live on to be given to my grand son, David Shepard, son of Solomon Shepard, to him and his Heirs forever.
I also give unto my Two sons, Solomon and Elijah Shepard, a piece of Land on the South side of Newport River known by the name of Reads Neck; a piece joining to it which I bought of John Harmon, to be Equally divided between them, they paying to my Estate the Sum of Forty Pounds, to be divided as after mentioned.
5, I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Sarah Wallis, a Negro Woman named Cate, and her four Children her lifetime; and after her death the said Negroes, and the increase of them, to the Lawfull Heirs of her Body forever.
6. I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Rebeckah Sanders, a Negro Girl named Savinour, During her Life; and after Death to the Lawfull Heirs of her Body forever.
7th. I give and bequeath to my Daughter, Abigail Ward, a Negro Woman named Tab, and her four children and a Negro woman named Thamer and her child, for her lifetime, and after her death to the Lawfull Heirs of her Body forever: I also give unto my Grand son, David Ward, son of Abigail Ward, one Negro boy named Anthony.
8th. My Will further is, that Wiliam, Wilkins Taylour, have nor Possess no part nor parcell of my Estate as hereafter shall be mentioned. I give unto my Daughter, Elisabeth Taylours Heirs, Lawful of her Body, a Negro Woman named Venus & her Child, and a boy named Abram, and Negro Girl named Cloey, with their Increase. I also give unto my grand son, David Taylor, son of Elisabeth Taylor, One Negro boy named Peter, and if my Daughter Elisabeth Taylor should necesiated for a support, I leave it to the Discretion of my Executors to assist her, out of the Money & others of the Division of my Estate which is left to the Heirs of her Body, and if her Heirs should die before they come of age, or without Heirs Lawfully begotten, that then the above Legacy be divided Equally Between my Heirs.
9th, I give and bequeath un my beloved Wife, One Negro Girl named Tillar, her Lifetime and to be maintained out of my Estate, and after her decease the said Negro girl named Tiller, be given unto my grand sons Absolom, and Solomon Shepard.
10th. I give and bequeath unto my Grandson, David Sanders, Son of Rebeekah Sanders, one Negro Girl named Rhoady.
11th, I give and bequeath unto my Grand son, Solomon Sbepard, a Negro Woman named Vilot, and her child; I also give a Negro Woman named Dinah, and her three Children. to be equally divided between my Grand Sons, Absolom and Solomon Shepard.
12,1 give and bequeath unto my Grand son, Solomon Shepard, that Tract of Land on Boague Sound which his Father lived on, and which sd. Land I Bought of Habbicock Rustel, and to him and his Heirs forever, but if Solomon should Die without Heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten, that then the said land shall be given unto David Taylor, son of Elisabeth Taylor.
13th, I further Leave one Negro Girl named Annes to be sold by my Executors at their Discretion, and the money for said Negro, together with that afore mentioned, to be paid by my two sons, Solomon & Elijah Shepard, and all other money belonging to my Estate, together with my Houshold Furniture, and moveables, and Stock of Cattle, to be Equally Divided between my Legatees, to wit, Solomon Shepard, Elijah Shepard, Sarah Waltfs, Rebecah Sanders, Abigail Ward, the Heirs of Jacob Shepard Deacst, the Heirs of Elisabeth Taylor, & (the Heirs of) Absolom & Solomon Shepard, jr., which sd. Last three mentioned shall in proportion be Equal to one Shear. But if the said Negroes, Felix, Jim, or Rachel should die, or either of them, before Solomon or Elijah should be Pocest of them that then they shall not pay the sum agreed they "was valued to.
Lastly, for the better Executing this my Last Will and Testament, I Constitute and appoint Colonal William Thomson, and my two Sons, Solomon and Elijah Shepard, my Executors, and I do hereby Utterly Disallow, revoke & Disannull, All and every other Will or Will by me made, Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will & Testament,
in Wittness whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 30th, day of May in the Year of Our Lord, One thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy four.
David Shepard.
Signed, Sealed, Published and
Declared in Presence of us:
COrnelius CaNADY.
ber
Elisabeth Canady. X
mark
Gideon Canady.
The last Will and Testament of David Shepard, deceased, hereunto-annexed, was proved before me this thirteenth day of January, 1775, by the Oath of Gideon Canady, one of the Subscribing Witnesses thereunto, who swore that he was present and did see the said Testator sign. seal, publish and declare the same to be and contain his last Will and Testament; and that at the time thereof he was of sound and disposing mind and memory. And Solomon and Elijah Shepard, two of the Executors in the said Win named, having taken the Oaths of Executors and Qualified agreeable to Law, It is Ordered that Letters testamentary issue thereon accordingly.
Jas. Hasell.
Copied from Original Will, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.
Source: North Carolina Wills and Inventories, copied from Original and Recorded Wills and Inventories In the Office of the Secretary of State by J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, Published 1912) |