Willliam Graddy
Thomas Gray Previous Owner Land
William Harris
Francis Oliver, Witness
NancyScrews
Arthur Sheffield
Bryan Sheffield
Catherine Sheffield
Elizabeth Shuffield
Ephriam Sheffield
Isham Sheffield
John Sheffield
Lousia Sheffield
Polly Sheffield
Tabitha Sheffield
West Sheffield
William Sheffield
Wright Sheffield
Levin Watkins, Witness
Book A, p. 427, Duplin Co, NC
In the name of god, Amen. I John Sheffield of the County of Duplin and State of North Carolina, Planter, being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory and calling into mind the mortality of the Body the shortness of life and certainty of death, do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, viz Imprimius.
First of all, I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it me and my body to the dust to be buried at discretion of my Executors hereafter named. And as for the worldly good as it hath pleased God to bless me with I dispose of them as followeth.
Item, I give and bequeath to my son Ephriam Sheffield 80 acres of land including the plantation he lives on and being part of a tract of 250 acres I bought of Thomas Gray and lying on the third and fourth lines of the patent to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son William Sheffield 80 acres of land joining the piece I give Ephriam including part of the North Carolina Pecoson and lying on the fourth and fifth lines of the patent both pieces, that is to say Ephriams and Williams to be laid out with the advice and assistance of my Executors to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. The residue and remainder of my lands together with the plantation I live on I leave to my beloved wife Elizabeth Shuffield during her natural life or widowhood and after her decease or future marriage my will is that the same that is the whole remainder of my lands to be sold and the money arrising from such sale to be equally divided between my sons Wright Sheffield, Isham Sheffield, Bryan Sheffield, West Sheffield, Arthur Sheffield and my wife's son William Graddy, share and share alike.
Item. My future will and desire is that my young sorrell mare be sold at months credit and the money arrising from such sale to be divided equally between my daughters, Nancy Screws, Louisa, Polly, Catherine Sheffield and Tabitha Sheffield share and share alike, the shares of the younger ones to be kept at interest at the descretion of my Executors until they come of age or marry.
The residue and remainder of my personal estate consisting of stock of every kind, household kitchen and plantation tools of every kind I leave to my said beloved wife Elizabeth during her natural life or widowhood and she raising and schooling my younger children on the same and after her decease the same to be sold and the money divided between my sons Wright, Isham, Bryan, West, Arthur, my wife's son, William Graddy and my daughters Nancy, Louisa, Polly, FCatherine and Tabitha, but in case of my wife's marriage, my will is hat the sale and division immediately commence she having a child part and in that case my executors to take care of the younger children part in this minority.
Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my trusty friend Francis Oliver and Levin Wilkins to execute this last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all former wills declaring this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal.
John Shuffield
Signed, sealed and witnessed, published and declared by the said John Shuffield as his last Will and Testament this 22nd day of November 1790 in presence of Francis Oliver, Levin Watkins and William Harris.
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This will is not to be copied and posted on any other site!
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