The Last Will & Testament of John Hunt

In the name of God Amen I John Hunt of Franklin County in the State of North Carolina being in health and of disposing mind and memory and Calling to mind the uncertain State of mankind in this world, and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die Do ordain and establish this as my last Will and Testament.. that is to say first of all I recommend my Soul to Almighty God that gave it to me,.. nothing doubting but at resurrection of the dead I shall Receive the Same again by the mighty power of God.. And as Touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me in this life I dispose of in the following manner. -

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy Hunter all the negroes and other property which I heretofore gave her to her, her heirs and assigns forever

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my daughter Ammaryllis Hilliard all the negroes and other property I heretofore gave her to her her heirs and assigns forever -

Imprimis In case there should be a necessity for Selling any part of my Estate for the payment of my just debts, my executors herein after named are authorised hereby to sell for that purpose a piece of Land I own near Granville Court House, as also negroes [Savina?] & Gracy [illegible word].

Imprimis. I lend to my beloved wife Mary Hunt all the Residue of my Estate subject to the following Contingencies

Imprimis I give and bequeath to each of my Children, Patience, James, Willis John & Alford, as also my beloved wife one Sixth part of my personal estate to each of them their heirs & assigns forever, reserving to my beloved wife the use of all until the marrying or coming of age of my Said Children, and as they come of age or marry my will is that they may respectively take its part of the estate hereby given. I also lend to my beloved wife during her natural life such part of my real estate Situated in Franklin county as may be necessary for her use -

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my sons James & Willis all my Lands in Wake County, to them their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided between them.

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my sons John & Alford all the Lands I own in Franklin County to them, their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided between them-

I do nominate, thereby appoint my son Nathaniel, my sons in law Osborn Hunter & Robert Carter Hilliard and my friend John Haywood the elder of Franklin County Executors to this last will & Testament, and do also appoint them Guardians to all my children that are not of age. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my Seal this 8^th day of April 1807.

(signed) J Hunt {seal}

[Franklin County, North Carolina Will Bk C, p. 85. Copy obtained from NC Archives in Raleigh by Isom L. Stephens, Layton, UT, 1979,and sent to William M. Hunt. Probate date for will reported as December 1807]

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Notes:

1. spelling & punctuation on copy is retained.