At a court held for the County of Southampton .the 8thday of Nov 1781 This will was presented in court by Micajah Griffin the executors therein named and proved by the oaths of R Kello and Harwell Crocker two of the witnesses thereto and on the motion .of the said executor who gave oath according to law Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form giving Security whereupon &c ...............................................Sam Kello Cl [In the left margin] Branch Howell Will In the name of God Amen, I Howell Branch of the county of Southampton being very weak in body but of Perfect Mind and memory thanks be given to God do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following Vitz. Imperiou, I lend the use of my land & plantation whereon I now dwell Containing One hundred and Eighty Acres unto my loving wife Elizabeth Branch during my said Wifw Widowhood or Natural Life but at her Marriage or death I give such land to be equally divided betweem two of my sons namely Drewry and Peter Branch to be equally divided by Three Neighboring Men. Item: I give & bequeth unto my SonJesse Branch my Negro Man named Jacob but it is my will and desire that my said slave Jacob shall labor for my four children namely Drewry, Martha, Peter and Jesse Brnch and the said slave Jacob to labor on the plantation whereon I now dwell until my son Jesse Arrives to the age of Sixteen years from thence the said slave Jacob to remain with my son Jesse and his heirs forever Item: I give & bequeth unto my Daughter Martha Branch the sum of Sixty pounds in actual gold or silver to be raised and loaned out of my Estate at the discretion of my Executor it is further my will and desire that my son Drewry shall have his choice of the two parts of my land at last taken which half of my land as may be his my said son Drewry choise after divide by three Neighboring men as aforesaid Then I give and bequeath such Lands aforesaid unto my sᵈ two sons as before Divides to them and their heirs forever Item: The Remainer of my Estate let it be of what nature or kind soever I give to be equally divided amonst my wifw and four Children such remainer of my Estate to be sold and equally divided as aforesaid when my son Jesse arrives to sixteen years of age it is further my Will that my Wife and Children shall Purchase such Estate as is herein before divided as Remainer and that no other Person or Persons shall have a right to Purchase but my Wife and Children at the time I have devised for such remainer of my estate to be sold which it is my Will that such remaining Estate after my just debts and Legacies are paid such Estate if any shall then remain to be sold to the highest Bidder amongst my Wife and Children only & then be divided as aforesaid and I do also Constitute and Appoint Bailey Branch and John Wellons Senr. my whole and sole executors to this my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 12 day of Oct 1781 Sign'd Seal'd Publish'd Pronounc'd and declar'd ..................his ...........his ..........................his In presence of Benj x Branch Henry x Branch Jas Summerell} Howell x Branch ..................mark ..........mark .........................mark [Continued on next page] At a court held for the County of Southampton the 8th day of November 1781 This will was presented in court by John Wellons the executors therein named & proved by the oaths of Benjamin Branch Henry Branch and James Summerell the Witnesses thereto and and to be recorded. Snd on the motion .of the said executors who gave oath according to law Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate in due form giving Security whereupon &c ....................................................Sam Kello Cl ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Received by the STP from Fenton Harrison on 7/13/22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------