In the name of God Amen, I Benjamin Adams of Southampton County being sick & weak in body but of sound sense & Memory, thanks be to God for the same & calling to mind the certainty of death do think this the most proper time to make constitute and ordain this my last Will and Testament. And first, I recommend my soul to God who gave it me hoping he will receive it through the merits of a crucified Redeemer And as to my worldy good which it hath pleas'd God to bless me with I dispose of in manner & form following Viz Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Sally Ivy one bed & furniture one cow and calf three Sheep which she has now in possession and five shillings to be paid in twelve months after my death to her & her heirs forever Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Priscilla Prince one feather bed & furniture one cow & calf & three Sheep which I have given her possession of & also 5/ to be paid to her in 12 months after my death to her & her heirs forever Item: I lend to my loving wife Margaret Adams during her natural life the use of my plantation whereon I now live also my negro man Will one feather bed & furniture my bay mare two cows & calves two sows & shoats or piggs [sic] one table & all my pewter & corn & meat to support her twelve months after my death & all my sheep & all my kitchen furniture & the loom & harness & all the cards & wheel I have all my Sider & brandy casks & barrels two axes two hoes & 1 plow hos side saddle & bridle Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Charlott Adams one feather bed & furniture, one cow & Calf & four dollars to be paid in twelve months after my death to her & her heirs forever Item: I give & bequeath to my loving daughter Nancy Adams one feather bed and furniture one Cow & calf & four dollars to be paid in twelve months after my death to her & her heirs forever. Item: I give & bequeath to my loving son Arthur Adams all the land I own but reserve the use of the Plantation whereon I live for his Mother during her natural life Also I give him one feather bed & furniture all my carpenters & coopers tools & my bay filly & Saddle & my Gun & four pounds to be paid in twelve months after my death to him & his heirs & assigns forever Item: I give & bequeath to my loving daughter Betsy Adams sixteen pounds to her and her heirs forever Item: I give & bequeath to my loving grand daughter Sally Adams ten pounds to her & her heirs forever. [page break] ========================================================================================== Item: My will and desire is that after the death of my loving wife aforesaid that all the personal estate & negro lent her be sold & after the legacies are paid which I have given away then I desire that the overplus be equally divided amongst all my loving children or their heirs Item: And lastly, I do nominate & appoint my loving wife Margaret Adams Executrix and my son in law Joseph Prince Executor to this my Last Will & Testa ment hereby revoking disanulling [sic] & making Void all former Wills heretofore by me made & confirming this and no other to be my last will & Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix'd my seal this 30 day of October 1794. Sign'd, seal'd and acknowledg'd his in presence of: Benjamin BA Adams (seal) mark Hasbert Pate } his } Jordan X Pate } mark } Richard Mason } At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 12th day of March 1795 This Will was presented in court by Joseph Prince one of the Executors therein named prov'd by the oaths of Jordan Pate & Richard Mason two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded And on the motion of the said Executor who made oath according to law, Certificate is granted him for obtaining a Probat thereof in due form giving security whereupon &c / time being allowed for the Executrix to qualify Sam Kello Clk ------"