Transcriber’s Note:
This is a
Date: 2 March 1784
Names in order of mention:
testator: Richard Pemberton
wife: Elizabeth Pemberton
man: William Jackson
man: Charles Blanton
man: Henry Montfort
man: Josiah Gardner
son: William Pemberton
son: Jesse Pemberton
son: Joshua Pemberton
witness: Elizabeth Wood
witness: Christian Gardner
witness: Josiah Gardner
court official: William Wooton
In the name of God, Amen. I, Richard Pemberton, of Halifax County in the State of North Carolina, being sick and weak but of perfect and sound mind and understanding of calling to mind the uncertainty of life the certainty of death, do make and constitute this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form as followith, and first I give my Soul to God that gave it to me hoping that He will pardon my sins and take me into his favor through the meditation of Intercession of my Blessed Saviour, and as for my body, I desire that it may be buried at the discretion of my Executors and friends, hoping that the Lord will raise it up at the last day in Glory, and as for my worldly goods that the Lord hath blessed me with. I will and bequeath as following:
Item, I give to my beloved wife, Elizabeth Pemberton, all my household goods and furniture that I am now in possession of, also together with all my horses, cattle and hogs except my Bay horse that I bought of William Jackson which I reserve for some other use hereafter mentioned, also together with the land and plantation that I now live on if Charles Blanton should recover it of Henry Montfort and Josiah Gardner, according to an agreement made between me and said Charles Blanton as may be made appear in writing, and if the aforesaid Charles Blanton should or could not recover, such right to the land afore mentioned, then I give to my beloved wife that twenty five pounds current money of Virginia that the aforesaid Charles Blanton hath in his hands as the full value of the Land as will be made appear by a bond that I have now in my hands for the Establishing Such Bargain or “Rights of Land or money”: all which I give to my wife Elizabeth forever to her own proper use and behalf, to sell or dispose of as she may think best.
Item: I give to my son, William Pemberton, five shillings specie.
Item: I give to my son, Jesse Pemberton, five shillings specie.
Item: I give to my son Joshua Pemberton, five shillings specie.
As for the Bay horse that I have not given away, I desire that he may be sold and the money arising from such sale to be for the discharging of all my just debts, and if any money should be remaining after my just debts are paid, it to return to my wife, Elizabeth Pemberton, again to her own personal use. And furthermore I constitute and appoint my loving wife wholly and soully Executor of this my Last Will and Testament, revoking and disannulling all other Wills but this. Given under my hand and seal this 2nd day of March in the year of our Lord Christ 1784.
Richard Pemberton
Signed, sealed and delivered
In presence of
Elizabeth Wood
Christian Gardner
Josiah Gardner
Probate:
Halifax County August Court 1784
Then this will was executed and duly proven in open court by the oath of Elizabeth Wood who on her oath did say that she saw the testator sign and seal publish and declare this to be his Last Will and Testament and that at the time of signing the same he was of sound mind and memory to the best of my knowledge and belief and on motion ordered to be recorded.
William Wooten
