In the Name of God Amen, ye Twenty Fifth Day of May, 1730. I, George Durant, of ye County of Albemarle, in the Province of North Carolina, being very Sick and weak in Body, but of perfect mind and Memory, thanks be to Almighty God for the same, Therefore calling to mind the Mortallity of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men Once to Dye, doe Make and Ordain this my Last will and Testament, That Is to Say:
Principally, and first of all, I give and Recommend my Soul Into the Hands of God that gave It; and my Body I Recommend to the Earth to be Buried In decent and Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the Almighty Power of God; and as touching Such worldly Estate Wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I Give, Demise and Dispose of the same in the Following manner and Form:
Imprimis: I order one moyety or Tract of Land Containing Five Hundred Acres, It being and Lying on the South Shore, to be Sold by my Executors, and the one half of the Money to Paid to Anthony Hatch's Estate.
Item. I give and Bequeath to my well Beloved Son, George Durant, one Bible, one Silver beeker with G. D. A- upon It. And Further, I Desire my Executors to Build one Barn on the Plantation I now Live on and the Charge to be Paid out of my whole Estate. And Likewise, I Order one Brick Chimney to be Built to my Daughter, Mary Durant House.
Item. I Give to Anne Longlarther, Five Pounds, Currant Money, And also, my Will is that my Son, George Durant, should have as good Learing as can be had In tins Government.
And after my Lawfull Debts being Paid, Then, my whole Estate to be Equally Devided Between my Five Children, Anne Durant, Mary Durant, Sarah Durant, Elizabeth Durant and George Durant, and that each Child to be paid as they Come of Age; and In Case of Death Before They Injoys their Estate, That then their part to be Equally Divided between the Survivors.
And likewise, I Doe hereby make my Loving Brothers, Zebulun Clayton and Richard Whidbee, to be my whole and Sole Executors to see this my last will performed. Leaving them the care and tuition of my Children TTntill they Shall come to age or marryed.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal, the Day and year first above written.
.........................................................................................................................Geo. Durant (Seal)
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
In presence of:
............his
Thomas J Snowden.
...........mark.
Elizabeth Gibson.
John Stevens.
..........................................................................................................................Sept. 29, 1730.
Proved this will by the Oath of Mr. John Stephens.
...........................................................................................................................Richd. Everard.
Copied from the Original Will, filed in the Office of the Secretary of State.
Source: North Carolina Wills and Inventories, copied from Original and Recorded Wills and Inventories In the Office of the Secretary of State by J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, Published 1912)
