NORTH CAROLINA, SS.
In the Name of God Amen, this 12ttu day of November, anoq Domi., 1717- I, Mary Porter, of Chowan Precinct, in the County of Albemarle, in the Province of North Carolina, Widow, being of sound and Perfect Memory, doe make, Constitute and ordain, Declare and appoint this to be my last Will and Testiament, Revokeing and annuling by these Presents all former and other Will or Wills heretofore by me made, In manner and forme following, That is to say:
Imprimis, I recomend my Soul into the hands of almighty God, who gave it; and my body I comit to tie earth to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Exors. herein After nominated and apointed
Item, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Sonn, John Porter, my Negroe man Enowne by the Name of Sandy, half a dozen Rusia leather Chairs, my large oval Table, one midle Sized Pewter Dish, Two large Pewter basons. & a Shovel and tongs Tiped with brass.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Sonn, Edmund Porter, my Negroe man knowne by the name of Oliver, one large Plank Chest, one Silver Drinking cup with Two handles, half a dosen Silver Spoons, one large China bason already (?) in his possession, the large pair of Tongs and Shovel, one Bedstead one couch, the largest of the Small looking --------------, the largest Cedar Table, half a dosen painted Chairs, and my whole Stock (?) of hogs that I shall leave at my decease, After my Debts and legacies paid; and one pound of Iron Doggs, fifty pound weight of feathers; and all the money due to me lyeing in the hands of Mr. Welstead and Oliver, Merchts in Boston, he paying out of the sd. mony, -within Six months After the receiving it, unto my beloved Daughter, Eliz: Porter, Six Silver Spoons, each weighing Ten Shillings, Sterling at least; and one Iron pott & pott hooks, and Twelve Soup Plates. But it is my Will and pleasure that if the Said Edmund Shall not be in this Government at my Decease, that then, and in Such Case, all and every of the Iegacys here left to the Sd. Edmund, shall remain in the Exors. hands hereafter Named, until his arrival here, or until he shall impower any person After my Decease to take and receive the Same, and if it shall happen that ye sd Edmund, Shall never arrive here, nor impower any person as Aforsd- after my Decease, then all and every of the Iegacys Aforsd. I give and bequeath unto my Sons, John Porster and Josua Porter, and to my Daughter Eliz: Porter, to be equalv Divided amongst them.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my Wei beloved Son, Josua Porter, a tract of Land lyeing in Yawpim, bounded by Mr. Clayton's & Mr. Clarks line, to him, the sd. Joshua, and his Heirs for ever; my Negroe woman knowne by the Name of Edy, one Ticken feather bed and bolster, and Two pillows, one feather bed covered with Canvas and bolster, and one pillowe, three pillow cases Suitable, two pair fine Sheets, Two pair Coarse Sheets, one Set of red watered Curtains and Wallons, one Spotted worsted Rugg, Red Rug, Two pair good Blankets, 1 Flowered Bed Coverlid, Bedsted that Stood in the Hall Chamber, Six Rusia leather Chairs, one one of the large lookeing glasses, and my largest and one midling Iron pott, the large Andirons, a large double brass Skillet and Trevit, one brass Candlestick, one pair brass Scales and weights, one pair of Stilliards, two Diaper towells, a pewter mustard pott, the Coarsest of brass ridles, my Dantzick locks Chests, a lime Sifter, a Case of Knives and forks, a Cross cut Sawe, a writeing Desk, four Pewter Porringers, one earthen Porringer, ten Pewter Plates, 1 Iron pestle, 1 Ash Table, 1 large Soup Pewter dish, one large shall Dito, one midle Sized Dito, 1 large and 1 Small Pewter bason, 2 Earthen bason, and 2 Pewter D°, one Set of Wedges and Six wooden Chairs, 2 Joint Stooles to wooden turned Chairs, 2 Iron tramels 1 ss butter(?) ladle, 1 Small brass Ketle, 1 pewter Chamber pott, Mill and Salt, 1 Iron Chafing dish, a pair all my reap Cloth brush afroe and Currying and the half of my Sheep and Cattle, and the half of a now f and the half of all my Crop now in the Ground, with a pottle pewter pot and a pint Pewter pott, one Glass Gallon Bottle, and one broad Axe; my Debts first to be deducted.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter, Sarah Iilington, my Negroe woman call’d Maria, 1 Chest of Drawers, six painted Chairs now in her possession, one pair of Iron fire doggs, one small Cedar table, 1 pair of fine Sheets, two pair Coarse Sheets, and Two pillow cases, Two diaper towells, my largest Quilt, one lignum Vitae Spice Mortar, one large -Soup dish, one midle Sized pewter dish, 1 Small pewter bason, 1 brass Skimer, 1 Small Iron Ketle, the least of my painted Trunks, Two earthen bason, and plates, 1 English Flasket, 1 large glass bottle, 1 Stone Jugg, 1 pewter Chamber pott, 1 bed pann, three of my other which she likes best, and the full third part of the Cotten and Wooll that shall belong to me at my decease.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter, Eliz. Porter, my Indian woman called Judith and her Daughter Named Sukey, 1 Chest of Drawers, 1 oval Table, my best Sett of red Curtains & Valent belonging to my lodging roome, 1 Ticken feather bed and bolster, four pillows, 1 bedstead belonging also to my lodging roome, three pair fine Sheets, Two pair Coarse sheets, four pillow Cases, my Green Rugg made of worsted, 1 pair of the best rose blankets, the least of my Quilts, my Callico Counterpaine and Jester cloath, my Bible, my Spice box, 1 warmeing pann, 1 pair Chamber Doggs with brass, 1 Black Trunk and one painted Trunk, a large brass Keetle and Two Skimers, a Brass Sbie(?) and Two Iron potts one linked Tramel, a brass Flam, one Copper Chocolate pott, 1 1 white rugg, 1 Gridiron, four matted Chairs, my Silver Salt Marked, I P M, and Silver peper box with the Same marke, one large pewter Soup dish 1 Shallow D°, two midling pewter dishes, 1 large and one Small pewter basons, 10 pewter plates, Six painted Chairs, five pewter porringers, 1 pr. brass Candlesticks, Snuffers and Snuff dish, my Smoothing Iron heaters and Frame, 1 Gallon Stone Jugg, 1 Glass Cruit, Two glass cups, one mustard pott, Two pewter Chamber potts, three earthen Bason, 1 large Dish D°., & Two plates, 1 Tin pudiag pann, 1 Spitt, 1 leaden pann, and 2 painted brushes, a brass Shovel and Tongs, 1 large looking Glass, the best of the Bed panns, 1 pewter Salt, 1 Glass Decantor, 2 tin dish Covers, 1 brass Padlc, a large turned Elbow chair, 1 Drippen pann, 1 Case of bottles, one half of my Sheep and Cattle that shall remain after my Debts and legacys paid and half of the now on foot and half the Crop now in the ground, 12 diaper N diaper Table Cloath, Two diaper Tow ,one Bell mettle Skillett, and bequeath unto my G Porter, 1Young Cowe , 1 Young Ewe, to ran for his Benefit, Increase to be Delivered to him with the increase at his age of one and twenty or Day of Marriage which shall first happen & also my Silver tankard marked I P M, to be delivered at ye same time.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my Grandaughter, Sarah Porter, one young Cowe and one young Ewe at my decease, to run for her benefit, and also Six Silver Spoons Marked IPM, to be delivered to her with the encrease at the age of eighteen years or day of Marriage which Shall first happen.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my Grandaughter, Elizabeth Lilington one Young Cowe and one Young Ewe, and my Smallest looking Glass, to be delivered with the encrease at the age of eighteen Years or day of Marriage.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my Grandaughter, Mary Lilington, one young Cowe, and one Young Ewe, and my Silver Dram Cup. marked I P M, to be delivered to her with their increase at the age of eighteen Years, or day of Marraige, which Shall first happen.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandaughter, Sarah Lilington, one Young Cowe and one young Ewe, to be delivered to her with their encrease at the age of eighteen Years or day of Marriage, which shall first happen.
Item, I give and bequeath unto Robert Herrick, if alive, and in this Government at my decease, the Sum of five pounds to be paid out of my Estate.
Item, all the rest and residue of my Estate not herein and hereby disposed of, Debts being thereon first Deducted, I give and bequeath unto my Sonn, Joshua Porter, and my Daughter, Elizebeth Porter, to be equaly Divided between them; and lastly, I doe hereby nominate and appoint my Said Sonns, John Porter and Joshua, to be exors. Jointly and Seperatly of this my Said last Will and Testament; but it is my Will and pleasure, and I doe hereby nominate and apoint my Sonn, Edmund, upon his Arrival in this Government After my Decease Joint Exor. with his Two Brothers.
Mark
Mary M Porteb (Seal)
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
(the interlineing about the Silver
tankard being first made) in the
presence of:
--------------Lovick. Jurat
Mary X Henry.
Chowan ss. Jany, ye 21st. 17—.
Proved in Open by the oath of-------------ick-
R. Hicks, Clk. Cur:
Copied from 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)
