Pilkington, Seth
In the Name of God Amen. I, Seth Pilkington, of Beaufort County, and Province of North Carolina, Gentn., being sick and weak of body but of Sound and perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind the Certainty of Death, not knowing when it may please the Lord to call me out of this life, do make appoint and ordain this to be my last Will and testament, hereby Revoking all former Wills by me made, in Manner and form following, my desire is to be buried in a Desent and Christian Manner according to Custom, and form, of the Established Church of England.

Imprimis, My desire is that my just debts be punctually paid as soon as Money can be raised as hereafter mentioned.

Item, I give, bequeath and devise unto my loving Wife, Sarah Pilkington, five of my Negroe Slaves, Viz: Jupiter, Fortune, George, Men and Catherine, & Jenny Women. Likewise, one third part of All my household furniture, her choice of two of my horses, and all the stock of Catle and hogs, with one third of the Sheep, on or belonging to her own plantation, known by the Name of Weerenunteh, to her and her heirs or assigns. Likewise, my desire is that she have the use and occupation during her Natural life, or Widowhood, and no longer, the Labour of my Negro fellow named Tom, and Hannah a Girl; and after her decease or Day of Marriage, the afforsaid Negroe fellow Tom, and Hannah a Girl, I bequeath to my Daughter, Winifrid.

Item, I Give, bequeath and Devise unto my Daughter, Sarah Cautanche, Seven of my Negroes, Viz: Lancashire, Dublin, Jack, fellows; Mustapher, York, and Lonnon, boys; and Jenny a Girl; my Silver Watch, and one third part of My Houshold Furniture, to her and heirs and Assignes; likewise, halfe My Horses and Mares, and one third of my Sheep.

Item, I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter, Winifrid Pilkington, ten of my Slaves, Viz: Cato, Derby, Cudgoe, Prince, Men; Cain a boy; Africa, Grace, Betty, Flora, Wenches; Phebe a Girl. Likewise, I Give, bequeath and Divise to my Daughter, Winifrid, the Plantation or Tract of Land whereon I now Dwell, together with all the buildings, Marshes, Meadows, Woods and all appurtenances thereunto belonging; likewise, two tracts of Land Containing twelve hundred and Eighty Acres, Situate on Lemuel Cherry herring runs, and Purchased of Mr. Alexander Lillington; one third part of my houshold furniture, and All my Catle and Hogs belonging to the Plantation aforsd. one third of the Whole stock of Sheep, and halfe the Horses and Mares belonging to me, to her, and her heirs and Assigns in fee simple.

Item, I Give and Devise unto my Daughter, Sarah Cautancbe. Upon Condition my Daughter Winifrid shou'd die before Marriage, or without Lawfull Issue, all that Part, or Portion, of Land, Slaves, and Stock before mentioned and given to the Aforsaid Winifred; but in case that my Daughter, Sarah, shall die first and without lawfull Issue, that then, the aforsaid Portion of Lands, Slaves, and Stocke, be Equally divided between My Wifes, Daughter and GrandDaughters, Viz: Ann Lillington, Catherine Lockhart, and Mary Evans, and their lawfull heirs.

Lastly, My will and desire is, that what Cash I leave in hand, All bonds, bills, and book debts, be Collected and my Debts punctually paid, and that the Surplus be equally divided between. my son in law, Michael Cautanche, and my Daughter, Winifrid. Likewise, my desire is, that my other lands, Goods and Chattells of all kinds not be mentioned and Given be Sold; or Equally divided between my Afforsaid Son in law, Michael, and my Daughter, Winifrid, as they shall think for.

And I do hereby Nominate and appoint my Son in law, Michael Cautanche, to De my Executor, and my Daughter, Winifrid Pilkington, to be Executrix, jointly and Severally, to do and Execute, all and Every part of this my last Will and testament.

In Wittness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Seventh day of October, in the Year of our lord, one thousand, Seven hundred fifty and one, 1751- (the words furniture, and Issue, being interlined before Signing and Sealing hereof.)

                , , , , , , ,                               Seth Pilkington.   (SEAL)
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in
presence of:
John Fry.
WM. Stubbs.
Michael Coutanche, junr.

BEAUFORT COUNTY, Ss.
At a Court held for the sd. County, at Bath Town, on the second tuesday in March, 1754.
Present his Majesty's Justices.
The last will & testament of Seth Pilkington was exhibited into Court & proved by the Oath of John Fry, who swore on the holy Evangelists, that the sd. Seth Pilkington was of sound & disposing mind & memory when he executed the same; & that he also saw Wm. Stubbs & Mich. Coutanche, Junr the other subscribing Evidences, set their hands thereto at the same time: And Michl. Coutanche & Winifred Pilkington qualified as Extor. & Extrix. to the same.
Ordered that the Secretary have notice hereof that Letters Testament may issue.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Test.   Walley Chauncy, cl. cu.


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)

Porter, John Peyton
In the Name of God Amen. I, John Porter, Of Beaufort Co. & Province of No. Carolina, Gent. being of Sound & Perfect Mind, memory & judgement, & calling to mind the certainty of Death and my Infirmity of body, do by these presents, revoke and make Void all former Wills & Testaments by me heretofore made or Executed, & do by these Presents make,nconstitute & ordain, this my Last Will and Testament in Manner & Form Following:

Imprimis, I render my Soul to Almighty God; My body to the Earth to be decently Interred.

Item 1, I will & bequeath unto my well beloved Wife, Elizabeth Porter, one half of my Plantation Situated on the East Side of Durham's Creek, Commonly Called the Garrison, containing 644 acres, be the same more or less, wth all and Singular, its rights, Priveleges, & appurtenances for & during, the term of her natural lifetime; and it is my Will and pleasure, that after her decease, the said one half descend to my eldest Daughter, Mary Porter, & h*er Lawfull Issue; & on failure thereof, to my younger Daughter, Sarah Porter, & her Lawful Issue; & on failure thereof to my Sister, Sarah Richardson, & her Lawfull Issue, to posess & enjoy the same for ever.

Item 2, I Will and bequeath to my eldest Daughter, Mary .Porter, the other half of my Plantation aforsd. on the East side of Durhams Creek, Commonly called the Garrison, & to her Lawfull Issue forever; & on failure thereof, to my Daughter, Sarah Porter, & her Lawfull Issue, & on failure thereof to my sister, Sarah Richardson, & her Lawfull Issue for ever.

Item 3, I Will and Bequeath to my Daughter, Sarah Porter, (all my plantation on the East side of Durhams Creek, commonly call'd Hardings Plantation, be the same more or less, and now adjoyning my Plantation called the Garrison), and to her Lawfull Issue forever; & on failure thereof, to my Daughter, Mary Porter, & her Lawfull Issue; and on failure thereof to my sister, Sarah Richardson and her heirs forever.

Item 4, I Will and bequeath, that my tract of land beginning at Snoads line, from thence to the Savanna, from thence to the Horsepenn Swamp, & from thence to the Dismall; be the same more or less, with all and singular it's Rights, Members, Privileges and Appurtenances, to be occupied in manner & in form following; Viz. They are to keep my Negroes, Or a sufft Number of them, on said Tract to make Tar, Turpne: &c, in order to raise money to pay my funerl charges and all other Law-full demands, that may come ag'st my said Exrs. or agst. the Legattees of my Estate; & that afterwards the same shall descend, to my Eldest Daughter, Mary Porter, & her Lawfull Issue; & on failure thereof to my younger Daughter, Sarah Porter, & her Lawfull Issue; & on failure thereof to my Sister, Sarau Richardson; & her Lawfull Issue forever.

Item 5, I Will and Bequeath that all my Negroes or a sufft number of thezu, togeather with my Horses, Oxen, Cows, Calves, & Sheep, be kept und the care of my Extrs. untill such Time as my aforsd. Debts & Funerl charges be fuly discharged & satisfied- & Iikeways, it is My Will & Pleasure, that all my Hoggs, household Furniture, & other Personal Estate, by sold at Publick Vendue, by my said Exrs., in order to discharge the Charges && Lawfull Debts aforsd; & my will and pleasure is, that wm those Funerl Charges, & Lawfull Debts are fully & Justly sitisfied & discharged, That then, all my Negroes, Horses, Oxen, Cows, Calves, & Sheep be fairly, Justly, and Equally, divided into three Equal Parts or Proportions (after the Following manner), by my Exrs.—Viz: One third Part or Proportion, I bequeath to my loving Wife, Elizabeth Porter, during her natural life; one third part to my Eldest Daughter, Mary Porter, her Lawfull heirs forever; & the the Remaining third Part to my younger Daughrr Sarah Porter, & her Lawful heirs forever,------

Etem, I Nominate, ordain, Constitute & apoint by these presents, my Loving Wife, Eliz. Porter, Executrix; together with Mich'l Coutanche, Mar & Nathan Richardson, Mariner, to be Executors of this my Last Will & Testament.
In Wittness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & seal this, Twenty Ninth day of April, one thousand, seven hund'd fifty Four.

................................................................................................................................John Peyton Porter, (Seal)
Signed, sealed & Published in the presence of us:
Thos. Lough.
William Tbipp.
Charles Lowther.

Beaufort County, Ss.
At & Court held for the sd. County at Bath Town, on the second tuesday in March 1755.
Prest his Majesty's Justices:
This certifies that the within last will & Testament of Jno. Peyton Porter, decd, was exhibited into Court & proved by the Oath of Will Trippe, who swore that the sd. Jno. Peyton Porter was of sound & disposing mind &, memory at the time he executed it; and that he saw Thomas Lough and Charles Lowther, the other subscribing Witnesses, sign their names thereto at the same lime; and Eliza Stewart (formerly named Eliza Porter) appeared in Court &qualified as Extrx. and Nathl. Richardson appeared & qualified as Ext'or unto the same; and it was ordered that the Secretary have notice that Letters Testamentary may issue.

Test.   Walley Chauncey, CL 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)