In the Name of God Amen. The Eleventh day of November, and the year of our Lord God, One Thousand, Seven Hundred and fifty Three. I, John Bonner, of Chowan County, in the Province of North Carolina, Planter, being very Sick and weak in Body, but of perfect mind and Memory, Thanks be given unto God for it, Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, do 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 I recomend to the Earth, to be buried in decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty 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 Give and bequeath unto my God Son, Thomas Ecleston, Two Negroe Boys, Jack, and Cato., Six Cows and Calves, & my Riding Horse, to be delivered him when he comes to Age, and if he should die without Heir Lawfully begotten of his Body, the same to return to my Brother, Thomas Bonner.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Cousin, William Howcott, one Negroe Boy Named, Bob. and if he should Die without Heir, the said Negroe Boy to be Divided between his Two Sisters, Elizabeth and Mary Howcott.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Cousin, Edward Howcott one Negroe Girl Named, Grace, and if he should Die without Heir, the said Girl, to be divided between the aforesaid Elizabeth and Mary Howcott.
Item. I Give and bequeath to my Sister, Sarah Howcott, One Gold Ring.
Item. I Give and bequeath to my Sister, Martha Howcott, One Gold Ring.
Item. I give and bequeath to my Brother, Thomas Bonner, my Plantations whereon I now Live, and all the Land that I have now in my Possession, likewise all the Rest and Residue of my worldly Estate. (Except such as is herein before mentioned.)
I Likewise constitute and Appoint the aforesaid Thomas Bonner, my Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament; I Likewise leave John Benbury and Henry Bonner as Trustees to see that my Will is fulfilled according to 'my Desire. And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke, disannul all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies and Bequests, and Executors, by me in any ways before Named, Willed and bequeathed; ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, the Day and Year above written.
..........................................................................................................................................John Bonner. (Seal)
N B—The above word (my) was Interlined before the Signing & Sealing of this Will.
Signed, Sealed and Declared by
the said John Bonner, as his last
Will and Testament, in the Pres-
ence of us:
Jereh. Michener.
Jno Smith x.
George Liles. Jurat
Thos. Bonner Qualified.
North Carolina, Chowan County ss. January Court, 1754. Present His Majestys Justices:
These may Certify that George Liles, appeared in open Court and made oath that he Saw John Bonner, Sign, Seal, Publish and Declare the within to be and Contain Us Last Will & Testament, and that he was then and at that time of Sound & Disposing mind and memory, and that he also Saw John Smith, & Jeremiah Mitchener, Sign there names thereto at the same time. Then appeared Thomas Bonner, Exr. to the within Will and was duly Qualified by taking the oath by Law Appointed.
Ordered that the Secretary of sd. Province have notice that Letters testamentary issue thereon as the Law Directs.
...........................................................................................................................Test. Will Halsey, Cler. 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)
