In the Name of God Amen. I, Frances Oliver, of Edenton, in the County of Chowan & Province of North Carolina, the Widow & Relict of Andrew Oliver, deceased, Being weak of Body, But of sound & disposing Mind & Memory, praised be God for the Same, and Knowing that It is Appointed for all Persons once to die, and after Death the Judgment; Do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament, in Manner «fe Form following, (that is to say) First and principally, I Comit my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God, my Heavenly Father; and my Body, I Commit to the Earth, To be decently buryed at the Discretion of my Executors herein after named.
And as for such Worldly Goods & Estate, as it Hath pleased God to bestow upon me, I Give & Dispose there of as followeth, Vizt:
Imprimis, I Order & Appoint that all my Just Debts, Legacyes and Funeral Expences shall be paid, as soon as conveniently may be after my Decease-Item, I Do hereby Give, Devise & Bequeath unto my Son in Law John Davison, of Edenton aforesaid, Marriner, his Heirs & Assignees for Ever, All my Real and personal Estate of what Nature & lund so Ever, Scituate, lyebg and being in this Province, and not herein Otherwise disposed off; and my Will & meaning is, With Respect to my Negroe Woman, called Rachel & her Three Grand Children (that now live with me), I Give & Bequeath them all unto the said John Davison & the Heirs of Bus Body Lawfully Begotten; and in case of His Death without Such Issue, I Order & Appoint that all my said Negroe Servants shall immediately be discharged from all Manner of Bondage & have their Liberty to work for Themselves as Other Free Negros have.
Item, I Give & Bequeath unto Each & Every of the Daughters of my Brother & Sisters in Virginia, All My Wearing Apparrel, both Linnen & Woolen, of what Nature & Kindsoever, To be Equally divided between Them, and to be sent or delivered unto Them by the said John Davison.
Item, I give & Bequeath unto Ichadah Davis, Spinster, (Who now Lives with me) her, Her heirs and Assigns, One bedstead, & Feather Bed & Bolster, Two Blankets & a Pair of Sheets.
And Lastly, I do hereby Constitute & Appoint the said John Davison, to be the Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament, Hereby Revoking & Making Void all former & Other Wills by me heretofore made, and hereby Declaring the within Written Instrument To be my Last Will & Testament.
In witness whereof, I, the within named Frances Olliver, have hereunto set my Hand & Seal, The Twenty Sixth Day of February, In the Twenty Seventh Year of the Reign of Our Sovereign Lord, George the Second, by the Grace of God, King of Great Britain, &c, Annoq Domini., 1754.
Frances Oliver. (Seal)
Signed, Sealed, Published and
Declared by the Above named
Testatrix, as & for her Last Will
and Testament In the Presence
of us:
Anthony Carteel.
her
Elizabeth El Flood
mark
Leonard Cotton.
October County Court, 1756.
Present His Majesties Justices:
Tbe Last Will and Testament of Fronds Oliver, deceased, was proved in Court According to Law, by the Oath Elizabeth Flood.
Test. Thomas Jones, Cler. Cur.
North Carolina, ss.
Personally Appeared before me John Davison, the within named Executor and Qualified by taking the Oath by Law Appointed for that purpose. Octr. 14th, 1756. Let it be Registered.
Peter Henley, C. J.
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)
