Will, NC, Gates, Demsey Sumner 1779 In the name of God Amen. I DEMSEY SUMNER of Gates County in the state of North Carolina being of a sound and well disposing mind and memory to make constitute and ordained this to be my last will and testament in Manner and form following that is to say. First in principle I recommend My immortal parts to the hands of the omnipotent author of the existence hoping through his mercy and the merits of My Savior Jesus Christ to receive a full and free pardon for all my sins and when I shall leave this troublesome world then to be received into one of their Everlasting mansions of bliss which he has prepared for those that fear and love him. And for preventing any disputes that may arise after my decease about what temporal estate it has pleased the Almighty to bestow on me, I do give and dispose thereof as follows, viz: FIRST I give and devise to my son DEMSEY SUMNER all my land at the Cabin swamp, a place so called in Nansemond County in Virginia, with all the appurtenances to have and to hold to him and his heirs and assigns forever. SECONDLY I give and devise to my son JETHRO SUMNER my land and Plantation whereon I now live with the land and plantations which I bought of EPHRAIM PEEL and ROBERT PEEL of all other my lands joining the said Plantation also one acre of land which I bought of JOHN BARTON and my water Grist mill with all the appurtenances I also give and divise to my said son JETHRO one-half of the land that I bought of JOSHUA ALLEN to be laid off at the end of adjoining BENNETT's Creek so as to include the plantation to have and to hold the aforesaid tracts of land with all the appurtenances to him and his heirs and assigns forever. THIRDLY I give and devise to my son Edwin Sumner all my land which I bought of WILLIAM HUGHES of JOHN VANN and of WILLIAM VANN on the eastern side of the main road also my land and plantation whereon PHILIP DUNFORD now lives and adjoins the aforesaid lands I say and I give the said several tracks of land with the appurtenances to have an to hold to him and his heirs and assigns forever. FOURTHLY I give and devise to my son JAMES BAKER SUMNER all my land in this county at the honey pot swamp with all the appearances to have an to hold to him and his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and devise to my said son JAMES BAKER SUMNER the other half of the land I bought of JOSHUA ALLEN to be laid off at the end towards the Cypress ponds so as to include half of the said land. I also give him the land & plantation I bought of George Vann. I also give him all my land which I bought of WILLIAM HENRY that lies and Nansemond County. I say I give the several plantations and tracks of land with all the appurtenances to him and the said JAMES BAKER SUMNER and to his heirs and assigns forever. Page 1 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Gates, Demsey Sumner 1779 FIFTHLY I leave the use of my mansion plantation too my dear and loving wife MARTHA SUMNER during her natural life, she not to debar or hinder my son JETHRO from settling thereon. I also leave the use of my 5 Negros JOHN, TONIA, BELINDER, SARAH & DINAH to my said wife during her natural life and after her decease to be counted part of my estate of with the increase of the wenches, if any, to be divided as the other part of my estate there after mentioned. SIXTHLY whereas my daughter, late wife of Captain JAMES RIDDICK, is dead and left five children, I give the sum of five hundred pounds, current money of the state, to be equally divided between them or the survivors of them as they come of age and it is my desire that the money be placed out on interest with good security. SEVENTHLY I give to my daughter MARY wife of Dr. THOMAS PEETE one young Negro wench named PHEBY, that has long been lent to her, to her and her absolute use. EIGHTLY I give to my five children namely JETHRO, EDWIN JAMES BAKER SUMNER my sons and THERESA & LATISIA my daughters, 3 Negros a piece to each of them to be made out of my best Negros, that is not disposed of, and for each there to be of equal value as nigh as possible. I also give to each of them a good father bed and furniture a piece. NINETHLY I give and devise to my son JAMES BAKER SUMNER my negro boy named MIKE to him into his proper use. TENTHLY I leave all the rest of residue of my personal estate consisting of slaves, stock, household furniture and all of every kind or denomination whatsoever be equally divided between my dear wife and all of my children namely DEMSEY, JETHRO, EDWIN, JAMES BAKER SUMNER my four sons & MARY the wife of THOMAS PEETE, ELIZABETH the wife of JETHRO BALLARD and THERESA SUMNER and LATISIA SUMNER my four daughters I say an equal divisions between my wife and all of my children as aforesaid thereto, share and share alike to each of them. And lastly I nominate and appoint my wife MARTHA SUMNER and my two sons JETHRO and EDWIN SUMNER to be my executrix and executors to this my last will and testament, thereby requesting and desiring that they will truly and honestly fulfill the same I now to conclude. In the year of our Lord Christ 1779. DEMSEY SUMNER {seal} Signed, sealed and by the testator published and declared to be my last will and testament in the presence of us: JOHN BENTON … JESSE BENTON, jurat Page 2 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Gates, Demsey Sumner 1779 State of North Carolina ] Gates County ] DEMSEY SUMNER Session November Inferior Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions 1779 The within written will was exhibited unto court by MARTHA SUMNER, executrix, and JETHRO SUMNER executor thereby appointed and was proved by the oath of JESSE BENTON one of the subscribing thereto and on motion was ordered to be recorded. At the same time the said executrix and executor was duly qualified for that office and prayed an order for letters testamentary thereof which was accordingly granted. Test LAW BAKER, CGC And is recorded in Book A, folio 4 & 5 Test LAW BAKER, CGC Page 3 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Gates, Demsey Sumner 1779 ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # Transcribed from original documents by Brent R. Brian & Martha M. Brian. This document and others can be found on our website: BMGEN We claim COPYLEFT on the documents that we publish that are our original work. COPYLEFT “rules” can be reviewed on the web site: GNU Free Documentation License In short, use what you like. But if you use our stuff, mention us as the source. Brent R. Brian Martha M. Brian BrianMitchellGenealogy@gmail.com Page 4 of 4 ** PAGE BREAK **