Will, NC, Johnston, John Fort 1748 In the name of God, Amen. This sixteenth day of May Anno Domini 1748 I, JOHN FORT, of the province of North Carolina and in Johnston County, being sick in body but of good and perfect memory, thanks be to Almighty God, and calling to remembrance the uncertain estate of this transitory life, and that all flesh must yield unto death when it please God to call, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following: FIRST being penitent and sorry for all my sins most humbly beg forgiveness for the same. I commend my soul unto Almighty God, my savior and redeemer in whom and by whose merits I trust and believe, assuredly to be saved and have full remission and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. AND for the settling of my temporal estate and such goods, chattels and debts as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, I do order, give and dispose of in manner and form following. FIRST I will that all my worldly debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged. ITEM I give and bequeath unto my mother the use of my negro fellow during her natural life and after her death I give the said negro fellow to my brother MOSES [FORT] to him and his heirs forever. ITEM I give and bequeath to my brother ARTHUR [FORT] three cows and calves, to him and his heirs forever. ITEM I give and bequeath to my brother MOSES [FORT] one dark bay horse with a small blaze in his face branded upon the near buttock “GF” and one middle sire black horse branded upon the near buttock “GF”, to him and his heirs forever. ITEM I give and bequeath to all the rest of my estate, both land, stocks and all my estate whatsoever to be equally divided between my two brothers, namely MOSES and DRULY and my sister JERUSHA [FORT], to them and their heirs forever. AND LASTLY I hereby make and appoint my father-in-law WILLIAM HOLMES and my brother DRULY FORT my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament. AND I do hereby revoke, disannul and make void all former wills and testaments heretofore by me make. Page 1 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Johnston, John Fort 1748 IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day off May Anno Domini 1748. JOHN FORT {seal} Signed & sealed in the presents of us: ROBERT BUTLER JOHN PIPKIN JETHRO PIPKIN Page 2 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Johnston, John Fort 1748 North Carolina Johnston County At a Court of C[---] begun and held at the court house at Walnut Creek for the said County the last Tuesday in [28] June 1748. Present his Majestie’s Justices Then was the within above last will & testament of JOHN FORT, late of this county, deceased, proved in open court by the oath of ROBERT BUTLER, a subscribing evidence thereto who swore that he saw the said JOHN FORT sign, seal, publish, pronounce & declare the same to be his last will & testament and that he also saw JOHN PIPKIN & JETHRO PIPKIN sign concurring evidences with him & WILLIAM HOLMES & DRULY FORT executors therein named “who both” were qualified according to law. Ordered that the secretary have notice thereof that letters testamentary issue thereon. Teste RICHARD CASWELL & Clk Page 3 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Johnston, John Fort 1748 Issued 26th July 1748 All fees paid To I. R. Secretaries Office Credited Recorded in the secretaries office in Book S Page 254 Page 4 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK ** Will, NC, Johnston, John Fort 1748 ###### # # ##### ####### # # ##### ####### # # # # ## ## # # # ## # # # # # ## ## # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ###### # # # # #### ##### # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # ## ### # # # # # # ###### # # ##### ####### # # ### ##### ####### # # 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 5 of 5 ** PAGE BREAK **