Will, NC, Northampton, John Cotton 1742

RICHARD BAREFIELD, & THOMAS COWMAN on oath before ISAAC HUNTER justice of the
county within mentioned.

As witness my & date written.

ISAAC HUNTER




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                     Will, NC, Northampton, John Cotton 1742

Northampton county

May Court 1742

The within written nuncupative will of JOHN COTTEN, deceased, was proved in
open court by the oaths of JOHN DAWSON, RICHARD BAREFIELD, & THOMAS COWMAN,
ye subscribing evidences thereto, & on motion of WILLIAM COTTEN, praying
administration on ye said deceased's estate, with ye will annexed, which was
granted, he having given security as ye law directs.

Test. J. EDWARDS, Clerk of Court




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                   Will, NC, Northampton, John Cotton 1742

The deposition of ye under subscribers first sworn on the holy evangelist
[~~~] 1741. JOHN COTTEN who deceased this life ye 2nd of February 1741; as
aforesaid, did make, [~~~] under his hand and seal, & the subscribers were
witness thereto, which [~~~] was by ye said COTTEN delivered into ye care of
JOHN DAWSON, one of the subscribing witnesses, who by misfortune hath lost ye
said will with sundry of his own papers, but ye said subscribers being well
assured in their consciences that they can remember the whole substance of
the said will declared it was as followeth, viz:

After funeral expenses discharged and debts paid, I give & bequeath my estate
as followeth

ITEM. I give & bequeath to my son, JOHN COTTEN, my plantation whereon I now
dwell, to him & his heirs forever, only my wife to live thereon and to enjoy
the use thereof during her natural life; also one gun, one feather bed and
furniture, two cows & calves, two ewes and lambs. My will and desire is that
my crosscut saw & whipsaw be equally between my two sons. Also, I give my son
john one iron pot.

ITEM. I give & bequeath to my son BENJAMIN COTTEN, my plantation whereon
PHILLIP EDENS now dwells, to him & his heirs forever, only the said EDENS to
live thereon and enjoy the use thereof during his natural life. My will &
desire is that my land belonging to my said plantations be divided as equal
as possible, one half to ye one plantation and ye other half to ye other;
also I give my said son my black horse, bridle and saddle and cane, one
feather bed and furniture, one iron pot, two cows and calves, two ewes and
lambs.

ITEM. I give and bequeath to my daughter, MARY BREECLE two hundred acres, be
ye same more or less, lying at at a place called blue water, to her and her
heirs for ever; also one feather bed & furniture, one dish, and one basin,
one iron pot, one cow and calf, two heifers, and three ewes and lambs, ten
sows and pigs, one iron pot.

ITEM. I give and bequeath to my daughter, ANNE COTTEN, one bay mare & her
increase, two cows and calves, two ewes and lambs, and one feather bed and
furniture, and one iron pot.

ITEM. I give & bequeath to my daughter, SARAH COTTEN, my negro wench, called
ROSE, and her increase, only, my wife to have ye labor of ye said wench
during her natural life; also, I give my said daughter, two cows and calves,
two ewes and lambs, one iron pot.

ITEM. I give and bequeath to my loving wife, ANNE COTTEN, my negro fellow
MINGO, to maintain and school my small children; also, give my said wife, my
working oxen for the plantation use; also, I give my said wife, my gray horse
and side saddle, and all my working tools not already given.

Also, I do nominate and appoint my loving wife, executrix and my loving
brother, WILLIAM COTTEN, executor of this my last will & testament, revoking
and disallowing of all other wills by me heretofore made.

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                    Will, NC, Northampton, John Cotton 1742


In will hereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal, 17th of January 1741 &
farther we say not.

JOHN DAWSON
RICHARD BAREFIELD   {his R mark}
THOMAS COWMAN       {his W mark}




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