The Last Will and Testament of Joshua Simpson - 1803

Transcriber Notes: The following is a transcription of the last will and testament of Joshua Simpson, dated 28 May 1803, and proved in Carteret County court during the September 1809 term. The original document now resides in the North Carolina Archives in Raleigh.

The Joshua Simpson whose will is below transcribed was a son of John Simpson and Jean Howland and was born sometime between 1730 and 1745. He married Joanna Wade, daughter of Robert Wade and Mary Shackleford.

The transcription was done by John Frivance on 23 August 2003. Some punctuation has been added where it was deemed appropriate.

Joshua Simson’s Will

1809

Recorded in book D page 367

In the name of God, Amen. I, Joshua Simpson, North river Carteret county planter being in perfect health and of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say: First and Principally, I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping through the merits and Passion of my Savior Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of my Sins and to Inherit Everlasting life; and my Body I commit to the Earth to be Decently Buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter Named. And ?Touching? such Worldly Estate as it hath Pleased God to bestow upon me, I Give and bequeath in manner and form Following: I desire that all my Just Debts and funeral Charges be Paid. Item - I give and Bequeath unto my two Sons Abraham and John Simpson one hundred and twenty Acres of Land, where John Simpson formerly lived, to be equally divided between them, to be theirs and their heirs and assigns for Ever. Item – I give and bequeath unto my Son Abraham Simpson twenty Acres more Land, down below the Pigotts, to him and his heirs and assigns for Ever. Item – I give and Bequeath unto my Son John Simpson twenty Acres land more, down below the Pigotts, to him and his heirs and assigns for Ever.

Item – I give and Bequeath unto my Son Absalom Simpson Eighty Acres Land, adjoining the Land I sold unto Elijah Pigott, to him and his heirs and assigns for Ever. Item – I give and bequeath unto my Son Enoch Simpson the Sum of Ten Shillings. Item – I give and Bequeath unto my three daughters, Joan Pinkham, Sally Whitehurst, and Rhoda Simpson, twenty acres Land a Piece, to them and their Heirs and assigns for Ever, to be laid of to them at the discretion of my Executors. Item – I give to my Grand Daughter Charlottey Simpson sixteen Acres Land to her heirs and assigns for Ever, to be laid of to her at the Discretion of my Executors. Item – I give and Bequeath unto my Beloved Wife Johanna Simpson my houses and Plantation and all my land thus adjoining during her natural life and the utensials belonging to said Plantation. Item – I give and Bequeath to my Son Jacob Simpson, after the Death of his Mother, my houses and Plantation and all the land that I own adjoining, to him and his heirs and Assigns for Ever. Item – I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife all my house hold goods and all my stock of Every kind for her to dispose of as she thinks proper, Except the Mair that I Give to my Son Absalom Simpson and her increas to him and his heirs and assigns for Ever, and one that I have all ready Given to my Son Jacob Simpson to remain his and his heirs and assigns for Ever with all her increas. Item – I give and bequeath unto Each of the heirs of my Deceast Children five Shillings Currency of this State to be Paid by my Executors. Lastly, I ordain and constitute my Loving Wife Johanna Simpson Executrix, Abraham Simpson, John Simpson Executors, to this my Last Will and testament and I do annul and Make Void all former Wills and testaments by me Made and do acknowledge this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness Where of I have Set My Hand and Seal this twenty Eight Day May in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three. Signed, Sealed, Published, and Pronounced by the Said Joshua Simpson as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us Who in his presence and the presence of Each other have here unto subscribed our own Names

(signed) Solomon Chadwick

(signed) John Chadwick (signed) Joshua Simpson Seal

(signed) Seth Arthur

Carteret County

Sept^m Court 1809 This written paper was then exhibited into Court and legally proved by oath of Solomon Chadwick to contain the true Last Will & Testament of Joshua Simpson, deceased, and Letters ordered to show to Johanna Simpson and John Simpson, the Executors that qualified as such.

L.101 (signed) Geo Read C.C.