Following is the will of David Shepard, signed May 30, 1774, as transcribed by Frances Henderson on May 10, 1999
from a copy secured at the NC Archives on November 8, 1986. Attempt was made to preserve the spelling,
capitalization, punctuation, and form of the original.In the Name of God Amen I David Shepard, of Carteret County in the Province of North Carolina being weak in body but of
Sound Mind and Memmory And Calling to mind the Mortality of my Body that it is Appointed for all men once to die do make
and Ordain, this my last Will and Testament in manner And form following, I committ my Soul into the Hands of God that gave
it hoping through the Merits and Mediation of my Blessed Saviour to receive free pardon of all my Sins, and my body I
Committ to the Earth from whence it was Taken to be Buried in Christianlike manner at the Discretion of my Executors And as
to such Worldly Estate as it hath Pleased god to Endow me with I Dispose of in the following Manner To Wit__First I give and bequeath to my son Solomon Shepard Apiece of Land on the West side of Black Creek which I Bought of
Lankisthur Lovett and a Piece Joining to it which I took up My Self, and Apiece of Land on Boague Sound Known by the
Name of Smiths Hammock where on he now lives and, a Piec on the head of Broad Creek which I took up my Self And a
Negro man Named Sanko [could be Lanko] and a Negro Man Named Fryday, and anegro man Named Jim, To him and his
Heirs for Ever he Paying Sixty pounds to my Estate for the said Negro Jim to be Disposed of as here After Shall be mentioned,
I Give unto my Grandson David Shepard [in margin 2th] Son of Solomon Shepard A Plantation on Boague Sound At the
Mouth of Goose Creek, which I bought of Thomas Townley, And Known by the Name of Townleys Point And A Negro Garl
Named Seaney To him and His Heirs for Ever[end of first page]
3th I Give and bequeath unto the heirs, of My Son Jacob Shepard Deces'd Apiece of Land on Boague Sound Called Whitehall
And Apiece of Land on the South side of Newport River known by the Name of Mount pleasant, And, a Piece on the North
Side of Newport River where on John Barber once Lived And A Negro Man Nemed Harrey Which Said Land he was Posest
of In his Lifetime & Disposed of in his Will to his Heirs,4th I Give and bequeath to my son Elijah Shepard the Plantation where on I now live and Apeace of Land on the South Side of
Newport River Called Snows Neck And Apiece of Land on Boague Sound Known by the Name of Bartroms Point where on
he Now lives, And a Negro Man Named Cuff And A Negro man Named Darbey, and a negro Man Named Felix And Anegro
Woman Named Rachal, he paying for the Two last Negros Mencioned to my Estate the sum of Twenty pounds to be Devided
As shall here After be mencioned And if my Son Elijah Should Die with out Heirs Lawfulley begotten of his Body that then the
Plantation on Boague Sound where on he Now lives Shall be Given to my grandson John Shepard son of Jacob Shepard, [next
symbol means "deceased"] and his Heirs for Ever, And the Plantation which I Now live On to be given to my Grandson David
Shepard Son of Solomon Shepard to him & his Heirs foreverI also give unto my Two Sons Solomon and Elijah Shepard Apiece of Land on the South Side of Newport River known by the
Name of Read's Neck apiece Joyning to it which I Bought of John Harmon to be Equaley Devided betwen them, they Paying
to my Estate the sum of forty Pounds To be Devided as After menticion'd5 I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Wallis a Negro Woman Named Cate and her four Children, her Lifetime, and
after her Death the Said Negroes and the Increase of them to the Lawfull Heirs of her Body forever6th I Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Rebeckah Sanders, a Negro Garl Named Savinour During her Life & After her
Death to the Lawfull Heirs of her Body forever[end of second page]
7th I Give and bequeath to my Daughter Abigail Ward a Negro Woman Named Tab and her four Children and a Negro
Woman Named Thamer, and her Child for her Life Time and After her Death to the Lawfull Heirs of her Body for Ever I also
Give unto my Grandson David Ward Son of Abigail Ward One Negro boy Named Antoney8th My Will further is that William Wilkins Taylour have nor Porsess no part nor percell of my Estate As here After Shall be
menticionedGive unto my Daughter Elisabeth Taylor's Heirs Lawfull of her Body Anegro Woman Named Venus & her Child and a boy
Named Abram and Negro garl Named Cloey With ther Increase, I also give unto my Grandson David Taylor son of Elisabeth
Taylor One Negro boy Named Peter and if My Daughter Elisabeth Talor shold be Necesiated for A Support I Leave it to the
Discretion of my Executors to Assist her Out of the Money & Others of the Division Of my Estate which is lef to the Heirs of
her Body and if her Heirs should Die before they Come of Age and With Out Heirs Lawfulley Begotten that then the above
Legacy to be Divided Equaley betwen my Heirs9th I give and bequeth un [sic] my beloved Wife one Negro Garl Named Tillar, her lifetime and to be Maintaind out of my
Estate, and After her Decease the Said Negro Garl Tiller to be given unto my Grandsons Absolom and Solomon Shepard10th I give and bequeath unto my Grandson David Sanders Son of Rebeckah Sanders one Negro Garl Named Rhoad
11th I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Solomon Shepard A Negro Woman Named Vilot and her Child I also give a
Negro Woman Named Dinah and her three Children to be Equaley Devided betwen my Grandsons Absolom and Solomon
Shepard12 I Give and bequeath unto my Grandson Solomon Shepard that Trackt of Land on Boague Sound which his father Lived on,
and which sd Land I Bought of Hobbicock Rustel[end of third page]
And to him and his Heirs forever but if Solomon Should Die without Heirs of his bodey Lawfuley begotten that then the said
Land shall be given unto David Taylor son of Elisabeth Talor13th I further Leave one Neagro Garl Named Annes to be Sold by my Executors at there Descresion and the money For said
negro, togather with that afore menticioned To be paid by my Two sons Solomon & Elijah Shepard And all Other money
belonging to my Estate Togather with My Household furniture and movebles and Stock of Cattle to be Equaley Devided
betwen my Lagitees towit Solomon Shepard Elijah Shepard Sarah Wallis Rebecah Sanders, Abigail Ward, the Heirs of Jacob
Shepard Decast the Heirs of Elisabeth Taylor & the Heirs of Absolom & Solomon Shepard Jun. which sd Last three menciond
hall inpropotion be Equal to one Shearbut if the said negroes Felix Jim or Rachal Should Die Or Either of them before Solomon or Elijah Should be Poces't of them
that then they shall not pay the Sum they was Valued toLastly for the better Executing this my Last Will and Testament I Constitute and Appoint Colonal William Thomson and my
Two sons Solomon and Elijah Shepard my Executors, and I do hereby Utterly Disallow Revoke & Disanul All and Every
Other Will or Will by me Made Ratifying & Confirming this and no Other to be my Last will & Testament in Witness Where of
I have here unto Set my Hand & Seal this 30th day of May in the year of Our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred Seventy fourSigned Sealed Published and }
Declard in Presence of us }
[signature] David Shepard
[signature] Cornilias [not sure of this one] Canaday
her
[signature] Elisabeth E Canaday
Mark
[signature] Gideon Canaday
The last Will and Testament of David Shepard deceased [two words I can't decipher] was proved before me this
thirteeth day of January 1775 by the Oath of Gideon Canady one of the subscribing Witnesses thereto who swore that
he was present and did see the said Testator sign seal publish and declare [?] I am [?] to be and contain his last Will
and Testament and that at the time thereof he was of sound and disposing mind and memory. And Solomon and Elijah
Shepard two of the Executors in the said Will named having taken the Oaths of Executors and qualified agreeable to
Law It is Ordered that Letters testamentary issue thereon accordingly[signature] (?) Hasell