From the North Carolina State Archives
Caswell County Estate Records
CR 020-508-26


STATE OF NORTH-CAROLINA,
Caswell COUNTY,
KNOW all MEN by these Presents, That we Joseph Benton
Ezekiah Boswell   John Barkis
are held and firmly bound unto Solomon Graves Chairman, and other
Justices of the County Court of Caswell in the Sum of Five Hundred
Pounds, Current Money, to be paid to the said Chairman or his Successors, or
other Justices of the County of Caswell. To the which Payment
Well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our Heirs, Executors and Administrators,
Jointly and severally, firmly by these Presents, sealed with our Seals,
and dated this 10th day of January AD 1816.

The condition of the above obligation is such, that if the above bounden Joseph Benton
Administrator of all and singular the Goods and Chattels, Rights and Credits of
Lewis Foster deceased, do make or cause to be made a true and perfect
Inventory of all and singular the Goods and Chattels, Rights and Credits of the
Deceased, which have or shall come to the Hands, Knowledge or Possession of the
said Joseph Benton or into the Hands or Possession of any Person or Persons
for him and the same so made, do exhibit, or cause exhibited to our said County Court
of Caswell within ninety days after the date of these Presents; and the same Goods,
Chattels and Credits, and all other Goods, Chattels and Credits of the deceased,
at the time of his death, or which at any time hereafter shall come into the Hands or
Possession of the said Joseph Foster [sic – think this should be Benton] or into the
Hands or Possession of any other Person or Persons for him do well and truly and
just account of said Administration, within the time required by Act of Assembly,
after the date of these Presents, and all the rest and residue of the said goods, chattels,
and credits, which shall be found remaining in the hands of or due from the said
Administrator shall deliver and pay unto such Person or Persons respectively, as the
same shall become due, pursuant to the true Intent and Meaning of the Act in that Case
made and provided. And if it shall appear that any Will or Testament was made by the
deceased, and the Executor or Executors therein named, to exhibit the same in Court,
making a Request to have it allowed and approved of accordingly, if the said
Joseph Benton above bounden, being thereunto required, do render and deliver the said
Letters of Administration (Approbation of such Testament being first had and made in said Court)
then this Obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full Force and Virtue.

Signed, sealed, and delivered in the Presence of
Alex Murphy                                                                    Joseph Benton { Seal }
                                                                                           Hezekiah Boswell { Seal }
                                                                                           John Barkis { Seal }
 

Added Jan. 27, 2002