Will of Benjamin Small
Ye 30 of ye eleventh mo. called January 1751, I, Benjamin Small of Carteret, in the Province of North Carolina, being sick, but of perfect memory, thanks be to God and calling to mind the mortality of my body, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.
Principally, and first of all I recommend my soul to God and my body to be decently buried at the descretion of Executors hereafter named: As to my temperal and worldly estate that it has pleased God to bless me with: My will and desire is that first of all my just debts and funeral charges be paid.
Item: I give to my loveing wife Meriam Small the house of my plantation and all the improvements belonging thereunto with one hundred acres of land and twenty joining to the same during her natural life, I likewise give to her all that part of my estate that was her property before I marryed her and that was given her by her Father since. I also give her two cows and calves, 1 bed and furneture, 1 tee cettle, 1 great Putter dish, 1 small still,, 1 hand mill, 1 gratre, 1 brass cettle, all the earthern with the corn and meat.
Item: I give to my son Benjamin Small one bed tick that he filled himself and furniture I gave him, my desire to make up the feathers. I likewise give to my son Benjamin that plantation I bought of David Bally and is conveyed to him by a deed bareing date 1751, and 1 pott and two putter dishes, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give to my son, Jonas Small one feather bead and furneture, two cows and calves, 1 grate chest one iron pott, tow? Vews? I likewise give to my son Jonas one hundred acres of land joining to my son Benjamin, be the same more or less, convaid to him by deed dated 1751, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give to my son Amos Small one feather bed and furniture. 1 cow and calf, 1 ewe and lamb, and the acres of land joining to Thomas Jessops land to be laid out by a line from apon by the side of the grate-mash, and so up to the head line of my own land, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give to my son John Knite Small one feather bed and furneture, 2 cows and calves. I likewise give to my son John Knite my manna plantation after my aforesaid wife's decease, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daufter Sarah Jessop one sile skin trunk, besides what I gave her at her marrage, which was one feather bed, two puter dishes and 3 plates, and since she moved to Core Sound I gave her fore cows and calves and two ewes and lambs.
Item: I give the use of my water mill to my wife and fore sons, equally between them if they stay near this place, but if they or any of them removes out to have no right in her.
Item: I give all the rest of my estate both real and personal not yet devided to be equally devided to my wife and fore sons, Benjamin, Jonas, Amos and John Knight Small. I further nominate, appoint and constitute my wife to be my executrix and my son Benjamin to be my executor of this my last will and testament to see the same lawfully executed.
In witness whereof I have set my hand and fixed my seal in the presence of: Henry Stanton and Patience Bull
Benjamin Small
his x mark