Transcribed Will of Cornelius Forehand, b. abt 1698,
an Irish Sailor who settled on the eastern edge of the Great Dismal Swamp
Transcribed
By Ben Askew,Jr from the Original Will
Located in the State Archives, Raleigh, NC
At
least one other transcription (by W.W. Forehand) is also in circulation
In the name of God aman ye twenty- fourth day of February in the year of our Lord 1727-8 of Cornelius Forehand of north est parish of Pasquotank being very sick and week in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind ye mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto ye hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to ye earth to be buried and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life.
Item-I give and
dipose of the same in the following manner and forever imprimis.
Item-I give and
bequeath to Elizabeth my dearly be loved wife one bed and furniture with all my
household goods and moveables.
Item-I give to my
well be loved son John Forehand my gon , one cow name ring with all har in
crees and ?-----------?
Item- I give to my well loved son Cornelius
Forehand-fifty eakres of land at ye head of my land ginning to Ames line.
Item- I give to my well be loved son James Forehand my
dwelling plantation with fifty eakers of land belonging to it and one cow named
Trumpet.
Item I give to my well be loved daughter Elizabeth
Forehand be one cow named?? Item-I give to my well be loved son Thomas Forehand
two cows.
Item-I give to my well be loved son Richard Forehand one
cow.
Item-I give to my well be loved daughter Mary Forehand?
Item-I give to my well be loved wife Elizabeth Forehand
whom I likewise constitute, make and ordain my only and sole executor of my
last will and testament all ye rest of my estate by law to be possessed and
enjoyed and I do thereby utterly disavow,revoke,and disanul all and every other
former tennants wills and confirming this and no other to be my last will and
testament.In witness whereof have hereunto set my hand and seal ye day---?
Isaac Jones
William Phillips
John Kight
Back of will reads--This deay came before me Elizabeth Forehand and Meade outhon ye Holoy Evangalis to fullfill the within mentioned will this 26 day of July in 1728.Pasquotank Court 1728.