Last Will and Testament of John Williston [Senior]

 

Transcribed by Melanie Willis from an original Xeroxed copy, after having read the original at the North Carolina State Archives in Raleigh, NC on October 9, 2004

 

About the document:

  • The document is written on a single, unlined sheet of paper, roughly 11” x 14”.  The paper is very good quality—it feels like linen.  It may once have been white or cream-colored, but it is now yellowed with age.
  • The will is written in a clear and legible hand in what was probably once black ink, but is now yellowed with age.
  • The document is folded once across the middle, and it has come apart there.  At some point, somebody re-attached the halves using what looks like white cloth tape.
  • On the back of the sheet is written:  John Williston, Will, 1775, Recorded in book E page 6.”
  • The will was not written by John Williston, since he signed it by “making his mark”.
  •  There are no periods or commas at all in the will.
  • Update and correction,  October 13, 2004:   The “beloved granddaughter” who at first appeared to be named only as “name Ventros” turns out to be, upon further research, “Nance Ventros”, the daughter of “Abbigail Fulford” from a previous marriage.  John Williston, Jr.’s will, written in 1771, refers to his sister Abigail as “Abigail Fenters (widow woman)”.  In 1785 in Carteret County, a Nancy Fenters came into court and named John Fulford her guardian.  John Fulford was the husband of Abigail.

 

About the transcription:

  • I have retained as closely as possible all the spellings, misspellings, grammar and punctuation of the original, except where otherwise noted.
  • Any comments or clarifications added by me are in brackets.
  • Although they are not so in the original, I have typed proper names in all caps, except for signatures.
  • In the original, paragraphs were indicated by drawing a sort of dotted line at the end of a sentence and starting a new sentence on a new line.  I have added spaces between paragraphs.

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In the Name of God Amen.  July the twenty forth ano domine one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy five  I John Williston of the County of Cartret in the province of North Carolina yeoman Being in perfect health of Body and of Sound mind and memory thanks be given unto almighty God for the Same and know having Called to mind the 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 first and principally of all But at the General Resurection at the Last Day when the Secrets of all hearts shall be Disclosed I shall receive the Same a gain by the mighty power of almighty God and My Body I Recommend to the Earth to Be Buried in a Christian Decent Like manner At the Discretion of my Executors and as touching all such worldly Estats as it hath please almighty God to Bless me only in this life and as touching all Such worldly estats After my Debts and funeral Charges be paid I give Bequeath Dismis and Dispose of the Same In the following manner and form

 

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Beloved Sun DANIEL WILLISTON Sixte eight acres of Land Joining the Land where he now Dwels Beginning at the west End of my house then Runing North to the Back Line which I give to him his heirs Executors and a Sines [?] forever.  Item I give and Bequeath unto my Beloved Granddaughter NANCE VENTROS one feather bed which her mother has in keeping to be Delivered to the said NANCE VENTROS when she Coms to the age of twelve yeares which I give to [unfortunately, due to the size of the original document the person at the State Archives copied this on two sheets of paper and cut off one line here]

 

Item I Give and Bequeath all the Rest of my Estate Land Goods and Chattels to be Sold at publick vanden [?] after my Desease and the money to Be Equely to be Devided Amongst all  my Children Namely THOMAS WILLISTON SAMUEL WILLISTON EBENEZER WILLISTON and DANIEL WILLISTON and ANN HARRIS MARY WALLIS SARAH GUTHRIE and ESTHER GASKIN and abbigal TAMER MORE and ABBIGAIL FULFORD and SABRA DAVIS one fether Bed only excepted and the firnature therunto belongin which I Give to my Daughter ANN HARRIS to her and her heirs for ever after my desease.

 

Lieke wise I do here By Nominate ordaine and appoint my Suninlaw DAVID WALLIS and THOMAS WILLISTON to Be my whole and Soule Executors of this my Last Will and testament and hereby Revocke and Recall all other former wills Nominating and do appoint this and no other but this to Be my Last will and testament Given under my hand and Seail with my Seail and dated the day and yeare above written

 

Signed and Sealed and Delivered published and pronounced

 

In presence of us                                                          John G I G (his mark) Williston

Ross Bell Senr +

Abel Bell

Rachel Bell      

                                                March Court 1785 this may

                                                Certify that the above Will was

                                                Proved in Open Court according to

                                                Law     Test Robt Read CJC [signed with a flourish]