Last Will and Testament of Roger Mason, Senior, transcribed by Melanie Willis from a copy of the original which is on microfilm at the NC State Archives in Raleigh, on December 30, 2004

 

About the document:

  • A copy of the will is on microfilm, from the Secretary of State’s collection of original wills. 
  • Roger Mason, Sr. signed his name in printed letters at the end of the will, instead of making his mark, and there appears to be a blob of actual sealing wax next to the signature, instead of a hand-drawn “seal”, which is common to many wills.  The three witness signatures are very faint and illegible.
  • The wills for Roger Mason, Sr., John Mason, Sr., and Roger Mason, Jr., all appear to have been written by the same hand.

 

About the transcription:

I have retained as closely as possible the grammar and spelling of the original, except for the names of individuals, which I have put in all-caps.   The word “Item” is written outside the margins of the body of the will.  I have added colons after these words, and spaces to indicate separation between what would normally be considered paragraphs.  My own comments are in brackets.

 

 

 

In the Name of God Amen, North Carolina Hyde County, I ROGER MASON SR being Sick and week of body but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be to God for the Same and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die first I Recommend my Soull to God that Gave it me and my body to be buried in a Christian Like manner at the Discression of my Exetors hearafter named first of all I Give and Bequeath what the Lord hath been pleased in his Infinate mercy to bestow on me of worldly affairs I Give and Bequeath as followeth………………………………………………………………………

 

Item:  I lend my Loving wife MARY MASON the use of half my Estate after the Lagaces [legacies] is paid out During hur natrull Life and then to be Equally Divided between my two Sons BENJA [Benjamin] MASON and THOS [Thomas] MASON, I Like wife Lend hur the Use of half my house and plantation During hur naturell Life and no Longer and then as followes........

 

Item:  I give to my Grand Son CHRISTOPHER MASON one two year old heffer to be in Benja possession tell he Come of age

 

Item:  I give to my son BENJAMIN MASON all Gailars hammocks and the upper old field and all that Belong to it……………………………………………………

 

Item:  I give to my two Sons BENJAMIN MASON and THOS MASON all my working tools and wearing apperill and Negro BOSTON to be Equeally Divided Between them

 

Item:  I give to JOHN MASON and ROGER MASON my two Sons one Shilling Starling a peace and they therewith to be Content………………………………………………..

 

Item:  I give to my Grand Son ROGER MASON JR my now Dwelling place if he Lives to the age of twenty two years old and if the sd ROGER Should Diee before he Comes to the above age I give it to my Grand Son DAVID MASON only my my wife—is to have the use of=one half During hur naturell Life and to be in my Son BENJAMIN possession tell ther Come to that age

 

Item:  I give to THOS MASON my son all my Land up Roes [Rose Bay] Down to the Great Bridges……………………………………………………………………………..

 

Item:  I give to my Grand Son DAVID MASON one peace of Land Called the Paupoy Ridge and if and if my Grand Son Should Die ROGER MASON [?] before he Comes of twenty two years old I give the Said peace of Land Caulled the Paupoy Ridge to my Grand son SAMUELL MASON…………………………………………………………

 

Item:  I give to my Grand Son MOSES MASON twenty five acars of Land Joyning on his plantation his father Left him as is marked out by a Line of trees……………………

 

Item:  I give to my Grand Son ROGER MASON two Cowes and Calves and one bed and Covering to it to be in my Sons BENJAMIN MASON possession tell he Comes to the age of twenty two years old and Eighteen months Schooling……………………………

 

Item:  I give to my Grand Daughter SUSANAH MASON twelve months Schooling……

 

Item:  I give to my two Sons BENJAMIN and THOMAS MASON one half of my estate after the Lagaces is paid out to be equally divided between them

 

I Lastly ordain Constitute and appoint my two Sons BENJAMIN MASON and THOMAS MASON my whole Exetors of this my Last Will and Testament Disalowing and Disanulling and Revoking all former wills by me Before maide and this to Stand and Remain my Last Will and testament as witness whearof I have unto Soth my hand and Seall this 23th Day of Decer 1754—

 

Signed Sealled and Delivered in the presence of us to be the Last Will and testament of the testator—

Test—

[three signatures, illegible]                                             Roger Mason [printed letters]

 

 

[On a separate sheet of paper of a different size is the following:]

 

Hyde Countys  June Court 1756

 

This may Certifie that the Within Last Will and Testament of Roger Mason Esqr of the said County Decd , was Exhibited to the Said Court by Benjamin Mason + Thomas Mason [illegible-abbreviation of “Executors”] of the Within , and proved by the Oaths of John Tuley + Jacob Tuley who Deposed they saw Jane Tuley Set her Mark as Testamoney as Such and at the Same time the said Benjamin Mason and Thomas Mason who are [illegible-abbreviation of “Executors”] took the [illegible- abbreviation of “Executors”] Oath as is by Law Appointed—

Ordered that Mr. Secretary have [illegible] thereof

 

[Signatures of:]

 

Vena Coplin & Stephen Denning [illegible-possibly abbreviation for Clerk of Court]