Names included Benjamin Ward Names Included Beneter French, daughter Joseph French, friend and executor Maria, daughter Richard, son Margaret Ann Hatsell, daughter Margaret Ann Henderson, daughter last two are same person David, grandson, son of Margaret Ann Ann Jane, granddaughter, daughter of Margaret Ann A. G. Hatsell, deceased, father of David and Ann Jane Ruth Parish, daughter Edward, son James, son not of age Richard Amanda Alice Mariah William P. Ferrand, executor Philip Koonce, witness Tho (R?) Hazard, witness Jasper Etheridge, clerk Negroes woman Betsey woman Alice man Handa - also referred to as Handy woman Oma - also referred to as Ome and her two youngest children Dilce, a female - also referred to as Dils and Dilse woman Pleasant man Moses Old Lewis to be sold Dinar to be sold Lena to be sold Luce to be sold man - Lewis to choose his master Eada to choose which child to live with others, not named The will of Benjamin Ward, signed September 5, 1845 appears to have been written originally January 23, 1843. It further appears that Benjamin added a codicil to, and marked out a section of, this will mostly for the purpose of changing his daughter Margaret's last name. She was the widow of Archelus G. Hatsell and married Henry Henderson on 2/27/1844. When this will was copied into the record it was done in a very neat hand and looks much like that of Jasper Etheridge, clerk. This transcription was made by Frances B. Henderson on May 2, 1999. An attempt was made to maintain the spelling, capitalization, and punctuation as in the copy secured from the NC Archives in October of 1986. Editorial notes are in brackets. State of North Carolina} Onslow County } In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Ward of the County and State aforesaid do make and ordain this my last Will and testament in the way and manner as follows to Wit first of all I recommend my Soul unto God who gave it me and my body to the Earth to be buried in a Christianist like manner = In disposing of what it has been please God to bless me with in this World in Way & Manner as follows, first it is my Will that all my just Debts Should be paid 2nd I give unto my Daughter Beneter French my two negro Women Betsey & Alice to her her heirs & assigns for ever and it is my Wish that my friend Joseph M. French should take Maria and Richard and Keep them to School untill all my debts is paid and then all my children that is of age to rec'd their proposiable [unsure of this word - looks like it means "proportionate"] Share according to My Will [The next section, in italics here, has been marked through. There is also a note in the margin, written sideways, that says "This 3 clause annuld and the last clause takes its Place"] 3rd I (give is marked out) lend my Daughter Margaret Ann Hatsell my negro man Handa oma (word marked out) and her two Youngest children & Dilce during her Natural life and then to her two children David & Ann Jane Hatsell and one years provisions for her (smeared) family and all the land that I have bot belonging to the Heirs of A G Hatsell dec'd during her life and then to her two children David & Ann Jane and if I Should die before this year is out for her to stay Here untill 1st day of Jan 1844 and provision made for her Support one cow & Calf two Sows & pigs one horse saddle & Bridle one mahagony Table one Set of chairs [This is the end of the first page] and other necessary furniture for to Keep house upon [End of marked out section] 4th I give to my Daughter Ruth Parish with the two She has got my negro woman Pleasant now two -- beds & furniture 5th I give to my Son Edward my negro man Moses when my estate is Settled all the rest of my negroe Slaves I leave to my five yougest children they Rec'd there proposiable [also written beneath "proprosiable"] share as they come to age 6th I give all my lands on the So Side of Cow head to be Equally divided between my two Sons James & Richard, Jame to receive his Share when he comes to age and if Either of them Should die before they come to age the Surviving one to have the Whole of his Share & I give 7th James one feather Bed & furniture 8th I leave my land on the West Side of New River to be Sold at a Cr. [credit?] of Six months and the money Divided between James and Richard 9th I give Amanda two Beds & furniture 10th Alice & Mariah the Same = all the rest of my property that I have not made provision for to be Sold for the benefit of my estate 11th I leave old Lewis Dinar Lena & Luce to be Sold at a credit of Six months & I privilege Lewis for to chuse his master I leave Eada for to chuse which of my children for to live with I make this my last Will and Testament revoking of all others made by me at this time and I leave my worthy friends J. M. French & Wm P. Ferrand my whole Executors Sined Sealed in the Presence of this the 23rd day of January in the [signature] Benj'm Ward [seal drawn] year of our Lord 1843 [There are no other signatures here. They appear after the codicil.] [The following is added at the bottom apparently to replace the section marked out on the first page.] I lend to my Daughter Margaret Henderson my negro Girl Dils During her natural life and then with my negro boy Handy and negro Girl Ome and her two yougest children to be hired out for the benefit of my two grand children David Hatsell and Ann Jane Hatsell until they come of age then they with the girls Dilse to be equally divided between them two children and all the land I bought belonging to the Heirs of A. G. Hatsell to be rented out [this ends the second page] for the benefit of Sd children untill they come of age then for the land to be equally divided between them Signed Sealed and delivered In presence of us Sept 5th 1845 [signature] B. Ward [drawn seal] Philip Koonce Tho (R?) Hazard State of North Carolina } November Term 1845 Onslow County } of County Court Onslow The last will and testament of Benjamin Ward was produced in open Court and the due execution thereof proved by the Oath of Philip Koonce one of the Subscribing Witnesses thereto at the Same time Joseph M French one of the executors therein named appeared and qualified as such Ordered that Said Will be recorded and that letters testamentary issue to Said French [signature] Jasper Etheridge, clk