The will of Houston Roberts, March 20, 1793 as transcribed by Frances Henderson on March 25, 1999 from a copy secured at the NC Archives on Nov. 8, 1986.
This document includes many more commas than most others. Can't explain that. An attempt has been made to include the capitalization, punctuation, and spelling as in the Archives copy used. Brackets include notes of unclear words and editorial comments.
The assumption can be made that he really was quite ill since the will is dated March 20,1793 and it was proved in court during the April term of the same year.
Individuals named
Houston Roberts
Margaret, wife and executor
Sons, no number given, not named here
Daughters, no number given, not named
Negroe Slaves, no number given, not named
Richard, son, executor
William Montfort, witness
Josiah Cooper, witness
Wil Howard, witness
Wm. Roberts, named as qualified executor with Richard Roberts, son.
William Cray, clerk
In the Name of God Amen. The twentieth day of March in the year of Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety three. I Houston Roberts of Onslow County in the State of North Carolina, Gentleman, being very Sick and weak in Body, but of perfect Mind and Memory, thanks be Given unto God for the Same, and calling to Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing, That it is appointed for all Men ounce 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 into the hands of God that gave it; and for my body I recommend it to the Earth, to be buried in a Christian like and decent Manner, at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting, but at the General Resurrection, I Shall receive the Same again by the Mighty power of God; and, as touching Such Worldly Estate where with it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the Same in manner and form following; that is to Say -------
In the first place it is my wish and desire that all my Lands be equally divided between my Sons, that is to Say receiving their proportions as they come to age, my [word "life" is scratched out] Wife Margaret enjoying the Home plantation during her Natural life. I also give all my Negroe Slaves to be equally divided between my Sons and Daughters, they receiving their proportions as they come to age, my Daughters I give a Mare to each [the? may mean "they"] out of my Stock. I give to be equally divided as above, as also the rest of my Personal Estate 'tis also my desire that my Wife be included with my Children in receiving an equal proportion of my Negroe Slaves during her natural life ---
I likewise make and Ordain my Wife Margaret and my Son Richard My Sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby utterly disallow, Revoke and Disanul, all and every other former Testament, Will and Legace Request [?] and Executors, by me in any way before this time Named, willed and bequethed, Ratifying and Comfirming This, and no Other, to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal, the date above written Houston Roberts with his Mark and
drawn seal
done in presence of us
William Montfort [signed]
Josiah Cooper [signed]
Wil Howard, [signed with his mark]
[The small typed numeral "414" is at the bottom of this page.]
[On the outside]
Onslow County April Term 1793
The within mentioned Last Will and Testament of Houston Roberts, Deceased was Duly proved before the Court by the Oath of William Montfort one of the Subscribing Witnesses there to and admitted to [ran off edge of copy]
And that Wm. Roberts & Richard Roberts appeared before the Court and was Duly Quallified by taken the usual oath of an Executor
William Cray, clk
[An incomplete note, also on the outside with a small typed "415" at the bottom of the page, says:]
P[??] by the Oath of Wm. Montfort.
CD
the Executor of Quallified
[end of Document]