Will of Duncan Brown

(Brother of Hugh Brown)

In the name of God, Amen, the twenty-fourth day of February 1761. I, Duncan Brown, planter in the county of Cumberland and province of North Carolina, being very weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, therefore calling unto 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 principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I recommend unto the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the direction of my executor. 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 when with it has pleased God to bless me in this life, I ordain and order my brother, Hugh Brown, to be my executor and to dispose in the following manner and form.

Item: I order and devise all manner of debts to be paid out of my estate first in priority. I give and bequeath to Ann, my dearly beloved wife, thirty pounds in ready money at my death, and all the household facilities and four cows and calves, and ten bushels of corn yearly as long as she lives.

Item: To Daniel Brown, son of Hugh Brown, deploy [and] bestows a Negro man, Neal Corffery.

Item: To Peter Brown, son of Hugh Brown, I give the plantation that I live now on, containing one hundred and fifty acres of land.

Item: And the rest of my chattels to be divided between Neill and John Brown, sons of Hugh Brown.

Item: And the rest of the ready money after all the debts and charges is paid, I give to Hugh Brown, my brother.

Item: And to William Brown, one grown mare branded this I S,

Whose likewise, I constitute, make, and ordain sole executor of this my last will and testament. All and singular freely to be possessed and enjoyed. I do hereby utterly disallow and revoke and disannuls all and every other former testaments, wills, and legacies and bequests and executors by me in any way before named willed and bequeath, ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament in witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written. Signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and discharged by the said Duncan Brown as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers.

His

Duncan X Brown Seal

Mark

Witness:

Duncan McNeill

Malcolm Smith

Cumberland Co. Records: Wills 1757-1869 Vol. 1 Ada-But CR29 801.1 NC Archives

Transcribed by Bradley M. Buie January 2000