Northampton County,
North Carolina
WB 4 pg 279/280
In the name of God Amen. Knowing it is once appointed for all men to die. I Nathan Britton of Northampton County, NC being of sound mind and memory do make this Riting to contain my Last Will and Testament evoking all others made first of me by me.
Item 1 st I loan unto my beloved wife Sally Britton all of my Estate after paying all my just debts consisting of my Lands and plantation that I now live on with Oliver Luck (Leach), also two negroes namely, Jeffery and Sarah, also all my previsions now _____, all my stock of every kind all my household and Kitchen furniture together with all my plantation utensils during her natural life or widowhood. My will and desire is that my wife Sally Britton shall have it in her power to make sale of any part of my estate that she wishes to dispose of to raise a sufficient quantity of money to pay off all my just debts. Also it is my will and desire that my wife Sally Britton shall not settle any person on my Lands as long as she lives as I don’t wish my Lands and Timbers destroyed by any other person only by my own family.
Item 2 nd I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary J. Merrel the sum of Seventy five dollars it being her full Legacy of my Estate to be paid after the death or marriage of my wife Sally Britton.
Item 3 rd I give and bequeath unto Jesse W. Britton the sum of Seventy five dollars it being his full Legacy of my Estate to be paid after the death or marriage of my wife Sally Britton.
Item 4 th It is my Will and desire that at the marriage or decease of my wife Sally Britton that all the property that I have lent her should be equally divided among my (turn over 2 nd page)
Children namely Lucretia Wade, Tabitha Stephenson, Sally Ann Britton, John W. Britton, Elizabeth J. Britton, Nathan T. Britton, Joseph O.K. Britton, Henry T. Britton, Emily S. Britton.
Item 5 th My will and desire is also that if my wife finds herself in procession of any property that I have lent to her that is not profitable to her and her children, she is at liberty to dispose of it in any way that may be most beneficial to her and her above mentioned children. Also it is my will and desire that my wife have the privileges of using any of the above lent property in any what way seem most advantage to her and her children above name so as not to prevent an equal division amongst the above mentioned heirs.
Item 6 th I do where by constitute make and ordain my friend Kinchen Powell exect. To this my last will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this (was left blank) in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty one.
Signed Sealed & declared by the
said Nathan Britton as his last Nathan Britton (Seal)
will and Testament in presence of us.
Witness
Amos Vick
Edwin Bridgers
Northampton County; December Court 1844. The forgoing paper writing was exhibited in open Court as the last will and Testament of Nathan Britton decd and proved in due form of law by the oath of Amos Vick and Edwin Bridgers, the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be certified and recorded whereupon K. Powell the within named Executor came into open Court and qualified as the Law directs.
Teste, Thos. Hughes CCC