Will of Matthew Caswell III

Bruce and Julie Teague's Family Site | home

In the name of God amen: This second day of August seventeen hundred and seventy I, Mathew Caswell of Tyrel County in the Province of North Carolina Planter being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be given to God for the same therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is apointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the forme and manner following that is to say princapally and first of all I recommend my soul into the hands of God who gave it me and my body to the Earth to be buried in a Christain Burial at athe discression of my Executors hereafter names and as touching such worlkdly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I dispose of the same in manner and form following.

Imprimis - I gave and bequeath unto my beloved son Absolam Caswell the plantation and one hundred and fifty acres of land moore or less being the land that bought of Nathan Bateman on the east side of Scupernong River unto him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever.

Item - I give and bequeath to my veloved son Isaac Caswell eighty six acres of land on the East side of the Holley Branch be the same moore or less beginning at the outlet branch runing up the Holley Branch to the back line unto him and the are of his body lawfully begotten forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my beloved son John Caswell eighty six acres of land on the West side of the Holley Branch be the same moore or less joining his brother Isaac Caswells beginning at theoutlet Branch runing up the Holley Branch to the back line unto him and his heirs lawfully begotten forever.

Item - I give and bequeath to my three sons that is to say Absolam Caswell Isaac Caswell and John Caswell all my Juniper Swamp on the East side of the river it being the swamp joining the plantation that I gave to my son Absolam Caswell to them and their airs and assignes forever but and if either of them should quarrel two about the swamp that then the other brother shall cut them out of their rite of the swamp with twelve pence apeace if this quarrel should arrise after they come of twenty one years of age.

Item - I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Pattey Caswell one cow yearlin and her increes one puter dish one puter bason three puter plates six puter spoons one chest loock and kee one iron pott two hoogs.

Item - I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Lovey Caswell one cow yearlin and her increes one puter dish one puter bason three puter plates six puter spoon one chest loock and kee one irou pott two hoogs.

Item - I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Elizabeth Caswell all the rest of my moveable Estate with one third part of the plantation that I gave to my son Absalom Caswell for her life onley she paying all my debts and funeral charges bringing up my children with love and care.

Item - I make constitute and ordain my beloved wife Elizabeth Caswell Executrix and my friend Nathan Batman Senr. And my friend Joseph Ansley executors of this my last Will and Testament utterly saialowing and disanuling all other allowing this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the date above written Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declaired by the said Mathew Caswell as his last Will and Testament.

(Seal)

In the presence of us

Joseph Arnold

Jemima (her -x- mark) Caswell

Bethias (her -x- mark) Bateman

Recorded Augt 1st 1774

By Fr. Ward Clerk