Return to Tyrrell Co Wills Introduction & Table of Contents
State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 1, page 125
Dated 4 November 1780
In the name of God amen: I Henry Downing of the County of Tyrell & state of North Carolina do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following -
First - I give & bequeath unto my son Richard Downing a moity or the one half of all my lands to him & his heirs forever -
2dly - I give & bequeath to my son Stephens Downing the other moity of all my lands to him & his heirs forever -
3dly - It is my Will that the manor plantation & houses be laid off in my son Stephens's half of the land, devised above -
4thly - It is my will that the saw & grist mills be devided equally between my two sons, so that each may share one half or the proffits arising therefrom.
5thly - I give my two sons above named all my stock of horses hogs cattle & sheep to be equally divided between them first disposing of a sufficiency to discharge my just debts.
6thly - It is my will & pleasure that all the rest of my Estate be kept for the use of the plantation untill my sons come age -
7thly - I give to my two sons above named all my negroes to be equally divided, share & share alike to them & their heirs forever -
8thly - It is my will & pleasure that the Negroes above devised be worked on the lands untill my son Richard come of full age; afterwards to be devided together with all the stock of horses hogs cattle & sheep -
9thly - It is my Will & pleasure that if either of my two sons should die before they come to the age of twenty one years or marries & has living issue - that the survivor shall enjoy & I do hereby give all the deceased brothers share of my Estate to him & his heirs forever -
10 - And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute & appoint Thomas Mackey Esqr. & Capt. Friley Jones my Executors to this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all other Wills by me made as witness my hand & seal this 4th day of November 1780. Red published & declared to be the last Will & Testament of Henry Downing in presence of us
Henry Downing (Seal)
Robt. Davison
John Canady Junr.
Return to Tyrrell Co Wills Introduction & Table of Contents