State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 1, page 135
Dated 13 March 1781

In the name of God amen: The thirteenth of March one thousand seven hundred and eighty one I Joseph Rousham of the State of North Carolina and County of Tyrrell Planter being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed once for all men to die do make and appoint 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 Almighty God that gave it me and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial 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 wordly Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First - I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Barbary Rousham whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my soul Executrix all my moveable Estate during her life without controul and after her death to be equally divided amongst my brothers and sisters children likewise I lend to my well beloved wife all my lands during her life and then to return to my cousin Joseph Rousham son of Edward Rousam and his heirs and assigns forever by them to be prossessed and enjoyed. And I do hereby utterly disallow disannul and revoke all and every other former Testaments Wills Legacies bequests and Executors by me in any wise before named Willed bequeath ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed Sealed Published and pronounced
And declared by the said Joseph Rousham
As his last Will and Testament in the
Presence of us the subscribers.

Tyrrell County July Term 1783.

Personally appeared John Snell and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that he saw the said Joseph Rousham above named sign, seal publish, pronounce & declare this writing to be his last Will & Testament and at the same time he was of sound mind & memory & saw at the same time Joshua Harrison & Joanna Allcock sign as witnesses thereto & further saith not.

State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County

Appeared before me this day Edward Rousham and Elizabeth Pratt and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that on the twenty fifth of February last Joseph Rousham was dangerous sick at his own house and called on the aforesaid Edward Rousham and Elizabeth Pratt as evidences to Joseph Rousham son of Edward Rousham the aforesaid Joseph Rousham he first desir'd the goods given in his Will to be divided amongst his brothers and sisters might be taken out of his Will and the aforesaid Joseph Rousham saith I give the whole of them goods to Joseph Rousham son of Edward Rousham and further saith, I give him all in all sworn before me the 27 day of April 1783.

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Updated March 25, 2001
Jean Owens Schroeder