Person:Benjamin Bowles (6)

Will of Benjamin Bowles

Will Extract of Benjamin Bowles of Hanover County, VA

I give to my brother Thomas, 500 acres of land lying in Kentucky, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

I give to my brother John, 1000 acres of land lying in Kentucky, also a negro named Lewis.

I give to my sister, Mary Ford, 500 acres of land lying in Kentucky, also a negro boy named John.

I give to my sister, Fanny Bernard, one negro wench named Silva to her.

I also give to my brother, John, 125 acres of land in Hanover County, Virginia; 1 blackhaw?; 1 mare and sadle (sic).

I also appoint and constitute John Bowles and Reuben Ford, Executors of this, my Last Will amd Testament.

Dated: 30 April 1780

(signed) Benjamin Bowles (Seal)

Witnesses:

William Cook

John Burch

William Burch

[Source: Will filed in the Courthouse in Surry County, NC]

Will Transcript:

Benjamin Bowles Will Surry County, North CAROLINA

In the name of God Amen, I Benjamin BOWLES of Hanover County, Virginia being weak in Body but of a Perfect memory, do make and Constitute this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following (to Wit) I give my Body to the ground from whence it Came my Soul to the god who gave it. As to what worldly Estate the Lord has Blest me with I dispose as follows.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Brother Thomas BOWLES five hundred acres of Land Lying in Kentucky to him his Heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give to my Brother John BOWLES one Thousand acres of Land Lying in Kentucky also a negro Fellow named Lewis to him his Heirs and assigns forever.

Item, I give to my Sister Mary FORD five hundred acres of Land Lying in Kentucky also a negro Boy named John, to her and her Heirs and assigns forever.

Item, I give to my Sister Fanny BARNARD one negro wench named Silva to her and her Heirs and assigns forever.

I also give my brother John BOWLES one hundred and Twenty five acres Land Lying in Hanover County Virginia on blackhaw and mare and Sadle to him his Heirs and assigns forever, I also constitute and appoint John BOWLES and Reubin FORD Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal this 30th Day of April in One Thousand Seven hundred and eighty,

Signed, Sealed and acknowledged In presence of us:

William COOK

John BURCH

William BURCH

Benjamin + (his mark) Bowles

[Source: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/BOWLES/1998-05/0895428405]

Transcript of will corrected by Beth Gay on 22 Sep 2012. One important change is the location of the 125 acres in Hanover County willed to John Bowles. The land is on the Blackhaw. This was transcribed as black horse. There is a Black Haw Branch in Hanover County, Virginia. Second important change is the name of the third witness. His name is William Burch not Bart.

Will attested to by 2 of the subscribing witnesses, William Cook and John Burch in August Court, 1780.

1. ↑ Benjamin Bowles, in North Carolina, United States. Probate Records, 1735-1970: Images. (FamilySearch: County courthouses, North Carolina, 14 June 2016)
   Surry County Wills, 1771-1787, Vol. 01 / p. 140.

   / Family Search, image 160 of 204, [View Image] This image appears to be a copy of the original clerk's copy of this will. Note that page 140 is now on 2 separate pages.