WILL OF JOHN PERDUE (Bute Co. NC Will Book A, page 52)

In the name of God and God's name this being the last Will and Testament of John Perdue being now of perfect Memory and Judgement thanks be to God for it... and first of all I give and bequeath my Soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors and family................
Secondly I give and bequeath to my beloved Son John Perdue that tract of land where on he now lives from Jonathan Johnson Creek down to owins (Owen's) Creek, all over owins (Owen's) Creek of the North Side of the said creek..
Thirdly I give and bequeath to my two beloved sons Joel Perdue and Morris Perdue the land and plantation where on I now live to be divided between them at the discretion of James Moore and that they may have the benifit of the land as soon as they have judgment to manage their business and the howse and plantation I give the use of and benifit to my beloved wife during her life....
Fourthly and likewise I give and bequeath to my beloved wife my lot of land that I had of John Dawson during the time I leased it for and her life and if she should die before the time is out I give it to my son Richard Perdue...
Fifthly I give and bequeath to three sons William Perdue, Joseph Perdue and Adams Perdue five shillings of sterling a peace...
Sixthly I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Phebe Perdue one feather bed and furniture and seventhly and lastly I do give and bequeath to my beloved wife my three negros Jack and Peter and Will to have the use of her life and at her death and the aforesaid negros as living or any of them I give them to my beloved sons Richard Perdue and Bevel Perdue and Liliston Perdue to be praised by fit persons with the rest of my estate not yet mentioned which I also give the use of to my beloved wife during her life and then to be divided with the praise value of the negros, between my three beloved children Blackman Perdue, Sally Perdue and Ann Perdue and if the value of the Negros be more then than that of the household estate and Stock then the aforesaid persons to wit Richard and Bevel and Liliston shall pay out of their value, so that they, the six last named children shall have a just and equal devesion of all.
Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved son Field Perdue one feather bed and furniture to be paid at the Death of my wife or before if it can be spared....
As also I do appoint James Moore and my wife Sarah Perdue my hole and sole executors of all my Business in witness were of I have unto set my hand and fixed seal this 24 day of March 1768.

his
John LJ Perdue Seal

mark
Signed Sealed
in the presants of us
Susanna Moore Jurat
Ann Moore Jurat

Bute Sct February Court 1769
This will was proved by the oaths of Susanna Moore and Ann Moore the witnesses hereto and on
motion it was ordered to be recorded. Then James Moore, one of the Executors herein named Qualified as such and was ordered to be Certified.
Test Ben. McCulloch C.C