Secretary of State
Colony of North Carolina
Currituck County
Dated 5 October 1752

In the name of God amen. I, Benjamin Cowell Senr of the county of Currituck & province of North Carolina this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & fifty two being in perfect health & sound memory do make this my last will & testatment in the manner & form following that is to say

Imprimus - It is my will & desire that all my just debts & funeral charges be forthwith paid fater my decease with all convenients paid , by my Executors hereafter named

Imps - I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Benjamin Cowell during his natural life & the natural of Sarah his wife one hundred acres of land on the east side of Great Alligator in the county of Tyrell in the province afsaid out of the land known by the name of the Dutchman's Ridge being the eastermost side of the land bounded on the east by the land of John Willcokes and on the West by a marked oak & from thence as by a line to be made form said oak (being a Chestnut Oak) north & south to the extent of the west & east line of said land and after the death of my said son & his said wife, to his son Luke and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever.

Imps - I give & bequeath to my well beloved son Solomon Cowell two hundred acres of land lying and being in the county of Tyrell in the province of North Carolina on the east side of Great Alligator begining at a hickry then running a west course to a Blazed May(?) Then north to a line of mark trees, then binding on Richard McClures line, to have and to hold the said two hundred acres of land to my said son Soloman and to his heirs forever.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beoved son William Cowell one hundred acres of land out of the above mentioned tract joyning my son Benjamin on the west side and bounded on the west side by a line north & south (parreled to that between him and Benjamin from a hickry alread marked to him & his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever but if he should die without such heirs then to return to my son John & the lawfull heirs of his body forever.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Butlar Cowell & to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever one hundred acres of land on the west side of the above land given to William, bounded west by a north and south line & by a hickry above, being the extent of the Dutchman's Ridge west, and down that line north one hundred & sixty poles then east until it meets with Williams line & if he dies without such issue then to my son John & the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever.

Imps - I give & bequeath to my well beloved daughter Rebecca Cowell & to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever and to my well beloved daughter Dorcus Cowell & the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever one hundred and fifty acres of land lying and being on the east side of Great Alligator and part of a tract of land called the Mulbery Land to begining at the westernmost side of the mulbery ridge to be regularly taken off after fifty acres taken off of the easternmost side of ........... Land to be even hereafter then next to that fifty acres then next the said hundred & fifty acres to be taken off a afsd. which sd. hundred & fifty acres to be equally divided between my two daughters as afsd. Rebecca and Dorcas and if either of the two shall die without heris then my desires that the longer surviver of the sd. two to inherrett the other's part of sd. Hundred & fifty acres.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Edmond Cowell and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever three hundred acres of land it being the whole contents of Pattant called the Holly Land lying & being in the county of Tyrell on the easternmost side of Great Alligator but if he should dye without issue then to my son John and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever and I likewise give to my sd. Son Edmond one good feather bed & furniture & two cows & calves to him & his heirs forever.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beloved son John Cowell and to his heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever fifty acres of the ___cummer land together with fifty acres of land it being of the land called the Mullbery land and the same as is mentioned to be given in the banegraff(?) of Rebecca & Dorcas lying & being ...... aforesd.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Thomas Cowell one hundred acres of land lying on the east side of Great Alligator and being part of a tract of land called the Mulbery Ridge bind by a line to the westward and to the eastward by a line of marked trees to divide that from the land hereafter to given to his sister Elizabeth.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beloved daugher Elizabeth Cowell to the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever the northernmost part of the land known by the name of the Mulbery Ridge divided form her brother Thomas by a line of marked trees but if my said daughter should dye without such issue then to return to my son Thomas and to the heirs of his body lawfully forever.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Mary Cowell my Negro girl named Lettice to her and heir heirs forever but if she dye without heirs of her body lawfully begotten then to fall to my daughter Elizabeth and her heirs forever reserving the use of said Negro to my wife during her widwohood but if Elizabeth should die without heirs lawfully begotten of her body then the said Negro girl to return to my daughter Dorcas and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten forever only reserving her first child to my daugher Rebecca.

Imps - I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Rebecca my Negro woman named Bess reserving never the less the use of said woman to my wife during her widowhood and her increase to her and her heirs forever.

Imps - I lend the use of all the rest and residue of my personal estate to my wife Elizabeth Cowell and after her marriage or death whichever shall happen first then to be equally devided amongst my children that is to say --- Rebecca Butlar John Thomas Elizabeth & Dorcas and their heirs forever and I also do constitute & appoint my said wife Elizabeth and my son Soloman Cowell whole & sole Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal the day and year first above writen holding this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament

Ben (his -x- mark)Cowell

Signed Sealed & Delivered
In the presents of us

Jos. Campbell
John Woodhouse
Jordan Rogers

North Carolina
Currituck County
March County Court
Anno. Dom. 1756

Present His Majesties Justices

These may certifie that Joshua Campbell and John Woodhouse apeared in open court and made oath that they saw Benjamin Cowell Senr. Sign seal publish & declare the within writting to be and contain his last will and testament and that the said Benjamin Cowell Senior was then and at that time of sound and disposing memory and at the same time Elizabeth Cowell Executrix apeared and took the Executors oath in due form of law ordered that the Honour the Secretary have notice thereof as Letters may issue as the law directs.

Test William Thergold

The last will and testament of Benjamin Cowell deceased recorded in the Secretary's office in book no.9 folio 67.

Updated August 9, 2001
Gordon L. Basnight

Will from Tyrrell County, North Carolina Genealogy