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In the name of God Amen.
I Matthew Pridgen of the state of North Carolina, Bladen County being in perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling unto mind the mortality of my body and reviewing? that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of almighty God and my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I do dispose in the following manner and form. I devise that the ___of my property may be dealt with in this manner after my death. Viz.
Item.I give and grant unto my two sons namely Stephen and Timothy all the lands I purchased of Evan Anders..Stephen to have one upper part of said land and Timothy one lower part and the grist mill equally between them.
Item.I give and grant unto my son the plantation where I now live and all the lands adjoining thereto containing two hundred and twenty four acres.
Item. I give and grant unto my wife Hannah all my Negroes, stock of all kind and household furniture of all kind to school and support my children and while she remains a widow until the youngest becomes of age and then to have an equal division between the heirs. Should she marry before the youngest child becomes of age, then must be divided all the perishable property except the negroes.
Item.I give and grant unto my three daughters viz. Catherine, Elizabeth and Janet one hundred dollars to each of them ready money that is now in the house which I had be put up in interest to their use and benefit.
In witness whereof I have herein set my hand and seal this 13th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
GW Bannerman Enoch Herring
I leave as Executor to my Last Will and Testament Matthew Pridgen Seal
Signed Sealed in the Presence of us GW Bannerman, Thomas Sikes