Currituck County Wills
Edmund Bowren
May 15, 1778; Feb. 7, 1778 (sic)
Currituck Co. Will Book 1, pp. 142-145
In the name of God Amen, I EDMOND BOWREN of Currituck County in North Carrolina being very sick and weak but in perfect mind and memory Thanks be given unto God Cauling into mind the mortality of my body and knowing 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 into the hands of the Almighty God give it, and body I recommend to the earth to be buried in disent christain burial at the descretion 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 worldly estate whare with it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I giv and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First I giv and bequeath to my Grand Son MITCHEL BOWREN Son of JOSIAH BOWREN dec. one hundred and forty five acres of land that I bought of WILLIAM GOODMAN lying on the north side of the said land that I bought of WILLIAM GOODMAN beginning at a corner ash tree standing between the said land and WILLIAM NORTHERNS land and thence westerly along Nick swamp road the various courses there of to the west line, thence southardly along the west or head lines so far as a direct line that I shall include one hundred and forty five acres of land to him and his heirs forever, also I give to him one hand mill forever to be left in the care of my executors until he shall come to a lawfull age.
Item: I giv and bequeath all the remainder of the land I bought of WILLIAM GOODMAN to my two Grand Sons JOSEPH BOWREN and MALICHA BOWREN son of MALICHA BOWREN but reserving the use of the said land to my Son MALICHA BOWREN his life time, and his wife to have the use of one third part of the said land, if in case he should leav her a widow, so long as she remains his widow but if she should intermarry then she is to have no manner of wright to any part of the said land, and after their Father death they are to have the forsaid land and if they should depart this life before they come of age of one and twenty years and leave no heir of their own lawfull begotten or known Brothers nor Sisters lawfully begotten of their Father MALICHA BOWREN, to heir the land from them then in case one half of the said land I giv to JAMES ETHERIDGE a child that was sworn to my Son MALICHA and the other half of the land I giv to my Sisters Son EDMOND MONCREEF and his heirs forever, Also give and bequeth to my two Grandsons JOSEPH BOWREN and MALICHA BOWREN one negro girl called Lyd to be divided between them forever.
Item: I giv and bequeath to my Grandson EDMON BOWREN Son of MAXEMN. BOWREN the plantation that I bought of SOLOMAON COX lying on the est side of nothims road but first reserving the use of the said land to my Son MAXEMN. BOWREN his life time and his widow if in case she should leave one long as she remains his widow and no longer to have any wright in any part of the said land after the death of my Son MAXIMN. BOWREN then for the forsaid EDMOND BOWREN to him and his heirs for ever.
Item: I giv and bequeath to my Son MAXIMN. BOWREN the [inserted word "use"] Midle plantation during his life time and after his death to go to his next Son if any if no other Son to his Son EDMOND BOWREN know living and his heirs forever but if in case he should have another Son hereafter born to him and his heirs forever I also giv to my Grandson EDMON BOWREN the hand mill that did belong to my Grandfather to him forever
Item: I giv and bequeath to my Grand Daughter FRANCES BOWREN Daughter of my Son JOSIAH BOWREN one negro girl cauled Amy to hir and her heirs forever and to be hired by my executors for the use of her-------------------------------------
Item: I giv and bequeath to my two Grandsons JOSEPH BOWREN and MALICHA BOWREN one negro girl cauled L