Elizabeth Moore Papers Collection #322
Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Permission to publish has been granted.

WILL OF HANNAH REED

IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, HANNAH REED, of the town of New Bern in the State of North Carolina, being sick, but of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following.

IMPRIMIS. My will and desire is that all my just debts be well and truly paid by my Executor hereinafter named.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my great-grandson, JAMES REED EMERY and JOHN McCLEUR, all my books, histories, (sacred and profane) and pamphlets to be equally divided between them, share and share alike to them, their heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my dear grand-daughter HANNAH McCLEUR all my china, of every kind, to her, her heirs and assigns forever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my dear brother, THOMAS SHINE, one Negro man named TOM, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.

Item. All the rest and residue of my real and personal estate of what nature of kindsoever, I give and bequeath in manner and form following, to wit, one-half part to my great grandson, JAMES REED EMERY, to him, his heirs and assigns, forever, the other half part to be equally divided between my grand-daughter HANNAH McCLUER and my great-grandson, JOHN McCLEUR, share and share alike to them, their heirs and assigns forever.

Item. My will and desire is that each and every legacy of bequest heretofore given to my great-grandson, JAMES REED EMERY be kept in the hands of my executors hereafter named until he shall arrive to the age of twenty and one years, and if my said great-grandson, JAMES REED EMERY should die before he arrive to the age of twenty-one years, then my will and desire is that all the plates marked with the letter “R” shall go to my grand-daughter HANNAH McCLEUR, her heirs and assigns forever, and in that case, I give and bequeath, every other gift of bequest, hereby already bequeathed to the said JAMES REED EMERY, to my said grand-daughter HANNAH McCLEUR, and my said great-grandson, JOHN McCLEUR, to be equally divided between them, share and share alike, to them, their heirs, and assigns forever.

Lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint my trusty friends WILLIAM McCLEUR and JOHN GREEN Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former and other wills heretofore by me made, by me, and ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testment,

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.

/s/ HANNAH REED

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the above-named HANNAH REED as and for her last will and testament, in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names and witnesses in the presence of each other.

THOS. COX, Jun.
MARY DALZELL

December Craven County Court, 1784. The foregoing last will and testament of HANNAH REED, dec’d. was produced in Court and proved by the oath of THOMAS COX, Jun., one of the subscribing witnesses thereto who swore that he was present and did see the testatrix sign, seal, publish, and declare the same to be and contain her last will and testament, that at the time thereof, she was of sound, disposing mind and memory, WILLIAM McCLEUR, one of the Executors therein named, qualified by taking the oath by law appointed.

Ordered that letters testamentary issue accordingly.
Attest.
/s/ William Bryan, Clerk.