May 1858
Will recorded in Carteret and Jones Counties, NC

In the name of God, Amen.  Now be it known that I, James Godwin Sr., of the
county of Carteret and state of North Carolina being of sound mind and
disposing  memory to make, publish and declare this my last will and testament 
as follows.  I give devise limit and appoint to my son James Godwin Jr. a 
certain piece of land lying in Jones County and on the north side of Hunter’s 
Creek on which he now lives and give bequeath to him and his heirs and assigns 
forever so far as one hundred acres.  I give to my son William Godwin a 
certain piece or parcel of land also in Jones County that he lived on to the 
eastward of Cezas’s (sic) Branch including the house he lives in and also the 
boxes he tends the same to his heirs and assigns forever.  Also, I give to my 
son Edward Godwin a certain piece of land also in Jones County on the Westward 
side of Cezas’s (sic) Branch and with Wm. Mundens line and to Richard D. 
Bell’s or Redding Scott’s line the same to his heirs and assigns forever.  I 
give to my wife, Elizabeth Godwin the balance of my lands in the County of 
Jones and Carteret  during the term of her naturalife, and at her death I 
leave it with my executor to do as he may think best to let the lands be sold 
and divide the money equally between my three children, Lucy Godwin, Elizabeth 
Godwin, and Willis Godwin or to have the lands equally divided between them  
the same to their heirs and assigns forever, also I leave it with my executor 
to sell my stock and collect what is due my estate and pay my lawful debts and 
dispose of the balance as he may see proper.  I also make constitute and  
appoint my friend Jeremiah J. Pelletier to be executor of this my last will 
and testatment.

In testimony where of I the said James Godwin Sr. have hereunto set my
hand and seal the 31st day of April AD 1858.

					James (X) Godwin  (Seal)

Signed, sealed, published and delivered by said James Godwin Sr. as his
last will & testament in our presence who at request of our testatrix and in 
his presence of each other have  become witness hereto.   

T.R. Wilson
Wm. S. Bell

Carteret County Court May term AD 1858.  The forgoing paper writing
purporting to be the last will & testament of James Godwin deceased is
exhibited for probate in open court by Jeremiah J. Pelletier, the executor 
therein named, and the due execution thereof by the said James Godwin, as 
proved by the oath & examination of T. R. Willis & William S. Bell, the 
subscribing witnesses thereto. 
It is therefore ordered by the court that the said paper writing and every 
part thereof is the last will & testament of the said James Godwin, and the
same is ordered to be recorded and filed and thereupon the said Jeremiah J.
Pelletier, executor as aforesaid, duly qualifies as such by making the oath
required by law -

Jas Runsby - Clerk of Court.



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