In the Name of God Amen, I Edward Tool of the County of Sampson and State of North Carolina being very sick and weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to god for it Calling into mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men 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 hand of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be Buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion 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 wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I Give Divide and Dispose of the same in the following manner and form

First I give and bequeath to my Son Jeraldus Tool all my Land and … to him and his Heirs and Assigns forever. Secondly I do empower (sic) my Executors hereafter named to sell all such part of my Estate as they shall think useful to support the Children and Widow Consisting of Black Smiths Carpenters and Cropers Tools and the Money arising from such sale after paying my just Debts and Lawful charges to be Divided equally anongst the Widow and Children. Thirdly I lend unto my wife Judith Tool all my stock Hogs and Cattle and all horse kind Goods and Chattels and household furniture and necessary utensils for plantation Business for the use and support of herself and Children until such time as they shall be raised up and that … at such age as directed by Law. Fourthly I give and bequeath unto my wife Judith Tool and unto my Daughter Elisabethan Tool and unto my Daughter Matilda Tool and unto my Daughter Unity Tool and unto my Son Jeraldus Tool all my personally Estate within doors and without except the aforesaid allowance for raising the Children to be Divided amongst them all equally share and share alike carried over on the other side as follows

Lastly I do Constitute and ordain my trusty Friends Gabriel Holms and Jonathan Taylor as Executors of this my last Will and testament and I do hereby utterly Disallow revoke and Disannul all and every other former testaments Wills, Legacies, Bequeaths and Executors by me in any wise before Named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in Witness whereof I have hereunto let my hand and seal this fifth Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty five.

Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Edward Tool as his last will and testament in the presence of us whom his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our Names.

Authur Brown

Sherod Brown

John Stevens

Norman ?

State of North Carolina Sampson County March Term 1785