In the name of God Amen. I John Woodard of the County of Edgecombe and in the Parish of St. Mary being in health at the present, thanks be to Allmighty God for the Same but knowing how many Ways the Life of Man may be Abridged have thought fit to Make, Constitue, and Ordain this to be my last Will and Testament and for What Temporal Estate it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow on Me I dispose of in form and manner following.

Item. I lend to my dear and loving wife, Margaret Woodard, the use  of my plantation that I now live on and two negros. Their names is these Cip & Sam. During her widow hood and then the plantation and negro Sam to my son, Elisha Woodard, to him and his heirs for ever.

Item. I give also the Negro Cip to my son, John Woodard, to him and his heirs for ever. I like wise give to my son, John Woodard, one still after my wife deced, to him and his heirs for ever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Mary Lee, one negro wench named Lucy to her and her heirs for ever and I also lend the use of my negro Hanner to my daughter Mary Lee during her life and then my disire is that Margaret Brown, daughter to Mary Lee, to have the said negro to her and her heirs for ever.

Item. I lend the use of two negros, Beck and Sam, to Lenard Langston and Ann, his wife, during their lives and then my desire is that they should be equal divid between my tow granddaughters, Sarah Langston, and Elisabeth Langston, to them and their heirs for ever.

Item. I lend the use of one negro nam Rose to James Holland and Sarah, his wife, during their lives and then I give the negro Rose to my grandson, John Holland, to him and his heirs for ever.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Woodard, one Horse called Parrot, and five Pounds Proclamation Money to him and his heirs for ever.

Item. I Lend the Use of all the Rest of my estate of what Nature and Quallity soever to my Well beloved Wife Margaret Woodard, during her Widowhood and then to be equaly divided amoungst my six children before mentioned. I Nominate and Appoint my Well beloved Son Thomas Woodard to be my Hole & Sole Executors of this my last will and testament revoking all others. In witness where of I have here unto set my hand this 11 day of February in 1765.  Signed, sealed, and delivered       John (X) Woodard

In the presence of Us

Stephen Cobb

James Barnes

John Drew

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Per the notes of the late, great Wilson County historian and genealogist Hugh B. Johnston, the will of John Woodard’s son Elisha Woodard located John’s plantation on Contentnea Creek, on the southwest edge of Edgecombe County, now Wilson County.

Edgecombe County Wills and Estate Papers, North Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line], http://www.ancestry.com.