Elias Fort

His Last Will provides as follows:

In the name of God, Amen. I, Elias Fort of the County of Halifax and province of North Carolina being sick of body but of perfect sense and memory do ordain and appoint this my Last Will and Testament in manner as followeth, Imp. I bequeath my soul to almighty God who made it and my Body to the Earth to be therein decently interred at the discretion of my Executors and as for what worldly Estate it hath pleased Lord to intrust me with I give and bequeath as followeth, Viz:

Item, (I) lend unto my loving wife ANN FORT all my Estate during her widow hood or until my son ELIAS FORT comes of age (and if my loving Wife remains a Widow to keep my Negro boy during her life) then my desire is all of my personal Estate may be equally divided between my wife and my five sons, namely SHERWOOD FORT, ELIAS FORT, WILLIS FORT, JESSE FORT and MICAJAH FORT, to them and their heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath to my five sons above mentioned ? my tracts of land to equally divided at the discretion of my Executors or to be sold if my Exors. think proper when my son ELIAS comes of age and in case either of my sons should die before they come of age then my desire is that all my sons then living shall have an equal part of land or money to them and their heirs forever.

Item, knowing my loving wife to be with child I do further give and bequeath unto my loving wife (and if it should be a boy an equal part with my sons above mentioned and if the same should be a girl the sum of thirty pounds proclamation money if ? son born alive to be paid by my Executrix out of my estate when my son Elias comes of age.

Lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving wife Extrx., my son-in- law WILLIAM CHAMPION and SHERWOOD FORT Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of August 1773.

Elias Fort Signed, sealed, acknowledged to be the last will of the testator in presence of Xpher Haynes David Holloway John Veale

Halifax Co. May Court 1774 This will was exhibited in open court by Ann Fort, Extrx. and duly proved by the oath of Xpher Haynes and David Holloway, subscribing witnesses thereto who on their oaths did say that they saw the testator Elias Fort sign, seal, publish and declare the same to be his last will and testament and that they together with John Veal the other witness subscribed severally there respective names as witnesses thereto in the presence of the testator and at his request whereupon the Extrx. aforementioned were duly qualified according to law and on motion ordered to be recorded. Test. Jas. Montfort, C.C.

Place of burial unknown.

Notes:

[1] Sherwood Fort is a recognized descendant of Christopher Reynolds of the Jamestowne Society. Link: http://www.jamestowne.org/revolutionary-war-era-people.html

Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/194661806/elias-fort