Will of Dugald McKiechan Will of Dugald McKiechan of Bladen Co., NC

See scans of the original will at NC Archives below. (The original will is in very poor condition, so this transcript is provided to help. This is as best I can decipher it, but there may be some errors/misinterpretations.)

In the name of God Amen, the twentyeth first Day of Januery 1750/51 I Dugald McKiechan of Bladen County in the Province of North Carolina, Taylor, Being very sick & weake in Body, but of perfect mind & memory, thanks be given unto God; therefor Calling to mind the mortality of my Body, and Knowing that is appointed for all men Once to Dye, do make and Ordain this my last will & Testament.  i:e: principally, and first of all, I give & recommend my Soul in to the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body I Recommend to the Earth, to be Buried in decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Execrs, nothing doubting but at the General resurection I Shall Recieve the Same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching Such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give Demise and Dispose of the Same in the following manner and form.
Imprimis, I give and Bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary McKiechan two Negro men viz Old Jeck and Tam also five Cows   & Calves, two Horses named Buck and Buckler, one feather bed and furniture, two large pewter Dishes and one Small, One Large Do Basson and one Small Do, 1/2 Doz plates, one pott one New Tea Kittle, one Chist & Trunk, all her wearing apperel. I also nominate & appoint her the Sd Mary & Alexander McKiechan to by my Execrs.
Item I give and Bequeath to my beloved Child that my Dearly Beloved wife Mary McKiechan now goes with if Safely Delivered whither male or female two Negro men Called Dick & Young Jeck give Cows and Calves one young Horse two Breeding mears, one new feather Bed & furniture, three pewter Dishes, three large Bassons Do, 1/2 Doz pew plates, one large pott, one Do Small, one Frything pan, one half Doz: chaers Also 160 acres of Land where I live on beginning at Wm Rowan's upper line & Running upward fronting the river and running one mile Back. Its my desire that the Negro Called Dick be sold and two negro girrles bought wt the money for the use of Sd Child, which Child & Intrest I leave to the Care of my Wife Mary aforeSd while She remaineth on the aforeSd Land, if She removes of the Sd land the Child with the AboveSd esteate to be left wt my Dearly beloved Broyr James McKiechan if living at the time. If not to be left with the next of kindred in Cape Feare the Sd Child to be Sett free at the age of twenty one years and to Receive his or her Esteate if it please God there Should be twinns or two Children the foreSd Estate to be equally Divided between them. Its also my Desire that the aforeSd Negro Should be and work on the Sd plantation Except Dick for the Space of five years and the profits of the Same to Decharge Debts which is now or may accrue hereafter by Reason of more Legacies not yet mentioned. I also desire that the Sd Negro man called Young Jeck Should be Sold at the end of five years & two young negro girrles bought for the money they theire Increase for the use of the Sd Child or Children. Its Also my Will & pleasure if the aforeSd child or Children should Dye before they arrive the agee of twenty one years that one of Sd negro girrls be given to my beloved wife Mary McKiechan and the remainder part of Sd Negroes and all Other Chattles laid out for Sd Children to be equally Devid between the Children of my beloved broyr James Mckichan and of the Sd persons Dying without Ishue their part to be Equally Devided between the next Heirs of kindred.
Item I will and Desire that the afore mentioned Land if please God the Afore mentioned Child or Children the heire or heirs of my Body Should not live to years of maturity that then the Sd Land to be given to my Cuss. James McKechan Son to my beloved broyr James McKiechan.
Item I give to my beloved Father Donald McKiechan One feather bed my young Bay Horse in Barttes(?) One Cow & Calfe.
Item I give to my Beloved brother James McKeichan 160 acres land where on he now liveth & the rest of the legasies Here after mentioned after paying the Debts aforeSd to be Discharged out of the Esteate aforeSd.
Item I give and Bequeath to my beloved Cuss: John McKiechan & my beloved Cuss: James McKiechan aforesd One Cow & calfe to Each of them wt their increase to them and their Heirs.
Item I give and Bequeath to my beloved Alexr Daniel Maryann Isabel & Allie McKiethan's children to Duncan McKiechan One Cow & Calfe wt their Increase to them & their heirs for Ever.
Item I give to my Sister Nancy McLauchlan & her heirs for ever one Cow & Calfe with their increase.
Item I give to my bloved Sister Sarah McKiechan one Cow & Calfe to her and her heirs for Ever
Item I give to Mary McKiechan Daughter to Donald Mc McKiechan One Cow & Calfe to her & her heirs for Ever
Item I give & bequeath to the Daughter of Alexr McKeichan one Cow & Calfe wt her Increase to her & her heirs.
Item I will & bequeath to my beloved Son in Law Robert Hillyard Junior Son to John Hilliard --?-- Northampton County Deeased One young Iron gray mear One feather Bed
Item Its my will & pleasure that my plantation on Rokquis Swamp on Cusary(?) River be Sold Containing four Hundred & fort acres to pay and Discharge my first mentioned Debts and a plantation in South Carolina be also Sold Containing 394 acres of Land by Deed and pattent be it more or less the Sd money to be laid out in young likely Slaves for use of the aformentioned Infant or Infants the Heirs of my Body
And I Do here by revoke & Dissanull all other former wills and Testaments, Ratifying & Confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In wittness where of I have here unto Set my hand & Seale the Day and Year above written.
Dugald McKichan

Signed Sealed published, pronounced & Declared, by Sd Dugald McKiechan as his last will & testament in the presence of us, the Subscribers
Hect. McNeill
Alex. McAlester
Angus (A his mark) Shaw

Proved in Open Court March 1750 by the Oath of Angus Shaw
Thos Robeson Clk C
Recorded in the Clerks Office of Bladen County North Carolina according to Law
Thos Robeson Clk C
Registered in the Registers Office of Bladen County North Carolina in Book C folio 192 March 26, 1751
Thos Robeson, Regr
 
 

Note: Although Dugald was living in Bladen Co. at the time he wrote his will, it can be proven that his land in Bladen Co. was near "The Bluff" where his brother James McKethan, Sr. lived. This part of Bladen Co. later became part of Cumberland Co. Dugald's widow Mary appeared later in several Cumberland Co. records. At about the time the child would have turned 21, she appeared again still using the name Mary McKeithan in a Northampton Co. record. The child has never been identified.