Peter WEST & Priscilla WILLIAMS

Francis West of Duxbury, Mass.
From A Survey of the Descendants of Francis West of Duxbury
by Carlton Prince West (Winston Salem NC, 1987)

15. PETER3 WEST (Thomas2, Francis1), thought to have been b. 1689 and probably d. in North Carolina in 1751. It has been said that he moved to Bertie County, N.C., which then was much larger than it is now (BMV 3:500) and SW 289). This conclusion was evidently based on the fact that the will of a Peter West was probated in Bertie County in May 1751 and dated 21 July 1749 (Grimes, Abstracts of North Carolina Wills, 398). Whatever evidence there may be to support the identification of Peter of Tisbury and Peter of North Carolina has not been found. Although some Bertie County records have been examined, it has not been possible to identify and trace the descendants of this Peter. While there are frequent references to Wests in lists of marriage bonds and land transactions, attempts to separate possible descendants from the Wests who migrated from Virginia have, so far, been unsuccessful.

Children, sequence unknown. This Peter of North Carolina is known to have had three children and a grandson, all of whom he mentioned in his will. Stone (SW 289) lists four children, but it seems clear that she has mistaken the grandson William for a son of Peter. The will does not indicate the parentage of the grandson.

i. SARAH.
ii. ELIZABETH, must have m. a Cotton, since she was called Elizabeth Cotton in her father's will.
iii. PETER.
http://history.vineyard.net/franwest.htm#peter15
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Colonial America, 1607-1789 Census Index
State: NC, County: Chowan Co., Census/Enumeration year: 1717
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Chowan Co., Deeds, 1714-35 (24.029), p. 323. Peter West and Priscilla his wife to Mary Williams 300 acres, Oct. 26, 1722.
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Historical and Genealogical Register, Vol. II, Abstract of Conveyances
Page 145
Peter West and wife Priscilla to Mary Williams. Deed for land. Sber 26, 1722. Test Sam'l Smith, Wm. Moore
Page 283
Peter West to Robert Moore. 150 acres; Sber 26, 1722. Test, Thos. Spiers, Sarah Smith.
Peter West to Mary Williams. 300 acres land.
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Bertie COUNTY NC Deeds - Cashie Swamp (north - north east side)

1 Nov 1777 Joshua Peelle (1720) of Bertie County, NC by Deed of Gift “for the consideration of the love, good will and affection which I have and do bear towards my beloved grandson” Henry Peelle, son of James Peelle of the same province and county do freely give 60 acres whereon William Rogers now lives which was part of a tract formerly granted to Thomas Willson & by him elapsed & then patented to PETER WEST on 7 April 1730, joining Grate Swamp branch which falls into Cashy swamp …Said Joshua Peelle does not give up the land until said Henry comes of age or unless said Joshua should die before that time. James Peelle the father of said Henry acknowledges the same in a declaration of trust. Wit: Joseph Horne, Mary Cartwright. May Court 1778. John Johnston, Clerk of Court. (Bertie County Deed Book M, Page 352.)
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Will of Peter West
31 July 1749
Located in the NC State Archives
Transcribed by M. Maarbjerg

In the name of God Amen.

I Peter West of the County of Bertie County in the Province of North Carolina Calling to Mind the Mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to Die I do make this my last will and testament as followeth:

First of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it. And as to the worldly Estate that it hath pleased God to give to me I give and bequeath in manner and form following:

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah West one negro woman named Black Mary and one negro girl named Rose and one halfe of all my movable estate and other negroes ...... Also I give my daughter Sarah West the plantation whereon I now live with all the land and other appertainences thereunto belonging to her and her heirs for ever.

I give unto my daughter Elisabeth Cotton one shilling sterling also I give to my daughter Elisabeth Cotton one suit of wearing apparril worth five pounds Virginia currency. Her marriage hath proved unhappy and hath given her children four negroes as by deed of gift baring date November the 15th 1748.

I give unto my son Peter West all the remainder of my lands missages and tennements. Also I give to my son Peter West three negros in manner following that is to say I give to my said son one negro man named Primus to be delivered to him the said Peter West ...... And I give to my said son one negro man named Cob to be delivered to my said son after he hath served my well beloved wife two years, also I give to my son Peter West one negro woman named Moll to be delivered to him the said Peter after the death of my wife or at the day of her marage. Also I give to my son Peter West all my wearing apparill

I send unto my well beloved wife all the remainder of my movable Estate in manner following Viz I lend to my wife one negro man named Cob to serve for two years after my decease then to be delivered to my son Peter West and I lend to my said wife one negro woman named Moll to serve my said wife during her widowhood and at the day of her marage or after her death I do give the said negro named Moll to my son Peter West and all the remainder of my movable estate lent to my wife that shall remain at the death of my wife or at the day of her marage shall then be delivered to my grandson William West.

Now it is the intent and meaning of this my last will and testament that if my son or son in law or my daughters or daughter in law shall in any ways Incontented(?) at this my last will and testament so as to bring any suit in law or take any of the goods by me left to another, then such Person so offending shall forfitt all their part of my Estate and for ...... with one shilling and the part that should have been theirs shall be divided among my other children by my son Peter West and Charles Horner whom I do constitute and appoint and impower to be my named lawfull Executors of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly Disalow and Disanul all and every other former will and testament by me in any way before made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & fixed my seal this 31sst day of July in the year of our Jesus Christ 1749 and in the twenty second year of the Reign of our sovereign King George the second.

Peter West
Signed, Sealed Published & Declared
In the Presence of:

Henry Winborne
Bryan Hanes
Winston(?) Rogers (his mark)

Bertie County
Spring Court 1751

The last will and testament of Peter West late of this County deceased exhibited into Court by Peter West and proved by the Oaths of Henry Winbourne and Bryan Hanes two of the subscribing Evidences and it was ordered to be Certified.
Test. James Ormes, Clerk

Recorded in Book A Fol. 22 by James Ormes, Deputy Sec'y

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.org/nc/bertie/wills/west627nwl.txt