Testator:  Matthew Mashburn
Wife:  Sarah
Sons:  Edward, David, James, Jethro, Daniel, William, Mathew Jr., Samuel (dec'd)
Daughters:  Mary Pirson, Anne, Martha, Sarah Lassiter, Pricilla, Elizabeth, Charity, Rachel
Grandson:  James, s/o the late Samuel
Witnesses:  Daniel Dickinson, John Dickinson, John Turner
Signed:  2 Jul 1760
Recorded:  Feb 1761 Court, Northampton Co., NC
Clerk:  J. Edwards
Present Location:  State Archives, Raleigh, NC

Item. I will that my debts & funeral charges shall be paid & discharged.

Item. I give unto my beloved wife Sarah Mashborne the bed board stead & furniture belonging to it as I myself usually lay on & my black horse named Frock & my riding saddle and bridle & two Cows & Calves.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my Grandson James Mashborne, son of Samual Mashborne Deceased in his fathers stead one two year old heffer.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my son Edward Mashborne my still.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my son David Mashborne one bed & furniture.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my children Mary Pirson, Anne Mashborne, Martha Mashborne, James Mashborne, Edward Mashborne, Sarah Lassiter, Pricilla Mashborne, Elizabeth Mashborne, Charity Mashborne, Rachel Mashborne, David Mashborne, Jethro Mashborne, Daniel Mashborne, William Mashborne, all the rest of my Estate not given out in Legacies & to be Equally divided amongst them, I likewise desire my Executors to have a care and see my three young children brought up as Well and Christian like as posible in reason.

I do hereby appoint my sons Mathew Mashborne and James Mashborne executors of this my last will and Testament, and I do hereby revoke disannul and make void all other Wills and testaments by me heretofore made. In Witness Whereof I the said Mathew Mashborne to this my last will and testament do hereunto set my hand and seal this second day July in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Sixty.

(signed) Mathew Mashburn (seal)

Signed, sealed acknowledged to his last will and testament.

Daniel Dickinson, John Dickinson, John Turner.

N. ampton County SS. February Court 1761. The preceding will of Mathew Mashborne and was Exhibited into Court and proved on the oath of Daniel Dickinson one of the subscribing witnesses thereto at the same time Mathew Mashborne Jun. & James Mashborne was qualified Executors thereof which on motion was ordered to be certified & Recorded.

Teste J. Edwards, Clerk

The three youngest children were apparently not of age (i.e., males under 21 and/or females under 18), hence the admonition to the executors to attend to their upbringing — a woman not being deemed capable of doing so properly without male guidance, particularly with regard to religious training.  On the other hand, the bequest to his grandson James was outright (i.e., not to a parent or guardian), the implication being that he was of age.  It is a real stretch for Sarah to be both old enough to have a grandson age 21(+) while at the same time being young enough to have three underage children and six unmarried daughters (probably well under age 25).   Such a situation is possible, but it is perhaps more likely that Sarah was Matthew's second wife.  [DGM]