I am not sure why the will of Peter King of Orange County, North Carolina was filed in Rowan County in 1763. Perhaps he owned real estate in both places. At the time, Rowan and Orange Counties shared a lengthy county border.
At the moment, I don’t know of any connection between my Edward King and Peter King. As Edward isn’t named in Peter’s will, they probably aren’t father and son.
Perhaps descendants of Peter King will see this post and be able to add to my knowledge about the King family so I will be able to add or delete this family from the King branch of my husband’s family tree.
Will of Peter King of Orange County, NC
but filed in Rowan County, NC Will Book A:74-75
In the Name of God Amen I peter King of Orange County
in the province of North Carolina being in perfect Health, Memory, and understanding Thanks be to God for the same, do make this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following Viz. First & principally I commit my Soul into the Hand of almighty God that gave it & my Body to be decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executor here after named.
Item, I give unto my oldest Son Johnston King five Shillings
sterling to be paid out of my Estate after my Decease.
Item, I give unto my son Benajah King five Shillings sterling to be paid out of my Estate after my Decease
Item, I give unto my eldest Daughter Elisabeth Fish five Shillings to be paid out of my Estate after my Decease
Item, I give unto my Daughter Matilda Rutledge five shillings sterling to be paid out of my Estate after my Decease
Item, I give unto my Daughter Mary James five Shillings Sterling to be paid out of my Estate after my Decease
Item, I give unto my Daughter Sarah Raynolds twenty pounds proclamation Money to be paid by my Executor after my Decease
Item, I give unto my Daughter Zilphah Randol twenty pounds proclamation money to be paid by my Executor after my Decease
Item, I give unto my Grandson Peter Harris my present plantation whereon I now live containing 543 acres of Land lying & being in orange county aforesaid & on both Sides Dials Creek, if obtained, otherwise twenty pounds proclamation money to be paid by my Executor after my Decease
Item I give unto my Grandson Peter King son of Peter King junr my Negro Dick after my decease
Item, I give unto my Grandson Nicholas King son of aforesd Peter King junr my Negro Tim after my Decease.
Lastly, I give all the rest of my personal Estate, Goods & chattels to my loving Son Peter King, to be disposed of as he thinks proper, &
I hereby constitute & appoint him the said Peter King, my son my whole & sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking & making void all other former Wills, Testaments or Legacies whatsoever by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal this eighth Day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & sixty three.
Peter (P) King
Signed & sealed in
Presence of us
Charles Bruce
Thos Brown
John Parker
NOTE: There is no addition commentary added to this record stating when Peter King’s will was proved and recorded. Therefore, his approximate date of death is unknown.
It is suggested the Peter King migrated from Virginia to North Carolina, but I find no documentation to support or refute the statement.