Will of Thomas Hooks ~ 1807

Transcribed by Joan S Dunn


  Source: Duplin Co Nc Will Book A, Pg 187-190 Written: November 7, 1807 Recorded: April 1808 DUPLIN CO NC WILLS Will Book A, pg 187-190 (LDS 0018813) 1807-8 In the name of God –Amen. I Thomas Hooks of Duplin Co in the State of North Carolina, being now about seventy years of age and finding myself fast declining in my bodily health, and afflicted with many of the infirmities incident to so advanced an age, but blessed with a retaining memory and reasonable considerations and reputation, and feeling a desire now to settle my temporal affairs, and to make such distribution of my property (which God has blessed me with) amongst my family as now seems most just and agreeable to me. For which purpose I now make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in substance following, that is to say. First, it is my will and desire that all my just debts shall be paid out of such parts of my estate as may be sold for that and other necessary purposes and such monies as may be found remaining after my decease. Secondly, I lend to my beloved wife Susana Hooks during her life, the use and benefit of all that part of my plantation which lies between Bear Branch and Bear swamp including all my buildings, orchards, and with the privilege of cutting fire wood and other necessary timber for the use of said Plantation off any part of my other lands where she may find it most convenient to her. I also lend to my said wife Susana Hooks my negroes Sam and his wife Betty and all their children, leaving it to her discretion to give up any of said negroes children at any time she pleases to those of my children who may have a right by this will after her decease. I also lend to my said wife Susana Hooks during her life, one yoke of work oxen (the youngest) and ox cart, with six cows and calves, six ewes and lambs, four sows and pigs, with all their increase; two feather beds and furniture (her choice), two iron potts; one skillet, a tea kettle, a frying pan, three pewter dishes, three brooms, six plates, one chest, one case and nine bottles, two stove irons, one pair of cast and (isom ?), the armed chair, and three-window chairs, and half of all my glass and carthum ware, and knives and forks and spoons; and half of all my casks and coopers ware of every nature and kind whatsoever, to be sorted out for her use in such manner as she and my Executors shall judge most necessary and proper. I also lend her during her life my sorrel horse and my mare called the Rittie Mare and all my geese. And it is also my desire that any other articles which are not herein already named and held which may be found of my estate after my decease, shall each in their kind be equally divided and one half delivered to my said wife Susana for her use during her life. It is also my will that my Executors after my decease shall lay off and deliver to my said wife Susana Hooks corn and all other necessary provisions sufficient for herself and family and stock for one year. Item, I give and bequeath to my son, David Hooks, all by lands which I now at this time possess with all the improvements to thereon (reserving to my wife, Susana Hooks during her lifetime, the Plantation as above described). Also, my negro man Sam, and my negro (Waride ?) both after my said wifes decease, he paying into my estate fifty pounds current money to be disposed of as herein after directed. Also, I give to my said son, David Hooks , one feather bed and furniture, four cows and calves, three ewes and lambs, one negro wench named Susy , one hand mill and one grindstone, and all the remaining part of my plantation tools of any kind which are not herein already given or lent to my said wife; to him his heirs and assigns for ever. Item, I hereby confirm to my daughter Susana McGowen, one negro wench Zim and one negro girl Candace, both of which I heretofore gave and delivered to her. I also hereby confirm to my grandson Thomas Jefferson McGowen a negro girl child named Mia, which I heretofore gave and delivered to him. Item, I give to my daughter Poly Slocumb my negro boy named Sam to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give to my daughter Lavina Slocumb my negro boy named Manuel to her and her heirs forever, not to be sold from them. Item, I give to my grandson Thomas Watkins my negro boy Daniel to him and his heirs forever. Item, I give to my son Thomas Hooks my negro man named Bob , to his heirs forever. Item, I give to my son William Hooks one silver dollar. Item, I give to my son Charles Hooks one silver dollar. Item, I give to the children of my son Hillary Hooks one silver dollar. Item, I give to my daughter Fanny Watkins one dollar, and whereas I heretofore lent to my daughter Fanny Watkins my negro wench Milly at the time of her marriage to James Watkins and the said Milly having since had ( ?? ) several children, to wit Jack, Harriet, Spicey, Lear and Mary Ann I now give and bequeath the said negro wench Milly and her said five children and all her future increase to the children of my said daughter Fanny Watkins to wit: Nedham and Thomas and James (Watkins). Together with such children as my said daughter Fanny may hereafter have to them and theirs, heirs equally (??). The negro boy Daniel herein already given to my grandson Thomas Watkins to be then considered in said division as to make all the children of my said daughter Fanny equal. And it is my will (??) desire that all the property herein, but to my wife Susana Hooks, and not herein disposed of and all other of my property which after her death may be found shall be sold; or otherwise divided at the discretion of my Executors and equally divided amongst all my children, to wit: William Hooks, Hillary Hooks, Charles Hooks, Thomas Hooks, David Hooks, Lavina Slocumb, Polly Slocumb, Fanny Watkins and Susana McGowan, to them their heirs or assigns. And lastly, I nominate, Constitute and appoint my friend William Dickson and my son in law Ezekiel Slocumb and my son David Hooks, Executors to this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and utterly disanuling all other will or wills by me heretofore made, declaring this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced and declared by the said Thomas Hooks to be his last will and testament in presence of us, this 7th day of November 1807. William A. Houston Temperanus (?) Pennington (his mark) William Dickson Thomas Hooks (seal) A Codicil to the above Will – 13th January 1808. Whereas since the above Will was written my negro wench Betty has birth a girl child, named Lucy which is not bequeathed to nay one of my children- it is my wish that the said negro child Lucy after my wifes decease shall be valued by my executors and by them delivered to any of my children who will chose to have her at such valuation and the said valuation money to be equally divided amongst all my children above named. Teste: Curtis Hooks, Allery Hooks, William Dickson. Thos Hooks State of N. Carolina, Duplin County. April Term 1808. The within will was duly presented by the oath of William A. Houston, a subscribing witness.

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