The will of Edward Howcott, proved 1750

Text

In the Name of God Amen; This nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1749/50 I Edward Hocut of Beufort County in North Carolina Being Sick & week on body but of perfect memory and sound mind Thanks be Given to god & knowing that it is appointed for all Men to Dy; do Make and Ordain this My Last will and Testament.

First I Give my Body to the Dust to be Buryed at the Discretion of My Executors or Executor hereafter Named and My Soul I commit in to the hand of god who gave it hoping though the Merrits of our Saviour Jesus Christ to find acceptance.

As to touching what worldly Estate it hath Pleased god to Bestow upon me in this Life I do dispose of it in Manner and form following

That is to say I Give and Bequeath to my Dear and Loving Wife Martha Hocut this Plantation whereon I Now Live To be to her during her Natural Life after her disease To Return to my Eldest son William Hocut; provided he Should Live & have a Mind to settle on the plantation before his Mothers Disease he may Build and Settle up on the Back part where I have already Cleared a field in Case My Son William should Dy without any heir Lawfully Begotten then the plantation to Return to my two Daughters.

I Likewise Give to my Loving Wife Martha full power to sell my houses and Lotts in Bath town to Enable her to pay My Debts and the Rest to Buy her Some help to Bring up the Children and if it so Be It should be in her power to Lay Up Something to Buy a plantation for My Son Edward Hocut.

Further my will is there be a true Inventory taken of all my Goods & Movable Estate and that It be [smudged word here] and an Equal Distribution be made between My Loving Wife and all the Children Born of her body.

Further I Give to son Natha. Hocut five shillings starling To buy him a Bible.

And farther I do appoint My dear and Loving Wife Martha Hocut and My Well beloved friend Nathan Archibald to be the Executors of This My Last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Day and year above Written.

[signed] Edwd. Howcott (Seal)

Published pronounced and Declared to be his Last will and Testament in presente of Walley Chauncy, Stephen Buckingham, John Bowin [all signed]

Probate

Beauford County. March Court 1750. The Last Will and testament of Edward Howcott Was proved in open Court By the Oaths of Walle Chauncy and John Bowin two of the Evedencis there Unto Who Also Swore they saw the other Evedence Witness the same. Marthew [sic] Howcott Qualified an Executor By taking the oaths By Law Oppointed. Orderd the Secretary to have Notice there of.

John Alderson, Co. Court

Note on outside of will

Edward Hocotts Will. Lrs issued June 4^th 1750. Recorded in the Sec Office in [Book?] S Page 267.

Transcribed by

Francis Howcutt from the original will.

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