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The will of John Howcott, proved 1733 |
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Text North Carolina. In the Name of God Amen. I John Howcott of the Precinct of Bertie being very sick & Weak but of perfect sound mind & Memory Praised be to Almighty god for the same & knowing that it is appointed Once for all men to die I do Make this my Last Will & Testament in Manner and form following viz. First. I commend my soul in to the hands of Almighty god who gave it to me hoping that at the general resurrection I shall receive forgiveness for all my Sins & my Body to be Burried in a Christain [sic] Like Manner at the Discretion on my Executors hereinafter named. Imp. I give & Bequeath unto my son Edward Howcott a certain Piece of Land called by the name of Stanubs belonging to a Larger Tract unto ye said Edward Howcott his heirs and assignes for Ever. Imp. I give & Bequeath unto my son John Howcott my new Dwelling Plantation after his Mothers Decease to him and his heirs and assigns for Ever. Imp. I give & Bequeath unto my son Richard Howcott a Neck of land joining to the Dwelling Plantation & so [running up the path to Captain] Downings Line & all the Land that Lies on Vixes Branch to him and his heirs for ever. Imp. I give unto my Eldest Daughter Elizabeth Branch one Cow and Calf & one new Pewter Basson to be Delivered to her the next spring. Imp. I give unto my son John Howcott one new pewter Dish Basson & two Plates. Imp. I give unto my son Richard one dish bassoon and two Plates. Imp. I Give & Bequeath unto my son Nathaniel Howcott one New Dish Bason & two Plates. I Give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Howcott one basson & two old Plates. Imp. I give and Bequeath unto my son John one Cow & Calf. Imp. I give and Bequeath unto my son Richard one Cow and Calf. Imp. I give and Bequeath unto my Daughter Mary one Cow and Calf. Imp. I give and Bequeath unto my son Nathaniel one Cow and Calf & their Increase for Ever. Imp. I give unto my son Edward one Cow & Calf. Imp. I give unto my son Nathaniel the Feather which are in the Bed I now Lie on & a New Fick & Bolster. Imp I leave thirty head of hogs for the use of the Plantation which is my will they may not be Disposed of my any of my Sons any Otherwise than what I have Desired Imp. I my Will and Desire is that my three sons Edward, John & Richard Pay the Mortgage Money & that my Wife Maintain My Son Richard until he Comes of Age. Imp. My will is that my horse Major may be sold by Brother Edward Howcott or if my Brother should not sell ye horse I Desire my son Edward May have him Provided he redeems my Bill. Imp. I Give unto my son John one Black Mare called Tib. Imp. I give unto my son Richard one Colt. Imp. I give unto my Wellbeloved Wife Mary Howcott all my Moveable goods whatsoever but what is Mentioned in this my Will During her Widowhood. [I give unto my son John all my wearing Cloathes.] My will that my son John be of full age at the day of my death and my sons Richard & Nathaniel at the age of Eighteen and that my Brother Edward Howcott & my Son Edward be Executors of this my Last will & Testament In Witness Whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seal this 28th day of July Anno Domini 1732. [signed] John Howcott Signed, Sealed, Pronounced and Declared to be his Will & Testament in the presence of us John Fryard, “the mark of Edward Howcott” [i.e. “E”], “the mark of Elizabeth Branch”. Probate No. Carolina Sec. The above Will was by the Oaths of John Fryard and Elizabeth Branch proved before me in due form of Law. September 12: 1733. Geo. Burrington Transcribed by Francis Howcutt from the original will. Two sections were illegible on the film printout and have been transcribed from an office copy of the will; these sections are written within square brackets. |
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