1804 Will of Thomas Hogg Hooper

In the name of God Amen! I Thomas Hogg Hooper being in sound and disposing mind and memory, but convinced of the uncertainty of human life, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

• Imprimis, I give, devise and bequeath unto my Sister Elizabeth Watters a negro girl named Betsy daughter of Lavinia, to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
• Item, I give, devise and bequeath unto my brother William Hooper, a negro boy called Billy, son of Pindar and Jem, to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
• Item. I give, devise and bequeath the remainder of my estate, both real and personal (except what is hereafter otherwise disposed of) to be equally divided between all the children of my said Sister Elizabeth Watters and my brother William Hooper, which shall be living at the time of my decease to be equally divided between them, share and share alike to them their Heirs and assigns forever. It is my will and desire that the negroes be divided as much in families as possible.
• Item, it is also my will and desire that the following negroes be emancipated and set free by an Act of the General Assembly to be obtained for that purpose as soon as possible after my decease, to wit: Dave, Rachael and old Cuff, if he wishes it, and also the boy called Sam, son of Lavinia, now bound to a Carpenter as soon as the time of his apprenticeship is ended and

I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my friend Walter Alves, John Hogg, and William Hall Senior Esquires, Executors of this my last Will and testament as my concerns are few and my debts inconsiderable. I trust they will, one or all act agreeable to this appointment, to each of them I give something they may choose of not less value than Fifty dollars to be kept by them as a memorial of the esteem I have ever had for them.

seal

Thos. H. Hooper

Signed, sealed and published, the words "which shall be living at the time of my decease" being previously interlined the 12th day of Jany 1804 in presence of [space] J. H. Watters

It is my will and desire that my half or moiety of the saw mills which I own jointly with Captain William Hall in Brunswick County be appraised and valued by two or more honest and judicial men to be appointed by my Executors as soon after my decease as may be convenient and if the said Captain William Hall will give his bond payable to my Executors for the amount of the said appraisement and valuation he having a reasonable time to pay the same ([illeg])and reasonable time shall be adjudged of and determined by the persons appraising or valueing the said half or moiety of said Mills then and in such case, I give, devise and bequeath my said half or moiety of said mills and the lands thereunto belonging to the said Captain William Hall, his heirs and assigns forever. It is also my desire that the money arising from the payment of the said Bond be equally divided [among?] the children of said sister Elizabeth Watters and my brother William Hooper share and share alike.

And I do hereby revoke and annul that part of my Will which makes and appoints the said Captain William Hall my Executor, and do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my friend George Davis, Esq. Executor of my last Will and Testament in the place and stead of the said Captain William Hall.

seal

Thos. H. Hooper

Signed, sealed and published this 12th day of January, 1804, as a Codicil to my last Will and Testament. The words "and the lands thereunto belonging" being previously interlined in the presence of J.H. Watters.
Tho H. Hooper, [encircled] seal

State of North Carolina )
Brunswick County )

April Term 1805

The due execution of the written will and codicil was proved in open Court by the oath of J. H. Watters and was ordered to be recorded

John Gause Jr. Clk.