NC Archives, Onslow Co. Wills

Will of Thomas Hewitt, executed 01 Dec 1776, proved April Court 1777

Transcribed with the assistance of Ms. Jean Gillett and Ms. Kathleen Much.

In the Name of God Amen. I Thos Hewitt of the County of Onslow and Provence of North Carolina, planter, Being Very Sick and Weak in body [but] of Perfect Mind and Memory thanks be to God, and Calling to Mind the immortality of my body and Knowing that it is once [appointed?] for all Men to Die, do Make and ordain this my Last will & Testament in the Maner and form following ---

First of all I humbly commend my Soul to the Mercy of God my creator and my Body to the ground to be Decently buried at the Discression of my Exrs Here after Mentioned and as for Such worldly goods as god Hath Inabled me with I will and Disspose as followith ---

Item [First?] & my will and Desier is that all my Just Debts and Necesarey charges be first paid and Satisfied ---

Item I give and Bequeath unto my Son John Hewitt the Plantation Lying on New River, that I purchased of Mr. John Morris, to him and his Heirs Lawfully Begoten of his body and for the want of Such Heirs to come unto his brother GoldSmith Hewitt to him and his Heirs and assigns for Ever.

Item I give and bequith to my Son John Hewit the Hogs now Running on the Plantation to him & his Heirs & assigns for Ever ---

Item I give and & Bequith unto my Son Goldsmith Hewit the Plantation whereon I now Live after the Death of his Mother to him and his Heirs & assigns for Ever ---

Item I Lend unto my Beloved wife Elizabeth Hewitt the Plantation whereon I [now?] [____] Live During her Natural Live. I also Lend [_____] for her Coffort [comfort?] and for the Support of my [younger?] children all my Moveable Estate until my Daughter [Marey?] Hewitt Shall reach to the age of Sixteen years old then all my Estate to be Equilly Divided Between my Beloved wife and my children hereafter Mentioned. Christian[na?] Hewitt, Elizabeth Hewitt, Judah, Goldsmith and Mary Hewitt to them their Heirs and assigns for Ever ---

Item My will will [sic] & Desire in Case my wife Eliz^h Hewitt Should [Marry?] and it apears to my Exrs here after Mentioned that there be any wast of the Estate that they [______] Takes the Same in too his possession [______] him surety for Making good the [______] the aforeSd Time of the Division ---

Item Last of all I constitute and apoint my Beloved wife Eliz Hewitt and my True and Trusty friend Reuben Grant my Hole and Soul [sole] Exers of this my Last will & testament in Witness whereof I have Set my Hand and fixed my Seal this the first Day of Decr in the year of our Lord Seventeen Hundred & Seventy Six.

Snd Seald and Delvd Acknowledged by the the [sic] Testator as his Last will & Testament in the Presents of the Subscribers.

Thomas [+] Hewitt

Stephen Hawkins
Petway Burns

This will was proved by the Oath of [Petway?] Burns April Court 1777. Test Wm Crayden

Reuben Grant, Esq^r was Qualified as an Exc^r therein [hole]ned

Recorded.