Craven County, NC – Will of Harding JONES, 1760 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ From the Elizabeth Moore Papers, Collection #322, East Carolina University Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858. PERMISSION TO PUBLISH HAS BEEN GRANTED. STATE OF RHODE ISLAND IN THE NAME OF GOD, Amen. I HARDING JONES of Craven County, being weak and sickly, but of sound mind and disposing memory, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say: Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my daughter MARY JONES a tract of land lying on the South side of Trent River in North Carolina, between Island Creek and Racoon (sic) Creek, which land was taken up by my father, FREDERICK JONES. Also all of my lands lying between Island Creek and Reedy Branch. Item. I give to my loving wife, MARY JONES, a tract of land containing 413 acres by patent bearing date November 21, 1729, lying on Brice’s Creek, the lands of RICHARD SPAIGHT, Esq. and the plantation formerly my brother’s between said land. I also give (paper writing damaged)... five Negroes, CANNO, MYRIA, PET, SYRUS and TOM. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter MARY JONES these negroes following; DANIEL, SARAH and her child DOLLY, PEG and her child SARAH, DAN, SOLOMON, LUCY, BIDDEFORD and LONDON. Item. I give and bequeath to my honored mother the use of the plantation and house given me by my brother FREDERICK JONES, during her natural life and no longer, and after her decease, I give and bequeath the said lands to my daughter. It is also my will and desire that the house and lot given me by my brother in New Bern Town be sold to pay my debts. It is also my will and desire that all my lands lying in Tyrrel (sic) and Hyde Counties be sold by my executors whom I hereby authorize and empower so to do, five hundred pounds proclamation money arising from the sale of said lands, I desire may be laid out in negroes, the use of which negroes I give to my honored mother during her natural life. After the decease of my mother, I give the said negroes to the children of my uncle, JEREMIAH VAIL, Esq. and 200 lbs. more of the said money arising from the sale of said lands, I give to my wife. And the remainder to be equally divided between the children of my uncle THOMAS JONES of Cape Fear and the children of my uncles JOHN and EDWARD VAIL. Also I give my family pictures and coats of arms to the eldest son of my Uncle THOMAS JONES. My will and desire is that after my debts are paid all the remainder of my estate not heretofore mentioned, either bonds, notes, accomptes (accounts), stock of hogs and cattle, or anything else be equally divided between my wife and daughter, and further my desire is that my wife be guardian to my daughter and as such to improve and receive the property of my said daughter’s estate. And I hereby constitute and appoint EDMUND HATCH, MARY MOORE and JOSEPH LEECH of Craven County aforesaid the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling any former wills and testaments. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in Middletown in Rhode Island, aforesaid on the 11th day of April 1759. /s/ HARDING JONES Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the testator to be his last will and testamentin the prsence of JOHN WHITING, WELTHIAN WELLES, EZRA STYLES. Rhode Island On the said 11th day of April 1759, I the said HARDING JONES added this codicil to my last will and testament: Whereas, I have reason to think that my wife is pregnant now, if she proves with child and it should be born before or after my decease, my will is that all the estate I have given to my daughter MARY be equally divided between them, my said children, anything whatever in my said last will to the contrary notwithstanding, and that my wife be guardian to my said youngest child as well as to my said daughter MARY, and as guardian hold, improve and receive the profits of the said estate I have given them. IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have set my hand and seal this 11th day of April, 1759, in Middletown on Rhode Island, aforesaid. /s/ HARDING JONES Signed, sealed, published and declared...(damaged codicil) to his last will and in the presence of JOHN WHITING WELTHIAN WELLES EZRA STILES The Rev. Mr. EZRA STILES, the above and foregoing...Town Council, Middleton, Rhode Island, 1759, and on ... that he saw the subscribers sign, seal ... the foregoing instrument, and that ....mind and memory.. CAPT. JOHN WHITING, at the same time. In Witness. Attest: John _____ The within will was exhibited in the said town Council in Middletown, Aug. 4, 1759, which was proved and approved of according to law. Attest: JOHN BARKER, Coun. Clerk. Recorded in Middletown, August 6, 1759. Middletown in the Colony of Rhode Island, Feb. 13, 1760. Personally appeared MR. JOHN WHITING and Mr. WELTHIAN WELLES, two of the Witnesses to the within will and on solemn engagement declared that they saw HARDING JONES the within named testator sign, seal and pronounce the within written instrument to be his last will and testament, and that he was then of perfect mind and memory, and that they together with Mr. EZRA STILES at the same time, in his presence signed as witnesses, the will of HARDING JONES. Recors of Craven County Office of Clerk of Superior Court North Carolina NOT RECORDED IN CRAVEN COUNTY ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Florence Fulford Moore ___________________________________________________________________