Return to Tyrrell Co Wills Introduction & Table of ContentsIn the name of God amen: I Nathan Hooker of Tyrell County being weak in body but of a sound disposing mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following - I commit my soul to Almighty God who gave it and my body to the ground to be buried in a christian manner in respect to my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life it is my will and desire that my just debts shall be punctually paid.
I give and bequeath unto my dear and beloved wife Elizabeth Hooker the two negroes Viz: Beck & Yellow Jinny to her and her heirs forever also the full use and enjoyment of my estate both real & personal during her widdowhood except such legaces hereafter mentioned for the maintainance and education of our children until the eldest attain the age of twenty one or one of them shall marry in which case it is then my will and desire that an equal division of my estate shall take place between my wife and my children. I give and bequeath unto my two daughters Amelia Ann Hooker and Mary Ryan Hooker the following negro girls Viz: Cyntha and Judith that Cynthia to Amelia and Judith to Mary Ryan Hooker together with their increase to them and their heirs forever. I give my land to my three sons Nathaniel & John P. Hooker to be equally divided between them to them and their heirs forever. I give my land to my three sons James Nathaniel and John Pettigrew Hooker to be equally divided. It is my will and disire that my son Richard shall have an education out of my estate equal to the respective divisions of the land between his brothers as he appears to be blest with a captivity to receive it.
Finally I do nominate constitute and appoint my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Hooker my son Richard Hooker the Reverd Charles Pettigrew & John McCrae executors of this my last will revoking all hereto fore made enjoying at the same time that there shall be no sale of any part of my estate in testimon whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of March 1801..
I also annex this as my will and desire that the negroes given and divided to my Elizabeth Hooker shall after her death be equally divided between our children together with their increase as witness my hand and seal the day and year above written..
Nathan Hookers (Seal)
Signed Sealed and declared
in presence of us.
John Beasley
D. Goodman
Wm Pettigrew
Minutes
Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
April Session 1801
The last will and testament of Nathan Hooker deceased was proved in court by the oath of David Goodman a subscribing witness filed.
John MacCrae came into court and quallified as executor of Nathan Hooker deceased last will and testament.
July Session 1801
Mrs. Elizabeth Hooker widdow of Nathan Hooker came into open court and signed her desent from her husband will.
October Session 1801
Ordered that the Sheriff of the county summon a lawful jury to lay out and set off Elizabeth Hooker's dower according to the prayer of her petition and also her childs share in the personal property ordered further that Woolsey Hathaway be appointed guardian to the orphans of Nathan Hooker deceased for the purpose of having the said laying out done lawfully and make return to next court.
January Session 1802
Mrs. Elizabeth Hooker came into open court and qualified as executrix of her husbands last will.
Also be it further ordered that Mrs. Elizabeth Hooker be appointed guardian to her five children viz. William Hooker Mary Ryan Hooker James Hooker Nathaniel Hooker John Pettigrew Hooker and hath given bond in the sum of five thousand pounds Woolsey Hathaway William Spruill & Jesse Spruill securities.
Woolsey Hathaway returned the platt of the land of Nathan Hooker deceased and the widdows dower laid off as per order of last court filed.
October Session 1806
Stephen R. Hooker came into open court and quallified executor to the last will and testament of Nathan Hooker deceased his father.
October Session 1807
Ordered that Charles Spruill James Hoskins and Benjamin Spruill Senr. be appointed to audite and divide the estate of Nathan Hooker deceased and make return to next court.
May Session 1808
Ordered that James Hoskins Benjamin Spruill and Richard Wood be appointed to audite settle and divide the estate of Nathan Hooker deceased agreeable to his will and make return to next court.
August Session 1808
James Hoskins Esqr. returned in court the audited accounts between the heirs of Nathan Hooker deceased & also the division of the negroes and other property belong to the said deceased and find all the accounts settled between the executrix and heirs aforesaid.
North Carolina Archives
Loose Estate Papers
Tyrrell County (C.R.096.508.23), Box 23
Hooker, Nathan, 1801
Account of sale of part of the estate of Nathan Hooker deceased on 22 Oct 1801. Primarily stock, horses, brick and shingles. Buyers include Mrs. Elizabeth Hooker, Jose Spruill, Sacker Wyatt, James Meekins, John McCrae, John Murphy & Peter Marriner. Total sales of 314 pounds and 11 pence.
Petition October Term 1801 by Elizabeth Hooker widow & relict of Nathan Hooker deceased who died in March 1801 leaving a will wherein be bequeathed such a small amount of his estate to the petitioner as to oblige her to seek her dower rights under Act of Assembly. Petitioner came into court in July 1801 and publicly dissented from the will of her husband and her dissent was duly recorded. Petitioner further shows that Nathan Hooker at the time of his death was seized and possessed of two tracts of land, a manner plantation of 210 acres bounded by the land of James Wood, now in possession of Richard Wood, the land and plantation where the late Benjamin Spruill Esqr. lived, now in possession of Benjamin Spruill Junr. and the sound, and also a tract of 100 acres on Alligator River. Petitioner is entitled to 1/3 of these lands as her dower. Petitioner also states that at his death Nathan Hooker was also possessed of a considerable personal estate including negroes, horses, cattle and stock of all sorts, household and kitchen furniture, plantation utensils, books, accounts and debts, of which she is entitled to a child's share acording to Act of Assembly. Petitioner therefore prays that her dower in the lands be layed off and her share of the personal estate allotted.
Plat for laying off the dower of the widow Hooker in the lands of Nathan Hooker deceased dated 4 Jan 1802. Widow received 91 1/4 acres and there are 182 1/2 acres remaining.
Audited accounts of Eliza Hooker, guardian to the heirs of N. Hooker. Includes years 1802 - 1806 for Stephen R. Hooker, Jno. McRae in behalf of his wife Amelia, Mary R. Hooker and James Hooker, all heirs of N. Hooker. Includes accounts of Eliza Hooker as executrix also.
Hire of the lands and negroes belonging to the orphans of Nathan Hooker on 12 Jan 1802 by John McCrea, executor. Land hired for 2 years and negroes for 1 year, all hired to Mrs. Elizabeth Hooker except for one tract of land to Thomas Williams. Includes negroe men Abner, Sam, Harry & Bob, negroe boys Jack, Virgil & Dave, negroe women Pleasant, Jenny, Nancy, Sall & Cynthia. Also support of negroe woman Beck and her three children and negroe woman Jenny and her three children.
Division of the estate of Nathan Hooker dated 5 May 1808. One seventh part of the sale to Mrs. Elizabeth Hooker. Rest to the heirs, Stephen R. Hooker, John McCrae and Amelia his wife, Mary R. Hooker, James Hooker & Nathnl. Hooker.
Valuation and division of the negroes belonging to the estate of Nathan Hooker deceased on 5 May 1808. Total valuation was
$4435. {Negroes specificaly bequeathed in the will appear to have been included in the valuation but are separate from the division.}
To Mrs. Elizabeth Hooker 1/7th part = $633.57:
Negroe man Abner valued at $50
Negroe man Bob valued at $400
Negroe woman Bena valued at $100
Negroe woman Edy valued at $80
Total valuation of $630 - owed $3.57
To Stephen R. Hooker 1/5th of $3276.43 = $655.28
Negroe boy Aron valued at $100
Negroe boy Dave valued at $300
Negroe boy Sandy valued at $80
Negroe boy Sam valued at $350
Total valuation of $830 - owes other children $174.72
To John McCrae who married Amelia Hooker - $655.28
Negroe woman Sall valued at $200
Negroe woman Jenny valued at $150
Negroe woman Nancy valued at $275
Total valuation of $625 - owed $30.28
To Mary R. Hooker - $655.28
Negroe man Frank valued at $250
Negroe girl Betty valued at $60
Negroe boy Isaac valued at $200
Negroe boy Abell valued at $200
Total valuation of $710 - $54.72 owed to other children
To James Hooker - $655.28
Negroe man George valued at $200
Negroe man Virgill valued at $300
Negroe man Harry valued at $25
Total valuation of $525 - owed $130.28
To Nathaniel Hooker - $655.28
Negroe girl Winny valued at $40
Negroe boy Jerry valued at $200
Negroe boy Jack valued at $350
Total valuation of $590 - owed $65.28
James Hooker entitled to receive $130.28 from S. R. Hooker
Jno. McCrae receives $30.28 from S. R. Hooker
Nathaniel Hooker receives $54.72 from Mary R. Hooker and $10.56 from S. R. Hooker
Mrs. Eliza Hooker receives $3.57 from S. R. Hooker
Division of the lands of Nathan Hooker deceased in January 1815, with 165 acres to James Hooker and 125 acres to Nathaniel Hooker.
Transcriber's Notes:
Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of John McCrae to Amelia Ann Hooker on 8 Mar 1807; also the marriage of Mary R. Hooker
to John Haughton on 28 May 1809, James Wood security.
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