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State of North Carolina
Tyrrell County
Book 1, page 136
Dated 9 February 1783
In the name of God Amen: I Joseph Hassell of Tyrrell being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for it and calling to mind the mortality of all men once to die that is to say first of all I recommend my soul into the hand of God that give it and likewise my body to the ground from whence it came to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner by the hands of my Executors and likewise I do make and appoint this my last Will and Testament that is to say first and foremost I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Hassell one plantation at the head of the Cove containing one hundred acres more or less to him and his heirs forever likewise two cows and calves, two ewes one mare one sow and pigs one bed and furniture one gun to him and his heirs forever.
Item - I lend to my well beloved wife Ann Hassell my plantation I now live and during her life or widowhood.
Item - I give and bequeath to my son James Hassell my plantation I now live on likewise two cows and calves two ewes one mare one sow and pigs one bed and furniture and one gun to him and his heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath to my son Silby Hassell one hundred acres of land beginning at his brother Joseph Hassell on the river Percoson and from thence to the Maple Branch and from thence Northerly across the land to the line and from thence Esterly to Brother, line thence along the line to the first station likewise two cows and calves two ewes one mare one sow and pigs one bed and furniture and one gun.
Item - I give and bequeath to my son Isaac Hassell all the remainder part of that track of land to the Westward of the Maple Branch held by New Entry likewise two cows and calves two ewes one mare one sow and pigs one bed and furniture and one gun.
Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna Hassell two cows and calves two ewes one bed and furniture and one linnen wheel.
Item- The remainder part of my Estate I lend to my well beloved wife Ann Hassell during her natural life or widowhood to raise my children on and after her decease my will and desire is that all my tools of all kind should equally divided amongst my sons that is then living likewise my will is that my beloved wife should have full power and authority to sell any thing that can be best spared at private sail to the necessary support of my children Estate Legacies only excepted and further my will is that if my wife should die before my children being of age that my eldest son then living should take the rest of the younger children and what belongs to them in his care and pay them of according to the words of my will and after my wife decease my will is that the remainder of my Estate should be equally divided amongst my children that is then living that is to say Mary Swain Ann Swain Rachel Edwards Susanna Hassell Joseph Hassell James Hassell Silby Hassell and Isaac Hassell. And likewise I make and appoint my beloved wife Ann Hassell and my son Joseph Hassell, my whole and sole Executrix and Executor of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Hassell have hereunto set my hand and seal according to the true intent and meaning of the above said of this my last Will and Testament this 9th day of February in the year of our Lord Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and eighty three.
Signed Sealed and Delivered
In the presence of us
Tyrrell County
July Term 1783.
Personally appeared Miles Pierce and made oath on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God that he saw and heard Joseph Hassell above named sign seal publish pronounce and declare this writing to be his last Will and Testament and at the same time he was of sound mind and memory and saw at the same time Jonathan Johnson & Randal Johnson Senr. Sign as witnesses thereto & further saith not.
Minutes
Tyrrell County Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions
July Session 1816
Ordered that Saml. Spruill Esquire, Thomas Leigh, Ava Smith, Edward Hunnings and William Clough be appointed to divide the estate of Joseph Hassell Senr. agreeable to his last will and testament and make returns to next court.
October Session 1816
The inventory & account of sales of the estate of Joseph Hassell was returned to court by James Hassell administrator amounting 465.34 1/2 & filed.
Ordered that James Hassell sell the tools of different kinds which was left him & his brother Joseph Hassell by the will of their deceased father Joseph Hassell & make return to next term.
January Session 1817
A division of the negroes belonging to the estate of Joseph Hassell deceased was returned to court by James Hassell & filed.
A legatee bond from Paul Thoroughgood and others for their distributive share of the estate of Joseph Hassell was proved in open court by Saml. Spruill and filed.
An inventory & account of sales of the surplus estate of Joseph Hassell deceased was returned on oath by James Hassell administrator & filed.
July Session 1817
Ordered that Asa Smith Esqr. Lemuel Basnight & Henry Alexander Junr. audite the estate of Joseph Hassell Senr. deceased and set off to the heirs of Joseph Hassell Junr. their proportionate parts of said estate & make return to the next term.
April Session 1818
Ordered that Saml. Spruill Esquire Thos. Leigh Ava Smith & Henry Alexander Junr. set off to Affa Hassell, Elizabeth Hassell, Mariah Hassell, Joseph Hassell, Jno. West Hassell, Amelia Hassell, James Pinkney Hassell heirs of Joseph Hassell Junr. deceased their equal dividend of Joseph Hassell Senr. estate also to audite and settle the accounts of James Hassell guardian to said orphans & make returns to next court.
July Session 1818
The settled accounts of James Hassell guardian to the heirs of Joseph Hassell deceased was returned in court by Saml. Spruill filed.
Ordered that the clerk are directed to alter on the record returned, the return of the division of Joseph Hassell Senr. deceased returned by Samuel Spruill William Combs Ava Smith Thomas Lee Edward Hunnings so as to make James Hassell pay to Paul Thoroughgood 58 dollars 33 2/3 cents and also pay to Hester McCallister guardian to his two daughters $32.66 2/3 in stead of pay to the heirs of Joseph Hassell Junr. deceased, and that Rachel Swain pay to the heirs of Joseph Hassell Junr. deceased the sum of ninety one dollars & 66 cents instead of paying to Paul Thoroughgood & Hester McCallister.
North Carolina Archives
Loose Estate Papers
Tyrrell County (C.R.096.508.04), Box 4
Hassell, Joseph Senr., 1816
Court order at July Term 1816 for the division of the estate of Joseph Hassell Senr. agreeable to his last will & testament.
Division of the negroes belonging to the estate of Joseph Hassell Senr. deceased among the legatees according to his will on 25 Jul 1816 by
Saml. Spruill, William Combs, Ava Smith, Thos. Leigh & Edward Hunnings.
Man Peter valued at $450 and drawn by James Hassell
Man George valued at $450 and drawn by Rachel Swain
Woman Giney & child valued at $400 drawn by Abraham Swain
Girl July valued at $325 and drawn by the heirs of Susan McCallister by their guardian
Boy Lemuel valued at $300 and drawn by Paul Thoroughgood
Woman Pleasant valed at $200 and drawn by the heirs of Joseph Hassell Junr. by their guardian
Total valuation of $2150.
James Hassell pays to the heirs of Joseph Hassell deceased $91.66 2/3
Rachel Swain pays to Paul Thoroughgood $58.33 1/3
Rachel Swain pays to the heirs of Susan McCallister $33.33 1/3
Abraham Swain pays to Joseph Hassell's heirs $41.33 1/3
There is also a division of the notes due the estate among the legatees amounting to $89.75 each.
Revision of the above division at January Term 1818:
That James Hassell pay to Paul Thoroughgood the sum of $58.33 2/3 and also pay Hector McCalister guardian of his two daughters
instead of paying to the heirs of Joseph Hassell deceased the sum of $32.66 1/3.
That Rachel Swain pay to the heirs of Joseph Hassell Junr. deceased instead of paying to Paul Thoroughgood & Hector McCalister
the sum of $91.66.
Additional inventory and account of sales on 28 Dec 1816 of the estate of Joseph Hassell deceased. Purchasers and number of purchases are James Hassell (7), Robert Holmes (1), Samuel Jackson (2), James McAlister (2), Avey Smith (4), Abraham Swain (1), Paul Thoroughgood (2). Total sales $53.02 1/2.
There are many other documents dealing with the above and other suits that don't appear to be of further genealogical value.
Transcriber's Notes:
See the estate of Ann Hassell in 1816. Although the son of this Joseph Hassell died in 1816, the court minutes shown above are thought to refer to his father because his mother, Ann, also died in 1816 and the father's estate was controlled by Ann until her death according to the provisions of the will.
The estate file of Joseph Hassell Senr. in 1816 actually has estate papers of both Joseph Hassell Senr. and his son, Joseph Hassell Junr. Only those estate papers believed to be for Joseph Hassell Senr. are shown above. The same applies to court minutes.
Proof of the 1816 court minute and estate papers applying to the Joseph Hassell who wrote his will in 1783 lies in the children mentioned in the will being the same as those mentioned in the 1816 division of negroes.
Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of Abram Swain to Nancy Hassell on 20 Dec 1780, William Swain & Eliakim Swain securities.
Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of Rachel Hassell to James Edwards on 19 Feb 1781, John Bateman & John Edwards securities. The estate records of James Edwards in 1784 show him to be deceased and his wife, Rachel, remarried to Robert McAllister by 1788. Then the will of Samuel Jackson in 1807 shows his wife to be Rachel and names Paul Thoroughgood and James Hassell as his brothers in law and executors, so Robert McAllister died at some point and Rachel married Samuel Jackson. Samuel Jackson's estate papers reveal that Rachel is now Rachel Swain in June 1810. Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of Rachel Jackson to John Swain on 30 Oct 1807, Benjamin Spruill security. See the will of Rachel Swain in 1817 for further information.
Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of William Swain to Mary Hassell on 20 Jan 1780, Abram Swain & Jeremiah Swain securities. William Swain then wrote his will on 9 Mar 1780 listing his wife Mary and children who must have been from a previous marriage. The will was not probated until July 1784. Tyrrell County marriage bonds then show the marriage of Mary Swain to Paul Thoroughgood on 9 Jan 1788, Robert McAlester security.
Tyrrell County marriage bonds show the marriage of Susannah Hassell to William Midyett on 8 Aug 1787, Mathew Midyett security. In 1816 Susan McCallister is a devisee in the division of negroes. A correction is made to this division in 1818 wherein Hector McCallister, guardian to his two daughters, is shown as devisee. This indicates that Susan is then deceased. However, no other record of a Hector McCallister is found in Tyrrell County except for a tombstone at Malachi Free Will Baptist Church for Hector McCallister with no dates.
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