I, Thomas Blount of the County of Edgecombe and State of North Carolina being in a perfect state of health and of sound mind and memory do in haste and to guard against the evil consequences that might result to my beloved wife from my sudden or unexpected death in case I should die before my return from Warrenton whither I am about to go, intestate make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:
Imprimis I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Jackey S. Blount all my land in the County of Halifax, all the negroes that she possessed at the time she married me including those since received by us from the estate of her deceased brother, McKennus Summer with their increase all my plats and household and kitchen furniture of every kind whatever my books only excepted my coach and the pair of bay horses that I lately purchased at the City of Washington and my dwelling house with the lots no. 56, 57, 67 and 68 in the town of Tarborough to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I lend my beloved wife, Jackey S. Blount during her natural life my plantation called Hall Brook containing five hundred and eighty four acres with the stock and farming utensils thereunto belonging and Lot No. 115 in the town of Tarborough with its improvements and I also lend to her during her widowhood all the rest of my negroes but as soon as she marries or dies in case she dies before she marries the possession of these negroes shall pass from her and be divided by my executors herein after named among each of the children of my brother, John G. Blount as shall be then living equal share and share alike and after her death my executors are to sell the land as they are hereby authorized to do altogether or in parcels as they shall think best and divide among the children aforesaid equally share and share alike the net proceeds of the sale.
Item - I give and bequeath to my nephew, John Gray Blount, son of John Gray Blount, my tract of land containing two hundred and ninety six acres lying adjoining the town of Tarborough on the ninth western boundary thereof. Also eight hundred and fifty acres of land in the State of Tennessee lying on Duck River at or near the mouth thereof being the same that was conveyed to me by deed from my brother, Willis Blount, to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath to my nephew, Thomas Henry Blount, son of John Gray Blount, my tract of land lying in the Fish Swamp, Pitt County, containing by estimation six hundred and forty acres to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath to the three sons of my brother, John G. Blount, or the survivors or survivor of at the time of my death my share of Shell Castle near Ocracock Inlet to be divided among them equally share and share alike to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath to my two nieces, Anne Blount Tosh and Mary Blount Miller each a tract of land in the State of Tennessee containing six hundred forty acres to be set apart to them by my executors herein after named and of my share of the lands owned by John Gray and Thomas Blount to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item - I give and bequeath to the three sons and two youngest daughters of my deceased brother, William Blount, all the rest of my share of the lands in Tennessee owned by John G. and Thomas Blount to be divided among them or their survivors of them at the time of death equally share and share alike but it is to be understood that out of those lands before a division of them is made such as is here directed is to be raised by my executors in such manner as they shall think best a sum of money equal to all my just debts which they shall appropriate to the payment thereof.
Item - The rest of my property I request and direct my executors to sell and the money arising from the sale thereof together with such sums of money as may due me, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Jackey S. Blount.
And lastly - I nominate and constitute and appoint my brothers, John Gray Blount and Willis Blount and my nephews, Thomas H. Blount and William G. Blount executors of this my last will and testament.
Signed with my hand and sealed with my seal this 23rd day of August 1808.
Tho. Blount
As my handwriting will be known by every body acquainted with me and I have no fear or suspicion that any of my relatives will be disposed to dispute it or to contest the validity of this Will for the want of a subscribing witness to it I have determined to have no witnesses to it.
Tho. Blount
Edgecombe County
May Court 1812
The within last Will and Testament of Thomas Blount, dec'd, was exhibited into open court for probate and was proved in the following manner. (to wit) Frances L. Daney, Moses Mordis (?) and Robert Stewart appeared in open court and upon their oaths did say that they are well acquainted with the handwriting of the deceased and that they believe the signatures as well as the whole of the writing contained in the said Will to be the handwriting of Thomas Blount, the said dec'd and Thomas H. Blount one of the executors named in the said Will was at the same qualified thereto ordered that the same be certified and the Will recorded.
Edward Hill, C.C.
Edgecombe County
May Court 1816
The Will of the General Thomas Blount which was executed in the court for probate at the May Session 1812 was again produced for probate and it having been proved heretofore the said will was altogether in the handwriting of the said Thomas Blount and it appearing now to be satisfied of the court by evidence that the said will was found among the valuable papers of said Thomas Blount it is ordered that the will be recorded.
E. Hill, C. C.
State of North Carolina
Edgecombe County
I, Michael Hearne, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains a true copy of the last Will and Testament of Thomas Blount, filed and recorded in this office. Given under my hand and seal of office at Tarborough this 24th day of March 1829.
Mich. Hearne, C. C.
State of North Carolina
Edgecombe County
I, Richard Harrison, Presiding Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session of said County do certify that Michael Hearne who signs the above is the Clerk of the said Court that his above attestation is in due form and that full faith and credit may and ought to be given thereto. Given under my hand and seal this 24th day of March 1829.
R. Harrison
State of North Carolina
Edgecombe County
I, Michael Hearne, Clerk of the Court of said County do hereby certify that Richard Harrison whose name appears subscribed to the above certificate is the presiding Justice of said Court and is duly commissioned and qualified. Given under my hand and seal of office at Tarborough this 24th day of March 1829.
Mich. Hearne, C. C.
State of North Carolina
To all to whom these presence shall come; Greeting, It is hereby certified and made known that Michael Hearne, whose signature appears to the annexed certificate was at the time of signing the same and now is Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Session for Edgecombe County as such he is an officer duly qualified and informed to give said certificate which has been done in the usual and proper manner full forth and credit are due and ought to be given to all his official acts. Testimony, whereof I, John Owen, Governor have caused the Great Seal of the State be hereunto affixed and signed the same at our City of Raleigh on the 25th day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine and of the independence of United States, the fifty third
By The Governor, Jno. Owen
Jno. B. Muse, Private Secretary
State of Tennessee
Shelby County Court
January Session 1831
The foregoing paper writing purporting to be the official copy issuing from the State of North Carolina, Edgecombe County of Thomas Blount's last Will and Testament was produced in open Court regularly certified for registration and it is therefore ordered by the court to be recorded.
R. Lawrence, S. C. C.
State of Tennessee
Hardiman County
County Court April Session 1832
Then the within Instrument of writing purporting to be the last Will of Thomas Blount of Edgecombe County, North Carolina was produced in open court and the same appearing to be duly and lawfully certified as official copies are required to be coming from other states it is ordered by the Court that the same be admitted to record.
Thomas J. Hankman, Clerk
(Source: Tipton County, TN Will Book A - Page 22 - 27. Submitted by Rita Morgan)
