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| Be it remembered that I Ralph Smith
of Ninety Six District in the state of South Carolina being weak in body
but of a sound and disposing mind and memory ( The Lord be
praised therefore) and calling to mind the shortness and uncertainty of
human life, have thought fit to make and publish this my last will and
testament in manner and form following (That is to say) then it shall please
the Lord to call me from this transitory world, I recommend my soul to
the mercy of God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be decently buried
at the discretion of my Executors herein after named. And as touching such
worldly estate as it has pleased the Lord in his infinite mercy to bless
me with I have thought proper to dispose of it in the following manner.
It is my will and desire that all my just debts doctors bill and funeral charges shall be first satisfied and paid out of my personal estate, and the remainder of my estate both real and personal I do dispose of it as follows Viz. Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Ann the house wherein I now dwell during her natural life together with the profits of the plantation thereunto belonging and also all my live stock utensils of husbandry and household goods (except as herein after mentioned) for the support and education of my younger children until they shall come to a proper age to provide for themselves, and it is my will that at the decease of my said wife all my personal estate shall be equally divided amongst such children as she has born unto me or their heirs if any of them should die and leave lawful issue. Item I give and bequeath unto eldest son William the sum of twenty five pounds current money of South Carolina, to be paid unto him by my Executors within two years after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto Sarah the widow of my son Aaron, deceased, the profits of the plantation whereon she now dwells during the minority of her eldest son Johnathan for the support and education of her three children Johnathan, Mercy and Joab until they shall be able to provide for themselves. But if she should marry again before the said son Johnathan shall arrive at the age of twenty one years, then my will is that the said plantation shall be rented out by my executors and the yearly rent tbe applied to defray the expenses of maintaining and educating my said three grand children. Item I give and bequeath unto my said grand son Johnathan and to his heirs and assigns forever the said plantation and one hundred and fifty acres of land it being part of a tract of three hundred acres lying on a branch of Mucklewains Creek and conveyed unto me by William Thompson to be divided by a line drawn straight across the same he paying unto his sister Mercy the sum of forty pounds and his brother Joab sixty pounds current money of South Carolina, but if the said Johnathan should die before he arrives at the age of twenty one years I give and bequeath unto his brother Joab and to his heirs and assigns forever the said plantation and tract of one hundred and fifty acres of land he paying unto his sister Mercy the sum of fifty pounds current money aforesaid. Item I give and bequeath unto my son Tophar and to his heirs and assigns forever one hundred and fifty acres of land it being the remaining part of the tract of three hundred acres above mentioned, he paying unto his sister Rachel Crumpton the sum of four half joes or the value thereof in South Carolina currency. Item I give and bequeath unto my three sons Nathan, Joel and Samuel the plantation of three tracts of land containing five hundred and fifty acres whereon I now dwell and to their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided amongst them by my Executors according to the quantity and quality thereof. Nathan to have the first choice and Joel the next. I likewise give unto my son Nathan my rifle gun and my desk unto my son Joel at his mothers decease. Item It is my will and desire that my Executors out of my personal estate do purchase or secure for my two younger sons Ralph and Joseph a plantation each as near in value as may be unto their brothers last mentioned and if they do purchase as above mentioned Nathan shall have his choice either of the old or new purchased land and Joel the next choice and so down to the youngest. Item I give and bequeath unto my daughters Martha and Ann and Rebeckah one feather bed and furniture each to be unto them by my Executors when they shall arrive at the age of eighteen years and at the decease of my said wife. It is my will that my personal estate be equally divided amongst my younger children or the survivors of them or their heirs beginning at Nathan and down to the youngest. And lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my dear and loving wife Ann to be my Executrix and my two sons Tophar and Nathan to be my Executors to see this my last will and testament executed. Hereby revoking and making void and of none effect all other and former wills and testaments by me heretofore made and declaring this sheet of paper written on both sides and none other to contain my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty fourth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand (seven hundred) and eighty one. Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Ralph Smith to be his last will and testament in the presence of us. Edmund Bearden
Ralph Smith
Will proven 18 October, 1784 Inventory made 25 October 1784 by Samuel Lancaster, John Shands and Brittain Millsford. |
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