William Belk Will, Contributed by Donna Jenkins, Coarsegold, CA William BELK, born ABT. 1745, married ABT. 1771, died Dec. 1814, Kershaw County, South Carolina. SOURCE NOTES: 1790: Cheraw Dist, SC census. (p46, 2 males over 16, 2 males under 16 and 5 females.) 1800: Darlington Co, SC census. (p121, Britain & Jeremiah are his neighbors.) 1810: Cheraw Dist, SC census. (p158). Occupation: Farmer William's will is recorded in Camden, Kershaw Co, SC. It is dated 15 Dec, 1814 and the final settlement was 12 Jan 1819 by Joseph Belk. His will reads as follows (It is typed as the words were spelled): In the Names of God Amen I William Belk farmer of Kershaw Dis- trict being poorly and weak in body but perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God cauling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and or- dain this my last will and testament, principally and first of all I recommend my soul unto the hand of almighty God that gave it an My Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the descretion of my executors, touching sutch worldy estate whearwith it heith pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and from, I will and positefly order that all my just debs be paid first. Item 1. I lend to my bloved wife Hannah Belk dur- ing her life or widow hood one Negro Man named Charls and one Ne- gro Woman named Dice and they plantation and hous whear I now live the Smiths tools and Sorrel Mare saddle & bridle, one feath- er bid, bedsted and furniture and as mutch kitching furniture as will suffise as many plantation tools & gears as will be suff- isent for plantation use three cows & calves. Two tow year old steers, ten killable hogs, three breeding sows and ten year olde two ewes and a ram and as mutch houshold furniture as she will think sufficunt to keep hous with. Item 2. I give to my son Jeremiah Belk one Negro Boy named Andire to him and his heirs forever. Item 3. I give and Bequeathe to my daughter Ann Skinner one Negro girl named Tener to her and her heirs forever. Item 4. I give and Bequeathe to my son Rigdon Belk one Negro man named Hardy to him and his heirs forever. Item 5. I give and Bequeathe to my daughter Nice Skinner one Negro girl named Pat to her and her heirs forever. Item 6. I give and Bequeathe to my daughter Gatce Mixon one Negro girl named Rose to her and her heirs forev- er. Item 7. I give and Bequeathe to my son Joseph Belk one Negro boy named Peter to him and his heirs likewise also one feather bed & furniture and all my land except a tract lying on hubbards Branch. and the day after my wifes deth or marrage the said Negro man named Charls and Negro woman name Dice with her incries to come to my son Joseph Belk to him the said land Negros forever. Item 8. I give and Bequeath to Jean Mixon a Tract of land lying on habards Branch which I purchased from Joseph Pany to hime and heirs forever. Item 9. I give and Bequeath to Susanna Belk two cows & calvs three head of young cattle and fifty dollars in mon- ey to her and her heirs forever. Also I leave and Bequeath to beloved wife in addition her Dowry and Feather bed and furniture and after her deth the said bed to come to my son Jeremiah Belk it is my will that all the property lent to my belobed wited af- ter her deth to be divided or sold and divided between my chil- dren hearafter named Also the rest of my property not named or lent to sold or devided equally between my children namely Jeremiah Brittons Heirs Pharabys heirs Rigdon Ann Gatce Nea & Joseph and if any of the heirs be endebted to the Estate that they pay up or Count out in perepotion each Nam drawing and equal shar like wise I nominate my sons that is to say Jeremiah Ridgon & Joseph Belk my lawfull excutors I do Hearby utterally confirm- ing this to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I have hear unto set my hand and Seal this fifteenth day of Decem- ber in year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. Signed Sealed published pronounced as his last will and Testament in the presents of us who in this presents and In the presents of each other have hearunto subscribed our names as witnesses. (It is signed by William Belk and witnesses, Allan McCaskill, Cor- nelius Cook and Edmond Hair made his mark.) Recorded in Will Book C page 189. Recorded March 20, 1815 Ord. William Langley. 6 Pkg. 178. Also, the Will of John Belk of Mecklenburg County, NC dated July 20, 1804. Mecklenburg is just north of Kershaw County. Listed are John's wife Marian and children John Belk, Darling Belk, Sarah Belk, Nicey McCorkle, Frances Montgomery, James Belk and Gracey Caloes who has died. He also mentions grandson James Belk (son of Brittain Belk), granddaughter Sarah Belk (daughter of Darling) and James Belk Jr's daughter Sarah, and children of William and Gracey Caloes. Our William Belk and this John Belk may have been brothers for they both had sons named Brittain and daughters named Nicey. I have not been able to find any more to support this idea. Information from the genealogy notebooks in the Santa Cruz Library tell of a John Belk that was born 1710 in England and died 1788 in Union Co, NC. This is in the same area as our Belks lived and may be their father. On a Darlington Dist, SC map dated 1820, there are three Belk homes marked and a John Mixon's home. They are all between Lynche's Creek and Sparrow Swamp, which is west of Darlington. The above information is from Donna Jenkins, Coarsegold, CA. --------------------------------------------------