Last Will and Testament of Jacob Gray
Filed 27th April 1857

Barnwell County Probate Office

Bundle 53, Package  8

Witnesses: J. C. Richardson, Samuel R. Ihly, and S. C. Richardson
Executor: Cooper Cone

Know all men by these presence that I Jacob Gray of the District of Barnwell and State of South Carolina Farmer being of sound disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament.

1. I give and bequeath to my son C. J. Gray one boy Bob.
2. I give and bequeath to my son W. Gray one Negro man Ben.
3. I give and bequeath to my daughter Leah Wells three hundred dollars.
4. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mehala Gooding two Negroes Harriet and her child Ab and also the increase if any there be.
5. I give and bequeath to my daughter Holland Simmons three hundred dollars.
6. I give and bequeath to my grandson Richard Youmons two hundred dollars.
7. I give and bequeath to my daughter Hanson Murry three hundred dollars.
8. I give and bequeath to my son J.A.Gray four Negroes, Lucy, Ab Butler and Susan and the increase there of if any.  I also give him my track of land known as the Bay Land lying near and in ?Bay ?(also lists number of acres but is unreadable - think it may be 88) Also the blacksmith tools.
9. I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha J. Gray four Negroes Tilda Louisa Lis and Laura the same to belong to her and her heirs and the increase there of if any.
10. I give and bequeath to my son John Joseph Gray four Negroes old Jim Nancy George and Jim also the increase if any.  I also give John Joseph the land on which I at present reside the land contains four hundred acres more or less.
11. I give and devise to my wife Dorcas Gray three Negroes old Lucky? Mary and John and the increase thereof if any.  I also give her my house and furniture and she to hold the same during her life time or widowhood but at her death or marriage the same or what I give her in this my last will and testament to return to Martha Jane and John Joseph Gray her two children.
12. I here direct that all my stock and other things not mentioned in this will be taken by my Executor and sold to pay my Debts and pay those whom I have left their parts in money which is eleven hundred dollars - to four of them - and if there is not money enough to pay all the debts and heirs the Negroes are to remain together until such demands here in mentioned are fully satisfied.
13. I ordain and appoint my friend Cooper Cone as Executor of this my last will and testament. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in the presence of the witnesses named below this the seventeenth day of August Eighteen hundred and fifty six.