Will of Patrick Grier

YAUHANNAH WILLS

 

Will of Patrick Grier

South Carolina

In the Name of God, Amen, I PATRICK GRIER, of Prince George Parish in the Province aforesaid Planter, finding my bodyly Health declining, but having the proper Use of all my Intellectual facultys, blessed be God for the same, do now make and publish my Last Will and Testament, I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my Body. I order to be decently buried by my Executors herein after Named, humbly hoping for a Glorious resurrection to Eternal Life, Thro' the Meritonous satisfaction and prevailing intercession of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, and the Worldly Estate which Almighty God of his Bounty and favour has bestowed upon me, I give devise and bequeath in manner and form following, that is to say, Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto my Dearly beloved Wife JUDITH GRIER, and to her Assigns forever, one fifth part of all the Household Goods and Kitchen Utensils, that I may be dispossessed of the same being divided into five equal parts by my Executors hereinafter Named, or such of them who shall Qualify and take upon themselves the burthen of this my Will also one riding Horse at the ELextion with her saddle, Bridle and furniture belonging thereto and Six Cows and Calves, to be chosen by my said Wife, out of the Stock of Cattle that shall belong to me at the time of my death, which choice shall be made within Six Months after my decease, I also give and bequeath unto my said Wife JUDITH, the sum of One hundred and fifty pounds current money of this Province Yearly and every Year to be accounted from the day of my death for and during the term of her Natural Life, if she be remain and continue so long my Widow to be paid her in manner, as is herein after directed, also the Use of One Negroe Man named York and One Negroe Woman Named Dorinda, for and during the Term of her NaturaL Life. Item, I will that my said Wife JUDITH shall be and reside on my Plantation Situated on Wacamaw River near Kingstown, and have the full use and occupation of the dwelling House, the out Houses, Garden and Orchard there - to belonging during the Term of her NaturaL Life, if she be remain and continue so Long my Widow with the Previledge of Planting on said lands or such of them as have been Already cleared, (but without the Priviledge of clearing, any new Lands) untill my Son SAMUEL shall attain to his Age of Eighteen Years, any gift or divisee to my said Son SAMUEL, in this my Will to the contrary in anywise not withstanding. Item whereas I stand in debted to my SON IN LAW RICHARD SINGLETON, as heir at Law and Nearest of kin to his Father EBENEZER SINGLETON deceased a Ballance arising from his Fathers Estate, after deducting from the said proportion the Charges and expences I have incurred by maintaing and educating the said RICHARD SINGLETON and his BROTHER EBENEZER SINGLETON deceased an equal dividend of who's personal Estate and Interest according to Law and Equity belongs to my Children, but willing nevertheless to do ample Justice to the said RICHARD SINGLETON, I do hereby infull conpensation and payment of all claims and demands, which he hath or can have against me give and bequeath unto the said RICHARD SINGLETON the following Negroes Viz: Toney, Acquo, Tamy, Andrew, Flora, Mary, Lisset, Cain, Adam, Amoret and Galen, together with one fourth part of my Stock of Cattle marked on the One Ear with a poplar leaf and the other with four fingers and brand PP and One fourth part of my Horses branded PP my will is that the Cattle and Horses, under the above Marks and brands shall be divided into four equal parts by three or five free holders indifferently chosen by my Executors hereinafter Named or such of them who shall Qualify and take upon themselves, the burthen of this my Will, also one fifth part of all my Household goods and Kitchen UtensiLs, I shall die possesed off, after being divided as above directed, Provided and on the following Conditions that the aforesaid RICHARD SINGLETON or his Guardian Authoritatively, Chosen shall and do fully release Exonerate and Grant a full discharge, relinquishing all Claim or Claims and demands from my Executors hereinafter named, or any of my heirs, which he now hath, or had or ever will have, incase the above devisee be not accepted, my will is that my Executors shall settle his part of his Fathers Estate either by Arbitration or by a Suit at common Law or Equity and the above named Negroes, Stock of Horses and Cattle and Household Goods and Kitchen Utensils be divided between my three CHILDREN Viz: JAMES, SAMUEL and MARY ANN and to their heirs for ever Item I give and bequeath to my daughter MARY ANN MITCHELL, wife of ANTHONY MITCHELL of Winyah Planter, the use of the following ten Negroes Viz: Ronoak and Grace his Wife Bella and her Son Jack July Bess and her daughter ----- Dinah, Mingoe and Cornelia, with the future issue and increase of the said Negroe Women, during the Term of her Natural Life, and after her decease to the Heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten, but in case my said daughter should die without Lawful Issue as above said, then and in such case I give and bequeath the above said Ten Negroes with their issue and increase to my Sons JAME and SAMUEL, to be equally divided between them Item I give and bequeath unto my said Son SAMUEL GRIER, One Negroe Man to be Chosen for him by my Executors hereinafter Named or such of them who shall Qualify and take upon themselves, the burthen of this my Will, out of such Negroes, that I shall die possessed off, this bequest I make to my Son in Lieu of the difference in the Value of the Lands I shall hereafter devise. by this my will unto my said Sons JAMES GRIER and SAMUEL GRIER Item I give and bequeath unto my NEICE SARAH --- GRIER and to her heirs one Negroe Girl named Amorita to be delivered to her by my Executors, One Year after my decease, but should my said Neice die without issue of her Body Lawfully begotten, then it is my Will and I do direct that the said Negroe Amorita and her issue be disposed off by my Executors here in after Named and the Money Arising from such sale to be equally divided between my said SONS JAMES and SAMUE Item I give and bequeath unto my SON IN LAW WILLIAM SINGLETON and his heirs forever, One Negroe Woman Named Venus and her youngest Son Named George, also Six Cows and Calves two Mares and One riding Horse Branded PP, Item: I give devise and bequeath unto my above Named Son SAMUEL GRIER, and to his heirs and Assigns forever, all that plantation or Three Tracts of Land, Situate on Peedee River whereon I now reside and known by the Name of PETERSFIELD containing in the whole, one Thousand and Ten Acres more or Less Item: I give devise and bequeath unto my above named Son Samuel Grier, and to his heirs and Assigns forever my plantation Situate in Kingston Township on Wacamaw River, containing Six hundred and fifty Acres, more or Less, subject nevertheless to the residence of my said Wife JUDITH GRIER in manner and form, as is herein before directed,Item, it is my Will and intention that all the Rest Surplus and Residue of my Personal Estate, whatsoever shall be from time to time kept and improved together to the utmost advantage, and all my Negroes or other slaves as compose a part thereof be employed on my Peedee plantation herein before devised unto my SON JAMES untill my said Son JAMES shall attain to his age of Eighteen Years as aforesaid, the profits arising therefrom to be Applied in discharge of my Just debts and funeral charges, and for the support and Education of my said SONS JAMES and SAMUEL and the payment of One Hundred pounds Yearly by my Executors hereinafter Named or such of them, who shall Qualify and take upon themselves the Burthen of this my Will unto my said Wife JUDITH GRIER in manner as is herein before directed being part of One hundred and fifty pounds bequeathed above to my said wife to be paid her Yearly for her support during her Natural Life if she be and remain so long my Widow, and the Surplus if any shall be, to be put to interest on good Security or be invested in Young Negroe Slaves at the discretion of the majority of my Executors hereinafter Named or such of them who shall take upon themselves the Burthen of this my Will, for the Mutual benefit and advantage of my said SONS JAMES and SAMUEL. Item: I will that as soon as my said SON JAMES, shall have attained to his age of Eighteen Years as aforesaid, that my Executors, or the Majority of them, who act in the Trust herein reposed in them, shall by themselves or persons indifferently chosen and Nominated by them, make choice of Twenty Negroes out of such as I die possessed off, and that remained over and above such as I have by this my Will bequeathed away with the Issue and increase of such Remainder and equally and impartially divide the said Twenty Negroes between my said SONS JAMES and SAMUEL. Item I do hereby direct that all the rest, residue and Remainder of my personal Estate, whatsoever and wheresoever, (except my HousehoLd Goods and Kitchen Utensils which I have herein before directed the division of) shall be, by my Executors hereinafter Named or such of them, who take upon themselves, the burthen of this my Will, or by persons indifferently Chosen by them, divided into three equal parts Item: I give and bequeath unto my above Named DAUGHTER MARY ANN MITCHELL on the Terms and conditions of my first bequeath to her, in this my will, One Third part of the rest, residue and remainder of my personal Estate as above said with one fifth part of my Household Goods and Kitchen Utensils, the whole being divided into five equal parts as aforesaid, -charging nevertheless, and I do hereby expressly charge my said daughter MARY ANN MITCHELL with the payment of Fifty pounds current Money of the Province aforesaid yearly and every Year to be Accounted from the day of my death unto my said Wife JUDITH GRIER, during the Term of her Natural Life, if she Remains so Long my Widow, being in part of the sum of One hundred fifty pounds I have herein before bequeathed to my said Wife for her support Item I give and bequeath unto my above Named SON JAMES and to his heirs forever, Ten Negroes such as shall be chose for him, by my Executors, as above directed one fifth part of my Household Goods and kitchen Utensils and One third part of the rest, residue and Remainder of my personal Estate as above said, which is to be delivered to him with one half of the improvement that shall be made from my Estate during the Term I have directed the same to be kept together over and above the encumbrances that I have in this my Will, charged thereon when he shall attain to his age of Eighteen Years as aforesaid, Item: I give and bequeath to my said SON SAMUEL and to his heirs forever, Ten Negroes such as shall be chose for him by my Executors as is above directed with one fifth part of my Household Goods and Kitchen Utensils and one third part of the rest residue and remainder of my personal Estate as above said, to be delivered to him with one half of the improvements that shall be made from my Estate during the Term I have directed the same to be kept together, over and above the encumbrances that I have in this my Will charged thereon, when he shall Arrive at his Age of Eighteen Years, as aforesaid, Charging Nevertheless and I do hereby expressly Charge each of my said Sons JAMES and SAMUEL with the payment of Fifty pounds current Money of the said Province Yearly and every Year to be accounted from the day of my death unto my said Wife JUDITH GRIER during the Term of her Natural Life, if she continues so Long my Widow being in full of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds herein before bequeathed unto her my said Wife Judith for her support, Item: It is my Will that in case either of my said Sons JAMES and SAMUEL should happen to die before the period of time Appointed respectively for their taking the several shares, parcels and proportions of my Estate, Real and Personal, herein before given devised and bequeathed unto them severally as aforesaid, and with out issue of their bodies Lawfully begotten, then on such contingency, I do hereby give and bequeath, the said share, parcel or proportion of my Estate, Real and Personal of such of them my said Sons, so happening to die unto the Survivor of them my said two Sons JAMES and SAMUEL, his heirs and Assigns forever, chargeable nevertheless in manner and form, as the same is herein before charged with the payment of Fifty pounds Yearly towards the support of my Wife JUDITH during the term of her Natural Life, if she continues so long my Widow, but if it should so happen that both my said Sons JAMES and SAMUEL and my daughter MARY ANN MITCHELL, should die without issue of their bodies Lawfully begotten as aforesaid then and on such contingency I do hereby give Devise and bequeath all my Estate Real and Personal herein before given and devised --- bequeathed unto my said three Children unto the Children of my Brothers and Sisters herein after named Viz: THOMAS GRIER of the Kingdom of Ireland, SAMUEL GRIER, JOHN GRIER, JOSEPH GRIER, JANNETT WILLSON, AGNUS BAXTER and Mary RIDGELL, all now or late of this province, to be equally and impartially divided and distributed among them by my Executors hereinafter Named or such of them who shall Qualify and take upon themselves the burthen of this my will, or the survivors or survivor of them or the Executors or administrators of such survivor,Item it is my will and I do intend the several Gifts and bequests unto my said Wife JUDITH as above, to be in Lieu and Satisfaction of all, and all manner of Dower thirds or Customary part which she ever had, now hath or may or can claim of into or out of my Estate, Real and Personal, in anywise howsoever,Lastly I do hereby Nominate, constitute and Appoint my said BROTHER SAMUEL GRIER, my SON JAMES GRIER when he attains to his age of Eighteen Years and my friends GEORGE SKINNER, CHARLES FYFFE, JOB ROTHMAHLER and PAUL TRAPIER Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former and other Wills by me at any time heretofore made, and declaring this only to be my Last Will and Testament contained on this, and the Two preceeding pages of One sheet of post paper, In Witness whereof I this said PATRICK GRIER have to this my Last Will and Testament, set my hand and Seal this TWENTY SECOND day of JULY, in the Year of our Lord, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED and SIXTY SEVEN, and in the Seventh year of his Majestys Reign. PATRICK GRIER (LS)

Signed, Sealed, published and declared By the above Named Patrick Grier, as And for his Last Will and Testament,In the presence of us, who in his sight And in the Sight of each other have at His Request Subcribed our Names as Witnesses. The words yearly and every Year between the 10th and 11th lines of the above page, being first interlined.

DAVID DRENNAN, MARY GRIER, JEAN SKINNER

Proved by Virtue of a Dedimus directed by The Honable William Bull, Esq, Lient Govr to Peter Simons 12th September 1768 at the same time Qualified JOB ROTHMAHLER and SAMUEL GRIER Executors to the said Will.


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