Conveyance or Marriage Contract Singletary and Morris and Welch
Marriage Contract Between John J. Singletary and Adeline Morris

Transcribed by
James R. Singletary
[email protected]
Born in SC
Raised in the Navy
Retired in Maine.


Sumter County, SC, Deed Book T, page 216/217

John J. Singletary&Adeline Morris to Jackson Welch,

Conveyance or Marriage Contract.

The State of South Carolina, Sumter County.

This indenture made this the Nineteenth Day of September one thousand eight hundred & seventy witnesseth that whereas a marriage is contemplated between John J. Singletary and Adeline Morris, and whereas the said Adaline is at this time seized and possessed of certain real and personal estate this indenture therefore witnesseth that the said John J. Singletary in consideration of the promise and the sum of one dollar in hand paid by Jackson Welch hath granted bargained sold and released and by these presents doth grant bargain sell and release as far as he has any right title or estate, he the said John J. Singletary may acquire by virture of a marriage in the piece or parcel of land to wit lying and being situate in Sumter County the said state and containing one hundred and six acres lying on Pudding Swamp and bounded by lands of JAMES LOCKLAIR and ANDREW J. MOSES and  WM KEELS and others the said track being devised by JOHN LOCKLAIR her first husband to her the said Adaline and the said John J. Singletary in consideration of the promises further sells and releases to the said Jackson Welch eight cattle, seven sheep, one horse and eight head of hogs and three beds and head steads, one dozen chairs, six tables, one doz plates, one dozen knives and forks and the bedding with belong to the above beds and headsteads to have and to hold unto the said Jackson Welch and his successors the above described real estate and the above mentioned personal estate and its future increase in trust nevertheless for the sole use benifit and behoof of the said Adaline "the betrothed" wife of the said John J. Singletary for and during the term of her natural life freed and discharged from the debts, contracts, liabilities and engagements of the said John J. Singletary and to permit her solely and separately to enjoy the same whether  (?homepuin?having? or ?nuts?not?) profits or increase and to and at her death to hold the said real estate and personality for the persons who by the laws of South Carolina would be entitled to claim her estate by inheritance or distribution freed from any further trust provided she makes no disposition of the remainder hereby last raised by an instrument in the nature of a last will and testament and the power to make a last will and testament is by presents accorded to her notwithstanding her conveture.  It is further agreed that the said John J. Singletary and Adeline after marriage may as often as they think necessary change the trustee of this settlement by a seal instrument which shall be signed by them both and by which another shall be appointed to carry out the objects of this trust and it is further agreed that the said parties may all unite to sell or dispose of any of the above real or personal estate by an instrument under seal signed by all three and with the proceeds purchase other estate.  The said Jackson Welch hereby accepts ths above trust.

Witness their hands and seals of the parties herewith, the day and year first above written.

Written, sealed and delivered in the presence of:

John B. Hicks

Wm. F. Caraway

/s/ John J. Singletary

Jackson Welch his mark

...made oath that he saw the within named John Singletary sign seal and agree to the within instrument of writing (or marriage contract) and that he with Wm. Caraway and John B. Hicks witnessed the execution thereof signed before me this 5th day of October 1870.

Geo. W. Rearden, C.L.P.

Recorded 5th Oct 1870


Side Note on document: Original delivered to Jackson Welch 9th Dec 1870

My comments: John J. Singletary's first wife, Hester/Esther ((Ard)), was  included in the 1870 Census for Mayesville, SC taken 18 July 1870.  She must have died
between 18 July and 5 October 1870, leaving small children.