Will of Benjamin Lawrence

(This is the Benjamin who was the Revolutionary War Soldier)

In the name of God, Amen. I Benjamin Lawrence of the District of Pendleton and State of South Carolina, Farmer, being in the enjoyment of reasonable health, and of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, praised be to God for the same, do make and declare this my last will and testament, in manner and form following; that is to say,

It is my will and desire that all just debts should be paid by my Executors, hereafter appointed, as soon after my death as possible. I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachel Lawrence, for and during the term of her natural life, the use of my houses and part of my plantation whereon I now live, from which she may derive a support. I also give and bequeath to my said wife, my three negroes, Frank, Hannah and Bill, my sorrel horse with a bald face, a saddle and bridle and one third part of my stock of Cattle, hogs and sheep for and during the term of her natural life as aforesaid.

I also give and bequeath to my said wife all my household and kitchen furniture (except such part thereof as may be hereafter disposed of by me) to be disposed of during her life or at her death as she may think proper; which provision for the support of my wife, if accepted by her, is to be in lieu of any claim of Dower on my Estate – – And I do hereby enjoin it on my sons James and Elisha to take care of their mother and treat her with tenderness and affection during her life.

I also give and devise to my sons James Lawrence and Elisha Lawrence all my land with the Mill Distillery and other improvements connected with or belonging to the plantation or body of land where I now live, equally, share and share alike, to them and their heirs forever, subject nevertheless to legacies hereafter directed to be paid by them.

I also give and bequeath to my sons James Lawrence and Elisha Lawrence all my stock of horses, Cattle, hogs and Sheep, not otherwise disposed of by this will and Testament, share and share alike I also give and bequeath to my son James Lawrence my negro fellow Cyrus, usually called Cye,

I also give and bequeath to my son Elisha Lawrence my negro fellow Abram. –

I also give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Speed, the wife of William Speed, the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid to her by my sons as soon after my death as can conveniently or reasonably be done from the profits arising from my plantation and Distillery and Provisions hereafter made for the payment of legacies and after the death of my said wife, I give and bequeath my boy Bill to my daughter Sarah Speed, unless she would prefer a negro girl; and in that case I give and bequeath the said Negro boy Bill to my sons James and Elisha on the condition that they deliver to the said Sarah Speed a likely negro girl between the age of fifteen and twenty years of age.

I also give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Deal, the wife of Alexander Deal, the Sum of one thousand dollars, to be paid to her by my sons James and Elisha, in the same manner and from the same provisions as the legacy above directed to be paid to Sarah Speed. –

I also give and bequeath to my grand daughter Rachel Speed, who now lives with me, a horse worth seventy dollars with a good saddle and bridle, two feather beds and furniture complete, and two hundred dollars, to be paid to her by my sons James and Elisha as the legacies to my daughters are above directed to be paid.

After the death of my wife, it is my will and desire that the two negroes Frank and Hannah, above willed to her during her natural life, should be sold by my Executors and the money arising from the sale thereof, together with the remaining stock of cattle, hogs, and sheep, above left to my wife I will and bequeath to my sons James and Elisha to assist them in paying the legacies above directed to be paid by them, or to apply the same to their own use should the legacies be paid before such contingency happens.

It is also my will that my tract of land on Concrofs, containing by original survey on hundred and eighty acres, should be sold by my Executors and I hereby will and bequeath the money arising from the sale thereof to my sons James and Elisha to assist them to pay the legacies above directed to be paid by them. And I do hereby authorities and empower my said Executors to make titles to the said tract of land agreeable to the terms of sale.

All the rest, residue and remainder of my personal estate, of what nature of kind so ever, I give and bequeath to my said sons James Lawrence and Elisha Lawrence.

And I do hereby nominate, constitute, and appoint my said sons James Lawrence and Elisha Lawrence and my friend Robert Anderson Esq. Executors of this my last Will and Testament; hereby revoking all former wills and Testaments by me made; and do declare this to be my last will and Testament. –

In Witness whereof I the said Benjamin Lawrence have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nineteen.

Signed, sealed, and declared and
published by the above named Benj. Lawrence (SEAL)
Benjamin Lawrence, as and for
his last Will and Testament, in
the presence of us, who, at his
request, and in his presence, have
subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
John T. Lewis
John Hunter
Warner N. Davis
Recorded in Will Book A , Page 318
Recorded June 5, 1826 Proved June 5, 1826
John Harris, O.P.D. Roll No. 408

Last Will and Testament of Rachel Lawrence

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA

I, Rachel Lawrence, of Pickens District in the State aforementioned, for the disposition of such property as it has pleased God to bless me in this world, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament

FIRST. I desire that all my just debts and my funeral expenses be paid by my executors for which purpose he will appropriate any money which I may die possessed of and collect any debts which may be due me.

SECOND. I give and bequeath to my son Elisha Lawrence and his wife Martha Lawrence one hundred dollars which has already been delivered to the latter, and in addition to the above I give to my said Daughter-in-law Martha Lawrence fifty dollars, and half the interest on the price of the negro man Bill (which was given by my husband to me during my lifetime, then to be sold and the proceeds equally divided between my two sons, James and Elisha) from the time he was sold by my said son James, until the day of my death, all for which is in the hands of my said son James.

THIRD. I give and bequeath to my son James Lawrence Fifty Dollars and desire that he pay (according to contract to pay interest on the price of the said Boy Bill) one half the interest on the said sum of Five hundred and fifty dollars, to be appropriated as above, he having also had the use of my interest in the land whereon my husband lives.

FOURTH. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Margaret Deal Fifty dollars.

FIFTH. I give and bequeath to my Gr. Grand-daughter Esther Margaret Craig, daughter of Robert Craig, a negro girl named Virginia, aged about eleven months.

SIXTH. I have already given to my Grand-Daughter Rachel Craig, wife of Robert Craig, for the affection which I have for her, and for her kindness to me, eight hundred dollars, and in addition to which I give to her any balance that may be left of my Estate, after paying all the foregoing bequeaths.

SEVENTH. I nominate and appoint my friend Miles M. Norton, Executor of this my last will and testament to carry into effect the same according to the desires therein expressed.

WITNESS my hand and seal this thirtieth day of November one thousand eight hundred and forty six and seventy-first year of American Independence. Signed and sealed in presence of us with the word of interlined before signing.

*her mark

Personally appeared before me Col. Jepthan Norton and made oath he was present and did see Rachel Lawrence sign the within (by making her mark) as her last will and that W. D. Steele and Sidney McDow and with himself subscribing witnesses to the same.

Sworn to before me 2nd October, 1848 JEPTHAN NORTON
WILLIAM D. STEELE

BE IT REMEMBERED that on the second day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight the last will of Rachel Lawrence late of Pickens District was proved in common form by oath of Col. Jeptha Norton.

W. D. Steele, O. P. D.

RECORDEDIN WILL BOOK NO. 1, pages 129-130 by
W. D. Steele, O. P. D.

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Will of Benjamin Lawrence