FAIRFIELD DISTRICT, SOUTH CAROLINA - WILL OF BENJAMIN MCGRAW - 1834 USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Contributed to The USGenWeb Archives by: Carol McGraw Renner renner@icsi.net Will of Benjamin McGraw State of South Carolina} Fairfield District } I Benjamin McGraw of said District and State but of sound and disposing mind and memory, praised be God for the same & calling to mind the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do make & ordain this my last will and testament:---touching the disposition of such worldly goods as may be in my possession at the time of my decease in form following (to wit) In the first place I give, bequeath, and devise to my beloved son Arthur Parr McGraw, his heirs and assigns forever all my land and tenement, with the hereditaments and appurtances to the same belonging that I may possess at the time of my decease; also a negro boy by the name of Peter, now in my possession; also my waggon and geer thereto belonging. Item. I give, bequeathe and devise to my beloved and duteful daughter Susannah McGraw, my negro man Jack and my negro girl Alice and it is my will and pleasure that my executor here in after named, do set a part to my daughter Susannah McGraw, the horse which she may choose of all the horse kind, which may be on my plantation at the time of my decease; and the first choice of all my milch cows; one bed stead, bed and furniture----one cotton wheel and cards and the choice of all my chests. Item. It is futher my will and pleasure, and I do hereby appoint and ordain that my negro man John be sold and also all my house hold and kitchen furniture; also in like manner all my plantation tools and whatever crop may be on hand at the time of the sale after my decease; also all my stock of cattle, horses, sheep & hogs execpt the horse and cow here in before specially devised with other house hold furniture and utensils; also before devised. It is further my will and pleasure that the whole of my property here in devised to be sold; be sold on due notice of a credit - on a credit of twelve months; and the proceeds of the sale as directed be divided between my two daughters Sarah Newton and Mary Bradford, but in such manner that my daughter Mary Bradford is to have over and above what falls to the share of Sarah Newton one hundred and fifty dollars---Item. It is my further will and plesure and is hereby directed that all monies which may be in my hands at the time of my decease shall be equally divided between my four children share and share alike. Item. It is further my will and hereby directed that my executor do collect all notes and accounts due to me at my decease and is required to appropriate the same when collected to the payment of all my debts due by me at the time of my decease; and also my funeral expenses and that if there should be a remainder over and above what may be required for these purposes, it is my will and pleasure that it should be divided equally between my four children share and share alike. Item. It is my express will and pleasure that my two daughters Mary Bradford and Susannah McGraw do have and enjoy the priviledge and right of remaining on my premises herein devised, at their will; and also to cultivate and occupy as much as twenty acres of tillable land, should they require it for their own support and sustenance of themselves as a family; this reservation is to be at their own united option but they are to have it no longer than they choose to remain on it and stay single. Item. It is my will and pleasure that my daughter Susannah having an individual claim to certain bed clothes and bedding or bed furniture, that she should continue to hold and claim them; so that the other beds should have a reasonable portion of bed cloathing. In the last place I do hereby, nominate, constitute and appoint my beloved and trusty friend and son, Arthur Parr McGraw, my sole executor of this my last will and testament; and hereby revoking and disclaiming all former wills, do hereby confirm this my last. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affirmed my seal this 4th of October Anno Domini 1834. Signed, sealed and delivered and declared as the last will and testament of Benjamin McGraw, and subscribed by the witnesses in the presence of the testator & in the presence of each other--- Witnesses his Geo.B.Pearson Benjamin X McGraw {seal} John Hutchinson SenR mark Marshal McGraw Proved 20 March 1835, John R. Buchanan O.F.D. recorded in book 14, page 348 recording date unknown Apt.50, File 774 Fairfield Co. Wills (transcript) Vol.2,book 14, p35-37 Transcribed as written by Carol McGraw Renner; email: renner@icsi.net **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************