Will of Francis L. Meriwether SC 1851
Will
of Francis Laurens Meriwether [TMSI #9647]
Edgefield,
South Carolina
Will
Book D, pages 431-433
Estate
Packet Box 63, pkg. 2573
1851
State
of South Carolina
Edgefield
District
In
the name of God Amen! I Francis Laurens Meriwether, of the District and State
aforesaid, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, do make and establish
this my last will Testament.
1st
I direct all my just debts and
funeral expenses to be promptly paid.
2. I will and desire that all my real and
personal estate remain unsold and be kept together until my son, Francis L.
Meriwether, arrives at the age of twenty-one, or until he marries; on either of
which events I will that my said son Francis take one moiety of whole real and
personal property.
3. I will and bequeath to my beloved wife,
Mary Elizabeth Meriwether, a becoming support, suited to her sphere in life,
out of the proceeds of my said estate, until my son Francis comes of age, or
marries, provided my said wife, Mary Elizabeth, continues a widow; but if she
the said Mary Elizabeth, marry either before the majority of my son Francis, or
at any time thereafter, the whole of my estate, real and personal is to pass to
my said son Francis.
4.
I further will and bequeath, that,
if, at the time my son Francis comes to the age of twenty-one or marries, my
beloved wife, Mary Elizabeth, be living unmarried, my whole estate, personal
and real, be divided into two equal parts – my said wife to take moiety, and my
said son the other; provided, that if my said wife, Mary Elizabeth, marry, her
said moiety shall revert to my said son Francis – and provided, that, in no
event, she shall have more than a life-interest in said moiety.
5. I further will and bequeath, that, in
case my son Francis die before he arrives to the age of twenty-one or before he
marries, my said wife, Mary Elizabeth, shall take the whole of my estate, real
and personal, to have and to enjoy during her natural life, whether she marry
again or continue a widow; and at her death, I desire that the whole of my said
estate be divided in equal proportions between my brother Snoden Meriwether,
and my sisters, Emily Key and Ann Key, if alive at the time of said
distribution; but if my said brother, or either of my said sisters be dead,
having left no issue, then those surviving to take in equal proportions.
6.
If my wife and my son shall both
die before the marriage of my son, I will and desire all my estate, real and
personal to be divided between my brother Snoden Meriwether, Emily Key and Ann
Key, as above declared.
7.
I will and desire that my
Executors, hereinafter named collect out of the proceeds of my estate, so soon
as they can do it consistently with the interests of said estate. The Sum of
five hundred dollars and pay it over to my said wife Mary Elizabeth.
8. I desire that the money due me from my
Father’s estate so soon as collected shall be applied by my Executors to the
payment of my debts.
9. I constitute and appoint my Brother
Snoden Meriwether, Executor of this my last will and Testament. I also desire
that my said Brother become the guardian of the person and estate of my son
Francis – that he take him, educate and train him after the most careful
manner.
I
hereby revoke all former wills and Testaments. In testimony whereof, I, Francis
Laurens Meriwether, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 16th
day of January 1851, and in the seventy-sixth year of the sovereignty and independence
of the United States of America.
Francis
L. Meriwether (seal)
Signed,
sealed, published
and
declared, as his last
will
and testament by the
said
Francis L. Meriwether
in
presence of us, who in
his
presence and in presence
of
each other have
hereunto
set our names as
subscribing,
witnesses.
W.
T. Scott
T.
M. Crafton
M.
A. Key
Recorded
in Will Book D, pages 431-433. Recorded March 17th, A.D. 1851 O.E.D.
John Hill
Box
63 pkg. 2573
Source Citation and Source Information:
Meriwether,
Francis of Abbeville County, Will Transcript (MSS Will Book D, Page
431-433; Estate Packet: Box 63, Pkg. 2573. Series S108093 Reel:
0010 Frame: 00530
South Carolina Department of Archives and History. 8301 Parklane Road.
Columbia, South Carolina. Tel: 803.896.6100; Fax: 803.896. 6198.
http://scdah.sc.gov/