Will of John Meriwether [
TMSI #4756]
Abbeville, South Carolina
Will Book 2, Page 87
Estate Packet Box 60, pkg. 1423
1820
In the name of God Amen,
I John Meriwether of the State of South Carolina and district of
Abbeville being of perfectly in my mind and senses do make and ordain this my
last will and Testament.
In the first
place I wish my remains to be decently buried.
Item 1
st I
lend unto my wife Ann Meriwether during her life seven choise Negroes out of
all I possess and the tract of land whereon I now live bounded by lands
belonging to John Talbert, David Cunningham the estate of Thomas Waller decd,
and Nathaniel Marion containing 328 Acres more or less. I also lend unto my
wife during her life a negro girl by the name of Harriot exclusive of seven
others she may choose during her life at my Wifes death she and her increase if
any shall be equally divided between all my children I have by my present wife
or may have by her. I also lend her all my household kitchen furniture
plantation tools my Cart and Steers and her choice of four of my horses except
Buzzod my Steed horse her choice of twelve head of Cattle and twelve head of
Sheep all my stock of hogs at home but not at the Mill. I also lend her Part of
my _
being two thirds and one of my
Stills her choice and as much Corn and fodder and rough forage as may support
her family and Stock also what meat that is laid in for my family until she can
make a Crop from what I have lent I desire she may support and raise all my
children I have or may have by her and give them a common English education
at my death I desire all my property that I have not lent my
wife except land and Negroes to be sold and my Just debts paid and out of my
estate my grand daughter Caroline Meriwether shall have two hundred and fifty
dollars when she marries or comes of age
at my death all the Negroes that I have not lent my Wife
shall be divided among all my children but as some had more given than others I
wish the appraisers of my estate to appraise what each child has received when
given except when my son Robert deceased had received which the legacy given
his daughter Caroline is in full of what I wish her to have and all my children
to be equal before a general division shall take place
And at the death of my wife I desire all my land and what I
have lent my wife to be sold and the money equally divided among all my
children
Lend also a piece of land which was in copartnership between
myself my son Robert and Zachary Meriwether which land was sold by writ of
partition I purchased the said land I do hereby give my son Zachary Meriwether
all that said tract of land lying on the south side of the road leading to
Cambridge to Abbeville Court House and the third part of the Mill and Millseat
I give unto my wife my watch gold sleeve buttons and ring
and if Caroline Meriwether shall die before she marries or comes of age the
money I have lent her shall be equally divided among all my children or their offspring
My wish is that if any dispute concerning this Will among my
children would not go to law but settle it by arbitration. To this my last will
and Testament
I do hereby appoint as my
Executors my sons John H. Meriwether my son Joseph Meriwether and my friend William
Tinsley
In
witness whereof I
have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11
th day October 1819
John
Meriwether (seal)
In presence of
Chas. Harris
James Tinsley
Frederick Meriwether
The above will was proven on the seventh day of February 1820 by the oath of
James Tinsley one of the witnesses thereto before Moses Taggart senr. O.A.D.
Joseph Meriwether & William Tinsley qualify Exor.
Source Citation and Source Information:
Meriwether, John of Abbeville County, Will Transcript (MSS Will: Estate Record
Book 2, Page 87; Estate Packet: Box 60, Pkg. 1423. Series S108093 Reel:
0003 Frame: 00030
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/
Note: Very little punctuation in original. Paragraph breaks added for clarity.