Will
of Thomas Meriwether [TMSI #9568]
State of South Carolina
Edgefield District
1831
The last Will & Testament of Thomas Merewether
In the name of God Amen
I Thomas Merewether of the State and District aforesaid being sick in body but
of sound and disposing memory thanks be to God for the same do make ordain and
publish this as my last will and Testament
Item I I will and bequeath my soul to God who gave it and my body to be
decently buried by my Ext.
[Item] 2 It is my Will that all my Just debts be paid out of the money which I
may have at my death together with my crop or such other property as may
Executor may think can be nest spent
Item 3 I Will and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary Ann Merwether during hir widdowhood
and my children hereafter named during their minority all my lands, household
and kitchen furniture plantations tools and Stock of every kind which is to to
be kept on the plantation for the comfort and general Support of my said Wife
and minor children they to be in all cases execpted from all charges of board
and schooling which is to be defray out of the proceeds of the plantation—
Item 4 It is my Will that my said wife have hir choice to reside where I now
live or at the plantation purchased by me of the Estate of Robt. Wan, and that
my daughter Mary Crafton reside during pleasure in the House which is not so
chosen by my wife I allso will & bequeath to my wife in fee Simple one
negro woman named Easther for a semstress
Item 5 It is my Will that the remaining negroes (except Bob and his wife nance
who are to remain on the plantation untile the last division hereafter named)
be equally divided between My Wife and children, Thomas, Robert, Henry,
loviezer, Neckolas, Josep Snowden, Louren & William R. Merewether, my
daughter Mary having had hir part already advanced equal to the first division
which will thake place and that my wife be at liverty to take her part at any
time to will and despose of as she pleases The childrens, to remain together on
the plantation for the benefit of my Wife (provided she remains a Widdow) and
my children and to be divided in the following manner (vz) when the first one
becomes of age or marries that the negroes be put into as many lotts as there
are children of as narly eaqual vallue as convenant and the child claiming to
have one lott the second becoming of age or Marrying to take their lott in the
same manner and so on throughout as they may become of age or Marry to the last
child and for it to take a lott eaqual in vallue to the first and the residue
to be eaqually devided among all my chilldred including my daughter Mary
Crafton
Item 6 I do hereby nominate and appoint my Wife Executrix and Snowden Griffin
Archey Crafton and my Son Thomas Merewther Executors to this my last will with
full power and authority to execute the same revoking and making null and void
all other wills by me made signed Sealed and published by me this
Thos.
Merewether (Seal)
28th day of March 1831 in the presence of
Test
Jn. Middleton
Thomas McKie
William Merewether
Recorded in Will Book “C” Page 340 & 41
Recorded June 4, 1831
Jn. Simkins O.E.D.
Box 19 Pkg 686
Codicil of the last will and Testament of Thomas Merewether
It is my will and disire that the following codicil to my last will and
Testament hereunto annexed bearing dat the 28th day of March 1831 be taken as a
part of my said lasd Will and I do hereby confirm the same and every part
thereof which does not conflict with the foregoing
first I do hereby will and bequeath to my beloved Wife Mary Ann Merewether
during her natural life (provided she chuses to reside where I now live) five
hundred acres of land to be run of the lande when I now live to commence at the
corner of the old mustufield Tract on the bank of Stephen’s Creek and run out
so as to include the houses where I no live within the said five hundred acres
all of which to be in one body.
2d. It is my will that my children have and I do hereby give them the
priviledge as they become of age to sell out their part of interest of all or
any part of the estate which is directed in my will to remain undivided untill
the youngest child becomes of age, or the death or marriage of Wife If they
think proper to do so.
3d. and lastly It is my will that Thos. McKie, Jr. have the free and
uncontroled priviledge [struck out: during his life] of useing the popplar Spring
which is on the wares Tract of Land durings his or hir wifes life
Signed Seald and published in the presence of the subscribing witnesses this
29th day of April 1831
Thos.
Meriwether (Seal)
Test
Jn. Middleton
William Merewether
Armistead Burt
Source Citation and Source Information:
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/
Merewether, Thomas of Edgefield District. Will Typescript (3 Frames) (MSS Will:
Book C, Pages 340-341; Estate Packet: Box 19, Pkg 686. Series: S108093; Reel:
0009; Frame: 00547.