John Felts 1852
South Carolina
Laurens District
In the name of God, Amen. I John FELTS, Senr. of the aforesaid State and District, bring of sound and disposing mind and memory, but weak in body and calling to mind, the uncertainty of life, and being desirous of disposing al such worldly estate as it has please God to bless me with, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following, viz. It is my will and desire that I may be buried in a decent Christian like manner, and that my executors hereinafter appointed shall as early as convenient, pay off all my just debts and funeral expenses, out of any monies they have at command, belonging to my estate. I give to my daughter, Mary J. FINLEY , one negro woman Rachael and Patty, and one boy Wade, together with future increase of the female slaves, to her and her heirs forever. I give unto my son John A. FELTS, one negro man, Moses, one negro woman, Mariah, and her two female children Susan and Carolina, one good beadstead, and furniture, the bay Filley that he now claims, and one thousand dollars in cash, when collected together with the future increases of the said female slaves, to him and his heirs forever. I give to my beloved wife Mary FELTS, one negro woman, Jinney and her two female children, one girl Sarah Dinah and a negro man Anthony, two cows and calves, two sows and pigs, two bedsteads and furniture, all of her own choosing, all the fowls of the yard consisting of turkey, geese, and hens, and two hundred and fifty dollars to purchase provisions for the first year, one buggy and harness, and also two thousand dollars to assist in purchasing a place for her and my son John A. FELTS, to live on together with the future increase of said female slaves, to her and her heirs forever. I give to William H. HOULDITCH and John F. HOULDITCH, children of my deceased daughter Susannah HOULDITCH, fifteen hundred dollars to be divided equally between them, when they arrive at the age of twenty-one years, but should either of them die before that time, leaving no child or children, then the survivor to receive the distributive share of his deceased brother. But should there be a child, or children left, the child or children so left, shall be entitled to and receive the distributive share the parent would have been entitled to if living. The amount willed to the said Will H. and John F. HOULDITCH, to remain in the hands of my executor until they arrive at age, then to be paid over to them or their heirs with lawful interest. Should, however, the said William H. and John F. HOULDITCH die before they arrive to the age of twenty-one years, leaving no child or children, the amount willed to them to revert back to my estate, and be equally divided between my wife, Mary FELTS, John A. FELTS, and Mary J. FINLEY, to them and their heirs forever. It is further my will and desire that all my estate both real and personal not herein before disposed of shall be sold at public outcry, by my executors, the real estate on a credit of one and two years interest from date, the personal property on a credit of one year. And out of the monies arising from said sales, all the above bequests to be paid, the balance to be equally divided between my wife Mary FELTS, John A. FELTS, and Mary J. FINLEY, to them and their heirs forever. Lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son in law William T. FINLEY, and my son John A. FELTS, executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other and former wills by me heretofore made. In witness, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 11th day of December, 1852.
Alsey FULLER
James F. COLEMAN
Mathew (his mark) BRYSON
Recorded in Will Book A, Original will not in files of Probate Judge. W.D. WATTS, O.L.D. Proven and recorded dates not available
Frances Terry Ingmire, compiler, Laurens County, South Carolina Will Book A & C, 1777-1809 (St. Louis, Mo. : F.T. Ingmire, c1982) I:134-135