Joseph Holbeatch of Charles Town
1720 Will

In the name of God Amen I Joseph Holbeatch now of Charles Town in the Province of South Carolina --- Merchant. Being of sound and disposing mind and memory (Blessed be God for the same) Do hereby make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following (that is to say) first and principally I commend my soul unto the hand of almighty God hoping through the satisfaction and merits of my only savior and Dear redeemer Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon of all my sins and to inherit Everlasting life, my body I commit to the Earth, to be Decently buried at the discretion of my Executors herein after named, and as toushing [sic] such Temporal Estate, as it hath pleased God of his Infinite mercy to bestow upon me, I give and dispose thereof as followeth

Imprimus I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid and discharged

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Jane Holbeatch, the sum of three Hundred pounds Curr: Money of Carolina to be paid unto her within twelve months next after my Decease.

NOTE: From available evidence, Jane Brewton is not the mother of Joseph's "Daughter Jane Holbeatch".  In the will Joseph Holbeatch leaves his daughter Jane three hundred pounds to be paid to her within twelve months after his death. No guardian is named for her, only for the unborn child of Joseph's current wife Jane. Jane Brewton's father Miles Brewton was born in 1675, and Jane was the second child, say born about 1700; her brother Robert born 1698 was first, followed by Jane, then Elizabeth, then Ruth in 1704. Jane Brewton could not have been old enough to be the mother of Jane Holbeatch, she was more likely her same age.

Item all the rest and Residue of my Estate both Real and Personal whatsoever and wheresoever I give devise and bequeath to my loving wife Jeane Holbeatch and to the Child wherewith she is now enceinte to their Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or assignees forever equally Divided between them, share and share alike, but in case my wife shall miscarry, or the child wherewith she is now Enciente if a boy shall happen to die before the age of Twenty One Years or if a girl before the age of Eighteen Years or day of marriage, then I give the whole to my said wife, her heirs, Executors administrators or assigns forever and I do hereby constitute my said wife to be guardian of such child, wherewith she is now Enceinte till it arrives at the age of Twenty One years or marriage in case she so long continues my widow, but in case of my wife's Death or marriage, I appoint my friend Michael Brewton Guardian and

Lastly I do hereby appoint and nominate the said Michael Brewton full and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made and do publish and Declare this to be and stand as and for my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said Joseph Holbeatch have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of November Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and twenty.

Joseph Holbeatch (seal)

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the above named Joseph Holbeatch as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the said testator the day and year above written

Robert Brewton
Robert Hume

Recorded the twenty fourth day of November one thousand seven hundred and twenty by Jas Moore

Recorded in Will Book 1712-1721
Recorded on page 62


Charleston County Will Transcripts, 1671-1868, Charleston County Library, Charleston, South Carolina
A. S. Salley Jr., "Col. Miles Brewton and Some of His Descendants," South Carolina Historical and Genealogical Magazine, Vol. 2:128-133