Page 202
WILL OF
WILLIAM BETHEA
In the name of God Amen.
I William Bethea of the State of South Carolina and District of Marion
being Weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory and calling it
to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make constitute and
ordain the following instrument of writing to be and contain my last Wile and
Testament (To wit)
First of ale I recommend my Soul to Almighty God Who gave it and my body
after my decease I wish to be buried in a decent Christian like manner, at
the descretion of my Executors herein after named. Item, First it is my will
and desire that ale monies due to me be collected as soon after my death as
practicable and that ale my just debts be paid.
Secondly. I loan to my beloved Wife Sarah Bethea during the term of her
widowhood and no longer the following property (To Wit, Ale that tract or
parcel land Wheron I now live containing Three Hundred & fifty acres, with
all the appurtenances thereunto belonging. Also One Negroe Man named Jim
and One Negroe woman named Hannah with her Increase also one negroe boy named
Willis and One mulatto boy named Jack untile my Son Wileiam arrives at the
age of Twenty One Years then the mulatto boy Jack to be given to my Son
William Bethea, I also loan to my wife Sarah Bethea under the restrictions
as already written.: Two mares of her own Choice out of my Stock of Horses
Also ale my other Stock of every description Together with all my Household
and Kitchen furniture (One bed and furniture only excepted) Also ale my
plantation Tools and working tools of every description Also all the crop
which is made of every description together with provisions of all Kinds.
Ale of the property above loaned to my wife Sarah Bethea is for the
maintenance & support of my Minor Children and my Wife as aforesaid during
her widowhood And it is my wile and desire that if my Wife Sarah should marry
or if not, after her decease ale the property above loaned I wish to be
equally divided between my Six following Children (To Wit, Betsey, Ann,
Patsy, Thomas Harriet, and Cade Bethea, Share & Share alike to them their
Heirs and afsigns forever.
Thirdly. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Phillip Bethea Two Hundred
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WILLIAM BETHEA'S WILL PAGE 2
acres of land lying on the N E side of the beaver dam swamp to be laid out to
him by Three disinterested free holders to be chosen by my Executors herein
after named said Two Hundred Acres to include my lower plantation, To Him
his heirs and afsigns forever.
Fourthly. I give devise and bequeath unto my two daughters Mary Trawick and
Sarah Bethea ale the balance & Residue of land which pofsefs on the N E Side
of the Beaver dam Swamp, to be equally divided between them when my daughter
Sarah arrives at the age of Twenty One Years untile which time it is my wile
that there portion of land. including the upper Plantation, be under the
control and direction of my wife Sarah Bethea for the Support and
maintainance of my Minor Children, and when Sarah Bethea arrives at the age
of Twenty One Years as aforesaid then she is to have a bed and furniture and
the land above mentioned to be equally dived between her and my daughter Mary
Trawick Share and Share alike to them their heirs and afsigns forever.
Fifthly I give devise and bequeath unto my beloved Son William Bethea when he
arrives at the age of Twenty One Years. Ale that tract of land which I
purchased of John Roper containing Two Hundred & Eighteen Acres lying on the
S W Side of the Beavrdam Also One mulatto boy named Jack, to him his heirs
and afsigns forever. My wife Sarah Bethea is to have the use of the land and
negroe until William Bethea arrives at the age of 21 Years before mentioned.
Sixthly It is my will and desire that my Executors herein after named Shale
advertise and Sele the following preperty (To Wit) One negroe woman named
Jude and her Son Jacob, One Horse beast my riding Chair and Shot Gun, and if
the property so sold together with the debts due to me Shale more than pay
ale my debts then it is my desire that ale the overplus of money be given to
my Wife Sarah Bethea, but in the event the property so sold and debts due to
me Should not be Sufficient to pay ale my Just debts then it is my wile and
desire that my Executors Should Sele Such property as they may think can be
best Spared from my Estate untile ale my just debts are paid.
And lastly I do nominate constitute and appoint my Brother Tristram Bethea &
my Brother in Law John Hairgrove & my frind Thos. Harllee Executors to this
my last wile an Testament hereby revoking and disannulling ale former wills
and gifts by me heretofore made and Ratifying and confirming this to
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WILLIAM BETHEA'S WILL PAGE 3
be and contain my last Wile and Testament. In Witnefs Whereof I the said
William Bethea have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this Eleventh
day of October in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Twenty
seven.
Signed Sealed declared & published by the} Wm Bethea (SEAL)
said William as and for his last}
Wile and Testament In the presence of us who}
at his request and in his presence and in the}
presence of each other have subscribed our names}
as witnefses thereto}
David S. Harlee
Cade Bethea
Thomas B Wilkinson
Recorded in Will Book 1, Page 194
Recorded June 12, 1829
Roll No. 41
[Copied verbatim from copy of "Reproduction of Microfilm in South Carolina
Department of Archives and History, Columbia, S. C." - Marion Co Will Vol. 1
Bk. 1 p. 202-204 Wm. Bethea]
Copyright © 1996-2004 Victoria Proctor. All rights reserved.
