WILL OF SOLOMON OWENS
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, MARION DISTRICT
In the name of God Amen. I Solomon Owens of the State and District aforesaid
wishing my business arranged and settled to my mind and now being in health
and of sound mind and memory and calling into mind the mortality of my body
knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do now make constitute
and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form followings
I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God who gave it and
my body to its mother dust to be buried in a Christian and decent manner at
the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the resurrection of the
dead I shall receive the same again by the Almighty Power of God and as
touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this
life I dispose as follows, viz.
1st ITEM I give and loan unto my beloved wife Annis Owens the following
property on the conditions that she excepts of it as her full part of my
estate that is to say I give and bequeath unto her one horse and chais and
two cows and calves and I loan unto her the said Annie during her widowhood
and while she remains on the premises hereafter mentioned for her support and
the support and education of my minor children the following property
viz. The lower half of the plantation on which I now live and also the
following nigares, Jerry, Lacy, Rose, Sam, Emmanuel, Sigh, Suckey and Mary
also my household and kitchen furniture plantation tools of every description
and my stock of all kinds viz. horses, Mules, Cattle, Hoge and Sheep until my
minor heirs respectively comes of age or marry and then it is my requist that
they should individually receive the portion of my property hereafter detached
unto them. I also requist that my Executors (though I leave it discretionary
with them) should continue the balance of the nigares on the plantation for the
above mentioned purposes until the heir that it may belong to comes of age or
marries then to be given up unto him or her.
2nd ITEM I had given to my son Alex. D.G. Owens my lower tract of land or part
of different tracts by deeds containing 400 and odd acres more or less having
such forms as the plat drawn by L. Legett represents with the exceptions made
in the deed (which I still claim for my other two sons) but I have purchased it
back from him with the Intention of leaving it to my son David. I have already
given him the said Alex. four nigares Pompey, Ferreby, Anthony and John and I
give and bequeath to him a nigare named Frank.
3rd ITEM I give and bequeath unto my son David G. Owens the said tract of land
that I bought back from my son Alex. reserving the same exceptions that was
made in the deed to Alex. likewise I give and bequeath to the said David G. Owens
Six nigares named Simon, Peter Jr., Hannah, Jenny and her two children
Talatha and Henry with their Increase, three cows and calves and six head of
sheep and one yoke of oxen and cart.
4th ITEM I give and bequeath unto my son William Joseph Owens the lower half of
the plantation on which I now live at the marriage death or removal of his
stepmother from the premises also one half of all the other lands that I may die
possessed of in Marion District also six nigares named James, Debby, Ebby,
Milly, and her two children Jane and William and their increase and one horse
one yoke of oxen and cart and three cows and calves and six head of sheep.
5th ITEM I give and bequeath unto my son Edward B. Owens by marriage contract
deed of gift and by this my last Will and Testament the following property
viz. The upper half of the plantation that I now live on and one half of all
the land that I may die possessed of in Marion District also six nigares named
Suckey, Laurey, Jonnah, Phiby, Nancy and Madison and their Increase- one horse
one yoke of oxen and cart three cows and calves and six head of sheep.
6th ITEM I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Clark the use of the
following nigares and their increase during her natural life viz. Primas,
Pinder, Daniel, Rebecca and Julian and at her death the right of said nigares
and their increase to return and be considered part of my estate and disposed
of in the same manner as the above nigares that I have loaned to my wife also
I give and bequeath to her three cows and calves and six head of sheep.
7th ITEM I give and bequeath unto my daughter Cady G. Owens the use of the
following nigares and their increase during her natural life viz. Jefferson,
Lizzett, Pensy, Nancy, Abram and Caralin and at her death the right of the
said nigares and their increase to be finally vested in her children. Should
she die and leave no lawful issue then the said nigares and their increase to
return and be considered part of my estate and disposed of in the same manner
as the above nigares that I have loaned to my wife also I give and bequeath
to her three cows and calves and six head of sheep.
8th ITEM It is my will and desire that my Executors at the death or marriage
of my wife Annis or her removal from the premises take all the personal
property and its increase that was loaned to my wife and all the property
that I may be possessed of at my death and not herein disposed of and divide
it as equally as they can allowing an equal share to each of my children or
to their lawful representatives if any should be dead leaving lawful issue and
let them draw their parts my two daughter's shares to be under the restrictions
as the other property I have left them.
9th ITEM I also desire that my servent Peter-(who is now advanced in years)
and having faithfully served me should have his own time and labour and that
my Executors should not admit of his being sold or in any manner claimed by
any of my heirs but he will remain on the plantation and have charge of the
stock. I also have one other nigare Rebecca Senr who having born thirteen
children I requist she may have the same home she has now and work for her
self and children I for several years having allowed her this liberty and
that she not be sold or claimed as in the case of Peter above.
10th ITEM I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Alex. D.G. Owens, Levi
Gerrald, David Edwards and Richard Edwards the Executors of this my last Will
and Testament and I do furthermore disallow revoke and disannul all other
wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal
this twenty sixth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and forty five and the sixty ninth of American Independence.
Signed in the presence of:
David Gibson
John W. Altmon Solomon Owens L.S.
Catharine Altmon
Will proved 7 November 1846
Marion Co. Probate Judge's Office,
Vol. 11, pp. 83-87, original in Roll 622
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