State of South Carolina
Sumter District Clarendon County
In the Name of God Amen. I Michael Birch of theState District & County aforesaid Being thro the abundant Mercy& Goodnefs of God tho Weak in body yet of a Sound & perfectunderstanding and Memory do Constitute this my last Will andTestament, and desire it may be Received by all as Such, First I mostHumbly Bequeath my Soul to god my maker Beseeching his most Graciousexceptance of it through the all Sufficient merrits & mediationof my Compafsional Redeemer Jesus Christ, who gave himself to be anatonement for my Sins, and is able to Save to the uttermost all thatcome unto God by him, Seeing he ever livith to make Intercefsion forthem and who I trust will not reject me, a returning penitent SinnerWhin I come to him for Mercy In this hope and Confidence I render upmy Soul With Comfort, humbly beseeching, the most blefsed &gracious Trinity and God most Holy most mercifull and gracious toprepare me for the time of my difsolution & then to take me tohimself into that peace and Rest and incomparable felicity which hehas prepared for all that love & fear his Holy name amen, blefsedbe God. I give my body to the earth from whench it was taken, in fullafsurance of its Resurrection, from thence at the last day as for myBurrial. I desire it may be decent without pomp or State, at thediscretion of my Dear Wife and my Executors hereafter Named who Idoubt not will manage it with all Resiquite prudence as to my WorldlyEstate I will and pofsetively order that all my debts be paid First Igive and bequeath, unto my dear and Loving Wife Dorcas Birch, the onehalf of my personal Estate to use & dispose of as she may thinkproper, also I give and bequeath to hir During her lifetime, myplantation & Tract of Land whereon I now Reside, to use andCultivate as she pleases, in Lew of dower, and after her death I giveand bequeath to my dear little Orphan Boy William Birch Brown, theSaid plantation Whereon I now live, to him & his heirsforever---the remainder of my Estate real and personal I give andbequeath unto my dear Little orphans Elizabeth Birch Kindom, andWilliam Birch Brown to be equally divided between them share andshare alike, & should Either of them Die without Ifsue that partof the property to devolve on the other, & their heirs forever& should they both die without Ifsue before they arrive to theage of twenty one years, the whole of the property to devolve on mydear & loving wife Dorcas Birch to dispose of as she thinksproper, It is my desire that all my property shall be kept togetheron the plantation whereon I now live undevided for, a Support for myDear & Loving Wife Dorcas Birch & my two Dear little Orphans,Elizabeth Birch Kindom & William Birch Brown, untill after thedeath of mydear & loving Wife D. Birch, It is also my desire thatmy two Dear Little orphans Elizabeth Birch Kindam & William BirchBrown, Shall be Decently Schooled & Clothed, by my Dear &loving Wife Dorcas Birch & my very good Freinds W. W. Mawson andJohn Simson, whome I nominate & Constitute Executrix &Executors of this my last Will & Testament, Said Schooling &Clothing to be Supported by my Estate---In Witnefs whereof I havehereunto Set my hand and Seal this Twenty Eighth day of November Inthe year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Seven & ofthe American Independence the thirty Second year---
Michael Birch (SEAL)
Signed Sealed and acknowledged in the presence ofus--
Philip Carolan
Rob.t Ridgill
William Holladay
Recorded in Will Book A page 69
Recorded November 30th 1808
William Taylor ordy
Bundle 13 Pkge 8