In the name of God Amen. I Benjamin Hodge ofSumter District in the State of South Carolina, Planter, Being in aweak state of boy but in perfect state of mind and memory and knowingit is appointed for all men Men once to die, do make and ordain thismy last will and testament in manner and form following, that is tosay, principally and first of all, I reccomend my soul into the handsof God who gave it me, in sure and certain hope of receiving it againat the day of resurrection and my body I commit to the Earth fromwhence it came, to buried in a decent christian like manner at thediscretion of my Executrix and Executors here after named, and astouching such worldly Estate as it has pleased God to bless me within this life. I dispose of in the following manner and form. Imprimis) I give and bequeth unto my beloved wife Sarah Hodge duringthe time she remains my widow and no longer, the use of my plantationand Building where I now reside and at her marriage or Decease whichmay be first happen the said plantation and buildings to go to mygrandson John Mily Hodge, all Household and Kitchen furniture exceptsuch part as I shal dispose of otherways, also the following NegroesTo Wit, Chlor, Simon, Hannah, Peter & Wife Jeny Terry and Davy,Ned, Sukey, Mosusannah, and Chance and Susanah Child Molly, with alltheir future increse to her and her heirs forever, but in case of thesaid Sarah Hodge marrying again the above mentioned property to beequally divided amongst my Son Benjamin Hodge Rodus, Benj D (?) HodgeMily E Hodge & John Miles Hodge my Grandsons, or their (?)fulheirs, forever ------Item I give and bequeth unto my Son BenjaminHodge Rodus a Tract of Land lying at the mouth of Tim Bern Branchcontaing 200 Acres more or less, I give and bequeth unto my sonBenjamin Hodge Rodus a Tract of Land containing one thousand acresmore or less bounded as follows, beginning at the mouth White OakBranch, below the Thigpen plantation, the line running along the Westside of the School-House, from thence to the E. side of the PersimmonTree Branch mouch including the Hay field (and from thence not nearerthan 200 years to my large corn field a pasture, running along theNegro path, from then an Easterly course to or near the short prongof Tim Bern Branch and from thence about the short prong of JuneBurns Branch to a scrub Oak Corner bounded by John Hodge's tract ofLand below my Mill. Item, I give and bequeth unto my son BenjaminHodge Rodus, the following Negros to Wit, Anthony, Haggy, Dick, Ron,Chacey, Young Carolina, Esses, Young Daniel, Litty, Ceasar, and Race,with all their future increase also a young Sorrel Horse near threeyears old with a Blaria face, a Waggon with hind gears known by thename of the Williamson Waggon to him and his lawful heirs forever,But if the said Benjamin Hodge Rodus, should died without lawfulissue, the the above mentioned property to be divided share and sharealike amongst my Grandsons Benjamin D Hodge, Miles E Hodge, Hom MHodge and there lawful heirs. Item, I give and bequeath unto myGrandsons Benjamin Dupree Hodge and John Miles Hodge all my Lands nototherwise disposed of share and share alike to them and their heirsforever. I give and bequeath unto my grandson Miles E Hodge all thatplantation or tract of Land known by the name of June Burn plantationtogether with a tract of Land adjoining said plantation and runningto the new back line, from the South Oak Corner up the short prong ofJune Burn Branch to the head, from thence about a N E Course until itstrikes the Branch and continues that course to Capten McFadden'sCorner to him and his heirs forever. All the rest and residue of myEstate both real and personal not already bequeathed, I desire may beequally divided between my three Grandsons Benjamin D Hodge, Miles EHodge and John M Hodge, to them and their heirs forever. But shouldone or more of my Grandchildren die under age or without lawful issueat his or their deaths, his or their portion or portions of my Estateto be equally divided between my surviving grandchild or children,and my son Benjamin Hodge Rodus share and share alike to them andtheir heirs forever. And it is further my will and desire that myson Benjamin Hodge Rodus shall receive take possession of theproperty bequeathed to him by me on the first day of January next. And it is further my will and deisre that my grandsons shall notreceive or take possession the property or any part, before theyarrive at the age of Twenty one Years. It is further my will anddesire that my old Negro Man Slave Carolina shall be at free libertyto live with either or any of the Legatees, and that one which hechooses to live with shall maintain him as long as he lives and shallnot put him to any hard labour or misuse him any way whatever. It isfurther my will and desire that if my son Benjamin Hodge Rhodus andmy grandsons Benjamin D. Hodge, Miles E Hodge and John M. Hodgeshould died without leaving lawful issue I give and bequeath untoJames Norton and Miles H Plowden the sum of five Hundred dollars eachand it is further my desire that my Brother John Hodge and my SistersLyda Norton, Elizabeth Holy, Mary Muculand Hollan McCuland SarahNichols and Martha Hodge may receive one dollar each to them thattheir heirs forever and all the rest and residue of my Estate bothreal and personal to be divided Equally Between the Baptist andMethodist Churches of South Carolina for the use and Benefit of thefaithful ministers of Said Churches the property to be Claimed bydeligates from both Said respection Churches. Lastly, I appointnominate and constitute my wife Sarah Hodge Executrix to this my lastwill and testament during her widowhood and no longer and my sonBenjamin Hodge Rhodus and my grand Sons Benjamin D. Hodge Miles EHodge and John M Hodge Executors to this my last will and Testamentin witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal thisSeventeenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eighthundred and fifteen and in the fortieth year of the AmericanIndependance ---------Signed Sealed and pronounced by the Testator asand for his last will and Testament---------

In the Presence of Us Benjamin Hodge (SEAL)

Samuel R. Gibson

A. H. Bethune

Saml E. Plowden

(Recorded in Will Book A page 119)

(Recorded August 25th 1815)

William Taylor Ordy (?S.D.)

Buncle 44 Pkge 9