I Matthew Bradford of Sumter District SouthCarolina Planter being in bad health but of sound and disposing minddo make this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all formerand other wills and Testaments heretofore made by me.
First I Give and bequeath to my son Robert DBradford and his heirs and assigns forever my plantation whereon Ireside, situated on green Swamp found of several Tracts of Land.
Second, I give and bequeath to my son Gabrial W.Bradford and his heirs and assigns the half of my plantation situatedin Clarendon County in said District, also I bequeath unto him theone half of the Stock of Horses, Mules, Cattle, Hogs and Sheep.
Third. I Give devise and bequeath unto my saidabove named two Sons, and the survivor of them, the other half of mysaid plantation in Clarendon above mentioned & of the stock ofHorses, Mules, Cattle, Hogs and Sheep, To have and to hold the samein trust for my daughter Mary L. Mellett as is hereafter declared.
Fourth, I direct that my three children each choseone person of good character to divide the rest and residue of myEstate of which ever the same may consist into three equal parts, Onethird part thereof, I give and bequeath unto my son Robert D.Bradford, one third part thereof I Give and bequeath unto my SonGabrial W. Bradford one third part thereof I Give and bequeath untomy said sons and the survivor of them in trust with the land abovementioned and stock above mentioned in trust for my said daughterMary L. Mellett, To and for the following uses limitations and trust,(To wit) to the sole and separate use and behoof of the said Mary L.Mellett for & during the term of her natural life, freed from thedebts contracts and liabilities of her present, or any future husbandthat she may have, and from and after her death, to and for suchchildren or child as she may have alive at her death. The issue ofany deceased child to take the part thereof if their deceased parentwould take if alive, and should my said daughter Mary L. Mellett dieleaving no children or child or issue of a deceased child, then thesaid part herein Given to my said daughter to be equally dividedbetween my said Sons and their heirs and assigns forever.
Should any part of my said daughters Trust Estatebe in money or any part of it sold for division and turned into moneythen and in that case the said trustees and the survivor of them ishereby directed to vest the same in real Estate or negros and thesurvivor of them may think proper for the benefit of my saiddaughter. My said daughter is the have liberty to clear my Landsallotted to her trust Estate, or purchased for the same for theworking of the laborers of the said trust Estate, without impeachmentof waste, nor shall she be answerable for any part of the said trustEstate that may die, perish in the use or necessarily consumed byusing the same, such as Cattle, Hogs, Sheep & provisions.
Fifth. My children are to have no claim on me ormy Estate the above provision made for them to be in lieu thereof.
Lastly. I do hereby nominate and appoint my sonsRobert D. Bradford, and Gabriel W. Bradford Executors of this my Willand Testament. Witness my hand and seal this 12th day of Sept. A.D.1846.
Signed (being Sealed or Acknowledged by
Matthew Bradford as his Will and )
Testament in our presence ) Matthew Bradford(SEAL)
Anthony White )
James H. Dingle )
J. W. Dargan )
CODICIL
I Matthew Bradford of Sumter District SouthCarolina, Planter being in bad health, but of sound and disposingmind, do make and publish this codicil to my last Will and Testamentin manner following that is to say, I desire that my sons Robert D.Bradford and Gabriel W. Bradford, that they do allot off of theplantation whereon I live, devised to my Son Robert D. Bradford by mywill Three hundred acres of Land, part to be cleared and partwoodlands, that on the said Land there be enclosed with a good fence,and erected thereon a good dwelling House with at least two rooms anda good Chimney, a small house for a Kitchen with a Chimney, a smokeHouse a Corn Crib and a small stable, & a well for the use &occupation of my Mulatto woman Eliza and her child Emily, that theyalso furnish her with Two hundred Bushels Corn, Five hundred poundsweight of Porke & Tow hundred pounds weight Brown Sugar &fifty pounds of Coffee and a Sack of Salt, a plough two axes, threeHoes and a Cart out of my Estate as soon as the same canconveniently, and that the following Negores be placed on said Landto worke the same (viz) Hester & her five Children, Jim, Andrew,Cinda Joe and Dorcas, and their future increase, Two good young Cowsand Calves, also a negro named Kilsey that they superintend the same& apply the proceeds of their labour to the support of Eliza andher child Emily during their lives, and my said sons see that theTaxes of all of them be paid, the above woman Eliza & her childEmily and the other negroes and their increase are not to be dividedas a part of my Estate but are to be reserved for the above use &purpose above mentioned, I expect my three children will for therespect & regard they have for me carry out this my last wish& request- Given under my hand and Seal the 12th day of Sept. A.D. 1946.
Signed or acknowledge, ) Matthew Bradford (SEAL)
Being sealed, by the said )
Matthew Bradford as a Codicil )
to his will & signed by us )
as witnesses in his presence )
Anthony White
James H. Kingle
J. W. Dargan
Recorded Will Book D-2, Page 213
Recorded Sept 22, 1846
W. Lewis Ordy
(Copied from will Book)