WILL OF STEPHEN LACOSTE

State of South Carolina)

Sumter District)

“In the name of God. Amen.”

I Stephen Lacoste of the State and district above named, being in good health of body, and in perfect mind and memory (blefsed be god for the same but calling to mind, the mortality of my body, and knowing it is appointed unto all men to die, do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament.

Principally and first of all I resign my Soul to God, who gave it, and my worldly estate with which it has pleased him to bless me - I give and bequeath in the following manner--

Item 1st) It is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid, as soon after my decease as possible.

Item 2d) It is my will, and desire that my executors pay unto my son in Law Charles Crane and my daughter Mary Crane wife of said Charles, the sum of five dollars each and that, and what they have already received be there full share of my estate, real, personal & perishable.

Item 3d) It is my will, and desire that after my death, that, portion of my estate, that has been given by me to my daughter Anna (the wife of James Bradley) and the issue of her body be appraised with the rest of my personal & perishable property, and that she receive a full share or childs part of my estate (should she not have received it already) my executors allowing her to retain what negroes she has now in possefsion (should she desire it) and the balance of a childs part, be given her out of my estate.

Item 4th) After the above 3d Item has been carried into effect it is my will and desire that my estate be kept together for the benefit of my wife and children until they become of age, or marry, or the marriage of my widow, then in either case, it is my desire that my estate be appraised by (3) three, or (5) five freeholders, which my Executors my designate for that purpose, (with the exception of a negro woman names Sela, which will be provided for here after) and one equal share, or shares as the case may be, be given to the one arriving at age, or marrying the balance of my estate to be again appraised and kept together until another of my children become of age, or marry, and again be divided, as in the 1s instance, and in like manner, untill all my children, arrive at age or marry. That part of my estate alluded to is the personal and perishable, not including real est.

5th Item) It is my will, and desire that should any of my children, die after they become of age or marry and leave no issue, that, that portion of my estate, they may have received, be returned to my estate, and equally divided amost the rest of my children with the exception of Charles and Mary Crane his wife.

6th Item) It is my will, and desire that the negro woman Sela. be not included in the appraisement of my estate (as she came by my wife) that the said negro woman Sela, be given to my wife, independent of her share of my estate, and that she be allowed to live during her (Sela) and my wifes natural life with her, (my wife) and should she survive my wife, that she be allowed to live with whom she may choose amongst my children, but in no case subject to my childrens debts or liabilities.

7th Item) It is my will and desire that should my wife inter-marry with any person that she be given at her marriage a childs part of my estate and at her death, that that portion of my estate that she may have received, be returned to my estate, to be equall divided amongst my children with the exception of Charles and Mary Crane.

8th Item) It is my will, and desire that my wife have the choice of my negro women, and also that my Executors to include in her share the negro girl Harrill Lemon (should she desire it) that also I leave unto my wife my carrige and two horses. and also the use of all my household and kitchen furniture, also all the beds & bedding that is not given of to any of my children that may become of age or marry or also the house and all out houses, as well as the use plantation, should she remain single and live with those of my single children should she desire to do so.

9th Item) It is my will, and desire if I have not fully expressed it in other portion of my will, that I wish my estate both real & personal be vested in my children, and the Issues of their bodies. and should they die, and leave no children, and should they die and leave children, and those children die before they become of age, or marry, that those portions of my estate that they may have received from my estate be returned to be equally divided amost their surviving brothers & sisters, with the exception of Charles & Mary his wife.

10th Item) It is my will and desire that all my children receive a liberal education, and should any of my sons desire a classical education and my executors think they would be benefited by it that they be allowed a classical education the expendetures of the same to be paid out of the income of my estate should the income be sufficent if not that the sume be paid out of their part of my estate, that they may receive.

11th Item) I leave unto my sons my plantations the same to be equally divided amonst them, and that my son Wm Augustus be given the house tract of the same with the restrictions that his mother is to live with him if she desires to do so. to protect and cherish her, in her declining years, the same provision also to be extended to his single or unmarried brothers & sisters.

12th Item) It is my will, that should the income of my estate allow the same, that my mother be paid annually, during her natural life the sum of fifty dollars. and also that my wife be allowed the sum of twenty five dollars annually. uncontrolled from my executors, with the above priviso.

13th Item) I leave to my son Stephen D Miller my gold watch that watch having been his grand fathers to my son Samuel Norwood my Gold headed cane.

14th Item) It is my will, and desire that should I die where I am now living, that I be buried at the Mount Zion Church, and that a plain Marble slab be errected over me with the following inscription. The remains of Stephen A. Locoste born in the city of Charleston 15th September 1799 and died in Salem County Sumter District, on

errected by his widow Ann Edward Lacoste.

Finally & lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint James Bradley, my wife, Ann Edwards Lacoste, and my son Stephen D. Miller, my executors of this my last Will and testament, and that as soon as my son arrives at the age of 21 years he must qualify of this my will.

Done in Salem County, to which I have affixed my name and Seal this 31st August 1

1848.

Stephen Lacoste (SEAL)

In the presence of

W. E. Mills The name of my friend S. E. Wilson was stricken

out and the name of my son in Law Jas Bradley

D. J. Hay inserted.

Evan Benbow

A Codicil to Stephen Lacoste’s Will

State of South Carolina)

Sumter District) Addition to my Stephen Lacoste will

I Stephen Lacoste of the Sate and district above named, being in feeble health, but of sound mind thanks be to my God for the same expecting in a few days to leave my home on a visit to the city of Charleston, before doing so wish to make the following codocil to this my will and testament, made by me on the 31st August 1848- which will be the seal thereof I have this day broken to read and add the following codocile.

Item 1st That the negroes now in the possefsion of my son in Law, given to my daughter Anna his wife to wit Melly and child Hary and man Allen, be returned to my estate, and that the whole of my negroes be appraised and my daughter Anna Bradley receive 1-8 of the said negroes. allowing her to reclaim the said negroes Melly & son and Allen now in her possession if she chooses to do so.

2d In the case of the death of any children that are not married, or after they do marry & leave no children that portion of my estate that they may receive be equally divided amongst the rest of my unmarried children, and my grand children the children of Mary Crane and Anna Bradley and also if any other of my children should marry------

3d That at the death of my wife, that all the Stock of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, plantation utensils the growing crop of cotton & corn, be sold and equally divided amongst my Single children, and my grand children, the of Mary Crane, and Anna Bradley or any other of my children that may be married - then children coming in for a childs part of my effects &c---------

Item- It is my will and desire that should any of my sons marry and leave no Sons that the portion of land they may have recd. from my estate be equally divided amongst there surviving brothers, and so on untill the death of all my Sons. Then in that case, should they die and leave no sons. It is my will and desire that the plantation be sold and the net proceeds be divided amongst my single or married daughters, and there children, each grand child to have an equal Share with the other---------

Lastly it is my will and desire that at the death of my wife she be given, as I do not give her the right to do- to give the carriage and horses that I have given her to any of her children, or grand children male or female that she may see fit.

Done in the District of Sumter the State of South Carolina in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & fifty (1850) and on the 2d day of December in the presence of

Stephen Lacoste (SEAL)

Wm H Wilson

L D Player

D W Warrington

(Recorded in Will Book D 2 Pge 365

Recorded 23 Day of April 1850

W Lewis Ordy

Bundle 130 Pkge 12