The State of South Carolina )
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Sumter District-------------------) In thename of God, Amen: I John Reynolds of the State and Districtaforesaid, Planter, being of sound mind and memory and in goodhealth, but sensible of the uncertainty of human life, and desirousof disposing of all of my Estate both Real & Personal, in suchmanner as seems to me most likely to promote the welfare and harmonyof my wife and Children, do make and ordain this my last will andtestament in manner following, towit;--------------------------------------
Item 1 I give and bequeath to my Son, William JReynolds, for and during the term of his natural life only (herebyintending to create a life estate merely) the following named Slaves,and the increase of the females, to wit, Edmond, Little Sealy, Isaac,Anderson, Charles, Edward, Samuel, Susanna, Mack and Lavina; and fromand immediately after his decease, I give and bequeath the saidSlaves and their increase to the lawful heirs of his body living atthe time of his death, to them and their heirs forever; but should mysaid Son, William J Reynolds, depart this life having at his death nolawful heirs of his body him surviving, in that case, the negroesandtheir increase herein bequeathed to him shall be equally dividedamong such of my other children as may be then living, upon the sameconditions and subject to the same restrictions, limitations andremainders as are provided respecting the direct bequest hereinaftermade in their behalf; intending, however, and hereby declaring, thatthe heirs of the body of such of my children as may the dead upon thefulling in of any remainder shall stand in the place of theirdeceased parent, and receive the portion to which such parent, ifliving, would have been entitled.
Item2 To my daughter Elizabeth (lately married toL Spann) I give and bequeath, for and during the term of her naturallife only (hereby intending to create in her a life Estate merely)the following named slaves with the increase of the females, to wit:July, Polilda, Damon, Benjamin, Ellis, Latly, Prince, Judy, Rose andGeorge, which said slaves shall not be subject to the disposition,debts or contracts of her present or any future husband and from andimmediately after her decease, I give and bequeath the said slavesand their increase, to the heirs of her body living at the time ofher death, share and share alike, to them and their heirs forever;but should my said daughter Elizabeth depart this life leaving nosuch heirs of her body living at the time of her death, in that caseI direct the said slaves and their increase bequeathed to her, to bedivided among my children surviving her, equally (the children ofsuch as are deadrepresenting their parent) in the manner as isprovided respecting the bequest in favor of my Son, William JReynolds, in the like contingency.--------------------
Item 3 To my Daughter Elle C Reynolds, I give andbequeath, for and during the term of her natural life only (herebyintending to create in her a life Estate merely) the following namedslaves and the increase of the females, to wit, Joe, Big Sealy,Ransom, Ned, John, Stephen, Tobert, Moriah, Tom & Mary, whichsaid slaves shall not be subject to the disposition, debts orcontracts of her Husband; and from and immediately after her decease,I give and bequeath the said slaves and their increase to the heirsof her body living at the time of her death, share and share alike,to them & their heirs forever; but if she should die leaving noheirs of her body living at the time of her death, in that case, Idirect the bequest in her behalf to be disposed of in manner &form as is provided in the like contingency in the bequest in thefirst clause of this my will in favor of my son William JReynolds.
Item 4 To my wife, Frances Reynolds, I loan, forand during the term of her natural life only, the whole of the RealEstate of which I am now possessed, and the following personalproperty, to wit, a wagon, my Carriage and Carriage Horses, Six headof Cows & Calves, all my household & kitchen furniture,together with the following named Slaves and their increase, to wit,Billy, Claressa, Hampton, Jim, Jacob, Handy, Easter, and Eliza; andfrom and immediately after her decease, it is my will and direction,that the Real Estate, the negroes and their increase, and such of theother personal property as may not perish in the use thereof, hereinbut to her as aforesaid, shall be equally divided among my childrenthen surviving, upon the terms and conditions and subject to thesame limitations, restrictions & remainders as are provided inthe several bequest in their favor respectively intending thechildren of any deceased child to take the interest in their bequestwhich would fall to their deceased parent ifalive.----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Item 5 All the rest and Residue of my Estate,Real and Personal, which I may hereafter accumulate, or of which Imay die seized and possessed, or be entitled unto, I direct to beequally divided among my children living at the time of my death, tobe held by them, respectively, subject to the same limitations,restrictions and conditions as are herein before provided in theseveral bequest to them, intending always that the heirs of the bodyof my deceased child shall stand in the place of the deceased parentand receive among them (if more than one) such share as the parent ifalive would be entitled unto.
Item 6 It is my Will and desire that if I shouldowe any debts at the time of my decease any ready money in mypossession, or the proceeds of any demands due to me or of my crop onhand, shall be applied to the satisfaction of any such debts, and ifall such means be insufficient then it is my direction that my wife& each of my children shall contribute equally to the payment ofmy debts.
And, Lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint WilliamJ Reynolds (my son) and William W. Miller, the Executors of this mylast Will and Testament, hereby revoking & annulling all formerWills by me made.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand& Seal, this twenty third day of May---Eighteen Hundred andthirty Nine.
Signed, Sealed, Declared and published by JohnReynolds as & for his last Will & Testament in our presence,who at his request and in presence hereunto subscribed our names aswitnesses.
Thos L. Smith
Robert H Belvin John Reynolds
(SEAL)
Hezekiah G Belvin
(Recorded in Will Book D 2 Pge 274)
Recorded 21st Day of Dec 1848
W. Lewis Ordy
Bundle 125 Pkge 10