The will of James Friendly.Ridgway (grandson ofWilliam Ridgeway Jr. and son of William's son Hope Ridgeway 2nd) wasrecorded in Will Book D, page 240 in Sumter District, South Carolina.The will was witnessed on 26 August 1847 and recorded 13 October1847.
In the name of God Amen. I, James F. Ridgeway ofSouth Carolina and District of Sumter being at this time of soundmind and disposing memory, but knowing that it is appointed unto allmen once to die do hereby make and ordain this my last Will andTestament. First I commit my body to the earth, and my soul into thehands of God my creator, my preserver, and redeemer, And as touchingmy worldly goods wherewith God has been pleased to bless me, Idispose of in manner and form following. (ToWit)
First, I Give, devise, and bequeath unto my beloved wife PollyRidgway, Three Negro slaves, named, July, Lucy, and Elsey, togetherwith all my household and kitchen furniture, one Man called LightFoot during the term of her natural life and at her death whatevershall be remaining of the above mentioned property shall be equallydivided between such of my children as may survive her. 2nd,In orderto pay off my just and lawful debts, I hereby designate and set apartthe following property to be sold, namely Jane and her Threechildren, John, Phillis, and Delia, my Blacksmith's Tools, cart, mymare Linnet and her colt, and my stock of cattle, But in the sale ofmy stock of cattle I desire my Executor shall exercise much care andcaution, so as not to sell any that belong to my children, theyhaving stock in the same mark and Brand, and such as they may pointout and claim as their own property are not to be sold, when allthese sales shall have been effected, and the money arising therefrom, be collected my Executor is hereby directed to pay off my debtswhich have been by me contracted, and the balance remaining to beappropriated to the use of my children in the following manner (ToWit) one fourth to my daughter Easter A. Poole as soon aspracticable, the residue to remain in the hands of my Executor untilmy son Joseph Newton shall arrive at the age of twenty one Years andthen to be paid his portion being one half the remainder, and theother fourth still remaining to be paid to my daughter Mary L. whenshe shall either marry or arrive at the age of Twenty one. But incase my son Joseph N. and my daughter Mary L. should die or either ofthem before the time or times specified above, then and in that case,their part or parts portion or portions to be equally divided betweenthe survivor.
3rd.) My Executor herein after to be named, are hereby directed andspecially charged to procure Head and foot stones, with suitableinscriptions thereon, and have so placed as to mark the spot where mybody and also that of my Father have been deposited, and to pay forthe same out of such funds as may first come into his hands-----
4th.) I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my worthy friend JamesC. Strange sole Executor to this my last Will and Testament herebyrevoking all Wills heretofore made by me.
Signed & sealed, published & de- clared bythe said Testator to be his last Will & Testament in our presence& in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnessesthereto August 26th 1847
Moses M. Benbow
George Roe
John W. Brogden