Will of Margaret Sims

        

In the name of God Amen I Margaret Sims of the State of South Carolina and Sumter District calling to Mind the Mortality of the Body and the immortality of the Soul do hereby make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all and every other will made by me or for my use---

First I commit my Soul to god from whom I received it and my Body to be buried in Christian like manner at the discrefsion of my Executors to be hereafter named---

Secondly I will and bequeath to the Children of my friends Doc.r John Boyd the Children of my friend William Sims and William Reynolds son of George Reynolds one half of my Negroes to be divided in the following manner. Viz William Sims Boyd is first to select one Negro then William Sims Reynolds is to select one Negro after which the remainder of them is to be equally divided one half to the Children of William Sims and the other half to the Children of Doc.r John Boyd share and share alike-

Thirdly I will and bequeath to my friend Mary Bradley three hundred Dollars to be paid out of my Estate for her Many acts of kindnefs and fifty Dollars to be paid her for her Sister Elizabeth.

Fourthly I will and bequeath to the Children of my three deceased Sister Agnes McDonald Elizabeth Gray and Mary Butler formerly Mary Cooper the remaining half of my Negroes subject to the above Legacies and on the following conditions that Wm. Sims and Doc.r John Boyd have the liberty of paying the legacies above mentioned deducting that amount and then paying a fair and equitable price for the Negroes above willed to the Children of my deceased Sisters including the price of the Legacies paid by them

Fifthly. It is my will and desire that the negroes to be divided betwixt William Sims and Doct John Boyd shall have the liberty of going with the Children of my deceased Sisters or with Wm. Sims and  Doc.r John Boyd as far as is consistent with strict justice betwixt  the parties interested ‑

It is my will and I hereby desire my Executors to pay all of my just debts also a debt due A Barnes or his Heirs which debt was contracted by my deceased Son and also that the settlement made betwixt Doct. John Boyd and my self on the second day of April 1825 in the hand writing of Jeptha Dyson be considered valid to that time and his subsequent accounts since then-

It is my will and desire that my Beds Bed Clothes furniture Trunks and Cloathing shall not be considered as framing any part of this will but to taken and received by the person or persons to whom I shall hereafter verbally give them ‑

Lastly I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my friends William Sims John Boyd & Richard I. Manning Executors of this my last Will and Testament in testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 20th October one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight.

 

Margaret Sims (SEAL)

        

F. Belser

John Barrett

James W. Sherriff

        

Recorded Will Book D‑l, Page 233

Recorded February 25th, 1831

William Potts, Ordy. S.D.

Bundle 106, Package 6