Last Will and Testament of Mary Margaret Brunson

The State of South Carolina

County of Sumter

In the name of God Amen, I Mary Margaret Brunson of the County of Sumter State of South Carolina, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, calling to mind the frailty and uncertainty of human life, and desiring of settling my Worldly affairs, and directing how my Estate which it has pleased God to bless me with shall be disposed of after my decease; while I have strength and capacity to do; do make this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking any former Wills and Testaments by me made. And first I commend my immortal being to him who gave it, and my body to the earth to be interred in the family burying ground, and I desire that a plain stone be erected to mark my last resting place.

Secondly: I give devise and bequeath to my nephew James Brunson (who has been living with me and now is, and he has been my sole protector and stay for a number of years) all of my property, Real and Personal that I may be in possession of. The Real Estate consisting of one hundred acres of Land, known as the House Tract on which I now live, Sixty Acres of land inherited from my Father James Brunson’s Estate, and Eighty Acres of Land more or less, bought from my now deceased brother James B. Brunson, in all Two hundred and fifty Acres more or less and the Personal property consisting of such Goods and Chattels as my be mine or in my possession at the time of my decease to him the said James Brunson and his heirs for ever.

Thirdly: It is my Will and desire that in the event that my said Nephew James Brunson should die without leaving any lawful heirs of his body, living at the time of his death then, and in that case, that all of my property Real and personal as named in the Second clause of this my last Will and Testament or all of the Real Estate and such of the Personal Property as may be in existence at the time the decease of said James Brunson I give, devise and bequeath to my Nephew Joseph Wentworth Brunson to have and his heirs forever.

Fourthly: It is my Will and desire in connection with the last foregoing clause that in the event that my said Nephew James Brunson should marry and afterwards that his Wife whether they have issue of children or not is to have use and ………. Of the property Real and personal as before mentioned, during her natural life and after her death to my Nephew Joseph Wentworth Brunson as afore mentioned, and should the said Joseph Wentworth Brunson become in possession of the aforesaid property as by the terms of this my last Will and Testament, and marry or have been married ……. To said possessions and die without bearing any lawful heirs of his body, living then and in that case I desire that his Wife is to have the use of the property as afore mentioned during her natural life.

Fifthly: It is my Will and desire that should my Nephews aforesaid James Brunson and Joseph Wentworth Brunson die without leaving any lawful issue of their bodies living at the time of their decease then and in that case, the said property shall be given to all of my Heirs at Law to be divided among them as in such case is provided by the laws of the State and should their Wives either Wife of either of my aforesaid Nephews, inhabit the said property under the terms of this my last Will and Testament and then die, then said in that case it also is my Will and desire that the Property shall go to my Heirs at Law as aforesaid.

Sixthly: I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my Nephew James Brunson sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. Witness my hand and seal this Eighteenth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Eighty one.

Signed: Mary M. Brunson

Witnesses:

W.J. Davis

W. Davis

B.E. Boyce