FULL TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROBERT BLAIR (c. 1790–1791) Marlborough County, South Carolina

FULL TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF ROBERT BLAIR (c. 1790–1791) Marlborough County, South Carolina

PAGE 1

State of South Carolina } the County of Marlborough }

In the name of God amen - I Robert Blair of Cheraw District and State aforesaid Planter being weak in body, but of sound mind, calling to remembrance the frailty and mortality of my nature do in sincerity commit my soul to God through Jesus Christ in hopes of a happy immortality, and my body to be buried in a Christian like manner by my Executors hereafter mentioned, my worldly affairs I dispose of in the manner and form following, Imprimis, it is my will that all my Just debts and funeral expenses be fully paid and satisfied --

Item, I give and devise to my Son James Blair the following tracts of land viz. a tract containing one hundred and fifty acres in Darlington County about four miles below the Long Bluff commonly called Dick's old place adjoining [Gideon?] [...] notwithstanding the said Coverture, and without the intervention of her said husband all and singular the rents issues and profits of the said several tracts of land and every part and parcel thereof with the rights members and appurtenances, and at the dissolution of the said Coverture in case her present husband survive her, to my said Daughter and to her issue by her said Husband Robert Campbell by good and Effectual Conveyances in fee simple all and singular the before mentioned land and premises, and in case my said Daughter die before her said husband to convey by good and sufficient Conveyances all and singular the before mentioned premises and lands to such person & persons in such parts, portions and proportions in such Estate and Estates to such uses and uses, and subject to such charge and charges incumbrances and Incumbrances as my said Daughter by her last Will and Testament duly Executed in the presence of three Witnesses shall think proper to order, direct, and appoint, and in case no such appointment shall be made, then in further trust to and for the use, benefit, and behoof of the issue male and female of her body by her said Husband share and share alike -- Item, I give and bequeath unto the aforesaid Colin Campbell and Moses Pearson and to the survivor of them the following negroes Vizt negro fellow named Tom, fellow Cork and his wife Hannah and her Children Maria and Sina, fellow little Dick and his wife Jenny, negro woman Nan, and her three Children Bob, Rose and Deana, also all the horses and chattles that I may die possessed of, Subject nevertheless to the before mentioned bequest to James Blair To have and to hold all and singular the negroes horses and chattles herein bequeathed together with their future increase to them the said Colin Campbell and Moses Pearson and to the survivor of them, and to the Executors and administrators of such survivor In Trust nevertheless and to for the sole and separate use benefit and behoof of my aforesaid Daughter Lucia Campbell notwithstanding the Coverture in the same manner and to the same intents and purposes as well during her life as at and after her death, as has been Already herein before declared and directed in respect of the Lands and Tenements herein before devised for her use to which for Certainty I refer, and I do hereby declare that as well the before mentioned devise of lands as the above bequest of Negroes horses and Cattle to the said Colin Campbell and Moses Pearson in form aforesaid are to be taken, received, and construed and accepted in trust for my said Daughter, and to be at the sole disposal

(as)

PAGE 2

and adjoining the said Bluff tract containing two hundred and ninety six acres Granted among other lands to Anthony Pouncey, Also another tract of piny woods land lying back of Darby Bay and extending to the long branch of the Three Creeks containing two hundred acres, Also one moiety of a tract of piny woods land lying on the South side of Hellons Bay containing two hundred acres Also my lot of land in the Town of Greenville To have and to hold all and singular the before mentioned tracts of lands with the rights members and appurte- nances to him the said Colin Campbell and Moses Pearson and to the survivor of them and to his heirs and assigns forever. In Trust nevertheless and to and for the sole and separate use benefit and behoof of my dearly beloved daughter Lucia Campbell the wife of Robert Campbell in manner following that is to say in trust to permit my said Daughter [from time to time, and at all times during] other tract containing three hundred and sixty acres in Darlington County aforesaid adjoining lands of Major Pierce Butler for which I lately obtained a Grant To have and to hold the said two several tracts of land with the appurtenances to him the said James Blair and to his heirs and assigns forever. I also give and bequeath unto the said James Blair and to his Executors administrators and assigns forever the following Negroes (vizt) negro fellow named Big Dick negro woman named Peg and her child named Jack and two negro Boys named Sam and David I also give and bequeath to the said James Blair a Mare commonly called Bonny and a horse commonly called Gal- -ant and six head of Black Cattle to be taken out of my stock, nevertheless it is my will and I do hereby direct and order that untill the said James Blair shall be to his age of Twenty one years that the personal property herein before bequeathed to him shall be and remain in the hands of my Executors hereinafter named and the rents issues and profits thereof be applied by them to the proper education mainte-nance and support of the said Sam'l Blair -- Item I give and devise to Wade Mims Blair and to his heirs and assigns forever a tract of land lying and being near Sparkes Creek above Thomas's Mills contain- -ing two hundred and forty acres. provided nevertheless he claim the same within five years after my death and if the said Wade Mims Blair should not so claim it within five years after my Death then and in that Case I give and devise the said tract of land to the before mentioned James Blair and to his heirs and assigns forever -- Item I give and devise unto Colin Campbell of Charleston Merchant and to Moses Pearson of Pee Dee planter and to the survivor of them the following Tracts of land one tract called the upper plantation containing three hundred acres lying on the southwesterly side of Pee Dee river situate between lands [of Joshua Edwards ...] plantation whereon I formerly lived containing one hundred and [...] situate in Marlborough County adjoining lands of Jonathan John [also] one tract containing three hundred acres in Darlington County directly opposite to the Bluff tract whereon I now live adjoining lands of William Evans Also one other tract of land containing three hundred and fifty acres called the lower tract adjoining lands of Maj'r Pierce Butler and also adjoining the last mentioned tract Also the bluff tract whereon I now live containing one hundred and fifty acres Also a small tract adjoining the said bluff tract originally granted surveyed for John Robertson and in the said survey laid down for sixty six acres Also a tract of Piny wood (Land)

PAGE 3

as aforesaid for which purpose and for no other purpose Whatsoever I have and by this my last Will and Testament do make ordain and constitute the said Colin Campbell and Moses Pearson Trustees under this my Will directing and requiring them and the survivor of them with all diligence and attention hereto write and strictly to Execute perform and Maintain the same trusts respectively according to the true intent and meaning of this my Will -- Item I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved Mother Lucia Blair the sum of fifty pounds Sterling money being the remaining [part of the money...] by Wade [Evans...] sum of Twenty pounds Sterling as a token of Filial Love and Affection -- Item all the rest and residue of my real and personal Estate give and bequeath to my said Daughter Lucia Campbell and to her Executors Administrators and assigns forever Item I do hereby nominate Constitute and appoint my Son in law Robert Campbell and Moses Pearson Executors of this my last Will and Testament and Testament hereby revoking repealing and annulling all former and other Wills Codicils and Testaments by me made and declaring and pronouncing this and none other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have here- -unto set my Hand and Seal the [Twenty-fourth] day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety — Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Robert Blair as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses —

Jonathan John

Nath'l Coggeshall

Jacob Miller

Robert Blair {Seal}

Clerk's Office Marlborough County Aug't 31st 1791 — I certify this to be a true copy from the Original Will Examined by J. Winfield C.C.

[Docket Notation / Margin:]

Robert Blair

Will

[rec 7/6]

Copy