Will of Robert Bradford

South Carolina )

Sumter District

In the Name of God Amen. I Robert Bradford of the District and State aforesaid, being above

Sixty seven years of age, but of sound and disposing mind and memory, do hereby make and declare thid to be my last will and testament.

First I wi1l and direct that all my just debts be paid.

Second. I devise and bequeath to my son John S Bradford during his life, and without impeachment of waste, my plantation situate near the Cain Savanna Mills, consisting of four tracts of land to wit one tract purchased from John Gayle, one tract purchased from Isaac Brunson, one tract purchased from I I Bannister, and one tract purchased from the estate of Isaac Brunson, all lying in the District and State aforesaid; also one half of my whole personal estate of every description. And I hereby authorize him to sell and dispose of any part of the said estate he may think fit, whether real or personal, and to invest the proceeds in other property subject to all the conditions and limitations annexed to the above property by this will.

Third At the death of my son John S Bradford, living his present wife, I devise and bequeath all the estate real and personal above mentioned to his children who may be living at his death, to be equally divided between them; but in case any child shall have died, leaving ifsue alive at the death of my said son, I devise and bequeath to such ifsue the share which their parent would have taken if alive at his death, And in case any child or children of my said son shall die within twenty one years after his death, unmarried, or under age and childlefs, I devise and bequeath the share of the child or children so dying to their surviving brothers & Sisters. But if it should please the Almighty that all the children of my said son should within twenty one years after his

death die unmarried, or under age and childlefs I devise and bequeath all the estate real and personal above mentioned to my daughter Mary Ann Elizabeth Bradford to her sole and separate use for life, and at her death to her children.

Fourth. I give and bequeath to my son John S Bradford without condition and absolutely the boy Merriman now in his pofsefsion, and the sum of one thousand dollars, which I suppose to be about the difference between the value of the lands above devised to him and his children, and the lands hereinafter devised to his sister Mary Ann Elizabeth Bradford.

Fifth. In the event that my son John S Bradford shall survive his present marriage I devise and bequeath to him his heirs and afsigns in fee simple all the estate real and personal mentioned in the second clause of my will, and therein given to him for life, any thing in that or the succeeding clauses to the contrary not with standing.

Sixth. I give devise and bequeath to my son John S Bradford In Trust and to and for the sole and separate use of my daughter Mary Ann Elizabeth Bradford during her life all the lands whereon I now live, and all my real estate other than that hereinbefore devised to her brother; also the other half of all my personal estate of every description whatever; and after her death I devise and bequeath the said real and personal estate in this clause mentioned to her ifsue living at her death. I authorize the said John S Bradford Trustee as aforesaid to permit my daughter and her husband, during her life, to have the actual pofsefsion of the said estate real and personal; or at his discretion to withhold the same. In the latter event he will pay over to my daughter for her

sole and separate use the annual proceeds and profits thereof.

Seventh. If my daughter should die without ifsue of her body or lineal descendants living at the time of her death, I devise and bequeath all the real estate and two thirds of the personal estate

mentioned in the fifth clause of my will to my son John S Bradford with the like conditions as are annexed to the clauses No 2 and No 3 of my will; and I bequeath the remaining one third of the said personal estate to Gabriel Wesley Bradford my son in law absolutely

Eighth But if my said daughter should die leaving a child or children alive at the time of her death, and such child or children, within twenty one years after the death of my said daughter, shall depart this life unmarried, or under age and childlefs, and without brother or sister or their children then living, I devise and bequeath to my son John S Bradford two thirds of the personal estate, and all the real estate in the sixth clause mentioned above, subject to the conditions and limitations---annexed to clauses No.2 and No. 3; and the remaining one third of the said personal estate I bequeath to Gabriel Wesley Bradford.

Ninth. If my son John S Bradford and my daughter Mary Ann Elizabeth Bradford should both die without leaving ifsue or lineal descendants living at the time of their death I devise and bequeath the whole of my estate real and personal to Gabriel Wesley Bradford.

Tenth. I constitute and appoint my son John S Bradford and my son in law Gabriel Wesley Bradford Executors of this my last will and testament: And when partition of my personal estate is to be made, it is my will that my son and son in law shall each name an equal number of neighbours and friends for that purpose, and I invest the persons who shall be so appointed with ample power to make final partition of the personal property. It is my will and hereby direct that when the partition so to be made, when authenticated under the hands of the persons for that perpose appointed, or a majority of them shall be binding as well upon the minors as the adults who may take an interest under my will.

Eleventh. If occasion should arise in the opinion of my executors to sell any portion of my estate, they are hereby authorized to make such sale, and to re-invest the proceeds to such uses as are prescribed in relation to the property sold.

Twelfth. As I owe but few debts and of small amount I dispense with an Inventory and appraisement of my estate until such time as the partition of my personal estate is made, when it is my desire and request that the Ordinary appoint as Appraisers such gentlemen as shall be nominated by my son and son in law to make the said partition. After the payment of my debts I dispense with all returns to the Ordinary by my Executors. And I hereby revoke all former wills by me made.

In witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twelfth day of November In the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty six.

Robt Bradford (SEAL)

Signed sealed and published by the Testator as and for his last will and testament in presence of us, who in his presence, at his request and in presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnefses hereto

Anthony White

Wm.M. DeLorme

H. C. Parsons

In making of my will I found that I could not devide my real estate equally between my two children to the advantage of both of them I therefore directed that John S Bradford Should have the negro fellow which I had Loaned him and one thousand dollars in fee Simple in part for his lefs portion of land‑‑having at the same time in contemplation a purchase of a tract of land adjoining the land given to my Son which I intended giving him titles for which I thought would make Something like an equal division of my property I failed in the purchase am now Sick and in case of my death I acknowledge my Self endebted to my Son John S Bradford Fifteen

hundred dollars--three Thousand dollars I thought would be the amount. that my Son was deficient in the division of my estate.

May 5th 1849--- Robt. Bradford

Recorded in Will Book D-2, page 327

Recorded Jan. 1st 1850

W. Lewis Ordy.

Bundle 125, Pkge 1