Will of Mary Maples

In the name of God Amen. This the Twenty fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety three I Mary Maples of Saint Mark’s Parish Clarendon County, and State of South Carolina, being weake of Body but of perfect Strength of Mind and Memory for which I humbly thank my God, the disposer of all things; However, Calling to Mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all once to die do make and Ordain this my last Will and Testament, Principally and first of all I give and recommend my immortal Soul into the Hands of God that gave it--and my Body to be buried in a decent Christian like Manner, at the discretion of my Executors, or others where soever I may be, Steadfastly believing no other than at the General Resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God, who of himself is able to do all things--And touching my Worldly goods, wherewith God has endowed me in this life I give, bequeath and dispose of in the following Manner and form----Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Grand children Richard Maples and Willis Maples, and their Heirs forever, a Negroe apiece named Jacob and Quash the first/Jacob/ to my grandson Richard, the other/Quash/ to my grandson Willis Maples, which Property shall not be Subject to, or liable, for any Debt or Debts Contract or agreement of their Father, in any Shape Manner or Form and in Case of either, or both of their deaths before they shall respectively attain the age of twenty one, or Marriage then that Part, or the whole, as the case may be, I will and direct to my beloved grand children Francis and Matthew Maples and their heirs forever Share and Share alike Item, I give and Bequeath unto my beloved grand children Richard and Mary Singleton and their Heirs forever, a Negroe a Piece named, Stephen Leah, the first/Stephen/ to my grandson Richard Singleton, the other/Leah/ to my grand Daughte Mary Singleton, with all her future Ifsue and Increase, but subject to or liable for any Debt or Debts, Contract or Agreement of their Father or her future Husband in any Shape Manner or Form, and in Case of either or both of their Deaths, my grandson Richard Singleton before he attains the age of Twenty one or Marriage, or my Granddaughter before she shall attain the age of Twenty one, or without Ifsue then that Part or the whole as the case may be, I will and direct to my beloved Grand children Hiram and Jeher Singleton and their Heirs forever, Share and Share alike Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved grand Daughter Susannah Stone, and her Heirs forever, a Negroe girl named Hetty, with all her future Ifsue and increase and in no wise subject to or liable for any Debts, Contract or agreement of her Father in law, or any future husband in any Shape Manner or form, and in Case of her Death before She Shall attain the age of twenty, or without Ifsue, then that Part I give and Bequeath unto my beloved Grandson Samuel Stone and his Heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Grand Daughter Lovey Canty and her Heirs forever a Negroe girl named Flora with all her future Ifsue and Increase, not Subject to or liable for any Debt or Debtd Contract or agreement of her Father in Law or Future Husband in any Shape Manner or Form, and in case of her Death before the age of twenty one or without Ifsue then I give and bequeath her Share unto my belived Grand Daughters Martha and Naomi Canty and their Heirs forever Share and Share alike---Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved grand Daughter--Mary Dukes and her Heirs forever a Negroe Girl names Lizette, with all he future Ifsue and increase and also my narrow Striped Bed, Bedstead and Furniture belonging to the same, the whole not Subject to or liable for any Debt or Debts Contract or agreement of her Father or her future Husband, nor any time left in her Fathers pofsefsion, Care or direction in any Manner or Thing, and in Case of her Death before she shall attain the age of twenty one, or without Ifsue, then I give and bequeath her Part to my loving grand children Charles and Naomi Dukes, and their Heirs forever---Share and Share alike, Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved gand Daughter Sorothy Maples, and her Heirs forever, a Negroe Wench named Jenny/Daughter of old Jenny?, and all her future Ifsue and Increase and also one large Striped Bed, with Bedstead and Furniture belonging to the same free from all Incumbrance, nor Subject to nor Laible for any Debt or Dects, Contracts agreements or any Matter or thing of any future Husband, Mother or others, and in case of the Death of my said Grand Daughter before she shall attain the age of twenty one, or without Ifsue Then I give her Proportion to my beloved Daughter Lovey Maples and her Heirs forever Item, I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Lovey Maples and her Heirs forever a Negroe Wench Named/old Jenny and Damon a Boy, with all her future Ifsue and increase, also my entire Stock of Cattle, Hogs, and Poultry, wheresoever they may be found, all my wearing apparel, and all the Residue of my Household Furniture and other Estate nor herein before disposed of; But in Consideration of the Stock &c I enjoin it upon my Daughter Lovey to take care and raise up until they marry or Settle for themselves my three Grand Children Mary, Charles, Naomi Dukes--free of my Costs--and the same nor any part thereof shall not be Subject to or liable for any Debt or Debts, contracted by her future Husband/if any She should have either before or after the Solemnization of their Marriage, in any Shape manner or Form whatsoever, and in case of the Death of my said Daughter without having other than her Present Ifsue, I give and bequeath her Portion to my grand Daughter Dorothy Maples, and her Heirs forever, but if she shall have more than the one Child, then it shall be divided among her Surviving children at her Death Share and Share alike---Item, it is my Will and desire that the sum of Fifty five Pounds old Currency, and the sum of twenty Pounds Sterling due to me by Mrs. William Dukes for the hire of Stephen and Jacob at Sunday Times, shall be placed as a Discount or set off against an illigal Demand, which I am advised her will bring against my Estate after my decease, but in case he will give Sufficient Security to my Executors to decline the action, which I here declare to be ill grounded and erroneous, then the said sum of Money mentioned as due and owing by the said William Dukes, I order and direct my Executors to give up and Discharge Lastly I nominate and appoint my much esteemed Friends Thomas Nightin(gale) Johnson, and James Burchil Richardson Executors of this and I do hereby revoke and utterly disannul all and every other my last Will and Testament in any wise made ordained and Constituted, ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and Testament to be taken in its liberal sense and meaning--In Witnefs where of I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Day and year above written

her

Mary x Maples (SEAL)

mark

Signed Sealed, pronounced published and declared as the

last Will and Testament of Mary Maples in presence of

Wm. Sims Jun.r

William Terry

This is a true Copy taken from the original by Wm. Humphey Clerk.

(Note Recorded in Will Book)

Proved March 27^th 1794

Bundle 62, Pkge 10