Will of Natalie D. Sumter

At the Home house, Sumter District, So Ca. the 21st day of June one thousand Eight hundred and forty one:-

I Natalie D. Sumter, being Sound in mind, make the following will and declaration. I die in the faith of the Roman Catholic and Apostalic Church, and it is my Constant prayer, that all my Children may live and die in the Same:- with the exceptions and provisions hereafter Mentioned and except one hundred and Sixty acres hereafter devised. I do hereby give bequeath and devise all my real and personal estate to Thomas D. Sumter, Francis Sumter and Sebastian Sumter, their Heirs Executors and administrators forever; These parts, thereof to hold to them and their heirs. Executors and administrators forever, in the same manner as if I had died intestate according to the provisions of the law of So Carolina in the distribution of estates- another part thereof to be held by them their heirs. Executors and administrators forever in trust for the sole and seperate use and benefit of my daughter Stephaine Buida free from the contract of her husband, not liable to the debts of her present or any future husband, her receipt to be a Sufficient discharge therefor. ‑ Another part thereof being the fifth part of my Estate, to be held by them, their heirs Executors and administrators forever in trust for the sole and Seperate use and benefit of my daughter Pauline Bragilia Brownfield, free from the control of her husband, and not to be liable to the debts of her present or any future husband, her receipt to be a sufficient discharge therefor:- Said trustees are empowered to sell land of my estate, for purposes of distribution or payment of debts or other purpose, and to make titles to the same:-

As my daughter Natalie d. Fontenay has had from her grandfather her Aunt and myself one hundred and nine thousand Seventy Seven francs. which was all the property left us by our father. I cannot specify what to leave her not knowing after the debts are paid what my other children will have, For two Thousand Dollars of the Sum received by my daughter Natalie the estate of my late husband is liable with Interest from Oct. 1828. But Should the estate of my late husband after all the debts are paid, afford to each of my other children a Sum equal to what Natalie received, and any Surplus remain, that Surplus Shall be equally divided between her and them. my daughter Natalie cannot for a moment doubt my affection for her, as I gave her all I had, leaving myself without the means of providing for my other Children, Hence in my will I wish to be just, and to leave my children as far as in my power all alike:-

I also will that a piece of land of mine Should be given to my Grandson Charles De. Fontenay as my husband mentioned that he wished to give Some token of affection to his eldest daughter, but could not specify what land as the State of his affairs was such, that he could not tell what would be left after his debts were paid:-

Should my Children allow Mrs Buida to retain the $5000 mentioned in my husbands will, then she will as above mentioned divide equally with her brothers and Sisters but if not, then she Shall have one tenth more of my estate than her brothers end Sisters:‑

In like manner Should my children not allow my daughter Beagilia to retain the one thousand acres of land given to her by her father, before witnefses, then she also Shall have one tenth more of than her Brothers and Sisters:-

Should it happen which is very improbable, that any of my children should attempt to break by law my husbands will then the party So attempting forfeit all I leave them:- All that concerns Such child or children, doing this written in this will is null and void: Such Shall receive nothing from me, and the share of such person shall be equally divided among my children who have not Joined In So disrespectful an act:-

The one Hundred and Sixty acres (more or lefs on which is built the Roman Catholic Church under the Invocation of the B.V.Mary. I give to the Roman Catholic Bishop of Charleston , to be rented or farmed out, to aid in support of the Incumbent Clergymen of Said Church, on condition that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mafs be offered up once a month for the repose of my Soul, and the Souls of those of the deceased members of my Family ‑ The land is bounded by the Lynches Creek Road on the north, Coxmnenceing at Lewis Ballards fence on the one Side of the Church. and extending along said line of road to that of Mrs Barnes on the other Side, including an old Settlement, at the back of Mrs Barnes. -I beg that the trees about the church may not be cut down, and I request my Son Delaye to have a plat of land drawn out, and lent to the Bishop, with a copy of this Will:-

I appoint my Son Francis Sumter my Executor, To my Son Francis I leave what the law allows use of commifsion as being my husbands Executrix, because he has had all the trouble of transacting the businefs:-

I will here mention what my husband told me the winter before his death concerning this place. He said he wished the Home House to be Inhabited by me, and after me ‑ by one of the name of Sumter, first by Thomas DeLaye Sumter his eldest Son, and if he die without male children, by Francis Sumter & if he die leaving no Son, then by Sebastian Sumter, I agreed to it, but my children may do as they please The place is of no value except for being the Home House of my father, mother & Husband & having their graves on it,‑I wish my own body to be entered in the grave, but not within the inclosure which I made for my father Mother & Husband but more to the East where I hope my children will be able one day to build a little chapel, ten feet by twelve:-

I recommend to my children as long as an overseer is wanted to retain W. Cox. who has given me perfect satisfaction and if the crop be good to increase his wages next Year, I say nothing about my negroes, my children will take care of them:-

This was Signed the 31 of July 1841. but began on the 21st of June:-

Signed & Executed the thirty first day of July 1841.

(Signed) N. Delaye Sumter (SEAL)

A.C. Nelson

Alice Ann Rutledge

John H. Rutledge

Recorded Will Book D‑2, Page 54

Recorded Jan 3, 1842

W. Lewis- Ordy. S.D.

Bundle 109, Package 1