Will of Mary Wells

State of South Carolina

Sumter District

In the name of God Amen I Mary Wells of said State and District being weak of body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows First of all I commend my soul to Almighty God who gave it me, and after my decease I desire that my body be buried in a christian like manner And after my just debts are paid then what Estate it has pleased God to blefs me with in this life. I desire & wish it to be desposed of in manner and form as follows vis First I will and bequeath unto my daughter

Catharine Rogers my servant woman Mary and her future increase during her natural life and after her death to her children Second I will and bequeath unto my daughter Frances Hodge my negro girl Hannah and her future increase during her natural life and after death to her children‑‑ Third--I will and bequeath unto my daughter Wiltha Richardson a negro girl Rachael and her future increase during her natural life and after her death I will and desire that the said Rachael & her increase be equally divided between my children share & share alike Fourth I will and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Wilder a negro girl Sarah and her future increase during her

natural life end after her death I will and desire that the said girl Sarah with her increase to be equally divided between my children share and share alike Fifth I will and bequeath unto my son Thomas B Wells a negro boy Samuel. during his natural life & then to his children after his death, should he leave any, otherwise at his death I will and desire that the said boy Samuel be sold, and the proceeds of the sale equeally divided between my Children share and share alike. ‑‑‑Sixth I will and bequeath unto my grand daughter Harriet Elizabeth Hodge a negro boy named Jonas during her natural life--But should my said grand daughter Harriet Elizabeth Hodge die leaving no children then I will and desire that the said Boy Jonas be sold and the proceeds of the sale divided equally between my children Seventh. I will and bequeath unto Mary I Wells my son T.B. Wells wife Two collars‑‑‑Eighth. I will and desire that my Executor or Executors hereafter named shall cause the negroes as above portioned off to be appraised by three disinterested men and each child to receive their negro or negroes falling to them at the appraisement, and it is my will and desire that each portion be made equal if the money and other things I may leave (by being applied) can make them so, otherwise, those to whom the

largest amounts in appraisement may fall to make up the deficiency to those to whom the smaller may fall Ninth I will and bequeath unto my daughter Nancy Smith, an equal portion with the rest of my Children as before mentioned in money--that is her share is to be equeal in amount or value as any other--I desire to be distinctly and clearly understood‑-I will and desire that each share shall be made equal Tenth I hereby nominate and appoint my son in Law James Hodge and my friend John Nettles my Executors to this my last will and Testament revoking all others by me made‑‑‑‑In witnefs hereof I hereunto subscribe my name and set my seal This 27th of October 1847

her

Mary x Wells (SEAL)

mark

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of

M. D. Brunson

Wm. A. James

Elias G. DuBose

Recorded in Will Book D-2 pge 258

Recorded Jan 17th 1848

Bundle 132, Pkge 24