1838 Will - John Rieves

Chester County, South Carolina
Will Book P, p108
2 Jun 1838

Transcript

In the name of God amen, I, John Rieves planter of the State of South Carolina and District of Chester, being of Sound and desposing mind, but calling to mind the uncertainty of life and knowing that is appointed to all men once to doe, And being desirous to dispose of all such worldly Estate, as it hath pleased God to bless me with, Do make and ordain this my Last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at anytime made, In the manner and form following, Viz, I will and desire that all my Debts and funeral Expenses be paid, & that all my slaves may be kept together and cultivate my lands till all my debts is paid and be under the direction of Executors hereafter named, I will and desire that my Executors take my hands and wall with rock the Grave yard on the place I live a space of four by six roods with a good and permanent wall and to place head stones in memory of two sons Robertson & John Erwin Rieves, in sd yard before the Division of my property. I Give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Rieves during her natural life all that tract of land whereon I now live, I also give her nine negroes, Bill Willis, Harvy, Abbert Old Sarah, Jude, Matilda, Martha, Faxa, I also Give to my wife One half of my household and kitchen furniture one half of my, farming tools and one half of all my Stock, Including horses cattle & sheep & hogs wagon & harness, And at her death all the property she dies posessed of except a negro wman Fama Is to be equally divided by appraisement amongst all my children Fama to be taken out before Division and given to my son Cadd Rieves. I guve unto my Daughter Martha R White, Seven Negroes, Mary, Martha, daughter of Marys, Margaret Child of Marys, Sal, Sam, her son, Ann, Ned, I give unto my daughter Matilda R., S, R, Kee, Big Matilda, Mariah, Leroy, Jef, Esther, I give unto my Daughter Lucy C. Culp, Six Negores, Mary, and her three Children Wilston Edmund, Jacob, Cloe, Julian, I give unto my son Cadd Rieves all that tract of land lying on the waters of the Catawba River known by the River tract containing five hundred & forty three acres, I also give to him fourteen negroes, Charles, Nickles, Dave, Devvyman, Elisa, her Child Richard Milly, and her son Ephraim, Patience, Peggy, Henry, Armstead, and Fama and her child at the death of my wife, Also one half of my household & kitchen furniture on half of my farming tools one half of my stock, consisting of horses cattle hogs and sheep to and all my black smith tools the stock and furniture to be given to him by valuation, and if my son Chadd Rieves should die before he arrives at the age of twenty one or having no lawful heirs of his body, then in that case the property to be equally divided by appraisement and valuation amongst all my children. I give unto my grandson, John R. Culp a negro girl Delilah to be appraised and taken out of the that will be due my daughter Lucy C Culp before she will be entitled to draw a share with the rest of my children of the property to be divided amongst my children,
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint Henry J Culp & Cephas J Kee my son in laws executors of this my last will and testament by me made, In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight.

Signed Sealed Published and Declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named John Rieves in the presence of us who in his presence and by his request subscribed our names as witnesses thereunto
Jos. CarterJohn Reves (Seal)
James Lee
Masa Riggins
Arthur Riggins

Source

SC Archives - Will of John Rieves, http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov/
FamilySearch - Chester County, South Carolina Will Book P, p108