Williamsburg County, South Carolina - Chapter 8: Colonial Wills, 1923

The wills of the people of Williamsburg who died dur¬ ing the Colonial period are recorded in the office of the Judge of Probate, Charleston. To those who can see, these wills contain a vast amount of historical material. One reads in them that the average man of Williamsburg who came about 1735, without a material possession, amassed a considerable estate wfithin a score of years. When he died, his will and inventory of his goods show that he owned many broad acres of land, a number of valuable slaves, droves of horses, and herds of cattle. It shows, too, that sometimes he wore silver shoe buckles and a "Wigg," and was ready to furnish a "pair of pistols" whenever the code duello demanded. The rapid recuperation of these Scotch-Irish of Williamsburg under these pioneer condi¬ tions proves what manner of men they were. Their sus¬ tained strength under further development is simply ad¬ ditional evidence.

In these old wills, the women, wives and daughters and sisters, are called by name. And well may they be re¬ membered, for women have borne the burdens of the day since the curse was pronounced in Eden. When one looks into the first life of these "Poor Protestants" in Williams¬ burg and regards the women, he draws on all his virtuous manhood to salute them. These ancient women of Wil¬ liamsburg were the real "Colonial Dames of America." Whether or not their fathers had been commissioned by the King for service in the colonies, their sons were called by God Almighty for the accomplishment of American freedom and for the establishment of the American Com¬ monwealth. And right worthily did these sons fulfill their high calling!

William Anderson married Ann Baxter, a widow. He left a son, Alexander Anderson, and a daughter, Ann Anderson. Charles Baxter was his stepson. William Anderson died in 1746.

John Avant died in 1750 leaving two sons, Francis and John; and three daughters, Lydia, Hannah, and Rebecca. One of his daughters married a Green, for he left two grandsons, William and Francis Green.

James Bradley died in 1775. He left an annuity of one hundred pounds to be paid to his mother, Jane, who, when a widow, married William Burrows. His sister, Mary, married Robert McConnell. He had three half-brothers, George, Samuel, and Joseph Burrows; and one half-sister, Jane Burrows. He had a cousin named James Bradley, who was the son of his uncle, Samuel Bradley.

Moses Britton died in 1773. His will shows that he left a widow named Ann ; two sons, Daniel Lane and Ben¬ jamin; and a daughter, Rebecca. He had three brothers, Philip, Henry, and Francis.

Joseph Britton died in 1773. His wife was named Ann. He left eight children, Elizabeth, Philip, Thomas, Martha, Mary, Moses, Joseph, and John.

William Barr died in 1764. His wife was named Esther. His children were James, Margaret, Isaac, Nathaniel, Rachael, Caleb, Jacob, Silas, Esther, John, and William. He instructed his executors to have each one of his chil¬ dren taught a trade.

William Brockinton died in 1741. He and his wife, Sarah, lived on the South side of Black Mingo Creek. His sons were William, John, and Richard; his daughters, Elizabeth, afterwards wife of James Hepburn; Mary, married Joshua Jolly; Hannah, married James Hoole; and Sarah Jane. Sarah, wife of William, died in 1759, leaving a will in which she made her son Richard executor. William and Sarah Brockinton were ancestors of all the South Carolina Brockintons.

William Brockinton, Jr., married Rachel Commander in 1742 and died in 1743. He left all of his property to his wife, providing for an unborn child. This "unborn child" became, in all probability, the Joseph Brockinton of whom Bishop Gregg writes in his "History of the Old Cheraws."

William Borland died in 1741. His wife was named Mary. He left two sons, William and Archibald; and three daughters, Mary, Jean, and Elizabeth.

Timothy Britton died in 1749. He divided his prop¬ erty between his wife, Mary, and his child, who was not named. His executors were his wife, Mary, his brother, Joseph, and his brother-in-law, Francis Goddard.

Philip Britton died in 1749. He left a wife named Jane, but no child. He bequeathed property to his broth¬ ers, Joseph, Moses, Francis, and Timothy Britton; his nephew, John Rae; his nieces, Ann and Rachel; and, also, gives some property to Walter Martin's two children and to William and Francis Goddard.

John Blakeley died in 1747. He left a wife, who was born Elizabeth Fleming, and four children who were not named in his will. He designated James Armstrong, Wil¬ liam Pressley, and James McClelland, and his brother James, executors, and ordered that if his wife, Elizabeth, remarried, his brother James was to have control of his children and of his estate. He left fifty acres of land to the Williamsburg Presbyterian Congregation.

Elizabeth Clapp died in 1751. She was the daughter of Gibson Clapp, for whom Clapp Swamp was named. In her will, she mentions her grandfather, Colonel Thomas Lynch ; her uncle, the Honorable Joseph Blake ; her beloved sister, Mary Clapp; her mother, Sarah Hopton, wife of William Hopton ; her aunt, Sarah Blake, half-sister to her father; and her aunt, Mary Acheson, daughter of her grandfather, Thomas Lynch.

Isaac Chandler died in 1748. He left a widow named Elizabeth; two sons, Samuel and Isaac; and a daughter, Ann. He was an Antipaedo Baptist minister and was trained under the Reverend William Screven, the elder. Mr. Chandler was a member of the Baptist colony which came with Reverend William Screven from Kittery, Maine, and settled at Somerton. He was at his death a man of considerable wealth, much learning, and liberal culture. His will indicates that he owned one of the largest private libraries of his day, and many heirlooms of silver and gold.

John Dick died in 1749. His will names his wife, Jane; his sons, Robert, John, and William; his daughter, Jannet, who married Packer ; his daughter, Elizabeth, who married John Leviston; his daughter, Margaret, who married John Scott ; his daughter, Mary, who married Runnels ; and his daughter, Susannah, who married Wirter. He names two of his grandchildren, John and Samuel Leviston.

Nathaniel Drew died in 1750. His wife was born Mar¬ garet Barr. He mentions in his will his son, Samuel Drew; his brother, David Drew; and his sister, Mary Drew, who married Thomas Ervin, of Fog's Manor, Pa. ; and his son-in-law, John Barr. He left some money for the education of his two grandsons, John and Samuel Nesmith, sons of John Nesmith, deceased. After specific bequests, he instructed his executors to sell the remainder of his estate and place one-third thereof in the hands of Reverend John Baxter, Thomas Carne, and Alexander Mc- Cants, trustees, for the use and benefit of the Presbyterian Congregation at Black Mingo Creek. The remaining twothirds he gives to James McClelland and John Leviston, trustees, for the benefit of the Presbyterian Congregation at Williamsburg. He provides that these trustees shall give security for this money and that none of it shall be paid to any minister but one who preached and taught the doctrines and submitted to the rules and discipline of the Church of Scotland and who was of moral conduct.

Margaret Drew died in 1762. She was the widow and relict of Nathaniel Drew. She mentions her son, Samuel Drew, and makes her trusty and well beloved sons-in-law, John Brockinton and Samuel Nesmith, her executors.

John Fleming died in 1750. He left three sons, John, James, and William; and three daughters, Elizabeth, who married Blakeley; and Jannet, who married James; and Isabella, who married John Presslev.

David Fulton died in 1745. In his will, he mentions his wife, Rebecca, and his son, Samuel. After making spe¬ cific bequests to them, he leaves the remainder of his prop¬ erty to his son, Samuel Fulton, subject to the payment of one hundred pounds to Jean Fulton, only daughter of his son, Paul Fulton, deceased, when she attains the age of fifteen years.

Roger Gordon died in 1750. His wife was named Mary. He had three sons, James, John, and Moses; and four daughters, Sarah, who married Hugh McGill; Margaret, who married Robert Wilson; Elizabeth and Mary. He mentions his granddaughter, Mary, and his grandsons, Roger Wilson and Roger McGill.

Peter Gourdin died in 1774. He gives his son, Peter Gourdin, all of his property when he shall arrive at the age of nineteen years. He instructed that his son should have as good an education as could be had in the province of South Carolina. He directed that his negro man,

Billy, should not be put to any field work but to be kept jobbing on the plantation and, in proper seasons, to tend the indigo works about the vats, and further that Billy should not be under the power or authority of any over¬ seer which should be put on his plantation after his de¬ cease. His first wife was named Esther Sullivan. He wills, if his son, Peter, die before he arrives at the age of nineteen years, that the property coming to him from his wife, Esther, shall return to his brother-in-law, John Sul¬ livan, and to his sister-in-law, Margaret Richbourgh. If his son, Peter, die before reaching the age of nineteen, the property which came to him from his late wife, who was Ann Lester, should return to his brother-in-law, John Les¬ ter, and to his sister-in-law, Martha Lester. He mentions his niece, Mary Ann Finley; his nephews, Theodore and Samuel Gourdin; and his brother, Isaac Gourdin.

Elizabeth Jaudon died in 1743. She left three young children, Paul, David, and Elisha. Paul was the oldest and yet a minor. She waived his age and made him her sole executor.

John Hamilton died in 1744. His wife was Christian McClelland. They left no children. He bequeathed three hundred acres of land in Williamsburg Township for the support of the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, then under the management of Reverend John Rae.

William James died in 1750. His widow was named Elizabeth. He had four sons, John, William, Robert, and Samuel; and four daughters, Jannet, Elizabeth, Esther, and Sarah. He mentions his sons-in-law, David Wilson, Gavin Witherspoon, James McCullough, and Nathaniel McCullough.

William Jamison died in 1756. He left a large estate which he gave to his sister, Agnes Still, widow of James Still, who lived in Ireland. Agnes Still came to Wil- liamsburg with James McDowell, who was married to her granddaughter, Agnes Davidson. Agnes Still died soon afterwards and left her property to James McDowell. When James McDowell died, his widow, Agnes, was made attorney for them by the following heirs, who then lived in Ireland; Archibald Drew, Margaret Drew, Adam Wilson, William McCormick, James McCormick, George Maxwell, Dorothy Maxwell, Robert Adams, and Sarah Adams.

Crafton Kerwin died in 1747, leaving a widow, Mary; and a son Thomas. His widow afterwards married the Reverend John Fordyce, minister of Prince Frederick's Church.

Sarah Mongtomery died in 1770. She mentions her two sons, William and Henry; and her two daughters, Janet, who married Dunn; and Mary, who married Armstrong; and her niece and her nephew, Margaret and John Barr.

William McCalla died in 1750. He mentions his daugh¬ ter, Jannet; his daughter, Margaret, wife of Alexander McCrea; his daughter, Sarah; and his daughter, Jean, wife of John James.

John McCormick died in 1752. He mentions his sister, Isabella McCormick; and his three other sisters, Mary Averton, Agnes Carson, and Jean Dick.

James McCown died in 1750. He left all of his prop¬ erty in the hands of William Young, Samuel Montgomery, and Gavin Witherspoon, to apply so much of same as was necessary for the "Christian education" of his children, and the remainder to be paid to his sons, David, Thomas, and James.

Abraham Michaux died in 1767. His wife was named Lydia. He had four sons, Peter, Daniel, Paul, and Wil¬ liam. Of his daughters, Lydia married Clegg; Julia mar¬ ried Perry; and Hester married Cromwell.

Samuel Montgomery died in 1751. He left his wife, Jeleba, his plantation and all his slaves so long as she remained his widow. He mentions his sons, Nathaniel and William.

John Matthews died in 1750. His wife was Ann McCrea. He left four sons, William, John, Isaac and Abraham ; and four daughters, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Jean.

Matthew Nelson died in 1742. He mentions his eldest son, George; his daughter, Mary, and his daughter, Eliza¬ beth; and his four grandsons, Matthew, son of the oldest son, George; Samuel, son of his son, John; William, son of his son, William ; and William, son of his son, Samuel.

Dr. Thomas Potts died in 1760. His wife was named Sarah. He had a son named Thomas, and four daughters, Mary, Ann, Elizabeth, who married Swinton, and Mar¬ garet, who married Potts. He had a grandson named Thomas Johnson.

Robert Paisley died in 1761. His wife was named Mary. He bad four sons, John, Robert, James, and William; and two daughters, Mary and Elizabeth.

Samuel Scott died in 1774. He married Margaret Gregg. They had two daughters, Janet and Elizabeth. His widow married second William Gordon, third William Flagler. She was the Margaret Gregg Gordon of the Revolution.

Reverend Elisha Screven died in 1756. His wife was named Hannah. He had six sons, Joseph, Elisha, Joshua, Samuel, William, and Benjamin; and two daughters, Elizabeth, wife of James Fowler, and Hannah. This man was the founder of the city of Georgetown.

John Scott died in 1750. He left his property to his wife, and children, not named, and made his brother William Scott, Richard Richardson, and William Cantey, his executors.

Samuel Vareen gives all of his property to his grand¬ daughters, Martha and Elizabeth Crousby and Elizabeth Harbin. He makes his son-in-law, Francis Harbin, and his daughter, Ann Harbin, executor and executrix.

John Watson died in 1760. He left two hundred pounds to the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and the remain¬ der of his estate to be equally divided among the duaghters of Thomas Scott, of Williamsburg, deceased.

Henry Mouzon died in 1749. His wife was named Ann. He had seven children, Henry, Ann, Esther, Jane, Sarah, Susannah Elizabeth, and Mary Ann.

John Pressley died in 1750. His wife was named Mar¬ garet. He left legacies to his son, William; his daughter, Susannah, of tender age ; his daughter, Sarah ; his daugh¬ ter, Jane McCullough; and his daughter Eleanor Thomp¬ son. In his will, he directs that if his house, which he leaves to his wife, should become unlit to live in, that his son, William, should build her a house twenty-eight feet in length, and eighteen feet in breadth and that he shall keep her comfortable.

Joshua Screven died in 1761 and is buried on the North side of Big Dam Swamp. The tombstone standing at the head of his grave is the oldest monument in Williams¬ burg County. He endows his wife, Hannah, and gives to his brother, Benjamin Screven, his plantations on the North side of the North bank of Black River. He gives his silver knee buckles to his brother, William Screven, and his watch to his brother, Benjamin Screven; and some negroes to his mother, Hannah Screven.

William Sabb died in 1765. His wife was named Debo¬ rah. He left two sons, Thomas Sabb and William Sabb; and four daughters, Deborah, Anna, Elizabeth, and Mary. In this will, he mentions his brother, Thomas Sabb.

John Scott died in 1788. He mentions his wife, Sarah; his mother-in-law, Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, and his sis¬ ter-in-law, Mrs. Rebecca Screven.

Thomas Scott died in 1766. He provides for his wife, Jannet, and his seven daughters, Elizabeth, Jean, Mary, Jannet, Katherine, Margaret, and Sarah, and gives all of his real estate to his son, William. These seven daughters were given much property in the will of John Watson.

Thomas McCrea died in 1760 without leaving a Avill. His oldest son, William McCrea, did not come to this country with his father but remained in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland. Thomas McCrea left some children liv¬ ing in Williamsburg. When he died, his brother, Robert McCrea, of Lisnabrin, County Down, Ireland, made affi¬ davit to these facts, aiding William McCrea to appoint attorneys in South Carolina.

Jannet Scott of Williamsburg. She mentions her grand¬ son, Thomas Scott; son, William Scott; seven daughters, Elizabeth, Jean, Mary, Jannet, Catherine, Margaret, and Sarah; and her son-in-law, John Burrows. This will was probated on the 29th day of March, 1772.

James Fowler, planter and merchant, died in 1772. He mentions his father, Richard Fowler; his mother, Sarah Fowler, and his sister, Joanna Fowler, all of whom then lived in England; his wife, Elizabeth Screven, and his only child, Martha Fowler. He provides that his daughter, Martha, should inherit when she reached the age of eighteen years, and appointed his friends, John Scott, Wil¬ liam Scott, and his wife, Elizabeth Screven, his executors.

William Frierson died in 1773. In his will, he mentions his wife, Mary; his son, Robert, and his son, John James. William Brown, William Campbell, and Isaac Nelson were his executors.

Theodore Gourdin's will was probated January 8, 1774. He mentions his brothers, Isaac and Peter Gourdin; his sons, Theodore and Samuel; and his niece, Marian Boisseau. He left legacies to John Buddin, Esther McDonald, daughter of the late Captain John McDonald, and Edward Howard, son of George Howard. He wills that in the division of his negroes families should not be separated. His will was witnessed by James Lynch, William Buford, and Daniel Rhodus.

Francis Britton's will was proven before Samuel Ne¬ smith, Esq., March 24, 1768. He mentions his sons, Moses, Francis, and Henry, and his daughter, Mary; his grandson, Daniel Lane Britton, son of Moses; Martha Britton; and Philip Britton, son of Joseph, his brother.

Isaac Brunson's will was proved September 7, 1770. He mentions his wife, Mary; his son, Daniel; and his other children - his sons, David, Isaac, Josiah, Matthew, Moses, and Joshua ; and his daughters, Mary Mellett and Susan¬ nah.

John Fleming's will was proved before James McCants, Esq., May 11, 1768. He mentions his wife, Elizabeth; his brother's daughter, Elizabeth; his cousin, Samuel Shan¬ non; his sister, Agnes Cooper alias Fleming, and her two sons, James and Thomas Cooper; his sister's son, George, and daughter, Elizabeth Cooper; his wife's daughter, Jannet, and her daughter, Elizabeth Blakeley; his brother, James Fleming and his son, Peter Blakeley Fleming.

Henry Montgomery's will was proved January 26, 1769. He mentions his wife, Sarah ; his sons, William and Henry ; his daughters, Sarah Jannett Dunn and Mary Armstrong and his nephew, Hugh Montgomery. This will was wit-

Jeremiah Vareen's will was proved July 5, 1767. He mentions his wife, Mary Yareen; his sons, William, Jere¬ miah, and Ebenezer; his son-in-law, James Sullivan; his daughters, Sarah Lewis, Ann Jenkins, Rebecca, Hannah, Rachel, Jane, and Martha,

Thomas Frierson's will was proved December 27, 1770, before James McCants, Esq. He mentions his wife, Mary Frierson; his daughter, Mary Wilson, and his daughter, Sarah Scott ; and his grandson, Thomas Wilson. He makes his two sons-in-law, Roger Wilson and John Scott his sole executors.

Mary Gordon's will was proved the 23rd day of May, 1766. She mentions her six children, Moses, Elizabeth, Sarah, Margaret, Jean, and Mary. She left a legacy to Mary Wilson and also one to John Gordon, if he come to this province. She makes her son, Moses, Samuel Bradley, and William Frierson, Jr., her executors. This will was witnessed by James Dickey and Robert Wilson.

Royal Spry's will was proved December 27, 1770. He mentions his wife, Rebecca; his four children, Jean, John, Elizabeth, and Rebecca. He wills that his oid slave Phyl¬ lis should have her freedom immediately after his death and be maintained and clothed out of his estate.

Thomas McKnight's will was proved November 29, 1772. He mentions his sons, Robert, James, and William; and his daughter, Mary; and his brother, Robert. His will was witnessed by William Law, George Dickey, and Rich¬ ard Tyser.

John McFadden's will was proved July 19, 1773. He mentions his five children, John, James, Robert, Thomas, and Mary. His executors were Robert Wilson, Sr., and his son, John McFadden, at the age of twenty years, Wil¬ liam Orr, and Robert Paisley, and Joseph McKee.

John Gregg's will was proved October 3, 1775. He men¬ tions his wife, Eleanor; his sons, James, John, Robert, and William; and his daughters, Margaret, Mary, and Janet. "It is my desire that my sons, Robert and William, and my daughter, Jannet, be learned to Read, and Right, and Cypher through the common rules of Arithmetick."

Archibald McKee's will was proved October 3, 1776. He mentions his wife, Elizabeth; his five children, Adam and Joseph McKee, Martha Cooper, Jane Miller, and Archi¬ bald Knox, and his two sons-in-law, William Miller and Samuel Knox.