Subj: Ashley  Wills in Abbeville Co., SC ...

The following are Ashley  Wills from abstracts in the book  "Abstracts
of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville District Wills and Bonds",  by Pauline
Young, publ. 1950.  Ms. Young had an enormous task in transcribing
these Wills in trying to decipher the handwriting on the original
documents that are on file in the Abbeville County, SC  courthouse. 
She acknowledges in the foreword of the book that some of the names may
not be absolutely correct and she made her best guess in  deciphering
the original documents,  combined  with her extensive knowledge of the
area and the families who lived there, etc.

The Wills cover from 1780's to 1859. I  will start with the obvious
ones spelled ASHLEY that reference a William or Moses  and then at the
end will include the other Wills referencing the Ashley name .

The "box" numbers and "pack" numbers shown in the Wills are how they
are stored/filed at the courthouse in Abbeville, SC.

John Ashley - - Will dated  May 13, 1838, in Abbeville Dist.  Proved
Mar. 5, 1840.  Exrs:   Son,  Richard Ashley,   Jno. B. Black.   Wits:
Ann Smith,  Elizabeth J.H.,  Margaret Burnett.  Wife:  Amey.    Chn:
Jno.,  Aaron,  Richard  Ashley.  Settlement mentioned that Amey Ashley
died 1851.  Present:  Aaron Ashley, agent for Richard Ashley who named
Frances a daughter of said dec'd.  Mentioned were eleven legatees,  no
names given.  Sale:  June 24, 1852.  Byers:  R.W. Shaw,  Jno. Smith,
Richard Ashley,  Jas. W. Black,  Aaron and Moses Ashley,  Capt. Jno.
Swilling,  Pinckney Ashley,  Thos. Davis., etc.  ( Box  3,  Pack  58)

Joshua Ashley - - Will dated Sept 29, 1840 in Abbeville Dist.  Proved
Feb 26, 1842.  Exr:  Son,  Joshua Ashley.  Wits:  Jno. Pratt Jr.,  Wm.
Pratt Sr., Robeson Ashley.  Chn:  Charlotte,  Nancy,  Moses,  Joshua
Ashley.  "Bequeath land to Moses Ashley's two sons  Geo. W. and Joshua
Ashley.  Expend:  May 8, 1843  Left 2 legacies to his two daughters
Nancy Shaw,  Charlotte Fraser.  Paid C. Frances and Charlotte his wife
$200.    (Box 4  Pack  62)

William Ashley Sr. and Anna - -  Will dated  Apr. 7, 1837 in Abbeville
Dist.  Proved  Sept 29, 1849.  Exr:  Wife: Agnes.  Wits:  Jas. Black,
Addline E., Margaret Burnett.  Wid. Anna died in 1849.  John T. Hadden
sheweth that Mrs. Anna Ashley died leaving a small estate which is
principally indebted to Mrs. Smith for care and attention for many
years. the deceased being helpless.  The said Mrs. Smith being her
daughter.  June 12, 1851 Mrs. Sophia Smith  $86.27.  Sale  Oct 20,
1849.  Byrs:  John Smith,  Joshua,  Edward, Wm. Ashley,  Jackson Shaw,
Moses,  Aaron,  John, Richard Ashley,  S.M. Fisher. etc.  (Box 113 
Pack 3327)

Moses Ashley Sr. - - Will dated Oct 7, 1850.  Filed  Sept 28, 1857.
Exr:  Son, Moses L. Ashley.  Wits:  Wm. Pratt,  J.W. Brooks,  J.M.
Brooks.  Mentioned: Lived in Abbeville Dist.  Wife:  Sarah Moseley.
Chn:  Moses,  Margaret,  Wm., Jas., Mary,  Robison,  Richard  Ashley.
Expend:  On Mar 25, 1858  Margaret Smith recd. her share of estate.
(Box 145   Pack 4086) 

Will of  Samuel  Shaw - - Estate admnr.  July 25, 1805  by Mary Shaw, 
widow. Wm. Ashley,  Stephen Garrison unto Andrew Hamilton (Ord. 
Abbeville Dist.) sum $5000.   Cit. pub. at Greenville Church.  Inv. 
made by Thos. Ashley,  Josiah Burton,  John Ashley.  Sale:  Aug. 16, 
1805.  Byers: Moses Clark,  Thos. Tramble,  Saml. Shaw,  Jas. McAdams,  
Hugh Blair, Mary Shaw,  Jas. Henry Jr.,  Alexr., Ervin, Benjamin West,  
Caleb Burton,  Wm., Nancy McCurry,  Richard Robinson, Thos. Russell, 
Washington Russell,  John Randolph, Jean, Archibald Shaw, etc.  (Box 
88  Pack 2151 )

James  Pringle - -  Est. admnr.  Mar 28, 1797 by Thos. Pringle, 
Francis Hodge,  Jos. Black,  John Hall, bound to  Judges of Abbeville
Co., sum $2000.  Cit. read at Duewest Corner.  Ment.  Thos. Pringle,
Francis Hodge, next of kin.  Inv. made May 22, 1797 by Gen. John
Norwood,  Jos. Black,  John Hall.  Nov 5, 1800 cash paid Martha Pringle
$27.  Oct 22, 1800 paid Eliza Pringle $73.52.  May 29, 1801  paid on
acct. of Alexr. Pringle decd. legatee $86.  Paid Eliza Pringle legatee
$25.82 1/4.  James Pringle legatee $27.61 1/4.  Martha Pringle legatee
$71.94 1/4.  Sale:  July 13, 1797.  Byrs:  Thos. Pringle,  Jesse
Kenady,  Eliza Pringle,  Henry Watt,  Robt. Chesnut,  Zadeciah Woods, 
Wm. Ashley,  Wm. Cunningham,  Jas. Young,  David Russell,  Jas.
McCurry,  Saml. Shaw, Francis Hodge,  Mathew Robertson,  Margaret
McNear,  Saml. Norwood, Jas. Gilmore,  Robt. Green, John Liddell, Andw.
Pickens,  Thos. Wilson, Ebenezer Miller, Wm. Dunlap,  Wm. Boles. ( Box 
75  Pack 1823)

James Young - - Will dated Nov 26, 1797 in Abbeville Dist.  Rec. Mar
27, 1798.  Exr:  Wife: Jean Young.  Wits:  Wm. Crawford, Saml.,
Archibald Shaw.  Chn:  Nancy,  Mary,  Jean,  Wm., Saml., John Young. 
Inv. made Aug 28, 1798 by Wm. Crawford,  John Lindsay,  Wm. Mayn. 
Sale:  Nov 1, 1798.   Byrs:  Jas. Langham, Robt. Guttery,  Andrew
Miller,  Robt. Green, Thos. Taylor,  Wm. Gready,  Zedikiah Woods, 
Thos. Russell, Damey Sanders,  Wm. Ashley (Box  104  Pack 2549)

Capt. James McAdams - -  Est. admnr. Dec 8, 1821 by Charlotte, John
McAdams, Sr., John Wright, bound to Moses Taggart Ord. Abbeville Dist.
sum $10,000.  Inv. made Dec 31, 1821 by Isaac Cowan, Cador Gantt, Thos.
Beatty.  Sale: Jan 1, 1822.  Byrs:  Charlotte McAdams,  Bennet McAdam,
Capt. John Simson,  Moses Ashley Sr.,  Capt. Benjamin Griffin,  Moses
Ashley Jr.,  Benjamin West,  Samuel Shaw, James Snell,  Joseph Burton,
John McAdam, Esq. etc. ( Box  58  Pack 1379)

Jean Young - - Will dated Oct 8, 1814 in Abbeville Dist.  Rec. Jan 2,
1815.  Exrs:  Son, Wm. Young,  Moses Taggart.  Wits:  Wm. Crawford,
Aaron Ashley,  John Neely.   Chn:  Saml.,  Wm.,   John  Young,  Mary
Shaw,  Jean Leonard., S.l, Wm. Shaw.        (Box 110   Pack 3264)

Thomas Pickett - - Will dated May 26, 1782 in 96 Dist.  Probated Feb
24, 1783.  Exrs:  Wife:  Millie Pickett,  Wm. Runolds.  Wits:  Thos.
Rennolds,  Wm. Goode.  Wife Millie Pickett.  Chn:  Names not given.
Inv. made Apr 16, 1783 by Chas. Ashley,  Ed. Morris,  Thos. Dalton.
(Box 74  Pack  1802)

Mary Black - -  Will dated Jan 6, 1826 in Abbeville Dist.  Proved Mar
19, 1828.  Exrs:  Jas. Al,  Jno. B. Black.  Wits:  Ebenezer Ashley,
Jas. A., Elizabeth Black. Chn:  Molly,  Ann Pickens,  Abby wife of
Jesse Campbell of Georgia, Alexr. Black. Gr. dtr. Mary Ann Black.  Inv.
made Aug 26, 1818 by Alexr. L. McClint, Majoy Lewis,  Wm. N. Buchanan.    
(Box 7  Pack 122)

John White - - Will dated Feb 9, 1827 in Abbeville Dist.  Prov. June 4,
1832.  Exrs:  Wife: Margaret White;  Son: Wm. White.  Wits:  Patrick
Gibson, Abraham, Timothy Russell.  Chn:  Wm. Sarah White, Letty, wife
of Joseph Ashney.  Frederick, Polly, Jas., John, Anny White.  Inv. made
July 18, 1832 by Abraham Russell,  Young Reagin, Thos. McBride.  (Note
from CG:  Joseph Ashley married Letty White in Abbeville County, SC per
marriage records).  Attached to this Will in Box 100 Pack 2458,  and
2459 another John White?:

John White --Will dated Feb 9, 1827 in Abbeville Dist. Prov. Feb 16,
1827:  Exrs:  Wife Isabella White,  John White Jr.  Wit:  David Pressly
Sr.,  Nathan Bowie,  Henry Bowen.  Inv. made Feb 17, 1827 by David
Pressly Sr., John Robison,  Arthur Bowie.

Thomas Fisher - - Est. admnr. Nov 25, 1839 by Saml. C. Fisher,
Hezekiah, Conrad Wakefield bound to Moses Taggart Ord. Abbeville dist.
sum $10,0000. Cit. pub. at Little River Church.  Settl. made Sept 22,
1845. Present:  S.C. Fisher, admnr., Elizabeth Fisher, wid., Wilson
Ashley and wife Jane,  Jno W. Shirley and wife Lucinda,  Jno. Ashley
and wife Jemimah,  Joshua S. Barnes and wife Nancy;  Jno. M. Bryant and
wife Elizabeth A. Bryant,  Jno., Polly A., Cintha C., Thos. F., Jas.
Fisher minors, the first 2 over and the last under 14 yrs.  (Box  36 
Pack 772)

Elizabeth Fox - - Will date omitted.  Proved Mar 1, 1845 in Abbeville
Dist.  Exrs:  Jas. A. Black,  Francis B. Clinkscales.  Wits:  Jesse
Rutledge,  Jeney, Joshua Ashley., Single Woman.  Niece's son,
Washington Green Pruitt.  Will to Elizabeth Jesemin Alewine $200. 
Bequeath to Wm. E. Daniel, Wm. C. Able.  (Box 36  Pack  784)

Molly Burton - - Will dated Aug 6, 1829 in Abbeville Dist.   Proved Nov
27, 1829.  Exr: Son, Peter Burton.  Wits:  Wm. Pratt,  Saml. C. Jones,
Jas. Wilson.  Chn: Robt., Sarah,  Caleb.  Wm. , Jno., Peter,  Josiah,
Elizabeth,  Mary Burton.  Expend: 1831  Heirs:  Sarah Burton alias
Hall,  Saml. Black and wife Elizabeth,  Joshua Ashley and wife Mary.      
(Box 6   Pack 106)

Sophia Smith - - Will dated Oct 21, 1853 in Abbeville Dist.  Filed Nov
16, 1853.  Wit:  Joshua Ashley,  John T. Haddon,  David Russell.  Chn:
Rebecca, Sophia,  Daniel Smith.  Inv. made Feb 4, 1854 by J.W. Black,
Thos. Davis, David Russell. (Box 135  Pack  3852)

Polly Ann Burton - - On Jan 7, 1857  John Smith,  John T. Haddon, Aaron
Ashley bound to Wm. Hill Ord. Abbeville Dist. sum $100.  John Smith
made gdn. of Polly Ann Brton a minor.  Expend.  Jan 7, 1857  Recd. from
est. of David Russell dec'd the amt. of ward's est.  $27.     (Box 144 
Pack 4055)

Murdock  (Minors) - - On July 28, 1856  Stephen M. Fisher,  Caleb
Burton, Jacob Alewine bound to Wm. Hill Ord. Abbeville Dist. sum $200.
Stephen M. Fisher made guardian of Jesse. Stephen, Edna M., Jane,
Joseph Murdock, miinors of Jas. Murdock, dec'd.  In 1866 Jane Murdock
married W.A. Ashley.   (Box 143  Pack 4027)

James Hill - - Will dated Nov 6, 1829.  Proved Dec 7, 1829.  Exrs:
Wife: Katharine Hill,  son  Jacob Hill.  Wits:  Jas. A. Black,  A.W.
Lynch,  Richard Ashley.  Chn:  Jacob, Jno.,  Saml., Thos., Jas.,
Caroline,  Daniel,  Henry H., Margaret Hill.   "And whereas I lived as
man and wife with a certain woman Margaret Dorrah for several years and
had by her five illegitimate children, ciz: Jesse, Eleanor, Larsey,
Manes, Malinda Hill, after which time she eloped from me without any
known cause and took up with another man."  Inv. made Dec 14, 1829 by
Jas. A., Jno. B. Black,  David Russell.    (Box 46  Pack  1054)

>From "Abbeville District, South Carolina Newspaper Notices of Land 
Cases and Sales 1836 - 1872"  by L. Ware:

Independent Press - - July 13, 1860 - - In the matter of the Real
Estate of Aaron Ashley, dec'd.  William Ashley appl't against John
Ashley, Wilson Ashley, et. al...Aaron Ashley, Joseph Ashley, Roberson
Ashley and wife Nelly, William White and wife Betsey;  the children of
Tilda White, dec'd (names not known), the children of Letty Smith,
dec'd, names not known...some of the defendents in this case reside
without the limits of the State.

Abbeville Banner - - 1846 - - Equity Court of Sale - Henry Branyon vs
Joseph J. Branyon and others, Bill for Partition, on Monday the 28th
day of December the following tracts....Tract No. 5 or the John M.
Shirley Tract, situate in Anderson District adjoining lands of Edward
Ashley, I.B. Armstrong and others; Tract No. 8 or the Jonathan Shirley
Tract, situate in Abbeville District, adjoining lands of Hugh Robinson,
John Shirley and others...

Abbeville Banner - - 1852 - - Court of Ordinary, December Sale Day.  A
tract of land belonging to the Estate of John Ashley, Jr., deceased,
lying between Spur and Johnson Creeks, bounded by Thomas Davis and
others, contains 78 3/4 acres.

Abbeville Press - - Nov 16, 1866 - - Sale of Plantations by order of
the Court of Ordinary.  On Sale Day of December next, the following
will be sold for partition....real estate of William Y. Walker, dec'd,
situated on Camp Creek, waters of Little River, adjoining Edward
Ashley,   Joshua Ashley and Ann Robinson, on this place there is a
Great Mill...

This Will book ends about 1859.  There are other Ashley Wills on file
at the Abbeville County, SC  Courthouse, and somewhere in paper files,
I have a list up to 1910 of Ashley Wills there, although don't know if
it is a complete listing, as someone sent it to me a few years ago.