Will of James Trotter of Pickens County, South Carolina. He is the son of Robert Trotter born abt 1755 Brunswick County, Virginia and died in Pickens County, South Carolina.
There are several documents that pertain to this will, James Trotter's son Robert Trotter contested the will and forced the sell of the land. Please read all of them to help to sort through this. It also names all of his children and their spouses if the child had died before the will was protested.
Will recorded in Will Book No. 1, pages 155-156. Now located in Pickens Co.,SC probate Apartment #26, file #302.
- The State of South Carolina. )
- Pickens District. )
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN - THAT-
I, James Trotter, being in feeble health but of sound mind and knowing that it is appointed for man to die - do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament; hereby revoking and making woid all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.
Item -, First, I direct that my body be decently intered in any burying ground that my wife or majority of children shall direct, and that my funeal be conducted in manner corresponding with my estate & cituation in life; and as to such worldly estate as it has pleased God to intrust me with I dispose of as follows:
Item - First, I direct that all my debts and funeral expences be paid as soon after my death as possible out of the first moneys that shall come into the hands of my Executors from any portion of my estate or ready money.
Item - I direct and give to my loving wife Elizabeth (if she shall survive me) all my real estate and also the rent that is to be due to me & my estate arising from the lease of my plantation which is now least to my two sons Robert and James for a term of nine years & that my Executors is hereby empowered to see that she do receive the same yearly as per their written contract and also that my said wife shall have the free privilege and controll of my said real estate so long as she shall live; I also give to my wife all of my hosehold furniture of every description to do with & use so long as she shall live & like manner I give to her all my personal estate or so much thereof as she may desire for her support.
I also direct and givein to my Duaghter Elizabeth Mahaly that should she survive my wife, all the hosehold furniture of any and every description after the death of her Mother, that she shall then receive the same of whatsoever may be of the same and it shall not be accepted as in part against her as a part in the division of the remainder of my estate as I do consider it as such ______ _____ _____ services renderd to myself & her mother.
Item - I direct that after the death of my loving wife if she shall survive me that my Executors shall cause all my real & personal estate (Except the household furniture) to be properly appraised by proper persons and to cause the same to be properly sold as to them may seem best and the proceeds when collected to be equally and imparshally divided between my seven children, to-wit, William & Griffin and Henry & Rebecca Williams and Robert and James and Elizabeth Mahaly; and I do hereby ordain and appoint my tow sons Griffin Trotter and Robert Trotter my Executors of this my last Will and Testament in witness hereof I, James Trotter, Sen'r, the testator have to this my will set my hand and seal this first day of December one thousand eight hundred and fifty one.
- Signed sealed and acknowledged
- in the presence of his
- James X Trotter (SEAL
- mark
- Bennet C. Jones
- Samuel Chapman, and
- Joseph B. Reid.
- SOUTH CAROLINA )
- PICKENS DISTRICT. )
Personally appeared before me Joseph B. Reid, Esq., and made oath that he was present & seen James Trotter sign the within (by making his mark) as his last Will and Testament and that Bennet C. Jones & Samuel Chapman were with himself subscribing witnesses to the same.
- Sworn to be me
- 29th March, 1852 Joseph B. Reid
- W. D. Steele, O. P. D.