Will of Adam C Jones, 1815

Date: 1812 to 1817
Location: Abbeville, South Carolina, United States
Surnames/tags: south carolina slavery Black_Heritage

This page contains a transcription of Adam Crane Jones Sr's will. Transcription is by D.D. Wallace in History of South Carolina, (I, Elaine Weatherall, made minor updates to transcription)

See also: Slaves of Adam Crane Jones Sr, South Carolina

1815, Sept 1- Adam C. Jones Sr. dies.

The will of Adam C(RAIN) Jones, the elder dated 12 October 1812, probated 31 March 1816. It mentions wife Catherine sons and grandchildren. Only four of his children named in this Will. [ Abbeville, S. C., Will Book, Vol. 2, 1815 - 1839, p. 64] The following is the complete will as it was copied and printed in D. D. Wallace "History of South Carolina".

It was written on 12 October 1812 but not initiated until Sept 1, 1815.

Last Will and testament of Adam Crane Jones. Died Sept. 1, 1815 : In the Name of God, AMEN: I, Adam C. Jones, the elder of the District of Abbeville, of "State of South Carolina, being weak of body but of sound mind, memory transitory life, do make publish and declare this my last will and testament in the manner following , Viz, I will, desire and direct that all my funeral charges and just debts be satisfied and paid out of my estate.

Item, I lend to my dearly beloved wife, Catherine Jones, during her natural life or widowhood the following property to wit, two hundred and forty acres of land adjoining the Saluda river, being part of a tract of land on which my son Benjamin Jones now lives, including a part of the Improvements and at her death or intermarriage I give the said land to my two grandsons William T. Jones and Benjamin Jones, sons of Benjamin Jones.

Item, I lend to her during life or widowhood a negro fellow named George with his wife Beck and at her death or intermarriage the said two negroes above mentioned shall return back into my estate and be equally divided between my children. Item, I give unto my dearly beloved wifeCatherine Jones, one negro boy named London, son of George and Beck, one featherbed and furniture, half dozen cups and saucers, half dozen delph plates, three parts of my estate, silver spoons which she has in her possession and half dozen knives and forks, two seating chairs, one walnut folding table, and one horse.

Item, I lend unto my son Benjamin Jones during his natural life the plantation or tract of land where I now live together with all my adjoining lands and after the death of my son Benjamin Jones I give all the aforementioned land to his son Adam C. Jones. I also lend to my said son Benjamin Jones one negro woman name Flora with her four children: Reuben, Anniee, Milly and Willis which he has in his possession now with their future increase. Also I lend to my son Benjamin Jones one negro fellow named James and all the household furniture which I purchased of his property at a sheriff's sale and left on the plantation where he now lives and at his death to be equally divide between his wife and children.

Item. I give unto my daughter Betsy Weatherall, wife of JOHN WEATHERALL, one negro woman named Amy with the three youngest children, Gilly, July and Aron with their future increase.

Item. I give to my grandson William T. Jones one negro fellow named Jack, to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give to my grandchildren, Adam C. Jones, Peggy Jones, Rebeckah Jones and Nancy Jones, children of my son Adam C. Jones, deceased, one hundred and twenty dollars to be equally divided between them.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son-in-law John Weatherall. James Wardlaw and George Bowie and the survivors or the survivor of them all the parcel or tract of land containing three hundred and thirty-six acres more or less, originally surveyed for and granted in my son John Jones's name, situated in the fork of Turkey Creek adjoining land of William Richey, Henry Gains and William Ware.

Also I give and bequeath to the said John Weatherall, James Wardlaw and George Bowie, or the survivors or survivor of them the following negroes Viz, Isaac and Harry, children of Clander to hold the said tract of land and negro slaves to them the said John Weatherall, James Wardlaw and George Bowie or survivor of them. Nevertheless and this special condition and confidence that they the said John Weatherall, James Wardlaw and George Bowie, or the survivors or survivor of them, do permit the said land and negro slaves to be and remain in the full and actual possession and enjoyment of my said son John Jones from and immediately after my death for and during the term of his actual life hereby declaring that it is my will and intention that my said son John Jones shall have the name in use, advantage, benefit, profit and possession of the property in this devise and bequeath contained as if I had left the same to him in the same unlimited manner as I have provided for my other children and I am endured to protect and restrict the prop- ... hereby intended for the use and enjoyment of my ..... John Jones from a parental concern and care to prevent my said son John Jones from being exposed to any distress or want of sufficient property to support him comfortable in this world and to prevent as far as possible any part of the provisions I have made for him from being in any shape lessened or wasted by my said son selling or mortgaging any part thereof and to prevent the same or any part thereof from being subjected to the payment of any of his debts now contracted or hereafter to be contracted and I do hereby in the most express and decided manner publish and declare this to be my will that no part or parcel of the property I this devise contained or any other part of my estate which may come into the hands or possession of my son John Jones either at my death or otherwise, by from or through me or my means shall be in any shape or sort, at any time or times lessed or encumbered or effected by any pretended sale or mortgage thereof on any part thereof my my said son either for or during his life or otherwise and that no part or parcel thereof shall be subjected or liable to the payment of any debt, judgment or execution or any other claim or demand or demands whatever but that the whole and every part and parcel thereof hereby absolutely and indefeasibly vested in the said John Weatherall, James Wardlaw and George Bowie and the survivors or survivor of them to keep and protect and preserve the same to and for the whole use, advantage and enjoyment of my said son John Jones during his life and to take all lawful ways and means to prevent this my will from being defeated in any sort of manner contrary to my mind and intention above mentioned and declared and it is my will that in case my said son John Jones leaves lawful issue then from and after the death of said son John Jones the whole of the estate and property he may be possessed of by this will and testament or by my means shall be equally divided to any among his children if more than one and if he leaves one only then the whole thereof shall go to and belong to such only child.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson, Adam C. Jones, son of John Jones, all that tract of two hundred and forty acres of land (more or less) lying on Turkey Creek and adjoining the last mentioned tract originally surveyed and granted in my name. Item, I give to my grandson, Adam C. Jones, son of Benjamin Jones, one negro boy named Lewis, son of Amy. Item, I give to my grandson, Adam C. J. Weatherall, son of John Weatherall, one negro boy named Edom, son of Amy. The above mentioned two negroes is to remain in the possession of John Weatherall and Benjamin Jones in the possession of John Weatherall and Benjamin Jones until my said grand children arrive to the age of twenty one or marry.

Item, I give to my granddaughter, Polly C. Jones, daughter of John Jones, one negro girl named Lucy daughter of Clander now in her possession at her father, John Jones, to remain in the possession of her father until she arrive at the age of eighteen or marry, then to receive her or her increase, likewise one featherbed and furniture, and a young sorrel mare now in her possession at her father's to remain in his possession until she comes to the age of eighteen years of marry. It is to be understood that said John Jones is not to be disposed of any of the property which I have willed to her in any way or manner nor to remove any part thereof out of the aforementioned District.

Item, I lend to Margaret Jones, relict of my son Adam C. Jones, decd. during her natural life or widowhood is order to raise and maintain the children of my said son Adam C. Jones, Decd. four negroes now on the plantation whereon she now lives, Viz. Juda with her three children, Shaderick, Henry and Lucy and their future increase and in case there is not property sold sufficient to pay the debts of the said Adam C. Jones, decd. these any of the above mentioned negroes which may be sufficient to discharge the same may be sold to answer sue...said debt and at her death or intermarriage my will for increase or whatever part thereof remain clear of the use above mentioned to be equally divided between John S. Jones, Malinda Jones, Peggy Jones, Rebeckah Jones, and Nancy Jones, children of Adam C. Jones, decd. My will and desire is likewise that the plantation whereas she now lives containing three hundred and forty-five acres (more or less) be divided into two equal parts one half I lend unto her during life or widowhood in order to the part whereon the home now stands; the other part I give to my grandson John S. Jones, son of Adam C. Jones, decd. and at the death or intermarriage of Margaret Jones the part of land lent to her as above mentioned I give to my grandson Adam C. Jones, son of Adam C. Jones, decd.

Item, I give to my granddaughter Sally S. Jones daughter of Adam C. Jones, decd. one negro girl named Ayisle, daughter of Sam and Prisse, to her and her heirs forever.

Item, I give to my granddaughter, Polly S. Dyson daughter of Adam C. Jones decd. one negro boy named Harry, son of George and Beck to her and her heirs forever.

Item, I give and bequeath to my sons Benjamin and John Jones my wearing apparel to be equally divided between them likewise. I desire that all my books may be proportioned out into two equal lots which I give to my sons Benjamin Jones and John Jones, Benjamin Jones having choice of lots.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson Adam C. Jones, son of John Jones one negro boy named Billy, son of Antney and Hagar to receive the same when he comes to the age of eighteen years.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson, Marshall Weatherall, son of my daughter Betsy Weatherall one negro boy named Fortune, son of Amy and to receive the same at my death.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandson George Weatherall, son of my daughter Betsy Weatherall one negro boy named Sam, son of Sam and Prisse and to receive the same at my death.

Item, My will and desire is that my three negroes, Cate, Fuller, and Clander shall go and live with whichever of my children that they please it never being considered any part of my property.

Item, I give to my two sons Benjamin Jones and John Jones together with my daughter Betsy Weatherall all the rest of my estate or property not mentioned is my will or otherwise given away by me and also which property shall be equally divided between my three surviving children.

Item, It is my will and positive direction that all such or estate that may fall to the estate of my son John Jones under this clause also shall be absolutely vested in the said John Weatherall, James Wardlaw and George Bowie or the survivors or survivor of them in the same way and manner and to and for the same use, interest and purpose as expressed limited and declared in respect of the property I have herein before provided for the use of the said John A Jones and at his death shall be equally divided between his children.

Item. It is my will and desire that the executors of this my last will and testament cause to have built at the expense of my estate. If it is not done in my life, a stone wall around my graveyard twenty feet long and fifteen wide and four feet high and they are hereby vested with the power to raise what monies as may be necessary for this with other purposes for carrying this my will into effect by a sale of such a portion of the disposable part of my estate as may be sufficient for such purposes.

I do hereby nominate and appoint John Weatherall, James Wardlaw, George Bowie and George Weatherall executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this the twelfth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twelve. Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above mentioned Adam C. Jones do and for his last will and testament written on eleven sides of paper in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator and in the presence of each other.

Saml. Anderson Joseph Richey, Robert Swain. Adam C. Jones

Sources

• Transcription at http://www.next1000.com/family/EC/jones.adam.html Archived at Adam Jones Will - Archived
• Author: Brimelow, Judith M.; Probate Place: Abbeville, South Carolina. Ancestry.com. South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Ancestry Link

This will is recorded in Book No. 2, pages 80 to 83. [South Carolina Will Transcripts, estate packet: Box51, pkg. 118.