Individual Details

Will

WILL OF ANTHONY MATHEWES
In the name of God, Amen, I Anthony Mathewes of Johns Island of St. Johns Parish Colleton County in the Province aforesaid Planter, being in perfect senses, thanks be to Almighty God, tho' in a very bad state of health and calling to mind the certainty of death, do make this my last will and testament in form following that is to say 1st and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of God, who gave it hoping for a joyful resurrection only through the merits and mediation of my Joyful resurrection only through the merits a mediation of my blessed Redeemer, as for my body I commit to the grave to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executrix and executor, herein after named, and as to what worldly goods it hath pleased God to bless me with I will and ordain they shall be disposed of in manner and form following,
Inprimus I will and desire that all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid and satisfied.
ITEM- My will is that my tract of land on Johns Island containing five hundred and eleven acres, more or less, shall be sold at publick venue by my executrix and executor herein after mentioned and the moneys arising from the sale of the said land shall go towards the payment of my just debts and in case there be any overplus money remaining from the sale of the said land after paying all my just debts as aforesaid then my will is that the overplus money as aforesaid if any there shall be, shall be equally divided between my beloved son William Mathewes and my beloved daughter Mary Frampton Mathewes, and in case my son William should die before he arrives to age of twenty-one years, then my will is that the whole of the overplus money as aforesaid should go to my beloved daughter Mary Frampton and in case my said daughter should die before she arrives at the age of twenty-one or day of marriage which shall first happen then my will is that the whole of the overplus money shall go to my son William and in case they both should die before they arrived to their respective ages as aforesaid, then my will is the said overplus money should go to my beloved wife Mary Mathewes to her and her heirs forever.
ITEM - I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Mathewes my riding chair and harnesses thereto belonging and my horses named Gunner and Cream to her and her heirs forever.
ITEM - My will is that my stock of cattle on Johns Island should be sold by my executrix and executor hereafter named and that my stock of cattle on Edisto Island shall be kept for the support of my wife and children afore mentioned during the minority of my said children and at their respective ages aforesaid the cattle with their increase to be equally divided between my beloved wife and children aforesaid, in the same manner as the overplus money of my aforesaid land is left.
ITEM - It is my will that all my negroes or slaves shall be removed to my plantation on Edisto Island and kept there together for the support of my wife and children aforesaid that is to say during the widowhood of my said wife and in case my said wife should marry before my said children should arrive to their respective ages aforesaid, then my will is that the whole of my negroes shall be appraised and said wife to receive the one third of the said negroes by division to her and her heirs forever, and remainder of the said negroes to be equally divided between my beloved son William and my beloved daughter Mary Frampton Mathewes in the same manner and the aforementioned is willed to them.
ITEM -I will and bequeath unto my beloved son William all my silver plate and in case my son William should die before he arrives to the age of twenty-one year my will is that the said plate shall be equally divided between my beloved wife and daughter and in case my said daughter should die before she arrives to the age of twenty-one or day of marriage which shall first happenmy will is that the whole of the said plate shall go to my beloved wife to her and her heirs forever.
LASTLY - I nominate continue and appoint my beloved wife Mary Mathewes executrix and my loving cousin Robert Randall executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void and of no effect all former wills heretofore made and do acknowledge this to be my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this fouteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty eight and in the ninth year of his Majesty's reign.
Anthony Mathewes
Witnesses: Daniel Holmes - Joseph Fickling --John Theus
Proved May 5, 1769 at the same time qualified Robert Randall, executor and Mary Mathewes executrix - Record in Will Book 1767-1771 pg 309