THE WILL OF WILLIAM GRAVES

 

In the name of God, Amen: I, William Graves, Laurens District, South Carolina, being of disposing mind and memory, but weak in body and calling to mind the uncertainty of life, and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, do make and ordain this my last Will, in the following manner that is to say: that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid: after the payment of my debts and funeral expenses, I give to my son William W. Graves, the homestead, or the plantation upon which I now reside, and has such marks and boundaries as are laid out in a plot, or survey, made by my directions by W. L Anderson, Dept.  Surveyor 1845, to have and to hold, to him and his heirs forever.

 

I give to my daughter, Elizabeth M. Graves, my tract of land, or plantation, known by the name of the Golden tract, separated and divided from the homestead, or plantation, given to my son, William W. Graves, by a line commencing on the beach 3xx on the bank of the Reedy River, running S52, W22.87 to a walnut 3xx, thence S56, W32.58, to ironwood 3xx, then S15, W3.59, to ironwood 3xx, thence branch line to ironwood 3xx, then to small Red 0 (?oak) 3x, on the Greenville Road and has such other marks and boundaries as are laid down in a plot or survey made by W. L Anderson, as mentioned above, to her and the heirs of her body forever: it is my Will that the conditions of the above devise of lands, to my son William W. and my daughter Elizabeth M. Graves, pay to their brother Joseph F. Graves, a specific legacy of seven hundred and ninety six dollars and fifty cents, which amount will be at the rate of five dollars per acre, for the above devise of lands to my son, William W. and my daughter, Elizabeth M. Graves, devised them by me, so that their brother Joseph F. Graves, shall receive an equal portion of my Estate, to that given to each of them by me.  Should my son William W. and my daughter Elizabeth M. Graves, fail or refuse to comply with the above condition, then it is my Will that the lands devised them as above, shall be put to public sale to the highest bidder, and the proceeds of the sale to be divided between my children, Joseph F. Graves, William W. and Elizabeth M. Graves, that the portion of each of them, which they have, or shall receive, from my Estate, may be equal.  It is my Will, that my negro property shall be equally divided between my three children, Joseph F. Graves, William W. Graves, and my daughter Elizabeth M. Graves.  It is my Will that my old plantation or tract of land from which I moved to the plantation upon which I am now living: and also my crop, plantation tools, household and kitchen furniture, and stack of every kind be sold at public sale, to the highest bidder, by, my Executors hereafter named, for the purpose of raising a specific legacy of Two Thousand Dollars, which I give to my grand child, Polly W. Spoon.  It is my Will that her legacy be put out to interest, and then sum to be collected annually, to defray the expenses of her support and education: it is also my Will and desire that my son, William W. Graves, have the management of the specific legacy devised to my grand daughter Polly W. Spoon: and in the event that my grand daughter, Polly W. Spoon, should die before assuming lawful age, or without issue, then in that event it is my Will that the specific legacy of Two Thousand Dollars devised her by me, with the interest, be equally divided between my three children, Joseph F., William W, and Elizabeth M, Graves or their heirs.  It is my Will, if my daughter, Elizabeth M. Graves, should die without heirs of her body, her portions of my Estate devised her, should be equally divided amongst my two sons, Joseph F. and William W. Graves, or their heirs, and my grand child, Polly W. Spoon.  It is my Will, in the event that my grand child, Polly W. Spoon, survives my daughter, Elizabeth M. Graves, and she, Elizabeth M. Graves, die without issue, that my grand daughter, Polly W. Spoon, shall receive one third of her Estate, devised by me.

 

And lastly, I do constitute and appoint my two sons, Joseph F. and William W. Graves, Executors, of this my last Will and Testament, in testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, this 11th day of January, in the year of our Lord, Eighteen Hundred and Fifty-four.

 

Wm. Graves (s) [Seal]

Signed, sealed, published and declared as and for the last Will and Testament of the above named William Graves, in the presence of us.

 

Aaron Hill

W. T. Smith

Wm. E. Caldwell