FAIRFIELD DISTRICT WILL BOOK R, VOL. 19, PAGE 188; ESTATE PACKET: FILE 85, PKG. 237
I John Sterling of the District of Fairfield in the State aforesaid, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, and being desirous of disposing of all such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to day
1. I give and devise to my son Samuel Sterling, in fee simple, all that plantation or tract of land which I purchased from Joseph Curry, and the small piece which I purchased form his son Stafford Curry, containing together about twelve and a half acres, Situate on the waters of the Wateree Creek in the district of Fairfield and State aforesaid. I also bequeath to my said son Samuel, a negro man call Ross, and a woman Raney, both now in his possession; also a negro woman called Big Mary; also the sum of $500 dollars; also his own note for $100 which I paid off for him many years ago, and took up from Archibald Beaty.
2. I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Castles, a negro woman called Celia, and her two youngest children, all now in her possession; also a negro girl called Eliza; also the sum of $600 in addition to the $100 which I gave her heretofore.
3. I give and divise to my son James Sterling, in fee simple, all that plantation or tract of land on which he now resides, containing 317 acres more or less, situate on the waters of Little Rocky Creek in the District of Chester and State aforesaid, the same which I purchased from John McCrorey; I also bequeath to my said son James, a negro boy called Bob and a girl called Esther, now in his possession; also a negro boy called Osburn; also my gig & harness, and Book case, and the sum of $100. My books, I wish divided among all my children, at the discretion of my Executors.
4. I give and bequeath to my son John Sterling, in fee simple, all that tract of land which I purchased from Rev. James Lyle, containing 157 acres, more or less. Situate on the Waters of Dumpers Creek, branch of Little River, in the District of Fairfield and State aforesaid (except a small piece next to my gate containing one acre one Rood & nine Poles, designated by the letter A on a plat made by Adam Walker Dep. Sur. dated 21st March 1837, which small piece is to be annexed to and be considered as part of the plantation on which I reside.) Also all that plantation or tract of land joining thereto, which I purchased at a sale made by the Commissioner in Equity, as the property of the estate of James Calhoun, containing 70 acres, more or less; also 15 acres of land, (part of the tract of land which I purchased form Robert Thompson) on Hobble Rod Branch, joining the land above mentioned, and on the Western side of the public road from Winnsborough to Chesterville and designated by the plat of resurvey made by Adam Walker Dep. Sur. dated 28th day of Feb 1837. I also bequeath to my said son John the negroes Ned and Jerry now in his possession; also the negro boy Green. I also give and devise to my said son John Sterling, all that part of the plantation or tract of land whereon I now reside, on Dumpers Creek in the District of Fairfield and State aforesaid, designated by the letter C on the plat made by Adam Walker Dep. Sur. dated 21st March 1837, containing 306 acres at the price of $1000 to be paid therefor by my said son to my Estate in three equal annual installments, the first installment to be paid at the end of one year after my decease.
5. I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Blain, two negro women called Harriet and Katy now in her possession, also a girl named Little Mary, also the sum of $700.
6. I give and devise to my daughter Sarah Sterling, for and during the term of her natural life, all that part of the plantation or tract of land whereon I now reside, Situate on Dumpers Creek in the District of Fairfield and State aforesaid, designated by the letters D E & F and the small piece A on the plat made by Adam Walker Dep. Sur. dated 21st March 1837, containing 120 acres and a fraction over: (reserving however for my son John, the cotton gin and Screw, and the mill, Thrasher and Fan, and the ground on which the Same are erected, which, together with so much ground as may be necessary for the convenient use and enjoyment thereof I give to my said son John, with free ingress to and from the same, he keeping up the fences around the same, and the lane fences to the same). In case my said daughter shall have issue of her body living at the time of her death, the aforesaid land divised to her for life is to be equally divided among her issue; but in case my said daughter should have no issue of her body living at the time of her death, then the aforesaid land is to go to my son John Sterling in fee simple. I also bequeath to my daughter Sarah, a negro woman called Rachel, an girl called Sarah and a boy called Levi, her choice of four cows and one horse, three long-posted bedsteads with their usual and proper bedding and bed clothes and bed furniture, the clock, Bureau, falling leaf mahogany table, small pine table, small stand table of walnut, the cupboard and crokery and glass, the kitchen and table furniture and utensils the sitting chairs, the loom, one large Spinning wheel, on small spinning wheel and cards, two looking glasses, all the hogs, geese and poultry and half the Sheep, (the other half of the Sheep I bequeath to my son John) one saddle and bridle, the wagon and wagon oers and the large pine chest; all the above personal property bequeathed to my said daughter Sarah, is bequeathed to her only for and during the term of her natural life, and at her death to be equally dived among her children; but in case my said daughter Sarah shall die without leaving issue of her body living a the time of her death, then all the above personal property is to be equally divided among all the brothers and sisters of my said daughter Sarah, the issue of a deceased brother or sister, if any such, to take the share wich the parent would have been entitled to if living.
7. I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Sterling a negro man called Jerry now in his possession; also the sum of $500 in addition to what I have already given him. I also will and direct that the two notes of my said sons, to which I was security and which I have paid, viz one to Hugh McCormick and the other to Andrew Blain, be delivered to my said son, and that no charge be made against him on account of said notes.
8. I give and devise to my son William Sterling, for and during the term of his natural life, and at his death to be equally divided among the heirs of his body who may be then living, all that plantation or tract of land containing about 364 acres, more or less, situate on the Waters of Little Rocky Creek, in the District of Chester and State aforesaid, being the land which was divided off to my by firtue of my purchase from the widow Jane Turner, and the land which I purchased at the sale made by the commissioner in Equity as the property of the Estate of Alexander Turner, and the land which I purchased from James A. McCrorey, all making one tract or body of land; but in case my said son William should die without leaving issue of his body living at the time of his death, then the said land is to be equally divided among the brothers and sisters of the said William , the issue of a deceased brother or sister (if any such, to represent the parent and take the share which the parent would have been entitled to if living. I also give and bequeath to my said son William, a negro man called Nelson and a negro man called Sam, for and during the term of his natural life, and at his death to be equally divided among his children; but if my said son should die without leaving issue from his body at the time of his death, then the said two negro men are to return to my estate and be equally divided among all my other children. the issue of a deceased child to represent the parent and take the share which the parent would have been entitled to receive if living.
9. I bequeath to my son John Sterling the sideboard and large walnut table, and one small stand table
10. I give and bequeath to each of my grandsons called John, the sum of $20, and to each of my granddaughters called Sarah, the sum of $10, to be paid my my executors into the hands of the respective fathers of my said grandchildren for the use of said grandchildren until they shall respectively attain the age of twenty-one years, or marry, when the same may be paid to them respectively by their fathers.
11. I give and bequeath to my grandson John J. Sterling, son of Samuel Sterling a negro boy called George Capers.
12. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Malissa Sterling, daughter of my son John Sterling, a negro girl called Fanny.
13. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Mary Blain, a negro girl named Suby.
14. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Sarah Blain, the child of the negro woman Sarah with which she is now pregnant.
15. I give and bequeath to my grandson, John S. Castles, a negro boy called Amzeah.
16. I will and direct that all the rest, and residue and remainder of my estate be equally divided
17. I nominate and appoint my sons