- South Carolina, Fairfield County
Will of Daniel Gowens, Jan 1818, Recorded 1828
In the Name of God, Amen, I, Daniel Gowens, of the State of South Carolina and District of Fairfield, being in Sound Mine and Memory, but in a Weak State of health, Knowing that is is appointed for all Men to die, do Make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.
My Body I recommend to the Dust, and my Soul I resign to God when it shall please him to take me to himself by Death, in hopes of a Glorious Immortality beyond the Grave Through Jesus Christ.
And as to what worldly property or Eftate I have been blefsed in this life, I will and dispofe of the Same in Manner following--That is to Say--
First, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Gean Gowen one Negroe Man named Will and Three Netroe Girls named Patts, big RAchel and Jude; Will and Patts, during her natural Life, and to be difpofed of by her at Death; Big Rachel & Jude, during her natural Life, and to defcend to my Daughter Nancy at her Death; alfo two horses, two Milch Cows and Calves and ten Hogs, the Choice of my Stock, with her wearing apparel, and the whole of my household and Kitcheon Furniture of every kind and description, except what may be herein particularly devised during her Natural Life; also it is my Will that my Said Wife Jean, should occupy and pofsefs the Land and House and Improvements whereon I now live, being a plantation of one hundred acres, purchafed from Daniel Carns, during her natural life for her use and behoof [benefit].
Second, I give and bequeath to Daniel Lavender, Son of my Daughter Nancy Lavender, one Negroe Boy named Isaac, to him and his Heirs forever.
Third, I give and bequeath to my son Hugh Gowens, one Negroe fellow named Sam, and one Negroe fellow named Tom Minnit, one Negroe Wench named Lydy and one Negro Boy named Osmon; also a plantation of Four hundred and ten acres of Land, to be laid off from a Tract of one thoufand acres purchased from McNeel, on that side [of] Said Tract where Hugh now lives, and has improved; also one still, containing forty Gallons and five stands--the whole to him and his heirs forever.
Fourth, I give and bequeath to my Son Daniel Gowens one Negroe Girl name Cloe, one Negroe fellow named Tom Jones, one Negro Boy named Peter and one Negroe Woman named little Rachel; one Cow and Calf; also a plantation of four hundred and ten acres of land, composed of the Tract of one hundred Acres, the land I now live on, to descend to him after the Death of my Wife Jean Gowens, and of three hundred and ten Acres to be laid off from McNeels Tract, on the Side adjoining the Said one hundred Acres; also one Still, containing eighty-four gallons and five Stands; the whole to him and his Heirs forever.
Fifth, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Polly Harrison, one Negroe Woman named Amey, one Negroe Boy named Ephraim and one Negroe Woman named Dinar and one hundred acres of Land adjoining the Mill Tract, whereon they now live, to the said Polly Harrison and the Heirs of her body forever.
Sixth, I give and bequeath to my son William Gowens, one Negroe Girl name Suckey, one Negroe Boy named Charles, one Negroe Girl named Lelwency, and Negroe Girl named Eaftor; alfo a plantation of four hundred and ten acres of Land composed of one hundred Acres which I purchased of Thomfon and one hundred and forty Acres which I purchased of John Harvey, and one hundred and Seventy Acres to be laid off McNeels Tract aforesaid on that side adjoining the said Thompfons and Harveys Tracts, the whole to him and his heirs forever.
Seventh, I give and bequeath to my son Robert Gowens one Negroe Boy named Jack, one Negroe Girl named Sophy and her Increafe, one Negroe Boy named Dave and one Negroe Boy named Buck; one Cow and Calf; also, a plantation of Four hundred and ten Acres of Land, composed of a Tract of Three hundred Acres purchafed of James McMullen, and one hundred and ten Acres, the Ballance of McNeels Tract aforesaid; the whole to him and his Heirs forever.
Eighth, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Margaret Gowens, one Negroe Boy named Andrew, one Negroe Boy named Prince, on Negro Woman named Grace and Negroe Boy named George; also one hundred acres Acres of Land, called Shippers place to her and the Heirs of her Body forever.
Ninth, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Nancy Gowens, one Negroe Boy namd Tom, and one Negroe fellow named William to her and her bodily heirs forever, and one Negroe Girl named July, and one Nigroe Girl named Big Rachel to defcend to her, after the death of my Wife Jean; one feather Bed & Furniture, one Horfe Bridle & Saddle; two Cows and Calves; and alfo one hundred Acres of Land, called Ferrals place; the whole to her and the Heirs of her Body forever.
Tenth, I give and bequeath to Jean Harrison, Daughter of Polly Harrison one Negroe Girl, named Mary to her and her Heirs forever.
Eleventh, I give and bequeath to my two Sons, William and Robert Gowens, twenty-five Acres of Land, around where the Mill stands, with the Mill theron and one Negroe Fellow named Bob who attends the Said Mill, to be Theirs in equal Right and their Heirs forever.
Twelfth, It is my will that the Residue of my personal Property of whatsoever kind or Species not hereby bequeathed of devifed, and of which I die pofsefsed should be sold and the proceeds thereof, disposed of in the following manner Viz: one hundred Dollars thereof to be given to each of my Daughters Margaret and Nancy, and the Ballance to be equally divided between my Seven Children, Hugh, Danaiel, William, Robert, Margaret and Nancy and Polly.
Lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint, my beloved Wife Jean Gowens, my son Daniel Gowens and my Trusty Friend Samuel Whorter Yongue, Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking and disannulling all other Wills and Testaments heretofore by me made, and confirming this and one other to be my last Will and Teftament.
In Witnefs Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my Seal this ---- day of January in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and in the forty-Second year of American Independence.
Signed: Daniel [O] Gowens
Signed, Sealed, Published and
Declared in presence of us
Armsted Goss
John Lavender
Saml H. Taylor
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