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Will of Martha S. [Alexander] Crosswell
Second wife of John J. Crosswell


 
1st I Martha S. Croswell [1]  of Bishopville PO County of Sumter, State of South Carolina being of sound mind and memory do declare this to be my last will and testament.
 
2nd I give and bequeath to my son John A. McLain [2]  the dwelling House and all other house including tenant houses barns stables. Also ten acres of land commencing on the south at the Racevan Road so as to take in the above mentioned houses. Running north to land of Mrs. Mary Reid formerly belonging to Col John S. Bradley then running east so as to take in lot and out building, garden. To have and to hold the same during his life and then to his Heirs if any if none to return back as my estate and be equally divided among my heirs -- The living heirs of my body. The above to remain my property during my life.
 
3rd I give and bequest to my daughter Mrs. Sallie A. Stuckey, [3]  two acres of land ling east of the above mentioned land commencing where John A. McLain's stop[?] on North east at line of Mrs. Mary Reed. Running east 2 acres then south one acre. Then west 2 acres long from G. A. McLain's land then one acre from starting point of land of J A McLain's and Mrs. Mary Reid. Land to have and to hold the same as land of J A McLain is given in section 2 of this will.
 
4th I give and devise to my daughter Ellen Dubose, wife of Thomas Dubose ten acres of land south of JA McLain's land bounded as follows: north by land I give to my son John A. McLain. East by lands that I give to my three other boys, namely Hartwell G. Croswell, Robert L. Croswell, & J. Leighton Croswell. [4]  South by land of James Edmond McCutchen, West by T. B. Baskin's [5] land to have an hold the same during the natural life and then her heirs if any there be if none to return back as my estate and be equally divided among the living heirs of my body.
 
5th I give the remainder of my real estate to my sons Hartwell G. Croswell, Robert L. Croswell, & J. Leighton Croswell. To be equally divided between my three sons to have and to hold the same during life and to the heirs of their body if any there be. If none at their death to return back to the living heirs of my body and be equally divided between them.
 
6th I give and devise unto my three sons HG Croswell, Robert L. Croswell & J. Leighton Croswell, all of my household goods chattels furniture and effects to be equally divided between them which at the time of my decease shall be continued in and about my house.
 
7th I appoint my sons John A McLain & HG Crosswell. My executors of this will and devise not shall they be required to give any security for the performance of these duties. In witness whereof I Martha S. Crosswell have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of January in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninety Eight.
Martha S. Crosswell (SS)

Subscribed by the testator in the presence of each of us and at that time declared by her to us as her last will and testament.
 
[Witnesses]
LM Crosswell [5] 
CM Huggins?
C. M. Alexander [6] 

 

Notes

  1.  General notes and background
    1. Martha was born on 19 December 1833 in Sumter District, South Carolina; the daughter of Abner and Massey Belk Alexander.
    2. Martha was married three times (which explains the varying surnames mentioned in her will as her offspring).
      1. Daniel McLean in about 1853
      2. Ephraim J Fields, about 1857
      3. John J Crosswell, about 1866
    3. The will is handwritten and dated January 5, 1898. Martha's signature is very shaky and certainly all but the signature is NOT in her handwriting. Nearly every time the writer uses the single "S" spelling of "Croswell." However, the two signatures Martha's and Ladson M. Crosswell both sign with the more-familiar two-S version, "Crosswell."  The will was filed for probate in the 13th of May, 1907.
    4. Martha was enumerated in the 1900 census in Bishopville, age 66, living with her son, John.
  2. John Alexander McLean's father was Martha's first husband, Daniel McLean (b. C1829).  John was born on 18 October 1854.  He married Ida (last name unknown) in about 1881.
    1. I have just found a source indicating that Ida is Ida Crosswell, son of John J Crosswell and his first wife, Martha Jane Mixon.
  3. Sallie A. McLean. Also from Martha's first husband Daniel.  Sallie married William Harrison Stuckey
  4. Three sons from Martha's third marriage to John J. Crosswell.
  5. Thomas Baskin (1822-1900), my great-grandfather.
    1. Thomas' second wife (my great-grandmother) was Hattie Crosswell (circa 1858-1898; daughter of John J Crosswell and his first wife, Martha Jane Mixon).
  6. Ladson M. Crosswell (1849-c1874) Martha's step-son.
  7. I assume that CM Alexander was Martha's nephew, Charles Mitchell Alexander—son of her brother Benjamin.  Interestingly, this same Charles Mitchell Alexander married Martha Jane Crosswell.  Martha Jane, in turn, was named after her mother, Martha Jane Mixon... who married John J Crosswell!  In other words, the CM Alexander, who witnessed Martha's will, married Martha's stepdaughter.

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