In the Name or God Amen. I John Peter Richardson or Clarendon County, Sumter District and State of South Carolina, being Perfect and sound in mind, memory, and understanding, Do make, constitute and declare this to be my last Will and Testament. Recommending Soul into the hands of my God who gave it,. with a sure and steadfast hope of Salvation through the mercies of my Saviour. And as touching my Worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased .God of his infinite goodness and mercy to endow me, I do give, bequeath, and dispose of in manner and form following Vis. Imprimis, I Will and direct that all my Just debts be paid, so Soon as my Executors can consistently with the interest of my Estate, and with as little delay as possible. Item, To my beloved Wife Floride B. Richardson, while she remains my widow, or during her natural life, if so long she should remain my widow, I give bequeath the use of my manor plantation whereon I now live. Also I give and bequeath her Carriage and four Horses, and the choice of one of the Saddle horses. Also, all my household and kitchen furniture and plate & of every kind and description whatsoever and the following named negroes Viz. Isham, Hetty, Rosanna, Ecthard,, Jufee,, Julia, Sammy and Rose with all their future issue increase. all of which, and whatever is hereafter devised and bequeathed to her, is in lieu and bar of her right of dower or Inheritance.
Item, I will and direct that all stock of Race horses shall be sold in such manner and way as my Executors may think most advantageous; except such as shall be herein after particularly disposed of. Item, I give and bequeath to brother James B. Richardson horse Virginia, in lieu of the balance of the debt I owe him if he should think proper to accept it. Item, I give and bequeath to brother Charles Richardson my Pheaton and harness and my Florizel filly from the cillage maid, in lieu of whatever small demand exist between us, if he thinks proper to accept of them as such. Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved son John Peter Richardson my double barrel gun with the case end Implements, and my gold stop watch, and in case of his death before he arrives to age of twenty-one years, I then give them to beloved son James B. Richardson when he attains to that age. Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved son John Peter Richardson when he arrives to the age of twenty-one years, The manor plantation whereon I now live (after the term of my beloved wife s widowhood, or natural life.) also a tract of fine land adjoining, being part of a tract of Six hundred & Sixty -two Acres, granted to my Father, and to extend and comprehend the said tract of land as far as the road in part of my Summer place of residence, & also a Tract of one thousand Acres of land, granted to myself adjoining the manor plantationnext to the swamp. Item, I give and bequeath to beloved Sons James Burchill Richardson and Richard Thomas Richardson when they shall have respectively arrived to the age of twenty one years the following plantation or Tracts of land to be equally divided between them share and share alike viz. one plantation or tract of land bought of William Billups containing three hundred and forty-four acres, more or less a. One tract bought of Richard Singleton containing one hundred & twelve & half Acres more or less adjoining. One tract bought of Richard Richardson Senr. containing Six hundred and thirty-eight acres more or less adjoining. One tract granted to (Thomas Boone containing two hundred acres more or less. One tract granted to myself & brothers containing one hundred and fifty acres more or less adjoining. One tract bought of Thomas Sumter Jr. containing Four hundred and ninety acres more or less being part of a Tract granted to Comfort Strange One tract bought of Thomas Sumter Senr. containing two hundred acres more or late granted to Zachariah Denny. One tract bought of Minor Winn containing Two hundred and forty acres, granted to William Kirkland and also that part of the tract of land whereon is my pine land settlement from the road in front eastwardly, being part of the said Tract of Six hundred and Sixty-.two Acres granted to my father; which land I give and direct shall be divided so as to give to each of my Sons one half of the three tracts of land first mentioned lying near Jacks creek, by a line crossing the main Road; & one half of the remaining Tracts forming the Pine land Plantation to be divided in the most compact and convenient manner. Item, The rest and residue of my lands not here in before disposed of, I give and bequeath to three Sons John Peter Richardson, James Burchill Richardson, Richard Thomas Richardson to be equally divided between them share and share a like and either of mysons should die before they arrive to the age of twenty-one years, I give and bequeath their portion all Lands to the Survivors in equal proportion, and in case it should be my Son John Peter Richardson, then I give the manor plantation to the eldest survivor when he shall attain the age of twenty-one years. Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved Son John Peter Richardson when be attains the age of twenty-one years, past my servant man Bob; and do desire that he shall at all times be treated kindly by him for his steadfast and faithful service to me and all my family; and if he should die under that age, I then give him to my son James B. Richardson when be arrives to the age of twenty-one years, to be treated by him in like manner, And I do enjoin and require of my Executors and of them, that he shall never be put to any hard labor, but remain on the manor plantation as a Servant and attendant on my family. Item, The rest and residue of all my personal Estate, of whatsoever, nature, kind and description it may consist (not herein before disposed of) I give bequeath and devise to my beloved wife Floride B. Richardson (in lieu and bar of her right of Dower and inheritance) and all my Children viz. Elizabeth Peyrs Richardson, Emma Susanna Richardson, Camilla Floride Richardson, John Peter Richardson Margaret Cecelia Richardson James Burchill Richardson and Richard Thomas Richardson to them and their heirs forever, in equal proportion share and share alike. and if either of my children should die, under the age of twenty-one years, and my daughters die unmarried then I give their portion or portions of personal Estate to be equally divided between surviving Children and wife (if then my widow) share and share alike. Item, It is my will and desire that the negroes which my beloved wife shall receive from my Estate, shall (as long as she desires it and remains my widow) be worked with the rest of my Estate, under the care and direction of my Executors, and shall receive annually the share or proceed. arising therefrom. Item, It is further my will and desire that while my daughters shall remain unmarried they shall be fully entitled to have the use of such portion or portions of my lands, whereon to work their negroes,, as my Executors shall deem most conductive to the mutual interest of all, until they shall have respectively married. Lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Floride B. Richardson (while she remains widow) my Executrix, and my beloved brothers James Burchill Richardson and Charles Richardson, and my friend Charles Sinkler and my be-loved son John Peter Richardson when he arrives to the age of twenty -one years, my Executors to this my last will and testament, utterly revoking and disallowing all other will or wills, testament or testaments, and declaring and pronouncing this and no other to be last will and testament. In witness a I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eleventh day of January in the year of Our Lord One Thousand eight hundred eleven.
Signed, Seal'd published
John P. Richardson (SEAL)
and declared in the presence of
Saml. Riely
P. Keen
John Boyd Junr.
Recorded Will Book A. Page 91
Recorded April 20, 1811
William Taylor, Ordinary
Bundle 86 &emdash;Package 3.