Submitted by: R. W. Hughes

William's will is recorded in Camden, Kershaw Co,  SC. It is dated 15 Dec, 1814 and the final settlement was 12 Jan 1819 by Joseph Belk. His will reads as follows (It is typed as the words were spelled):

In the Names of God Amen I William Belk farmer of Kershaw District being poorly and weak in body but perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God cauling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament, principally and first of all I recommend my soul unto the hand of almighty God that gave it an My Body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the descretion of my executors, touching sutch worldy estate whearwith it heith pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and from, I will and positefly order that all my just debts be paid first.

Item 1. I lend to my bloved wife Hannah Belk during her life or widow hood one Negro Man named Charls and one Negro Woman named Dice and they plantation and hous whear I now live the Smiths tools and Sorrel Mare saddle & bridle, one feather bid,  bedsted and furniture and as mutch kitching furniture as will suffise as many plantation tools & gears as will be suffisent for plantation use three cows & calves. Two tow year old steers, ten killable hogs,  three breeding sows and ten year olde two ewes and a ram and as mutch houshold furniture as she will think sufficunt to keep hous with.

Item 2. I give to my son Jeremiah Belk one Negro Boy named Andire to him and his heirs forever.

Item 3. I give and Bequeathe to my daughter Ann Skinner one Negro girl named Tener to her and her heirs forever.

Item 4.I give and Bequeathe to my son Rigdon Belk one Negro man named Hardy to him and his heirs forever.

Item 5. I give and Bequeathe to my daughter Nice Skinner one Negro girl named Pat to her and her heirs forever.

Item 6. I give and bequeathe to my daughter Gatce Mixon one Negro girl named Rose to her and her heirs forever.

Item 7. I give and Bequeathe to my son Joseph Belk one Negro boy named Peter to him and his heirs likewise also one feather bed & furniture and all my land except a tract lying on hubbards Branch. and the day after my wifes deth or marrage the said Negro man named Charls and Negro woman name Dice with her incries to come to my son Joseph Belk to him the said land Negros forever.

Item 8. I give and Bequeath to Jean Mixon a Tract of land lying on habards Branch which I purchased from Joseph Pany to hime and heirs forever.

Item 9. I give and Bequeath to Susanna Belk two cows & calvs three head of young cattle and fifty dollars in money to her and her heirs forever.  Also I leave and Bequeath to beloved wife in addition her Dowry and Feather bed and furniture and after her deth the said bed to come to my son Jeremiah Belk it is my will that all the property lent to my belobed wited after her deth to be divided or sold and divided between my children hearafter named Also the rest of my property not named or lent to sold or devided equally between my children namely Jeremiah Brittons Heirs Pharabys heirs Rigdon Ann Gatce Nea & Joseph and if any of the heirs be endebted to the Estate that they pay up or Count out in perepotion each Nam drawing and equal shar like wise I nominate my sons that is to say Jeremiah Ridgon     & Joseph Belk my lawfull excutors I do Hearby utterally confirming this to be my last will and testament In Witness whereof I have hear unto set my hand and Seal this fifteenth day of December in year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.

Signed Sealed published pronounced as his last will and Testament in the presents of us who in this presents and In the presents of each other have hearunto subscribed our names as witnesses.  (It is signed by William Belk and witnesses, Allan McCaskill, Cornelius Cook and Edmond Hair made his mark.)  Recorded in Will Book C page 189. Recorded March 20, 1815 Ord.  William Langley. 6 Pkg. 178.


Webmaster:   Erin Bradford.
Back to Topics:  Home , Biographies, Books, Census, Immigration, Journals, Military, Slave data, Wills
Back to Surnames:  Barringer Index, Black Index, Bradford IndexCoventry Index, Eller Index, Hackett Index, Hupp Index, Kern Index