Today’s post is the promised transcribed will of Joseph Woodruff who died in Spartanburg County, South Carolina between 22 September 1817, the day he wrote his will, and 18 December 1817, the day it was proved and recorded by the court.
Will of Joseph Woodruff, 1817
Spartanburg County, South Carolina WB A:124-125
Source: FamilySearch
In the name of God Amen I Joseph Woodruff of the State of South Carolina & district of Spartanburg being of a perfect mind & memory do make and constitute this my last will & testament. I give my body to be buried in a dicent manner at the discretion of my family & my soul to God that gave it.
I give to my wife Anna Woodruff one negro woman named Luce & one feather bed & furniture to be hers during her natural life & at her deceas the woman Luce with the increase of her body together with the said bed & furniture to be divided equally among the lawful heirs of my body, I wish all the balance of my property to be sold after my decease & desposed of by my executors as follows/Viz./my wife Anna Woodruff to have one hundred dollars during her natural life at her decease to be divided equally among my lawful heirs.
I give to my sons Samuel & Thomas & Caleb Woodruff, togehter with my daughters Polley Allen, Eunice Sparks, Sally Hendrix & Elizabeth Allen, one hundred dollars each.
I give to my daughter Anna Woodruff two hundred & fifty dollards. That is to say if my estate should amount to the above sums after my Just debts are paid Otherwise each one of the aforesaid legatees to receive a dividend in proportion to the sum they are entitled to as above mentioned.
And if there should be a balance yet undivided it to be equally divided between my wife Anna Woodruff my sons Samuel & Thomas & Caleb Woodruff together with my daughters Polly Allen, Eunice Sparks, Sally Hendrix, Elizabeth Allen & Anna Woodruff, & my son Joseph Woodruffs lawful heirs, the part of my son Joseph Woodruff’s Children to remain in the hands of my executors till they think proper to dispose of it for their use. I give to my son Joseph Woodruff two dollars.
I do hereby nominate & appoint John Crocker, & Nathaniel Woodruff Son of Thomas Woodruff as my executors to execute this my last will & Testament heretofore given by me. Signed the 22nd of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & Seventeen.
Witness my land & Seal.
Joseph (his X mark) Woodruff (Seal)
Test
Wm. L Allen
John B. Hendrix
William (his X mark) Jones
Children of Joseph Woodruff and Anna (maiden name said to be Lindsey):
- Samuel
- Thomas
- Caleb
- Mary (Polly) , married James Allen
- Eunice, married William Sparks
- Sarah (Sally) married William Hendrix
- Elizabeth, married Caleb Allen
- Anna, unmarried when her father wrote his will, unless she married a Woodruff cousin
- Joseph
Joseph and Anna Woodruff are not my husband’s direct line, but perhaps this will help another Woodruff researcher. I’m taking a break from the Woodruff posts for a while, as there is a lot of genealogical digging to be done.