As promised, here is the will of Samuel Woodruff who died in Spartanburg County, South Carolina in late 1835 or January 1836:
Will of Samuel Woodruff
Spartanburg County, SC WB C:85-87
Source: FamilySearch
South Carolina
Spartanburg Dist.
In the name of God Amen I Samuel Woodruff Ser of the State and District aforesaid, Being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, Thanks be to God & Calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, I make and ordain this my last Will & Testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the earth, to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors; nothing doubting but at the General resurrection I shall receive the Same again by the mighty power of God. And touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form –
Item 1st I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Nancy Woodruff all the tract of Land lying on the Enoree River whereon I now live, it being the same I bought of William Shackelford and bound as follows: Beginning at the mouth of the cool spring branch of said Branch to the head thence along a fence to a Post oak thence a strait Aim with Allen’s Land to a pine corner, Thence S.67W.7.60 to a stump; thnce N.15W.10.60 Red oak, thence S74.W.41 to the Enoree hickory corner, Thence with the river as it meanders to the beginning mouth of the before mentioned cool Spring branch –
Also my will is that I give my wife four nigroes, namely Patience, Lyd, George & Perry and all their increase from the date of this Will – my riding chair, my black walnut cupboard my walnut chest, my big Bible, one bed and furniture her choice, one bedstead (?)and the (old?) blue curtains, and my (wheat?) fan and the said bed, furniture bed stead cord & curtains and all my wearing apparel for my wife to dispose of as she pleases –
Item 2nd Now my will is that all the remainder of my property both real & personal that I may have at my decease, except what I have willed to my wife to be sold and my wife to have five hundred dollars, and the remainder to be disposed of in the following manner.
My daughter Hannah Pilgrim has received two hundred & eighty nine dollars. I will her eleven dollars more to make her three hundred dollars, my son Joseph Woodruff has received two hundred and ninety five dollars and I will him eighty dollars more to make him three hundred & seventy five dollars ; my son Moses Woodruff has reieved three hundred & fifty eight dollars; I will seventeen dollars more to make him three hundred & seventy five dollaars. My will is that the above named children; Viz Hannah, Phebe (sic – Phebe is not mentioned before this spot!), Joseph, and Moses shall have the sums above named to them and no more of my Estate. –The remainder of my Estate after the above legacies are paid out to be equally divided between my six following named children in proportion to what they have already received, as follows, my son Aaron Woodruff has received four hundred & forty dollars, my son Amos Woodruff has received four hundred and five dollars, my son Richard Woodruff has received four hundred dollars, my son Gidion Woodruff has received five hundred and fifty dollars, my daughter Rebecca Bobo has received four hundred and twelve dollars, my son Isaac Woodruff has received four hundred dollars.—
Item 3rd And also my will is that at my wife’s decease that all the property I leave her, both real and personal as her dower, with its increase to be sold and the proceeds to be equally divided between my following named children, that is to say, Aaron Woodruff, Amos Woodruff, Richard Woodruff, Gidion Woodruff, Rebecca Bobo & Isaac Woodruff. I likewise make & ordain my sons Amos & Richard Woodruff my Executors of this my last Will & Testament I do hereby ratify and confirm this and no other to be my last Will & Testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto Signed sealed and acknowledged the same in presence of all the Subscribing Witnesses 11th July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty five—
Samuel Woodruff (Seal)
William Jones S.M
Wm Clayton
Ely Cox
South Carolina
Spartanburg Dist.
The foregoing will of Samuel Woodruff Decd. was duly proven in Solemn form by the Evidence of William Jones William Clayton & Ely Cox the Subscribing Witnesses and ordered to be admited of Record.
24th Jany 1836 Jno. Bomar OTD