Related Families
The John Harris / Rachel Milly Kittrell Family of Abbeville District, S. C.
For genealogists exploring Abbeville District, S. C., during the years 1780 to 1835 there is confusion of identities because multiple residents are named John Harris, William Harris, Milly Harris, and Elizabeth Harris. Yet it is possible to identify and separate them, although the records are sparse and the repetition of names muddles an easy search.
John Harris, husband of Rachel Milly Kittrell, served South Carolina in the Revolutionary War, having migrated to the Abbeville area before war erupted. His record (“Pvt., 1 Regt. S. C. Continental Line, Rev. War”) is noted on his tombstone. He and Rachel Milly were among the enclave who came to Old Ninety Six from Granville County, N. C., in the pre-war years.
According to Granville County Deed Book I (Eye), p. 167, John Harris and his wife Rachel sold land to John Waldrop on December 24, 1770. Deed Book H states that Richard Harris had made a deed of gift to his son John Harris on November 23, 1766. Thus around 1770 the Harrises likely moved to what would become the Abbeville District of Old Ninety Six. They would reside in the old Hillsborough township at the fork of the Little River and Long Cane Creek.
John Harris died in 1831 and is buried in the Harris-Wideman Cemetery, formerly designated in Abbeville, now in McCormick County. His will (Box 43, Pack 959, Abbeville Probate Court) mentions his wife Milly, his sons William, Robert, John, and Thomas S., and his daughters Elizabeth, Polly, Sarah, Caroline, Peggy, Milly, and Leuisa Catherine. At the time he died some of these children were under the age of 21. The will mentions also Robert and James McCaslan, termed “friends.” Witnesses include Patrick Gibson and Joseph S. Wideman. John Harris’s son William [Stoutly] Harris and James McCaslan are the executors. He leaves his widow a plantation of 100 acres plus “three other small pieces attached to said tract, amounting to ninety-one acres, making in all 191 acres,” plus “one other tract of land containing 160 acres” in Abbeville “on Bold Branch whereupon Henry Wideman now resides on adjoining lands of Robert McCaslan, George McFarland and others.”
This John Harris’s name, as well as that of the Reverend John Harris, is included in Deed Plats: Plat Book A. Ninety Six District, South Side of Saluda River. Commissioner of Locations, 1784-1785. This volume of original drawings from the surveys shows an annotated diagram of land assigned to Rachel Milly Kittrell’s husband, described thus:
“John Harris as a citizen 86 acres of land situate on a branch of Little River bounding NW on land laid out for David Black & Andrew Kerr, E end and land out for John Dickey. Surveyed by Thomas Findley D. S. on the 30th of May inst. as per platt thereof recorded this 29th of May 1785. Robert Anderson, C. L. B. O.”
John Harris seems to be the first to have title to this particular acreage, but the date of his deed records of Granville signal that this evidently was not his earliest Abbeville home. The war, begun in the late 1770s, would end in the 1780s. Likely John and Rachel Milly, along perhaps with a young child or children, settled on other Abbeville land before 1780. The 1785 grant was made to “citizen” John Harris. The 86 acres are within the old Hillsborough settlement, established in 1762. Comprised in the 28,000 acres of Hillsborough were the Huguenot town of New Bordeaux and farmlands along Long Cane Creek, Bold Branch, Buffalo Creek, and Little River. Page 116 of Robert L. Meriwether’s The Expansion of South Carolina, 1729-1765, Philadelphia: Porcupine Press, 1974, features a map of Old Ninety Six District showing the locations of the townships of Hillsborough, Boonesborough, and Londonborough (or Belfast) settlements.
South of Hillsborough (the largest of the three) and just north of the Edgefield District boundary is the Barksdale Ferry Road, stretching from Saluda to the Savannah River. In southern Abbeville it is the main east-west thoroughfare of the time. The region’s post office is at Longmire’s Store (established 1809 in the north of Edgefield District), the first postmaster being John Longmire.
Among the many residents in Hillsborough enumerated as heads of households in the earliest census reports are John Harris, Will Stoutly Harris, Henry Wideman, Adam Wideman, Cornelius Collier, Edward Collier, Joshua Hill, Uel Hill, William Hill, Robert Foster, Drury Breazeal, Patrick Gibson, James McCaslan, Robert McCaslan, Charles Brit, Hickerson Barksdale, John McCullough, Pierre Roger, Peter B. Roger, Peter Delishaw, Lazarus Covin, Peter Belote, and Peter Moragne. In the 1800 census of Abbeville the names of John Harris, Edward Collier, Lazarus Covin, Peter Belote, William Stoutly Harris, Peter Moragne, and Joshua Hill appear on the same page. In 1820 Uel Hill, Peter Delishaw, Charles Brit, Joshua Hill, and Isaac Moragne are clustered together, as are John Harris, Adam Wideman, and Edward W. Collier. Listed together also are Peter B. Roger(s), Henry Wideman, John Wideman, Samuel Wideman, and Robert McCaslan. The Abbeville plat books likewise signal that some of these are near neighbors. The family of John Harris and Rachel Milly Kittrell lives among settlers who in the main are Huguenot and Scots-Irish immigrants, although the Harris family is of neither group. The dominant religious faith in the settlement is Presbyterianism.
Perhaps the most notable of the Abbeville men named John Harris is a prominent Presbyterian minister. He is of no kinship to the husband of Rachel Milly Kittrell. He too has a son named John, a Revolutionary War soldier who served under General Pickens and who married the general’s daughter. The Reverend John Harris established and pastored various Abbeville churches, including Hopewell, founded in 1750 as Lower Long Cane Church, but his ministry was based mainly in the northwest of the county around Rocky River. He was educated at Princeton and was married to Mary Dashiell Handy. Their children, in addition to the soldier John, are Handy Harris, a Revolutionary War soldier who became a physician; Elizabeth Harris, who married Joseph Irving; Ann Handy Harris, who married Elijah McCurdy and settled in Lincoln County, Tenn.; and Thomas Harris, who settled in DeKalb, Ga. The Reverend John Harris’s will was proven on April 5, 1791. Several plats assigned to him are represented in the Ninety Six plats book. Most are along the Savannah River.
In Abbeville genealogy the recurring of the Harris names John, Milly, Elizabeth, and William offers a punishing problem. Here, with our identifications, is a list of the children of John Harris and Rachel Milly Kittrell, along with grandchildren and some great-grandchildren, many of them sharing the family given names:
- William Stoutly Harris m. (1) Mary S. Paul, m. (2) Sarah J. Baker
- Elizabeth Harris m. (1) Cornelius Collier, Jr., who d. 1790 (Box 20, Pack 442; he left 14 slaves), m. (2) Solomon Alston Hunter, d. 1799 (Box 47, Pack 1063). Elizabeth and her brother “Will Stoutly Harris” served as Hunter’s co-administrators. Elizabeth is listed in the 1790 Abbeville census as “Elizabeth Colyer,” owner of the 14 slaves mentioned in Collier’s estate settlement. Her second husband, whom she married ca. 1792, was the brother-in-law of her uncle, Isham Kittrell (b. 1762, N. C.), who was married to Ann Alston Hunter of Granville Co./Warren Co., N. C.
- Milly Harris m. Adam Wideman. Milly’s name (probably Emilia) can be confused with that of her mother and of her sister-in-law Milly Stanfield Link, who married John Harris, Jr.
- Robert A. Harris m. (1) Theresa Cason, m. (2) Mary Susan Wideman. Moved to Mississippi.
- Polly Harris m. William Tatum
- John Harris (d. 1817) m. Milly Stanfield Link (b. 1788), daughter of Robert Link. Their children: Elizabeth Harris (b. 1814 Abbeville, d. 1884, Lee Co., Miss.) m. Braxton Cason; William Harris (d. 1839 Abbeville) m. Elizabeth (Betsy) Glover, daughter of Wiley Glover and Jemima Satterwhite. The children of William Harris and Elizabeth Glover are John C. Harris (d. 1844) and Henrietta A. Scott of Savannah; Mary F. Harris (d. before 1839), wife of James F. Herten; Rebecca Satterwhite Harris m. George Alexander Addison; Wiley Glover Harris; Sarah A. Harris m. Col. Marshall Fraser, whose daughter is Mary Elizabeth Fraser; William Harris m. Mary Ann Caldwell, whose children are Wiley Harris and Mary Frances Harris; Jemima Harris m. Nathan Lipscomb; and Elizabeth Ann Harris.
- Sarah (Sally) Harris m. Joshua Wideman
- Caroline Harris m. Tinsley Rucker
- Peggy (Margaret) Harris m. Wade Cowan
- Leuisa Catherine Harris m. William Edwin Link
- Thomas S. Harris listed in the 1830 Abbeville census as 30-40, wife 20-3-, 2 sons, 2 daughters
Our ancestors are John Harris, Rachel Milly Harris, Elizabeth Harris Collier, and Solomon Alston Hunter. Having researched Abbeville records for a number of years, we offer this as our interpretation of the Harris-Kittrell genealogy. It is, of course, subject to evaluation and comment and perhaps to correction.
Hunter McKelva Cole
Martha Cole Rester
April 2006
The Harrises of Warren County, Ga., and Baldwin County, Ga.
Thomas Harris and Sarah Gardner of Baldwin County were the parents of Martha P. Harris, wife of James Alston Hunter.
The Harrises left Warren Co., Ga., in 1806. As “a free white male with wife and/or child (legitimate), or children, under twenty-one, a resident in Georgia for at least one year, and a U. S. citizen,” Thomas qualified for two draws in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery. His serial number was 1809, and the grant fee was $8.10 for a lot 202½ acres, or 2,970 square feet. His first draw was a blank, but with the second he took a prize, Lot 85 in the 1st District of Baldwin County (1805 Land Lot Grant Book, p. 298. See also 1805 Georgia Land Lottery: Fortunate Drawers and Grantees, compiled by Paul K. Graham. Decatur, Ga.: The Genealogy Company, 2004, p. 4). The tract was located not far from the boundary of Indian Territory on the west and Wilkinson County on the south (See the original district plats on Georgia’s Virtual Vault). The Harrises’ neighbors included families named Anderson, Justice, Etheridge, Worsham, and Beckam, and a business called Perry’s Store (Abstract of Harris property division, 1820, Hunter family papers). The “District Plats of Survey, 7 August 1804,” show that this property was covered in red oak, pin oak, white oak, pine, and sassafras. A trail labeled “Hawkins” crosses Lot 85 (Survey Records, Surveyor General, RG 3-3-24, Georgia Archives). Harris’s lottery land was within Captain Cox’s Militia District (“1810 Baldwin Tax List,” Records of Baldwin County, Georgia, Albany, Ga.: Delwyn Associates, 1975, p. 37). Besides Lot 85 in Baldwin, he owned Lot 110 (202½ acres) in the part of Twiggs County that formerly had been in the 26th district of Wilkinson County.
Thomas had married Sarah around 1797, when she was about fifteen, and they resided in Warren County on land adjacent to the plantation of Pryor Gardner, Sarah’s father, and within Capt. J. B. Flournoy’s militia district. The Gardners were native North Carolinians from Halifax and Edgecombe Counties and were prominent in their new community. The first courthouse of Warren County was constructed on a parcel that had belonged to Pryor’s brother Sterling.
On 20 January 1804, Thomas Harris bought land on Long Creek of the Ogechee River, with his father-in-law serving as witness to the sale (Warren County Deed Book B, p. 612). On 11 October 1804 William Gardner (Pryor’s brother) sold Thomas sixteen acres, also situated on Long Creek, and again the sale was witnessed by Pryor Gardner, who was justice of the peace, and by his daughter Fannea (Warren County Deed Book B, p. 613). The tax digest of 1805 classifies these 200 acres as “third quality” and formerly the property of Barnett. Harris was enumerated with one poll and three slaves and was taxed at $1.50.
Pryor Gardner and his wife Drucilla (née Rose) worshiped at Long Creek Baptist Church, established in 1786. A facsimile of the church minutes book (Georgia Archives, Microfilm AH, Drawer 21, Box 61,) lists Pryor as No. 135 among male communicants during 1799 – 1819. Having transferred from elsewhere, Pryor and Drucilla, No. 101 among the females, had joined the church “by letter” (pp. 11, 15, 57, 60). Thomas Harris, their son-in-law, No. 69 on the male list, and Sarah, No. 100 among the females, joined by profession of faith and were baptized. Baptists practiced immersion, and Thomas and Sarah likely were baptized in Long Creek. Thomas’s conversion is documented in the church minutes on May 26, 1804: “Conference met agreeably to appointment. 1st a door was opened for any one to come forward to receive.” Thomas did so,“by experience” (p. 75).The word “dismissed” was written after their names (pp. 58, 62) when he and Sarah left Warren County.
The distance between Warren and Milledgeville, according to A Gazetteer of the State of Georgia (Adiel Sherwood, 1837), was estimated to be forty-five miles. The trail into the former Creek lands would become a stage road, with a stage every day but Wednesday and a fare of ten dollars (p. 56). The Harrises arrived in Baldwin with three daughters, the eldest Mary “Polly” (b. ca. 1799), Elizabeth “Lizer,” and Martha P. (b. 1805). Later additions to the family were born in Baldwin—Frances “Fanny” (b. 1806), Drucilla (named for her maternal grandmother), Sarah Ann, and two sons, Pryor Gardner Harris and Thomas Harris, Jr.(b.1812).
In 1814-15 Thomas was serving in the 2nd Class Georgia Militia company commanded by Captain William Harvey (Military records, Georgia Archives, cited in Records of Baldwin County, Georgia. Albany, Ga.: Delwyn Associates, 1975, p. 79). This unit was within the 33rd Regiment, commanded by Lt. Col. Smith. Thomas’s name appears in a company roster with the names of neighbors and friends. Among these are Samuel Swilley, John Stephens, Ambrose Chapman, Hiram B. Troutman, Drury Lesseur, Michael Perry, John Rushing (Thomas’s brother-in-law), and Fielding Ellis. They surface again in Thomas Harris’s will, in his estate papers, or in his children’s guardianship records. In 1816 Thomas Harris was captain of a militia company in Jones County, where District 302 was designated as “Capt. T. Harris’s District” on the tax rolls. Since no such district appears on the map, possibly it should be District 202, which was adjacent to District 322 of Baldwin County, in which Harris owned property. Posthumously he is mentioned as “Captain Thomas Harris” (Milledgeville, Georgia Journal, 15 August 1820).
The April 6, 1814, issue of the Georgia Journal announced that Thomas’s ownership of his lottery land was at risk. “Will be sold, on the first Tuesday in May next, at the Court-house in the town of Milledgeville . . . Lot No. 85, 1st district Baldwin County, levied on as the property of Thomas Harris, to satisfy an execution against said Harris and Adam Carson. (Signed ) John Watson, Shff.” How Thomas managed to retain this property is not known. The issue of April 27 mentions Lot 72, additional property Thomas owned. It adjoined Lot 85:
“Will be sold, on the first Tuesday in June next, at the Court-house in the town of Milledgeville . . . Lot No. 72, in the 1st district of Baldwin County, levied on as the property of William Middleton, to satisfy an execution . . . in favor of Joseph Bevan, levy made by the former Sheriff Philip Cook and claimed by Thomas Harris . . . (Signed) John Watson, Sheriff.” Middleton (Myddleton) had won this land in the 1805 lottery.
In the issue of January 18, 1815, Thomas published a warning that he had stopped payment on his promissory note given to Bevan. “All persons are hereby cautioned against trading for a note at hand, due the first of January next; given by the subscriber [Thomas Harris] to Thomas Fitch agent for Joseph Bivan [sic], as consideration for which said note was given has failed. (Signed) Thomas Harris.” Yet Thomas eventually owned Lot 72. Since the deed was destroyed when Sherman burned the Baldwin County courthouse, the terms of negotiating the sale are lost. Thomas became the owner of 405 acres, the combining to the two lots.
On 12 December 1816 Thomas Harris signed his will. In the bequest his widow was granted full rights to the estate during her widowhood. If she remarried, the estate would be divided and she would receive one equal share (a child’s share). The will, with Thomas’s X (his mark), was witnessed by Isaac Newton, Samuel Swilley, William Harvill, John Rushing, Jr., and Fielding Ellis (Baldwin County Wills, 1806-1832, p. 117.) Thomas died in early January 1817, and his will was admitted to the record on 8 January.
The inventory and appraisal of his property was completed on 17 January by Henry Worsham, J[ohn]. D. Chapman, and John H. Smith. Worsham was a neighbor whose land adjoined Harris’s Lot 72. The appraised value of Thomas’s chattels totaled $4,343.00. They included household furnishings, food staples, livestock, tacking and gear, farm machinery, a shotgun, domestic items, and the slaves Gilbert, Kiar, two named Hiram, Elley, Susannah, Ansick, and Spencer. Three others, a child named Sucky and Elley’s children Hurzick and Morning, are not mentioned in the inventory. It does not include Thomas’s 607½ acres in real estate (two lots in Baldwin and one in Twiggs).
In March Sarah, a widow of thirty-four, posted a notice in the Milledgeville newspaper: “All persons indebted to the estate of Thomas Harris, late of Baldwin County, are requested to make immediate payment. (Signed) Sarah Harris, Ex’x” (Georgia Journal, 25 March 1817).
For the next three years she struggled to meet the demands of rearing her seven children and of managing the Harris estate. On 15 August 1820 the Georgia Journal published this item: “Married, on the night of the 6th inst. by Squire Jenkins, Mr. James Powell to Mrs. Sarah Harris, widow of the late Capt. Thomas Harris, both of Baldwin County.” In consequence, the terms of Thomas’s will were honored, and the estate was divided among the heirs.
The division is detailed in Baldwin County Sales Book D, 1808-1827, pp. 99-101. The family abstract simplifies the discussion by outlining the Harris plat on a grid showing North, South, East, and West and assigning each legatee the equivalent of $850, as follows: “Fanny Next Worsham & Justice S.W. corner of Lot 72, $650 and Kiah $200. Liser [Elizabeth] Next Anderson N. W. Cr. of Lot 72 @ $350 and Spencer @ $500. Sarah S. E. Cr. of Lot 72 where Etheridge lives @ $700 and to be paid out of the Estate $150. Martha Woods next Beckam N. W. Cr. of Lot 72 @ $350 and Hiram @ $500. Prior Tract South Cr. of Lot 85 S.W. @ $450 and Sucky @ $300. To be paid out of the Estate $100. Mrs. Harris [paid to her new husband James Powell] N. W. Cr. of 85 @ $700 to be paid of the Est $150 = $850. Drucilla S. E. Cr. of Lot 85 @ $450 and Hannah [Susannah] $300. To be paid out of the Estate $100. I. Stephens [husband of Mary Polly] N. E. Cr. of Lot 85 – Perry’s Store @ $550 – $850 plus his own Debt $216 $911.00. To pay back the Estate $51.” Young Thomas was not granted land. He was awarded
“Elley & child and Ansick” (Hunter family papers).
The full text in Sales Book D points out legal and business shortcomings that troubled the estate: “We also require the manager of the Estate to pay to each legate whatever sum they may be in arrears, to make each eight hundred dollars and to collect from those who have received over that amount so as to make each equal. We further charge and require the said manager to collect all debts due the Estate and pay all that the estate may be in debt as soon as practicable also to sell the land which belongs to the Estate in Twiggs and after collected to make an equal distribution of the proceeds and also of all other moneys which may be left after the debts are paid. We also recommend that the court appoint their guardians. We also viewing the extreme difficulty which the Estate is now in for want of an acting Executor or administrator we do hope and recommend that the court will appoint an administrator with the will required to settle the business of the Estate. Given under our hands and seals this 9th of July 1821. Drury M. Leseuer, Fielding Ellis, M[ichael] W. Perry, John H. Smith.”
The 9 October 1821 issue of the Georgia Journal included this notice: “Nine months after date, application will be made to the inferior Court of Baldwin County for leave to sell 202½ acres of land in the county of Twiggs, the property of Thomas Harris, deceased, of said county. (Signed) Drury M. Leseur, Adm’r, with the will annexed.” Again, on 10 September the Journal advertised the sale: “Postponed Sale. The following property will be sold by an order of the Court of Ordinary for the County of Baldwin, on the 1st Tuesday in October next, at the court-house in the town of Marion, Twiggs County, one tract of land, containing 202½ acres, 26th district Wilkinson, now Twiggs County, No. 110—for the benefit of the heirs of Thomas Harris, deceased, late of the county aforesaid. (Signed) Drury M. Leseur, Adm’r. With the will annexed.”
In 1822, $6.93 in tax was due on 50 acres that had been taken from Sarah’s new husband James Powell. This delinquent land of second quality in Baldwin County was occupied by Fielding Ellis, and it adjoined John D. Chapman’s. On 8 October the Georgia Journal listed this seized land with other properties in a “collector’s sale”
Harris’s Twiggs property remained unsold, and the notice continued to be printed. Lesueur ran it again on 31 July 1827.
Except for Mary “Polly,” who had married Isaac Stephens on 19 August 1819, the Harris children became wards of guardians—variously to Ambrose Chapman, Drury Lesseur, Hiram B. Troutman, Allen L. Nichols, Dempsey Justice, John Rushing, Michael Perry, and James Powell. The assignments and the annual reports of expenditures against their respective estates were entered in the record books of Baldwin County.
Eventually, young Thomas became the ward of James Alston Hunter, whom Martha Harris married in 1822. For a time Sarah Ann Harris resided with the Powells, but she too became a ward of James Hunter. The two siblings—Thomas and Sarah Ann—were with James and Martha as they migrated across Georgia through Crawford and Talbot Counties. Afterwards, the Hunters moved to Meriwether County and then, in 1835, to Choctaw Co., Miss. In 1845, after Thomas’s marriage to Lydia Burks in Talbot, he migrated to Scott Co., Miss. The 1850 and 1860 censuses report that his mother, Sarah Gardner Harris Powell, widowed again, was residing in his household. In 1853 Westley Anderson, living in Alabama, wrote to Martha Hunter, reminding that her mother was eligible for bounty land and alluded to Thomas Harris’s service during the War of 1812. He advised that “old John Stephens,” a military comrade of Thomas’s, was still alive and a reliable witness to the truth of her claim if she chose to apply (Family letter in collection of James A. Womack).
In 1861, Sarah Gardner Harris Powell, seventy-eight, died in Leake Co., Miss. Shortly before the outbreak of war, Thomas’s son, Andrew Jackson Hunter, was a senior at the University of Mississippi. “He was twenty-two then, and only a month from graduating, but he left college, and organized a company which became the 27th Infantry, C. S. A. (Family letter from May Harris Walker, daughter of Andrew Jackson Harris and granddaughter of Thomas Harris, Jr., to Mattie V. Callender, 17 October 1945).
Thomas married a second time, to his late wife’s widowed sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Burks Traylor, and about 1865 moved to Texas. He died there in Comanche County in 1894, survived by many children. His sister Sarah Ann married (1) James Anderson and (2) Charles Talley and lived in Emerson, Arkansas. Fanny Harris married Westley Anderson, and they migrated to Mississippi with James and Martha Hunter. They returned east and settled in Roanoke, Ala. After Westley’s death in 1855, Fanny married James Mickle and died in 1902. Drucilla married Jesse Miller in 1826. Pryor Gardner Harris married and died in Georgia before 1845 (Letter of May Harris Walker to Mattie V. Callender, 17 October 1945).
Thomas Harris
Court Records
Baldwin County, Georgia
Thomas Harris was the father of Martha P. Harris, wife of James Alston Hunter.
In 1808 Harris and his wife Sarah Gardner left Warren Co., Ga., and settled in Baldwin County on Lot 85 (202½ acres), which Thomas had won in the 1805 Georgia Land Lottery. He died nine years later, less than a month after signing his will. According to its terms, his bequest to his widow was subdivided after she remarried in 1820 to James Powell. While in her care, the estate was troubled by inefficiency. The court responded by parceling the land and chattels equally among the heirs and by placing the children with guardians. The following citations from Baldwin County record books detail the execution of the estate.
Will Book A
P. 117
In the name of God amen, I Thomas Harris of the county of Baldwin and the state of Georgia do make, ordain and publish this my last will and testament in the manner & form following, viz, First of all, I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Sarah Harris all my estate, both real and personal, during her life or widowhood, and I wish for her (at her discretion) to give to my children as they marry off, as much as the estate and her situation will conveniently admit of, but in case of her marrying again, I wish and direct that there may [be] a final distribution of my estate, then to be equally made between my children and the said Sarah, she having a child’s part. I do also make and appoint my dear wife Sarah Harris my sole executrix to this my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal, this twelfth day of December in the year of our lord in Christ eighteen hundred and sixteen.
his
Thomas X Harris {Seal}
mark
Signed & sealed in the presence of us
Isaac Newton Saml Swilley William Harvill John Rushen, Jr. Fielding Ellis
Will proved 8 January 1817
Baldwin County Georgia
Court of Ordinary
Inventories and Appraisements
1816-1827
P. 40
An Inventory of Property of Thomas Harris decd Taken this 17th of January 1817
To one Negro Gilbert $300.00
To one ditto Kiar $300.00
To one ditto Hirum $350.00
To one ditto Elley $575.00
To one ditto Susannah $300.00
To one ditto Ansick $200.00
To one ditto Hiram $450.00
To one ditto Spencer $400.00
To one waggon & hind geer $45.00
To one Blind Mare $15.00
To one Sorrel Horse $50.00
To one Sorrel Horse $40.00
To one Blind Bay Mare & Colt $20.00
To one Bay Colt $20.00
To one Red Cow & Calf $15.00
To one nohorned Cow & Calf $15.00
To one Speckled Cow & Calf $13.00
To one Pided Cow & Calf $13.00
P. 41
To one Pided Cow & Yearlin $11.00
To one nohorned Heifer $8.00
To Two Heifers $10.00
To one Bull Yearlin $3.00
To one Red Cow & Yearlin $13.00
To one Desk $20.00
To one Slab $2.00
To one Chest $200
To one Iron Square $0.50
To one Lot of books $10.00
[Total] 3213.50
To one lot of Chears $2.50
To one Bed Stead & furniture $15.00
To one ditto $20.00
To one Cheer Box $1.00
To one Bed and Sted and Furniture $20.00
To one Shot Gun $20.00
To one Bofat & Furniture $20.00
To one Bed & Furniture $20.00
To one ditto $7.00
To one Trunk $5.00
To one Pair of Stettards $3.00
To one Coffee Mill $1.00
To one Spinning Wheel $1.00
To 3 Pair of Cotton Cards $1.00
To one Lot of old tools $4.00
To Three Sives $.75
To one old Saddle and lot of Leather $3.00
To Two Pair of Fire Dogs $4.00
To one Pair of Flat Irons $1.00
To one Lot of Pot ware $18.00
To one Loom & Geers $7.00
To one Lot of Coopers ware $3.75
P. 42
To one Sithe & Cradle $1.00
To one lot of Tools $19.50
To two Clevics Ditto $.50
To one lot of Casks $4.50
To one lot Meat $150.00
To one lot of Lard $10.00
To one lot of Hogs $50.00
To four head of Sheep $8.00
[Total] $427.50
To one lot of corn $90.00
Yo one Half bushel $1.00
To one lot of fodder $10.00
To one Cow Hide $1.00
To one Mashane $40.00
To the [three?] Geers $10.00
To one Thrashing Mashane $10.00
To one Still $130.00
To one Lott of Stands $25.00
To one Saddle & Bridle $10.00
To one Lott of Seed Cotton $375.00
[Total] $702.00
Amounts brot. From pages 1st & 2nd
$3213. 50
$427.50
[Total] $4343.00
Georgia Baldwin County} In obedience to an order from the honorable Court of Ordinary of this county made the 8th day of January last, we have proceeded to appraise the Estate of Thos. Harris decd. and find the amount to be Four Thousand, Three hundred & forty Three Dollars; As will more fully appear by the above Inventory – Given from under our hands this 22nd day of February 1817
Henry Worsham J. D. Chapman John H. Smith
P. 43
Georgia Baldwin County} You and each of you shall swear that you will make a just and true
Appraisement of all and singular the Goods & Chattels of Thomas Harris decd. as shall be produced to you by Sarah Harris Executor of the Estate of the said Thomas Harris decd. and that you will return the same certified under your hands unto the said Sarah Harris Executrix within the time prescribed by law.
J. D. Chapman Henry Worsham John H. Smith
Sworn to before me this 17th day of January 1817
Fielding Ellis J. P.
Baldwin County Georgia
Court of Ordinary
Sales Book D
1808 – 1827
P. 99
Georgia / Baldwin County Agreeable to an order of the Honorable Inferior Court of Said county when sitting for ordinary purposes We have made and distributed the Estate of Thos Harris decd. as follows: 1Lott To Isaac Stephens a legal heir by Intermarriage of Sarah [should be Polly] Harris a Daughter and heir of said decd. the North East quarter of lott 85 In the first Dist aforesaid with the Improvement at Six hundred and fifty Dollars and his acpt of Two hundred and Sixty one Dollars which we require the Said Stephens to pay to the manager of the Estate or proportionable to each distributee Sixty-one Dollars which is over and above his equal share until the debts are paid – 2d To Prior G Harris – a minor & heir of said Estate the south West quarter of lott 85 In the first Dis aforesaid at four hundred & fifty dollars and a small negro girl called Sucy at thre hundred dollars – 3d lott to James Powell a Representative by Intermarriage of the widow the North West quarter of lott 85 In the 1st Dist aforesaid at Seven hundred dollars – 4th Lott to Drucella Harris minor & heir of the same – the South East quarter of lott 85 in the same Dist at four hundred & fifty Dollars and a negro wench called Hord at three hundred dollars 5th lot To Fany also a minor and heir of Said wit The South West quarter of lott 72 in the said dist aforesaid at Six hundred fifty Dollars & a negro fellow called Kiah at two hundred dollars 6th Lott Lisor [Elizabeth] an heir also of said ded The north west quarter of lott 72 In the first dit aforesaid at three hundred and fifty and a negro boy Spence at five hundred – 7th Lott To Martha an heir also of said Ded. – The North East quarter of lott No 72 in the first Dit aforesaid at three hundred & fifty Dollars and a negro Boy named Hirmen [Hiram] to five hundred dollars 8th Lott to Thomas a minor of said Ded three negroes Elle and her two children Huzick & Morning at Eight hundred and fifty dollars – 9th Lott to Sarah a minor a minor [sic] and also an heir of said ded – the South East quarter of lott 72 in the first Dist aforesaid at Six hundred Dollars – We also require the manager of the Estate to pay to each legatee whatever sum they may be in arrears To make each Eight hundred Dollars and to collect from those who have received over that amount as to make each equal – We further charge and require the said manager to collect all debts due the Estate and pay all that the Estate may be in debt as soon as practicable also to sell the Land [Lot 110, District 26] which belongs to the Estate In Twiggs [County, formerly in Wilkinson County] and after collected to make an equal distribution of the proceeds and also of all other monies which may be left after the debts are paid – We also from feelings of the purest Interest for the minor heirs Recommend that the court appoint their Guardians – We also viewing the extreme difficulty which the Estate is now in for want of an acting Executor or administrator we do hope and recommend that the Court will appoint an administrator with the will annexed to settle the business of the Estate – Sworn under our hands and seals this 9th July 1821
Drury M Leseuer {seal}
Fielding Ellis {seal}
M. W. Perry {seal}
John H. Smith {seal}
Court of Ordinary
Court Minutes, 1819 – 1833
Index
Harris Thos., decd., [illegible] appointed to divide Estate of (19)
Harris Thomas, Dempsey Justice appointed G for orphs of (23)
Harris Thomas A. Chapman & M W Perry app. G for orphs of (23) (24)
Harris Pryor G. Drury Leseur appointed G of (24)
Harris Sarah dau James Powell appointed guar. For (25)
Harris M. P. John Rushin Junr appointed G for (25)
Harris Thomas admr unto the will annexd granted D. K. Lessure (34)
Harris S. A. And M. P. Their guardns removed & D. M. Leseure appd (38)
Harris Tho. Admr of authorizd to sell Land (51)
Harris Thomas orphans Gud. Removed & A. Ler & H. B. T. Appd (66)
Harris Sarah J. A. Hunter appd Guard (83)
Hunter James A Guar. S Harris Ret (133)
Hunter James A. Gua T Harris Ret (144) (212) (284)
Hunter J. A. Gua T. Harris, order to exchange Security of (17)
P. 19
Monday the 5th November 1820
Ordered that Dempsey Justice be & he is hereby appointed Guardian for Martha & Fanny Harris orphans of Thomas Harris decd and also Ambrose Chapman be and he is hereby appointed guardian for Sarah, Drusella & Eliza Harris orphans of the said Thomas Harris decd and that each of said Guardians do give bond and good security such as will be approved of by this clerk also that Michael W Perry be and he is hereby appointed Guardian for Thomas Harris orphan of the said Thomas Harris decd and give the alike security
P. 25
Monday the 5th March 1821
Ordered that James Powell be appointed Guardian for Sarah Ann Harris orphan of Thomas Harris decd and give bond and sufficient security for the faithful performance.
Ordered that John Rushin Jr be appointed Guardian for Martha P Harris orphan &c in place of Dempsey Justice who refuses to act By his giving good surety
P. 28
Ordered that Dempsey Justice who has been here fore appointed Guardian to Martha & Fanny Harris be and he is hereby exonerated from all liability whatever
At a Court of ordinary began and held in and for the County of Baldwin on the third day of September 1821
P. 34
The executor of the will of Thomas Harris deceased being now in Court and [illegible] that an administrator be appointed with the will annexed on said Estate upon the property which remains undivided and that be surrendered up and given in charge of said administrator
Ordered that Drury M Lesseur be and he is hereby appointed administrator of the estate of Thomas Harris with the will annexed & that said administrator take un[illegible] charge of the remaining undisposed part of said estate and that said admner give bond in terms of the Law
P. 38
Tuesday the 6th Novr 1821
It appearing the the Court that James Powell who was appointed guardian for Sarah Ann Harris orphan of Thomas Harris at the [illegible] of the court on the first Monday in March 1821 has not secured bond in terms of the Law and that John Rushin at the [illegible] of the Court was appointed guardian for Martha P Harris orphan of the said Thomas Harris who has also failed to give bond as aforesaid It is therefore ordered that the before mentioned appointments of guardians be and are hereby annulled & [illegible] and that Drury M Lesure be and he is hereby appointed Guardian for the afore mentioned Sarah Ann Harris & Martha P Harris orphans aforesaid & that the said Drury M Lesure give bond as the Laws require
H Allen A Young Wms. Rutherford
P. 46
Monday the 4th March 1822
P. 47
Drury M Lesure guardian &c made by return which was received and ordered to be recorded
P. 50
Monday 1st of July 1822
P. 51
On motion It is order that Drury M. Lesure admr with the will annexed of Thomas Harris decd have leave to sell a tract of land containing two hundred two & a half acres lying in the 25th [or 20th] district of Wilkinson to be sold as part of the estate of said decd for the benefit of his heir & creditors.
P. 65
Tuesday the 7th Jany 1823
P. 66
It appearing to the Court that Drury M Lesure Guardian for the orphans of Thomas Harris decd has removed without the limits of this County It is therefore ordered that Allen L. Nichols and Hiram B Troutman be and they are hereby appointed the Guardians of said orphans upon their giving bond and security for Sarah Harris, Pryor Harris and Drucilla Harris & Eliza Harris
P. 82
At a Court of Ordinary began and held in & for the County of Baldwin on the 12th day of January 1824
P. 83
James A Hunter having made application for access of Guardianship for Sarah Harris orphan of Thomas Harris decd & that gave bond & surety
It is ordered that letters be granted to said James A Hunter
P. 130
At a Court of Ordinary began and held in and for the County of Baldwin on the 7th November 1825
P. 132
Ordered that Hiram B Troutman guardian of Sarah Harris a minor have leave to sell fifty acres of Land lying in Baldwin County belonging to said minor by his complying with the statement made and provided in such cases
P. 135
Hiram B. Troutman guardian of Sarah Harris made his Return which was examined Received and ordered to be recorded
James A Hunter guardian of Thos Harris made his return which was examined Received and ordered to be Recorded
P. 143
Monday the 6th February 1826. . . .
P. 144
James A Hunter Guardian for Thomas Harris made his return which was examined received and ordered to be recorded
P. 149
At a Court of Ordinary begun held in and for the County of Baldwin on Monday the 1st day of May 1826
P. 153
Hiram B Troutman Guardian for Sarah Harris made his return which was examined received and ordered to be recorded
P. 172
At a Court of Ordinary begun and held in and for the County of Baldwin on Monday the first day of January 1827
P. 173
On motion It is ordered that Isaac Stephens be discharged from his security ship as security for the Guardianship of Thomas Harris minor orphan of Thomas Harris decd on James A Hunter
giving David B Hlll as his Security in place of said Isaac Stephens in the sum of one thousand dollars as his security for said guardianship
P. 180
At a court of ordinary begun and held in and for the county of Baldwin on Monday the 5th day of March 1827
Appleton Justice and Stephen Justice Executors of the last Will and Testament of Dempsey Justice decd [illegible] need the said will in open court which was proven upon the oaths of Walter S. Jenkins and William Colbert and admitted to the record – whereupon the said Appleton Justice and Stephen Justice were duly qualified as Executors & letters Testamentary ordered to be issued accordingly and it is further ordered that W. S. Jenkins, William Colbert, Charles Smith, Benj Lester and Isaiah Chapman be appointed appraisers of said Estate.
P. 184
Hiram B. Troutman Guardian of Sarah Harris a minor made his return which was recd and ordered to be recorded
P. 212
At a court of Ordinary begun and held in and for the County of Baldwin on Monday the 5th day of May 1828
James A. Hunter guardian of Thomas Harris, a minor, made his return of account current which was examined & ordered to be recorded.
P. 251
At a Court of Ordinary held in and for the county of Baldwin on Monday the 4th day of May 1829
P. 258
Hiram B. Troutman presented his account currant with the Estate of Sarah Harris a minor which examined, allowed & ordered to be recorded
P. 276
At a court of Ordinary begun and held in & for the county of Baldwin on Monday the 4th day of January 1830
P. 284
James A. Hunter guardian of Thomas Harris, minor, Return for 1828 of the hire of negroes
Baldwin County, Georgia
Court of Ordinary
Returns, Book B, 1820 – 1824
P. 181
D[ebi]t.
Drucilla Harris Orphans [sic] of Thomas Harris ded
1821 Paid Terondet & Atkinson & Co $3.25
Paid Wicker & Justice Store account $2.50
Paid John D. & A. Chapman Store acct $4.87½
3 Months Schooling $3.00
Paid Henry L. Jones tax for 1821 .18 3/4
P. 182
In account with Drury M. Laseur Guardian Cr
Received of George McKinney $23.00
P. 183
Dr. Pryor G. Harris Orphan of Thomas Harris Decd
1821 Paid Wicker & Justice Store accot $8.12½
Paid Terondet & Atkinson & Co. Do $13.62½
3 Months Schooling $3.00
Paid H. L. Jones tax for 1821 .18 3/4
P. 184
In account with Drury M Lesure Guardian Cr
Received of David Worsham $21.00
P. 288
Sarah Harris a Minor in a/c with Hiram B. Troutman Guardian
Cr[edit]
1824
By Cash received from Drury M Leseur Admr of the estate of Thomas Harris Decd
on account of Sarah Harris $69.31 1/4
D[ebit]
Jany 1st 1824
Paid James Powell as pr receipt for 12 months board & 3 months tuition
for Sarah Harris for the year 1823 $48.00
Balance Due Sarah Harris $21.31 1/4
1814 Jan 1 Rented her land 23 acres of cleared Land for $60.00 Hiram B. Troutman Gdn
Baldwin County, Georgia
Court of Ordinary
Returns, Book C
1824 – 1831
P. 54
Sarah Harris
To H B Troutman
D[ebit]
1825
Jan 1st To cash paid James Powell for Board Clothing & 3 months tuition for the year 1824
as per Vo 1 $48.00
Cash paid Tax collector .18 3/4
To a Bonnett and dressing for the same
Bot of Rowe & Newell for her $7.50
To a Dress Bot of Rowe & Newell $3.00
[Total] $58.68 3/4
Cr[edit]
Balance Due on the 1st of Jany 1824 $21.31 1/4
Cr By the rent of her Land 1824 $60.00
[Total] $81.31 3/4
Balance Due Sarah Harris up to 1st Jany 1825 $22.62 1/4
P. 56
Estate of Thomas Harris a minor in account current
1822
D[ebit]
To James A Hunter Guardian
July 5th To amount paid Doctors Bill Voucher No 1 $5.00
“ To amt paid Tax No 2 2.00
1824
July 7 To amt paid for Tuition No 3 4.00
Jany 12th To Letters Guardianship No 4 1.87½
“ “ Paid Tax No 5 1.43 3/4
“ “ Tuition No 6 3.00
$17.37½
Credit
1824
By cash recd from Benj Doles
for Hire of negro woman Elly $25.00
P. 83
James A Hunter To Thomas Harris
Cr[edit]
By Cash recd of John Stephens for the hire of negro woman Elley for 1825 $26.00
James A Hunter Gdn
P. 98
A Return made 1st Monday in May 1826
Sarah Harris A minor
To H B Troutman
D[ebit]
Feby 8th 1826
To Cash paid James Powell for Board for the year 1825 as per Voucher No 1 $54.00
Cr[edit]
By balance due Sarah Harras on the last return up to 1st Jany 1825 return made
7th Nobr 1825 $22.6s½
By the rent of her land for the year 1825 $40.00
[Total] $62.62½
[Balance] $8.62½
H B Troutman Guardian
P. 153
Sarah Harris a minor
H B Troutman
D[ebit]
1826 To paying tax collector as per voucher 1. $1.18 3/4
Sep 8
Paid Eli Lester 2. $3.50
Paid Bateman and Duncan 3. $3.93 3/4
Decr. 26
Paid Dr. Smith 4. $12.50
One pr prunell Shoes bought from a Pedlar $1.50
One pr leather Shoes from Craft $1.25
One pr do in March from Roe & Newell $1.00
Two side combs from S. Flint .37½
One Bett Ribbon & 1/6 yd muslin from Chapman’s Store .93 3/4
One Strand of Beads & one Thimble from S. Flints .56 1/4
Board from 1st March 1826 to 1st Jan 1827 $50.00
Debit [Total] $75.75
Cr[edit]
Balance due on return up to 1 Jany 1836 $8.62½
By sale of (50) acres of Land sold 1st Tuesday in February 1826 to Benj L. Lester $130.00
[Total credits] $138.62½
[Less debits] $75.75
[Balance] This due up to 1st Jan. 1827 $62.87 H B Troutman guardn
P. 234
1828
James A Hunter Guardian of Thomas Harris a minor
To him of a negro woman for the year 1826 $25.00
To Do Do Do Do 1827 $31.00
[Total] $56.00
James A. Hunter, Guardian
Recd the usual oath of James A. Hunter, Guardian, this 13 February 1828 R. A. Greene Clk
P. 340
Sarah Harris a minor in Account with
1827
March 5th Paid R. A. Greene as per voucher No. 1 – $ .62½
Novr 8th “ Samuel Flint “ “ No 2 – $1.81 1/4
1828
March 1st “ James Powell per board from 1st Jany 1827 to 1st March 1828 No 3 – $56.00
March 5th “ John Manning per Voucher No. 4 – $4.00
“ 20 “ Isaiah Chapman “ “ No. 5 – .62 1/4
Aug 2d “ Grantland & Orme “ “ “ No. 6 – $9.00
Oct. 22d “ for one pair of Shoes of a Peddler “ No. 7 – $1.50
Jany 5th 1829 “ Mrs Worsham as per Voucher No. 8 – $15.00
[Total] $88.56 1/4
A Return of the hire of the negroes Belonging to Thomas Harris (a minor) for the
year 1823
To with one negro woman named Elly to Robt Duncan for $20.00
“ “ “ Girl “ Ansick [to] J A Hunter “ $18.00
[Total] $38.00
Received on the oath of the guardian this 2d November 1829
James A Hunter Guardian R A Greene Clk
William Scott, Abbeville Dist., S. C.
William Scott of Abbeville Dist., S. C., was a Revolutionary War soldier and, by his first marriage to Mary Clark, the father of John, James, and Susannah Scott. His will was recorded in 1830 and is filed in Box 85, Pack 2082 of the Abbeville Probate Court.
On 4 October 1813, his daughter Susannah (“Susie”) and William McMullen were married by Dr. Moses Waddell, a Presbyterian minister and a schoolmaster in Willington, Abbeville Dist. (See Waddell’s Marriages: A Registry of Marriages Celebrated and Solemnized by Moses Waddell, D. D., in South Carolina and Georgia [original in Library of Congress], which states that McMullen paid Dr. Waddell a marriage gratuity of $2.00.) Afterwards, the McMullens moved to Jackson Co., Ga., and ca. 1839-40 to Chickasaw Co., Miss. William Scott’s will left Susannah a slave girl named Judy, whom Susannah, after her marriage, had taken to Georgia against her father’s wishes.
The graves of William McMullen and those of his wife’s brother James Scott and his wife Margaret Hutcheson are in the Scott/McMullen Cemetery in Chickasaw County. Susannah probably is buried next to William, although the grave is no longer marked.
The McMullen family Bible states that Susannah was born 22 June 1794. She was ten when her father remarried in 1803, to Mary Miller.
Susannah and William McMullen were the parents of Sarah Hannah McMullen (1837-1912), second wife of Silvanus Gardner Hunter.
Last Will & Testament
William Scott dec.d
In the Name of God Amen. I William Scott of State of South Carolina and district of Abbeville do make and declare this my last Will and testament in Manner & form following
First. I resign my Soul into the hands of God Almighty hoping & believing in a remission of my sins, by the Merits and Mediation of Jesus Christ, And my body I commit to the Earth to be buried in a decent manner by my Executors herein after mentioned & my worldly goods or Estate I give & devise as follows viz.
First. It is my will that all my Just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as conveniently possible
Secondly It is my will that my eldest son John do have & hold all the property that I have given him in possession consisting of the land whereon he lives as well as other property.
3d. It is my Will that my son James do have and hold the property that I have given him in possession consisting of Land & other property
4th. It is my will that my daughter Susannah do have and the property that I have given her of which she is in possession and also my Negro girl Judy that my said daughter Susannah had for a Nurse and carried away with her to Georgia when she married which was not my Will at that time, said Negro girl I give to my said daughter Susannah as her final divide of my Estate
5th. It is my Will that my son Alexander do have the Land that he lives on the division line between his land and the Land that I live on to be the old line from the river by Hickory Station to Black Oak Corner upon the branch thence the Old line on the western end of the tract until it passes a large poplar tree near the head of the branch sixty yards where it is to corner then run a straight line to a pine corner where Isaac Cole cut logs to build a house some years ago his other lines of the land the Windfield tract including the low grounds on the upper side of the Windfield tract of land and the Other property that I have given him of which he is in possession
6th. It is my will that my daughter Mary do have the property that I have given to her of which she is in possession.
7th It is my will that my beloved wife Mary do have my negro boy Jack and Negro girl Fanny
8th It is my will that my daughter Nancy do have the property that I have given to her of which she is in possession
9th It is my will that my daughter Sarah do take a choice of two Negro Girls when she marrys or arrives at the age of twenty one years if not married sooner
10 It is my Will that my son Davis do take a choice of two Negro boys when he Marrys or arrives at the age of twenty one, also not of the grown Negroes
11 It is my Will that my son Clark do take a choice of two negro boys when he marrys or Arrives at the age of twenty one years so that said choice be after Davis choice also not of the grown Negroes
12 It is my Will that my daughter Amanda do have a choice of two negro girls when she marries or if not married when my son Clark comes of age
13 It is my will that my youngest daughter Martha do have a choice of two negro girls at the time my son Clark comes of age also of the young negroes these choices for Amanda and for Martha to be selected for them by their Mother.
14 It is my will that my beloved wife Mary do keep possession of my farm during her natural life or widowhood and all my stock of horses cattle / Hogs / sheep plantation tools Waggon Blacksmith tools and all other property goods or chattle belonging to the farm and to retain the unappropriated Negroes or the negroe’s that are not otherwise disposed of in this my will to be worked on the farm under the direction of my Executors for the maintenance and education of my youngest children and to apportion them off, when they marry or become of age as my other children have been as horse & Saddles Bed and bedding and such other articles as the others have got when they married inclusive of the land and Negroes
15 It is my Will that all my other lands be equally divided between my two youngest sons Davis and Clark they having liberty should they marry before they are of age to settle on it and clear and cultivate not disposing their mother who is to have her lifetime or widowhood on the same and if she marries she is take a share with my unmarried children in all the goods and chattels of the plantation except the Negroes in lieu of dower
16 It is my Will that if any of these my young children should died in minority or before they become of age or are married that their share of willed property do remain in my estate to be divided among my other children in their final divide.
17 It is my will that if my service Lands are not in the western country or any of my services pay or any part of the money that I paid to a McSmith for a Negro that was proven from me be divided in the final divide amongst my children but my Executors to be under no Obligation except they think it prudent in so doing
18 It is my will that balance of my Negroes be equally divided between all my children when my youngest son Clark comes of age first giving my son John and my son James each one of the negroes as they have got least one afrien [?] then the balance to be equally divided between all my children except my daughter Susannah who as before stated having got one away so much earlier is to be considered for her final divide the division of these Negroes to be made by having them appraised and looting [?] to each other by paying to make the lots equal taking care if possible not to separate husband & wives or young children from their mothers breast.
19 I also hereby appoint my beloved wife Mary Executrix and my son John Executor of this which I declare to be my last will and Testament and revoking all others made by me
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand and seal this 19th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty. Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator as his last will and Testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto-
Henry Furr William Scott L. S.
Thomas Hemminger
Proven by the Oath of Henry Furr & qualified John Scott Exer
June 30 1830 Moses Taggart OAD
The estate papers of William Scott’s spinster daughter Martha J. Scott (Susannah Scott McMullen’s half-sister) are filed in Abbeville Probate Court, Box 134, Pack 3310. Her estate was administered on 14 January 1846 by William C. Scott and by his and Martha’s brothers-in-law William McCaslan and William T. Drennan. McCaslan stated that the late William Scott died leaving two sets of children, three by his first wife [Mary Clark] and seven by his second [Mary Miller Scott]. One of these “a dtr. Martha has lately died. Alexander, Clark, Amanda, Martha Jane were children of William Scott decd. William T. Drennan married Mary Scott, Thomas Dixon married Nancy Y. Scott. On Feb. 7, 1843 Wm. and Amanda [Scott] Brownlee recd. [a portion of the estate] of Wm. Scott Sr.” Cited from Willie Pauline Young’s Abstracts of Old Ninety-Six and Abbeville District Wills and Bonds, Greenville, S. C.: Southern Historical Press, Inc., 2004, p. 529.
William Scott’s service in the Revolutionary War is described in Bobby Gilmer Moss’s Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution (Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1983), p. 851:
“Scott, William
“He served as a sergeant in the light dragoons under Capt. Samuel Martin, Lt. Col. Polk, and Gen. Sumter. He was in the battles at Stono, Savannah, and Camden, where he was he first served as a volunteer under Colonel Pickens and Gen. Lincoln and was wounded and taken prisoner. After being exchanged, he was in the battle at Cowpens. Audit Account Number [S. C. Archives] 6833, M536.”
In the Revolutionary War pension files of the National Archives (Series M805, Roll 722), images 195-204 show the application papers of Mary Miller Scott. These indicate that her late husband had served as a sergeant in the cavalry, Mecklenburg, N. C. The following is a transcription of documents in this file:
Document One:
Torn page shows “Scott” and “William 5283” in the Revolutionary war “Sergeant of Cavalry / SC / Mary Scott widow of Wm Scott” “Washington, D. C.” agency.
Rate “96” Dollars
cents per annum.
Commencing “July 27th 1868” “Deduct payments made since”
Certificate dated “June 20th, 1871” and sent to “Pension Agent atty A. Hart. Present
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 3, 1853, “& July 27, 1865” Page “346” Vol. “H” “Gardiner” Clerk
Document Two:
South Carolina
Abbeville District }
“William Scott and Mary was married Nobr ye 3d 1803
“Before me James McCaslan a magistrate of said State and District Personally came Alexander Houstin Esqr a highly respectable citizen of the State and District aforesaid and made oath that he had long been a citizen of the same District and State aforementioned and that William Scott Decd formerly lived a neighbor to him, that he knew him before his marriage and was present at the time of his marriate, that he married Mary Miller and was married by the Revend Dr. Waddel and his widow is yet living and has never [re]married, about the year A. D. 1803 and has no doubt the time stated by Mrs. Scott is correct, that they lived together as husband and wife ever after until the death of the said William Scott which took place 1830. The said William Scott was a reputed Soldier of the War of Revolution and no doubt correct, so Sworm to this 22 October A. D. 1851 before James McCaslan a magistrate. A. Houston
“I Mathew McDonald Clerk of the court of Abbeville Dist., S. C., do certify that James McCaslan is a magistrate of said District, as above, that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine. . . .”
Document Three:
“State of South Carolina / District of Anderson}
“On this Sixth day of October A. D. 1851 personally appeared before the court of Ordinary for the District aforesaid Mrs. Mary Scott a resident of the same District and State, aged Sixty one years, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Pension Laws of the United States, if any of them under which she may be entitled, either on her own account, or that of her late husband William Scott. That her said Husband William Scott decd first entered the service in Mecklenburg County North Carolina as she understood, but performed most of his service in South Carolina, that as she was not married to him until long after the close of the War of the Revolution, in which he performed his service, she is unable to give any thing like a concise statement of his said services; but submits a Statement made out by him, which is in his own hand writing, dated 27th October 1827, with his genuine signature thereto, which was made out for the purpose of submitting to the Legislature of South Carolina, but abandoned as he then had a competency, and feared he might be viewed in the light of a beggar: as more full and correct than any think [thing] she can now state; yet she has repeatedly heard him speak of his services both to herself and others who had served in the same War. She also submits the certificate of Saml. Martin Clk and Wm Polk Lt Col 3rd Regt in evidence of his services which will doubtless prove satisfactory.
“She further declares that she was married to the said William Scott in Abbeville District in this State [line omitted] ceremony was performed by the Revd. Doctr. Waddell a Presbyterian Minister. Her maiden [name] was Miller.
“She had a Family Record, in which was recorded her marriage to William Scott as above, and she thinks she yet has it amongst her connections, but as she is not herself keeping house, it may not be found, which was made by her husband the said William Scott in his own hand writing. She has never married since the death of her said husband William Scott, which took place in Abbeville District on the 9th day of June A. D. 1830, but continues to be his widow.
[signature] Mary Scott
“Sworn to in open court before the Judge of the Court of Ordinary the day and year first above written
“Herbert Hammond
O.A. D.”
Document Four:
“State of South Carolina
District of Anderson}
“On this Twenty-fifh day of September A. D. One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, personally appeared before me a Notary Public and Ex Officio a magistrate written and for the District and State aforesaid, Mrs. Mary Scott, aged Sixty five years, a resident the same District and State, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of William Scott deceased, who was a Sergeant of Cavalry in the company commanded by Captain [blank space] in the regiment of Cavalry commanded by [blank space] in the War of the Revolution, the full particulars of which she is unable to state as she was not then married to her said late husband, but refers to the Declaration and accompanying evidence under which a Pension was granted to her on the 18th day of June 1855 as per certificate of that date now in her possession.
“She further states that she was married to the said William Scott in Abbeville District on the Third day of November A. D. One thousand eight hundred and Three by one Revd. Moses Waddle, that her maiden name was Mary Miller, that her husband died in Abbeville District on the Ninth day of June A. D. 1830 and that she is now a widow for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under the act approved March 3d 1855.
[signature] Mary Scott
Witness [signatures] Henry F. Dickson Thomas Dickson
We Thomas Dickson and Henry F. Dickson residents of Anderson District in the State of South Carolina, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Mrs. Mary Scott in our presence, and that we believe, from the appearance and statements of the applicant that she is the identical person she represents herself to be
[signatures] Thomas Dickson Henry F. Dickson
“The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and yer above written and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons, that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim
“John B. Litton
Notary Public & Ex off M. D. D.”
Document Five:
“Rev. War Section
“March 3, 1923
“Honorable Harry M. Wurzbach / House of Representatives / In re: William Scott—War of Revolution, W. S705 / Reuben House—War of Revolution.
“You are advised that from the papers in the above named pension claim W. S705 it appears that William Scott entered service in Mecklenburgh or Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and served as a Sergeant in Samuel Martin’s Troop, Third Regiment of South Carolina Light Dragoons. He was in the battles of Stono, Savannah, Camden where he was wounded and taken prisoner and imprisoned at Charleston a long time and then exchanged, and battle of Cowpens. He died June 9, 1830, in Abbeville District, South Carolina.
“Soldier married November 3, 1803, in Abbeville District, South Carolina, Mary Miller who was allowed pension on her application executed October 6, 1851, while a resident of Anderson District, South Carolina (aged sixty-one years) and where she still resided in 1871.”