Person:John Dickey (35)

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Dickey, of the New Acquisition District and state of South Carolina, being weak of boy but in perfect mind and memory, Thanks be to God, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die, First and principally of all I do recommend my soul to God that gave it, hoping that he will receive in mercy only on the account of the merits in intersection of a crucified Redeemer, and my body I allow to be laid in the dust after a decent christian manner at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection to have same restored again by the might power of God and as touching what wordily estate the Lord hath been pleased to bless me with, I dispose of it in the manner and form as followeth:

And first I allow my just debts and funeral charges to be paid out of my estate. Secondly I give and bequeth to my will beloved wife Martha Dickey all my personal estate exclusive of my plantation, utensil, also I allow my wife shall have full right of the house I now live in during her widowhood and I allow that my son David Dickey shall cut and hale home her firewood land also shall go to mill for her to bring home her meal from the mill at all times as she stands in need of the like done enduring her widowhood. And it is my will (she) shall have benefit of my spring and spring house during her widowhood. It is also my will that my son David Dickey shall sow or cause to sowed yearly and every for my wife Martha Dickey hat (a bushel of flax seed during her widowhood and also to find and allow sufficient food for two cows and a horse for my said wife during her widowhood. Further if my son David Dickey does or will live in the house with his mother my wife during her widowhood and will find and allow sufficient maintenance for it is well, otherwise if he should betake himself to a house of his own or otherwise to live, that he is to pay or cause to be payed from the time of leaving his mother my wife, the sum of thirty pounds Virginia currency yearly by and every year during her widowhood for her maintenance.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Susannah or her heirs a Crown sterling.

Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter James' heirs a Crown Sterling.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son John Dickey a Crown Sterling.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son George Dickey a Crown Sterling.

Item, I give and bequeath to my son Robert Dickey a Crown Sterling.

I give and bequeath to my son David Dickey and to his heirs forever the plantation I now live on, together with all my plantation utensils, always reserving the aforsaid rights to my well beloved wife Martha Dickey during her widowhood. It is my will that my son David Dickey shall pay or cause to be paid to each of his two sisters, Mary and Martha Dickey, Five shillings sterling which I do give and bequeath unto them. Item, it is my will that my son David Dickey shall pay my funeral expenses and also that he shall pay off the rest of the legates what is willed to them this my last will and testament, Item I give and bequeath my daughter Ellinor, a Crown Sterling.

Lastly I do constitute ordain David Dickey to be my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament and 1 do utterly revoke all disanull and other will or legacies granted to made by me certifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

In the witness where of I have set my hand here unto and also affixed my seal the fourteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four.

Signed sealed, and acknowledged as his last will and testament in presence of us who in the presence of each other subscribes our names concurring witnesses on the day and year aforsaid. Be it remembered before signing that the following words are interlined Viz and to his heirs forever.

(signed) John (his x mark) Dickey

Robert Dickey, William Dickey, James Dickey

Recorded February 13, 1789

Book "A-12"; page 9, Case no. 55, File no 116, [Source: Wells, Laurence K. "York County South Carolina, Minutes Of The County Court 1786-1797]

[edit]