Will of Christopher Smith, of Carolina, gentleman, made July 9, 1706, and proved before Governor Johnson, May 3, 1709, directed his funeral expenses to be first paid out of his estate, desiring that they amount to not more than £5. current money of the province; gave granddaughter, Mary Beresford, a tract of seventy acres of land which he had purchased of Philip Dobridge and which had formerly belonged to James Hutton and situated in Berkeley County on Mawan. or Thomas, or Col. Daniell's Island, but in case of her death without issue it was to go to his said grandson, Christopher Smith; gave grandson, "Christopher Smyth the son of John Smyth", deceased, when he should attain the age of twenty, a plantation in Berkeley County, known as Cowpens, Upper Fork, and containing one thousand acres, also one half of his negroes, horses, mares, cattle, plate, household stuff and personal estate; gave his wife the use of said plantation, slaves, cattle, hogs and premises in consideration of her furnishing said grandson meat, drink, washing, lodging and apparel necessary and convenient and of her "educating of him at school & buying of him books & all things requisite for his learning until he be twenty years of age"; gave granddaughters, Mary and Elizabeth, children of his said son, "John Smyth deceased", a negro apiece as they attain the age of eighteen, and in the event of the death of either the other was to get both negroes unless the one so dying should leave issue; gave "wife Dorothy Smith" the tract of land upon which she then lived, called Stock Prior, in Berkeley County, up Charles Town Neck, containing five or six hundred acres, houses, out-houses, barns, stables, etc., for life, in lieu of dower, also all the remainder of his personal estate for life, all the white servants during their "times", horses, mares, hogs, cattle, household goods, plate, goods, wares, grain and merchandise upon condition that she constantly employ the negroes on the plantation so as to keep the same in good repair; gave all of said property to grandson, Christopher Smyth, after the death of testator's wife, and in the event of his death without issue the bequest was to go to his grandchildren, Mary Beresford and Mary and Elizabeth Smyth, or such of them as should be living; appointed wife, Dorothy Smith, guardian of grandson, Christopher, and sole executrix, but in case of her death, William Elliott, planter, of Berkeley County, was to act as executor and guardian.
Witnesses: Thomas Broughton, William Smith, George Logan and Henry Wigington.
(Pages 134-135)
