Submitted by Ethel Taylor
Nathaniel Ashley
Will Book A, Barnwell, SC May 17, 1816, signed Oct. 11, 1813 and is
the first will recorded in Barnwell Co.
In the name of God Amen,
I, NATHANIEL ASHLEY of Barnwell District in the State of South Carolina,
being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to
God calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed
for all men ones(?) to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament
that is to say principally and first I give and recomend my soul into the Hands
of Almighty God that gave it and my body to the earth to be (can't read this
word) in Cristian burial at the descretion of my executor and up touching such
worldly estate where with it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give
domise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.
First I deign that all my lawful debts may be paid.
Secondly, I lend to my dearly beloved wife ELIZABETH ASHLEY all my
real and personal estate together with my household goods and furniture during
her natural life and widowhood and after her decease or widowhood to be equally
divided between my nine children (Viz) WILSON JOSHUA WILLIAM MARY ANN JOHN CHARLES
JAMES and SARAH and when one or more hath ben advanced to a potion or part thereof
I request that to be added in their share so as to make all equal and I do constitute
make and ordain my wife ELIZABETH ASHLEY Executrix with my son WILSON ASHLEY
executor of this my last will and testament and when my son JOSHUA ASHLEY shall
arrive to the age twenty one years that he may be admitted to join them as an
executor also and if my wife should marry another man after my death I request
and desire my executor to take the whole of my estate out of her possession
as agreeable to law with the same for the benefit of the heirs.
Sign & Sealed published and pronounced and declared by the said NATHANIEL
ASHLEY as his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence
and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names.
South Carolina
Barnwell District By ORSAMUS D. ALLEN Esqr Ordinary of Said District
personally appeared before me Mr. ELIGAH TREADWAY CHARLES ASHLEY and PETER COOPER,
who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God do make oath and
say (that is to say) ELIGAH TREADWAY that he saw NATHANIEL ASHLEY sign seal
publish pronounce and declare a similar will to the foregoing one to be and
contain his last will and testament and that he the said NATHANIEL ASHLEY was
thereof sound and disposing memory and understanding of the best of his knowledge
& belief that the foregoing instrument of wrighting is (can't make out next
4 words) nearly an exact copy of the original will & at all events it isthe
manner in which the deceased W. NATHANIEL ASHLEY, wished his property to be
disposed of after his death that he the said ELIGAH TREADWAY LEWIS DEATHERBE
and PETER COOPER signed their names as witnesses at the request of the said
NATHANIEL ASHLEY in his presence and in the presence of each other and Mr. PETER
COOPER in the presence of Almighty God diposed and saith that he witnessed a
paper which the said Mr. NATHANIEL ASHLEY signed and also acknowledge to be
his will and the contents which he knew not but saith that the said Mr. NATHANIEL
ASHLEY was then of sound and disposing mind mmory & understanding in every way
in his proper sence Mr. CHARLES ASHLEY also desposeth and saith that he was
sometime after the decease of the said NATHANIEL ASHLEY at his house when his
widow Mrs.ELIZABETH ASHLEY requested him to read the willof the said ASHLEYwhen
he did so and that he belives that the foregoing to be in substance the very
manner in which he wished his property desposed of according to the will he
read at the request of the aforesaid Mrs. ASHLEY . Sworn to before me the 26
January 1816.
ORSAMUS D. ALLEN ELIGAH TREADWAY
CHARLES ASHLEY
PETER COOPER
Fortieth year of American Independence ORSAMUS D. ALLEN (L.S.)