I will be posting records from the Calhoun Journal, these will be abstracts of probate records that were originally published in the Carolina Geneaoligist Magazine by Mary Bondurant Warren that is no longer in publication. I have already posted info to the Edgefield List along with estate records from the year 1800. The following explains what the Calhoun Journal was: The Revolution was still undecided in the fall of 1781. British forces held the Charleston area, with skirmishes into the piedmont. Evacuation by the British was a year away, and Cornwallis' defeat yet to come when the rebel Governor JOHN RUTLEDGE, and his "Privy Council" began to set up "legal" government again in the South Carolina back country. In an act signed 13 September 1781, "Ordinaries" were named for each of the districts of South Carolina. Appointed to serve for the Ninety-Six District was JOHN EWING CALHOUN, Esq. The following volume has been called "The Calhoun Journal" for many years, and appears to be the earliest surviving record of the Ordinary (now the Judge of Probate_ for the entire Ninety-Six District. >From one of the early entries it appears that CALHOUN gave up the Ordinary's office and was replaced, but the name of his successor (who kept the journal during the 1782-83 period) is not known. "I do hereby notify such appointments (of Ordinaries), to the end, that persons having occasion to prove wills and obtain letters of testamentary, and of administration or guardianship, or to transact any other matters within the jurisdiction of an Ordinary, may know where and whom to apply for that purpose," declared RUTLEDGE. "In order that none may plead ignorance thereof, all letters testamentary, and of administration, and guardianship which have been granted SINCE 12th day of MAY 1780 BY ANY PERSONS OR BOARDS, UPSURPING OR PRETENDING TO CLAIM JURISDICTION OR AUTHORITY...ARE AND WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NULL AND VOID..." A copy of the Ordinary act was published in British held Charleston's ROYAL GAZETTE Nov. 3, 1781. The Ordinary's responsibility was not unknown to lawyers of the time, and certain forms were in current usage. Earlier RUTLEDGE had requested PETER BONETHEAU, Esq. of Charleston to obtain copies of these forms from the British "Registar's Office." The Dedimus, often used these records, empowered a Justice of the Peace to swear executor or administrator, their securities, or persons to make the inventory and appraisement of the estate. The Citation calls on persons owing the deceased to pay up, and those with bills owed by the deceased to render their accounts by a specified time. Other forms were those of Letters of Administration, Letters of Testamentary, Bonds for either, Letters of Guardianship, Guardians Bond, Marriage License, and Marriage Bond. The responsibilities of the Ordinary were similar to those of present day Judge of Probate in South Carolina.