Dear List, Happy Fourth of July. I'm celebrating by sending Abijah PORTER's will, which has taken me some time to transcribe. Victoria, please add this to Marion Co list also. A big thank you from me to you. Enjoy! I sure have been enjoying all the wills you have been posting. This is the best list GOING!! Winkie [ I have placed undecipherable words within "[brackets]". Please excuse any typos and all errors in transcription, which appeared clear to me, but may be given an entirely different interpretation by another. This will was typed as nearly as possible as it was written. The only thing added by myself were 2 spaces, instead of one, in certain instances for ease in reading. Source for this will is LDS Family Center: Wills of Marion Co, S.C., 1800-1888, Microfilm I.L # 024127, pp. 158-159 ] Abijah Porter's Will Page. 158 In the name of God Amen I Abijah Porter of Marion District in the State of South Carolina being weak in body but of perfect mind and thanks be given unto God calling to mind the Mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estates and has pleased God to blefs me with in this life I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and form First I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Charity Porter the plantation wher I now reside lying on [Hewes?] Swamp Little Pedee and all my household and Kitchen furniture and plantation tools my stock of hogs and stock of Cattle and a Cart also three negroes named Molly, Benbo and Chris and their increase during her life and at her death the plantation and all the personal property above named to be Sold on 12 Months credit and to be equally divided among my children Jno & James [excepted ?] share and share alike Also I give to my beloved wife my mare and horse [team ?/Item?) I give my beloved son John Porter my plantation or tract of land lying on Big Peedee known by the name Sandy Bluff Also I recommend to my Executor at Seventeen or 18 years of age to bind him to some good trade that he should [prefer?] I give and bequeath to my son James Crawford Porter three years schooling two years at a school in the [county?[ one year certain and more [ifs, if or is ?] [nesf, or any?)] sufficient at an Academy My plantation being in Charleston District and my stock of Cattle and hogs in Gum Swamp and my waggon to be sold on a reasonable credit and my debts to be paid out of it and the balance to be [afsfsifsunto, assign unto/appropriated?] to the schooling of James I likewise constitute and ordain my beloved wife Charity Porter & James Crawford the sole exutors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby [utterly disallow?] and revoke all and every other will for ever Executors by me made and ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament In witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd day of Feby in the year of our Lord one thousand 1819 & 43'd of American Independence Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Abijah Porter as his last will and Page 159 Abijah Porter's Will Continued testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereuntoSubscribed our names William Blue Gilbert McEachern A Porter (Seal) (D?) Carmichael J P South Carolina } Personally appeared before me Thomas Harlee Marion District } Ordinary of Marion District Gilbert McEachern who being duly sworn by me on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God sayeth that he was personally present and saw Abijah Porter Sign Seal publish pronounce & declare the within Instrument of writing to be his last will and testament and that the said Testator was then to the best of his Knowledge was then of sane mind and memory and that he subscribed his name as a witness with William Blue and [D?] Carmichael in the presence of the Testator & of each other Sworn to before me this 4th Novr 1819 Gilbert McEachern Thomas Harllee Ordinary Qualified Charity Porter as Executrix 4th Nov 1819 Thomas Harllee Ordinary Recorded June 2nd 1829