I'm sending this hoping someone can help unravel the McDonald mystery. My
third great grandparents, James Haire and Mary Brown McDonald Haire, filed an
equity suit about this will. Therefore we know Mary is related to Hugh. We
think William McD is her father. We have been given a chart that was made
using Bible records saying that Mary Brown McDonald's father was William, and
his father was  Henry. Hugh was not mentioned. That chart has been a stumbling
block. If anyone can help we would be very grateful. Also, we have quite a bit
of information on the decendants of Mary Brown McDonald Haire we would love to
share. The will came from Chester County Probate Court. There are also lots of
records on the court case that followed.
                                                                      Linda
Atkins
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---------------------
Will of Hugh McDonald Senior

  In the name of God Amen the Twenty Second day July One Thousand Eight
Hundred and thirteen I Hugh McDonald Senior of Rocky Creek Chester District
and state of South Carolina being very frail and weak in body but of perfect
mind and memory thanks be to God--Therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of
my body and it is appointed unto 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 into the hands of Almighty God that gave
it-----and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian
burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but that I shall
receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God at the General
Resurrection------
 And as touching such Worldy Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me
in this life----I give, demise, and dispose of the same in the following
manner and form--------First of all I allow that all my lawful Just Debts be
payed out of my Estate--------Imprimas I give and Bequeath unto my Dearly
Beloved Wife Rebekah all my estate of Real and Personal Property together with
all my Monies and Debts Due me whether by Note Bond, Bank account or
otherwise. Secondly I Bequeath unto my sons John, Henry, and Francis McDonald
to each of them one English Shilling and also I give unto my son John
McDonald---Son viz William McDonald one English Shilling and also I give and
Bequeath unto my two Daughters viz Jean Brown and Agnes Reeves to each of them
one English Shilling----Thirdly I bequeath unto my daughter Molly Brown the
sum of Twenty five dollars and also I give unto Hugh Gibson son to my daughter
Bethiah Gibson the sum of Twenty five dollars. I also bequeath to my son
William McDonald son of William McDonald by name one Negro Boy named Sambo to
be his and his Heirs forever and further I Bequeath and give unto my Negro
Wench Sylvia her daughter Phebe and her two children viz Sylvia and Sam to be
hers to assist her in making out a living while in life and then at the
decease of the aforesaid Sylvia the said Phebe and her two aforesaid children
and Sylvia and Sam and what more Children she may have at the decease of her
mother Sylvia Shall then be at full liberty to make out a living for
themselves----Further I Bequeath unto Hugh McDonald Son to my Son David
McDonald My Negro Boy named Giddy (or Gidion) to be his and his Heirs
forever-------And further I do Hereby allow and make free those of my Negroes
hereafter --named viz---My oldest Wench Sylvia with her Children viz Jacob,
Charley, Jack, Isaac, Soloman, and Henry. No person or persons shall claim any
Right or Title to any of them but shall be at freedom and liberty each and all
of them to make a living for themselves by honers Industry and further I
Bequeath unto the aforesaid Negroes viz Old Sylvia, Jacob, Charley, Jack
Isaac, Soloman, and Henry all that Plantation or tract of land I now live upon
with all appurtenance thereunto Belonging to be theirs and their Heirs
forever. Also I give unto the said Negroes One Mare ,a Cow and Calf a Sow and
Pigs with all my farming utensils to be theirs forever ---------and further I
Bequeath unto my two Sons David and William McDonald all my Books both of
Divinity and History and all my body clothes to be divided Equally Between
th...-------------------N.B. the above Bequeasts I have herein made unto my
Well Beloved Wife Rebekah are to be hers during her natural life and at her
decease all my Estate of Both Real and Personal shall be disposed of in the
way and Manner I have above Bequeath and Directed.
 Lastly, I do give unto my sons David and William McDonald all the moneys or
property (if any shall be) that I am possesed of at the decease of my wife
Rebekah and one that shall be over and above that I have herein Bequeathed or
disposed of to be equally divided between them if any shall be as was said
before-----Lastly I Constitute Make and Ordain my Well Beloved Wife Rebekah My
Executrix and my Son William McDonald Executor of this my last Will and
Testament to see it Lawfully and faithfully Executed and do hereby utterly
disallow Revoke and disannul all and every other former Testament Wills
Legacies and Bequeasts and Executers by me in any wise Before Named Willed and
Bequeasted Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to my last Will and
Testament------in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day
and year above written-----------
                                                                              
his
                                                                              
Hugh             McDonald
                                                                              
mark
Signed Sealed Published Pronounced and Declared by the said Hugh McDonald as
his last will and Testament in the Presents of us the Subscribers
William Brown 
Francis McDonald
John McDaniel

South Carolina Chester District:
  Before me Joseph Brown Ordinary of the said District personally appeared
William Brown and Francis McDonald who being duly sworn Declares on their
oaths respectively that they saw Hugh McDonald sign and acknowledge the within
instrument of writing as his last will and testament and that they each of
them together with John McDonald did subscribe thereto as witnesses in the
presence and at the request of the said testator ----Francis McDonald says on
his oath that to the best of his knowledge and beleif the said Hugh McDonald
was at the time of disposing mind and memory ---- William Brown expressed some
doubts of the sanity of the testator but gave no satisfactory reason for his
doubts at the same time qualified William McDonald executor given under my
hand this seventh day of January one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.
                                                                              
J.D.(?) Brown ord.

Hugh McDonald Last Will recorded Book E, pages 272-273 and 274

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