Will Benjamin Hodge - Fdyess6591
Subject: Will Benjamin Hodge
From: Fdyess6591
Date: July 10, 1998

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT 
OF
BENJAMIN HODGE
WRITTEN 17 JULY, 1815


RECORDED IN WILL BOOK A, PAGE 119, 25 AUGUST, 1815
SUMTER DISTRICT, SC
BUNDLE 44 PKG 9
EXECUTRIX APPOINTED 29 NOVEMBER 1822
COPY OF ORIGINAL WILL AND TRANSCRIBED WILL OBTAINED FROM SUMTER COUNTY
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY AND IN THE POSSESSION OF FAYE L. DYESS.
DUE TO OLD TYPEWRITTEN PAGES AND BAD COPIES, THIS TRANSCRIPTION DONE BY FAYE
L. DYESS.

In the Name of God Amen.  I Benjamin Hodge of Sumter District in the State of
South Carolina, Planter, being in a weak state of body but in a perfect state
of mind and memory and knowing it is appointed for all Men once to die, do
make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following,
that is to say, principally and first of all, I recommend my soul into the
hands of God who gave it me, in sure and certain hope of receiving it again at
the day of resurrection and my body I commit to the Earth from whence it came,
to buried in a decent christian like manner at the discretion of my Executrix
and Executors here after named, and as touching such worldly Estate as it has
pleased God to bless me with in this life.  I dispose of in the following
manner and form.  

Imprimis) I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Hodge during the time
she remains my widow and no longer, the use of my plantation and Buildings
where I now reside and at her marriage or Decease which may first happen the
said plantation and buildings to go to my grandson John Miles Hodge.  

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Hodge, all my Household
and Kitchen furniture except such part as I shall dispose of otherways, also
the following Negros to Wit, Chlor, Simon, Hannah, Peter & Wife Jeny Terry and
Davy, Ned, Sukey, Mack susannah, and Chance and Susanah child Molly.  With all
their future increase to her and her heirs forever, but in case of the said
Sarah Hodge marrying again the above mentioned property to be equally divided
amongst my Son Benjamin Hodge Rodus, Benj Dupre Hodge, Miles E. Hodge and John
Miles Hodge My Grandsons, or their lawful heirs, forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Hodge Rodus a Tract of land
lying at the mouth of Tim Bern Branch containing 200 Acres more or less, I
give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Hodge Rodus a tract of Land containing
one thousand acres more or less bounded as follows, beginning at the mouth of
White Oak Branch, below the Thigpen plantation, the line running along the
West side of the School-House.  From thence to the East side of Persimmon Tree
branch mouth including the Bay field and from thence not nearer than 200 yards
to my large corn field and pasture, running along the Negro path, from thence
an Easterly course to or near the short prong of Tim Bern Branch and from
thence about the short prong of June Burns Branch to a scrub Oak Corner
bounded by John Hodge's tract of Land below my Mill.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Hodge Rodus, the following
Negros to Wit, Anthony, Haggy, Dick, Ron, Chaney, Young Carolina, Essex, Young
Daniel, Litty, Ceasar, and race, with all their future increase also a young
Sorrel Horse near three years old with a Blaria face, a Waggon with hind gears
known by the name of the williamson Waggon to him and his lawful heirs
forever, But if the said Benjamin Hodge Rodus, should die without lawful
issue, then the above mentioned property to be divided share and share alike
amongst my Grandsons Benjamin D. Hodge, Miles E. Hodge, John M. Hodge or their
lawful heirs.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandsons Benjamin Dupree Hodge and John
Miles Hodge all my Lands not otherwise disposed of share and share alike to
them and their heirs forever.  I give and bequeath unto my grandson Miles E.
Hodge all that plantation or tract of Land known by the name of June Burn
plantation together with a tract of Land adjoining said plantation and running
to the new back line, from the scrub oak Corner up the short prong of June
Burn Branch to the head, from thence about a N E Course until it strikes the
Branch and continues that course to Captain Mcfadden's Corner to him and his
heirs forever.  All the rest and residue of my Estate both real and personal
not already bequeathed, I desire may be equally divided between my three
grandsons Benjamin D. Hodge, Miles E. Hodge and John M. Hodge. To them and
their heirs forever.  But should one or more of my Grandchildren die under age
or without lawful issue at his or their deaths, his or their portion or
portions of my Estate to be equally divided between my surviving grandchild or
children, and my son Benjamin Hodge Rodus share and share alike to them and
their heirs forever.  And it is further my will and desire that my son
Benjamin Hodge Rodus shall receive take possession of the property bequeathed
to him by me on the first day of January next.  And it is further my will and
desire that my grandsons shall not receive or take possession the property or
any part, before they arrive at the age of twenty one Years.  It is further my
will and desire that my old Negro Man Slave Carolina shall be at free liberty
to live with either or any of the Legatees, and that one which he chooses to
live with shall maintain him as long as he lives and shall not put him to any
hard labor or misuse him any way whatever It is further my will & desire that
if my son Benjamin Hodge Rhodus & my grandsons Benjamin D. Hodge Miles E.
Hodge and John M. Hodge should die without leaving lawful issue I give and
bequeath unto James Norton and Miles H. Plowden the sum of five Hundred
dollars each and it is further my desire that my Brother John Hodge and my
Sisters Lyda Norton Elizabeth Haly Mary McCleland Hollan McCleland Sarah
Nichols and Martha Hodge may receive one dollar each to them and their heirs
forever and all the rest and residue of my Estate both real and personal to be
divided Equaly Between the Baptist and Methodist Churches of South carolina
for the use and Benefit of the faithful ministers of Said Churches the
property to be Claimed by delagates from both Said respective Churches.

Lastly, I appoint nominate and constitute my wife Sarah Hodge Executrix to
this my last will and testament during her widowhood and no longer and my son
Benjamin Hodge Rhodus and my grand sons Benjamin D. Hodge Miles E Hodge and
John M Hodge Executors to this my last will and Testament in witness whereof I
have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Seventeenth day of July in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen and in the fortieth year of
the American Independence-----Signed Sealed and pronounced by the Testator as
and for his last will and Testament----
                                                                              
Benjamin Hodge    (Seal)

In Presence of Us
Samuel R. Gibson
A H Bethune
Saml E. Plowden

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