The State of South Carolina
In the name of God Amen. I Winborn Lawton of James Island in the State aforesaid, planter, being of sound anddisposing mind, memory and understanding (although afflicted with blindness) make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, after it shall have been read to me and approved of by me, in the presence of the subscribing Witnesses, hereby revoking all Wills or parts of Wills by me at any time heretofore made.
IMPRIMIS. It is my Will and desire that all my just debts be paid as soon after my decease as practicable.
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my son William M. Lawton my house servant named John, to him his executors administrators and assigns forever.
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Mikell the sum of Two Thousand Dollars to her, her executors administrators and assigns forever.
ITEM. Whereas on the 4th day of January 1861 I endorsed a receipt for Ten Thousand dollars upon the Bond of my SonWinborn Wallace Lawton, of the same date in my favor for Sixty five Thousand Dollars, which said amount of TenThousand Dollars was intended by me as an advance to him from my Estate. It is my Will and desire that my said son Winborn Wallace Lawton shall have no further interest in my Estate except such as he may be entitled to with the rest of my Children under the residuary clause of this my last Will and Testament.
ITEM I give and bequeath unto my daughter Maria Juliet Lawton, the wife of Asa Lawton, the sum of Five Thousand Dollars and also the following Negro slaves in her possession to wit: Amy, Betsey and her children, Whilden & Susannah and her children, Isabel and infant
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Son Josiah P. Lawton, the sum of Fifteen Thousand Dollars, to him, his executors administrators and assigns forever.
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children William McLeod, Annie McLeod and Regina A. McLeod, childrenof deceased daughter Susan M. McLeod, each the sum of five hundred dollars, and also the following Negro slavesto wit: Delia and Peggy & their children with their future issue and increase, to them, their executorsadministrators and assigns forever.
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children Wilhelmina McLeod, Martha W. McLeod, and Elizabeth S. McLeod, Children of deceased daughter Mary McLeod, each the sum of five hundred dollars, and two Negro slaves now in their possession, to wit: Nancy and her child Emma with their future issue and increase, to them, their executors administrators and assigns forever.
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children Winborn Lawton, William Lawton, Joseph C. Lawton, Jenkins M. Lawton, Phillip T. Lawton, Children of William M. Lawton, each the sum of five hundred dollars, to them, their executors administrators and assigns forever.
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children Winborn Lawton Mikell, James E. Mikell, Mellichamp Mikell, William C. Mikell, and Mary E. Mikell, Children of my daughter Margaret M. Mikell, each the sum of five hundred dollars, to them, their executors administrators and assigns forever.
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children, Rivers Lawton, James Lawton, Arabella Lawton, children of my son James M. Lawton, each the sum of five hundred dollars, to them, their executors administrators and assigns forever
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Son, Frampton Lawton, the child of my son George W. Lawton,the sum of one thousand dollars, to him, his executors administrators and assigns forever
ITEM. I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter, Emily Lawton, the child of my son George W. Lawton, the sum of two thousand dollars, to her, her executors administrators and assigns forever
ITEM. It is my Will and desire that my Executors shall cause to be erected suitable and proper tombs over the graves of my Mother and my second Wife and her two Children and also over my own grave and for this purpose I authorize and direct them to appropriate One Thousand Dollars of my Estate if so much be necessary.
ITEM. It having always been my desire that all my Children should receive equal benefit from my Estate and having hitherto in my lifetime made advances to all of my Children by my first marriage; and to my two older Children by my second marriage, by gifts of money and other property and deeming it just and equitable that these advancements should be taken into consideration in distributing my Estate. I have endeavored by the foregoing bequests to place all of my Children upon an equality and believing that I have thereby accomplished that object. It is my well and desire that my Executors distribute the rest and residue of my Estate among all of my Children, share and share alike the Children of my deceased daughters Mary McLeod and Susan M. McLeod or of any of my other Children who may die during my lifetime to take their parents’ share.
LASTLY. I nominate constitute and appoint my son Winborn Wallace Lawton, my son in law Asa Lawton, and my friends Constant N. Rivers and Joseph T. Dill Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I hereby invest them with full power and authority to sell dispose of and convey all the Estate I may own at the time of my death both real and personal (except such as is hereinbefore specifically bequeathed) at such time in such manner and upon such terms as to them shall seem most advantageous to the parties interested.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF. I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord,One Thousand Eight hundred and Sixty One.
W. Lawton (S)
Signed, Sealed published and declared by the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament after being readto him a approved of by him in our presence, who in the presence of each other and in the presence of the Testator and at his request have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses.
Witnessed by Jno. N. Rivers, W. D. Rivers and P. M. Pepper
Probate before George Buist Esquire OCD 1st April 1861. At the same time qualified Winborn Wallace Lawton Executor.