Research into the Richbourg family of South Carolina lead to the will of Claudius Richbough.
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Will of Claudius Richbourgh
Sumter
County, South Carolina Will Books and Estates Index and File Book,
1800-1963
Will Book, Vol A-Aa, 1800-1822, pg 209-212
Image from Ancestry.com
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Claudius Richbourgh (1715-1788), a planter in the St. Marks Parish area of South Carolina, recorded a will leaving members of the enslaved in his possession to his children.
The will was copied into a will book in 1820.
This is my transcription of that copy.
Spelling and punctuation as originally written.
In the name of God Amen.
I Claudius Richbourgh of Craven County in the province of South Carolina of St. Marks Planter being of perfect health and of perfect mind and memory thanks be to almighty God; and calling to reembrace the mortality of my body and that it is ordained for all men once to die, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first and principally, I recommend my soul into the hands of God beseeching him to forgive me all my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ my blessed redeemer and my body I bequeath to the earth to be buried and the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as touching such goods worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give bequeath and devise of the same in manner and form following Impremis--It is my will request and order that all my just debts be first of all duly paid and discharged.
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved son Henry Richbourgh one negroe man by name Winsor to him the said Henry Richbourgh his heirs and assigns forever
Item- I give and bequeath to my beloved son James Richbourgh one negroe boy by name {blank space} to the said James Richbourgh his heirs and assigns forever.
Item -I give and bequeath to my beloved son John Richbourgh one negroe girl by name Celia with her issues and increase to him the said John Richbourg his heirs and assigns forever.
Item-I give and bequeath to my beloved son Nathaniel Richbourgh one negroe boy by name Sandy to him the said Nathaniel Richbourgh during his life and after his death to the lawful heirs of his body.
Item -I give and bequeath to my beloved son William Richbourgh one negroe girl by name Kiah with her issue and increase to him the said William Richbourgh his heirs and assigns forever.
Item-I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Unity Gayle one negroe girl by name Maria with her issue and increase to her the said Unity Gayle during her life and after her decease then to the heirs of her own body forever.
Item-I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Susannah Richbourgh one negroe girl by name Betsey with her issue and increase to her the said Susannah Richbourgh during her life and after her decease then the heir of her own body forever.
Item-I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Unity Richbourgh all the remainder of my estate of what kind, nature of denomination whatsoever it may be, or to whosesoever it may be found at the time of my decease both real and personal during her life, and my will and pleasure is that my said wife Unity Richbourgh shall have free possession and enjoyment of the same without any molestation or hindrance whatsoever from or by my executors or other children during her life and further that from and after her decease then I give and bequeath all my estate real and personal both whosesoever and what nature or kind so ever that was in her prosession to be equally divided among Henry Richbourgh, James Richbourgh, John Richbourgh, Unity Gayle and Susannah Richbourgh to be equally and impartically shared and divided between them share and share alike to them or to their heirs and assigns forever.
Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my three sons Henry, James and John Richbourgh executors of this my last will and testament revoking and disannulling all other former will or wills testament or testaments in witness here of I have here unto set my hand and seal the sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord One Thousand and seven hundred and seventy eight.
signed sealed published and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in presence of
RG Dennis
Joseph Joyner
Thomas Avery
And further it is my will all that part of my estate that falls to my son Nathaniel Richbourgh and Unity Gayle, that after their deaths it shall return to the heirs of their bodies forever
Signed Claudius Richbough.
A true copy examined per me
Wm Humphrey Clerk of the Court
South Carolina
Clarendon County
Personally appeared before me Thomas Avery who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God sayeth that he did see the willing named testator sign seal publish and declare the within testament of writing to be his last will and testament and that he saw Richard G. Dennis and Joseph Hoyner subscribe their names as witnesses with him to the said will sworn this 6th Day of September 1788 before John Ridgill J.P. signed Tho. Avery.
Releasing the names of Winsor, Celia, Sandy and Kiah so they may be remembered and lead their families to them.
This post will be submitted to the Slave Name Roll Project created by Schalene Dagutis. Do you have documents and records that list the names of the enslaved? Please consider contributing to this project.
