Will of Benjamin Cleveland (1785-1830) and abstract of
various estate records, Pickens District (now Oconee County), South Carolina
The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol
XIII, Number 3, Summer, 1985 - "Some Early Pickens District Wills"
Last Will and Testament of Benjamin Cleveland
In the Name of God, Amen:
I, Benjamin Cleveland, in the District of Pickens and
State of South Carolina, being weak in body but in perfect health in mind and
memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of life and being desirous to
dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, do
make and ordain this my last will in manner following,
First, I give, demise, bequeath and dispose of the
same in the following manner and form - first I give and bequeath unto my wife
Peggy Cleveland all my estate real and personal rites (sic) whatsoever during
her life or widowhood and at her decease or marriage if seasing (sic) to be my
widow then my estate real and personal to be sould (sic) by my Executors to the
best advantage for a division amongst my lawful ayres (sic), giving one-third
part of the money arising from said property to my beloved wife Peggy Cleveland
and the rest after paying all just debts to be equally divided between children
as they may arrive of age or days of marriage.
I do hereby authorize and appoint my deart wife Peggy
Cleveland and Robert Holland and Jacob Holland my Executors to carry into
effect the intent and meaning of this my last will and testament or testaments,
wills legacy or legacies, bequeath or bequeaths Executor or Executors by me in
any wise before named or appointed willed or bequeathed, ratifying and
confirming this and (no?) other to be my last will and testament.
Signed, sealed, published and pronounced and delivered
by the s'd Benjamin Cleveland as and for his last will and testament in the
presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other hath
hereunto subscribed our names:
Kenneth McKenzie, William (X, his mark) Miles, and
James (X, his mark) Jones
Signed: Benjamin Cleveland
Abstract of various estate records, Pickens County,
SC, 1829-1850:
Cleveland, Benjamin - Box 3 No 30 - will dated 1830:
heirs: wife, Peggy Cleveland, children (not named). Exrs: Robert & Jacob
Holland. Wit. Kenneth McKenzie, William Miles, James Jones.
Inventory made 13 Oct 1831 by Jonathan Reeder, Kenneth
McKenzie, Wm Mills.
Est also admr 12 Oct 1857 by Jeremiah Cleveland, A.J.
Looney, Martin L. Looney bound to W.J. Parsons, Ordy. for $15,000. Heirs out of
this state are Thomas Cleveland, Gibson Hix & wife Nancy, Martin L Looney
& wife Mariam. Heirs in this state are A.J. Looney & wife Margaret,
Sarah C. Abbott, Wm. B Dickson & wife Elizabeth, and the heirs of B. Milton
Cleveland, deceased, viz. Adaaline Keese, formerly Adaline Cleveland, and widow
of deceased and her two children Lewis and Margaret Cleveland, both minors.
Dated 15 Dec 1859.
25 Dec 1858, amt. of sale in GA, $20.51. Owned 8
slaves.