This is a transcribed copy of Patrick Stewart's Will as recorded 1772 in Charlston County, South Carolina; Volume 16, p.48; Will Books. The following is a transcription by Kelsey Williams, a descendant of Patrick Stewart and Elizabeth Menzies. Following that is a copy of the WPA transcription.



In the Name of God Amen I Patrick Stewart of Saint Davids Parish in Craven County in the Province of South Carolina Planter being of sound mind & memory but thoughtfull of Death do this eighth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy two make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following (that is to say) first I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping and believing a Remifsion of my sins by the merits & mediation of Jesus Christ and my Body I commit to the Earth to be buried at the discretion of my Exors hereafter named and my Wor[l]dly Estate I give & bequeath as follows Inprimis I give & bequeath to my dear Wife Elizabeth Stuart the use of all my Books & Household Furniture during the term of her natural Life Item I give to my said Wife Elizabeth Stewart the use of all my Stock of Horses Neat Cattle and Hogs so far as shall be necefsary and convenient together with what I have hereafter bequeathed to her for her comfortable and decent subsistance during the term of her natural Life Item I give and bequeath to my said wife Elizabeth Stewart the use and Labour of my two young negroe slaves to wit a Boy named Jim and a Girl named Melia for and during the terms of the natural Life of her my said wife. Item I give and bequeath to my said Wife Elizabeth Stewart one hundred and fifty Pounds Current and lawfull money of South Carolina or in Lieu thereof forty Pounds Proclamation money to be paid to her my said Wife annually in and upon the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel viz each and every Year during the term of her natural Life in manner hereafter mentioned. Item (if my son James Stewart shall return to this Parish of Saint David’s and shall settle himself live and reside therein and shall marry with the Consent and approbation of me or my Exors hereafter named then my Will is and I do hereby ordain that my said Son James Stewart shall have the use and property of my following five Negroe Slaves, to wit, Toney Dembo Tom Sal and Chloe to hold to him my said son James Stewart his Exors Admrs and Afsigns subject to the following Charge (that is to say) that he my said Son James Stewart in Consequence of the said Legacy shall pay to my said Wife Elizabeth Stewart the abovesaid one hundred & fifty Pounds Current and lawfull money of South Carolina or in lieu thereof the said forty Pounds Proclamation money annually in and upon the said Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel in each and every Year during the term of her natural Life but if my said son James Stewart shall not comply with and perform the Condition abovementioned then and in that Case I give and bequeath to my Daughter Catharine Little my said Negroe Slaves named Toney Dembo and Sal to hold to her the said Catharine Little her Exors Afmrs and Afsigns and then and in that Case I give and bequeath to my Daughter Margaret Carraway the Wife of John Carraway my said Negroe Slave named Tom to hold to her the said Margaret Carraway her Exors Admrs and Afsigns and then and in that Case I give & bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Stewart the Wife of James Stewart my said Negroe Woman Slave named Chloe to hold to her the said Elizabeth Stewart her Exors Admrs & Afsigns, each of the said last mentioned, Negroe Slaves being subject to the same charge above mentioned (that is to say) that each of the said Legatees last mentioned to wit my Daughters Catharine Little Margaret Carraway & Elizabeth Stewart or their Afsigns in Law shall in Consequence of the said Legacies contribute and pay to my said Wife Elizabeth Stewart annually in & upon the Feast aforesaid in each & every Year during the term of her natural Life a Part of the said one hundred & fifty Pounds Current & lawfull money of the Province of South Carolina or of the forty Pounds Proclamation money proportionate to the number of the five Slaves, conditionally bequeathed to each of them in Manner above said, so as the said annuity, or sum in South Carolina Currency, or proclamation money above specified, be annually made up, and paid to my said Wife as aforesaid. – Item, I give and bequeath to my said Son James Stewart freely and absolutely my Negro man slave named Jack, to hold to him my said son James Stewart his Executors, Administrators and Afsigns; Item after the Decease of my said Wife Elizabeth Stewart I give and bequeath to my said Son James Stewart his Executors Administrators and Afsigns, freely and absolutely all my said Books, and House Hold Furniture of what Nature or Kind so ever, and all my said stock of Horses, Neat Cattle and Hogs; – Item after the Decease of my said Wife Elizabeth Stewart, I give and bequeath to my said Daughter Catharine Little, her Executors Administrators and Afsigns, my said young Negro Girl slave named Melia; Item after the Death of my said Wife Elizabeth Stewart, I give and bequeath unto my Grand Son Charles Stewart Carraway, his Executors Administrators and Afsigns, my said Young Negro Boy Slave named Jim; – Item, after the Payment of my Just Debts and Funeral Expenses – I give and bequeath to my said son James Stewart, the Rest and Residue of my Estate real and personal of what Nature or Kind soever, to hold to him the said James Stewart, his Heirs, Executors Administrators and Afsigns for ever – Item I nominate ordain and appoint my said Daughter Catharine Little, and my Friend Alexander Gordon Esquire, to be my Executors of this my Last Will and Testament In Witnefs whereof I the said Patrick Stewart have to this my Last Will and Testament, set my Hand and Seal the Day and Year above written.

Signed, sealed, declared and published by the above named Patrick Stewart as and for his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of us, who hereunto subscribed our Names as Witnefs in the said Testator’s presence, and at his request.

Patrick Stewart

Charles Bedingfeild
William Godfrey
William Pegues