WILL OF AARON CATES AS FOUND IN THE SOUTH CAROLINA STATE ARCHIVES:
The State of South Carolina
Newberry District --------
Be it known That I Aaron Cates of the district and State aforesaid being
weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make ordain &
publish this my last Will and Testament…. To wit. In the first place; that
all my estate both real and personal be sold at public auction by my
executors hereafter named on a credit of one two and three years, the
purchaser to give bond with two good freehold securities and a mortgage of
the property drawing interest from the time of sale; except purchases the
amount of which does not exceed two hundred dollars as to which my will is
that no more than one year's credit be given, and except also purchases not
exceeding five dollars which must be paid at the sale.
In the second place, I will that my funeral expenses other necessary
charges and all just debts be paid as soon as money enough for that purpose
is collected. I give and bequeath to my nephew Aaron Cates (son of Robert
Cates) all my wearing apparel and one hundred dollars in money to be paid out
of money collected from the sale of my estate.
Item. I give and bequeath to my cousin Aaron Cates (son of John Cates
Tennessee) one hundred dollars if alive, if dead then to his eldest son, and
if he has no son alive then to his eldest daughter to be paid out of the same
funds and in the same manner as preceeding legacy.
Item. I give and bequeath to Aaron Hanie one hundred dollars to be paid
in maner as the preceding legacies. It is my will that these three legacies
draw interest from the expiration of one year after my decease unless sooner
paid.
In the third place I will and direct that my executors (after paying the
foregoing legacies and all just debts & other proper charges and expences)
receive as a compensation for their services ten percent on the whole amount
of monies to be collected from the sale of my estate and of outstanding debts
which may be due me at my decease or which my become due thereafter. After
which I will an direct that my executors vest the intire clear balance
(including the neat proceeds of my estate then in their hands) in bank-stock
or in shares or capital of such companies or corporations as in their
judgement will be most proper and productive in Trust for the following
benefits & uses & subject to the following restrictions and regulations, viz.
To each of my three granddaughters to wit Dorothy Ann Wadlington, Polly
Brooks Wadlington and Sarah Susannah Frances Wadlington on their respectively
attaining to the age of twenty one years I will that my executors pay one
fourth of the profits arising from the aforesaid stock or share and should
either die without issue living at her death the provision herein made for
her to go to her survivor or surviviors; after they respectively attain to
the age of twenty one years they are to receive profits annually. The
remaining fourth part of the said profits I will to my daughter Dorothy
Wadlington so long as she remains a widow and on her death or marriage to my
three grand daughters in manner aforesaid. Should my said grand daughters
all die without leaving issue alive at their deaths then I will that their
parts together with that of their mother go to my next of kin. And it is my
express intention that my daughter or grand daughters shall not sell or alien
the provision herein for them made under the pain of forfeiting the same as
if they were dead but that they are merely to receive profits annually.
And lastly I constitute & appoint my friends Anderson Crenshaw and James
McMorries Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking &
repealing all other wills & testaments which I may have made up. And on the
death of either of my executors it is my desire that his survivor be sole
executor with power of appointing either by deed or by will a proper person
to carry into intire effect the provisions & intentions of this my last will &
testament. I desire my grand daughters to be reasonably educated by my
Exors. out of the provision above made for them.
Signed sealed & published in presence of us the undersigned witnesses
this 7th day of February 1816
Signed: A Cates (seal)
Test: Benj. S. Ogletree
Robt. (his x mark) Chandler
Thomas Cates
Recorded in Will Book F, Pages 17 & 18
Recorded June 20th 1816
Proved February 15th 1816
Jas. Farnandis, O.N.D.
Box No. 4, Pkg. No. 10, Est. No. 98
Al in IL