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Note: David Bowers and wife, Martha, long-time settlers in the Beech Island area, and a wealthy planter. David Bowers Sr. is on the Jury Lists of SC along with George Galphin and William Holmes. *********************************************************** Deed Clem Cox to David Bowers Book 45 page 312 Clem Cox } Deed South Carolina To } Edgefield District David Bowers } Know all men by these presents that I Clem Cox of the district and State aforesaid for and in consideration of the sume of one hundred and twelve dollars to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have bargained Sold aliened and conveyed and by these presents do bargain Sell alien and convey unto David Bowes of the District and State aforesaid one eighth of one fifth part of John Bowers deceased right and Interest in and to all the real Estate of David Bowers deceased in right of my wife as one of the heirs of Said John Bowers deceased and I do by these presents warrant and f[?] defend the right aforesaid unto the Said David Bowers his heirs and assigns forever against myself and my heirs only. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 17th day of June 1831. Signed Sealed and delivered} in the presence of D Ardis } his Clem X Cox John Burgess } LS mark South Carolina } Personally came before me Edgefield District} David Ardis who being duly Sworn Saith that he Saw Clem Cox Sign Seal and deliver the within instrument of writing for the purposes therein mentioned and that he saw John Burgess Subscribe the Same as a witness at the Same time with himself Sworn to this 9th Sept 1831} D Ardis T. S. Mills J.P.} Recorded 5 Nov 1831 [last two digits missing on copy] MURRAY HOME, BEECH ISLAND By Dorothy K. MacDowell The will of David Bowers Jr. mentions the' new house I am now building." This new house and the adjacent acreage to which he is referring in his will was purchased by Richard J.. Hankinson as a wedding gift for his daughter, Georgiann (or Georgia) upon the occasion of her marriage to Dr. John Milledge Galphin. This took place in 1832. What was formerly storage space has been turned into a den and kitchen and the 20-foot long beams, which were hewn to go into the home when it was built, are still in perfect condition. The old pine huntboard and pine milk safe were made when the House was built. The dining room and a living room on the first floor are styled identically and are panelled and wainscotted and perfectly matched, hand -hewn board. Each room is 20 ft. square and not one strip of panelling is pieced in either room. The pegged floors are all an inch and a quarter thick. The batten doors are the or original ones and are made of a solid piece of pine; the hardware and brick in the house were imported from England in the early 1800 s. There is a legend that the giant magnolia towering at the back of the House was presented as a seedling by a hopeful suitor to a beautiful belle who once lived here. The court ship, alas, did not bloom as the suitor's tree and all that remains of the romance is the haunting sweetness of magnolia blossoms that fill the air with fragrance for a brief season. 1787 April 11 page 10 ( pg. 19) Nathaniel Bacon and Benjamin Bowers Be appointed overseer to lay off the open said road. All persons living within six miles compelled to work on it. Road from Mason's ferry on Savannah River to Ft. Moor Bluff to Charleston and to road leading from Horn's Creek at river bridge. 1788 July 15 page 92 (pg. 199) Edgefield So. C. -----v/s Issacc Ardis and DAVID BOWERS 1799 March 12; DAVID BOWERS qualified as executor, Edgefield Co., Probate Box 34, package 1276, Frame 397 371 1818 The following information was attested to and recorded by DAVID BOWERS Jr. and recorded in 1818 deed book 35 page 18: Uriah Sambard sold to DAVID BOWERS 1788 60 acres on Town Creek bounded by George Galphin, George Beuoer (3), John Zubley. 1818 Deed book 37 page 63 dated 1818 DAVID BOWERS bought land from Alex M. Allen and others 90 acres, laying on Savannah River and adjoining land of David Bowers (Sr.) deceased. Roll A.A. audited accunts #649 David Bowers Private since Reductio of Charleston for duty with Col. Anderson, supplied provisions for Continental Line and Militia use A.A. 649 w37 paid Sept. 7 1785 sc-ar-m8 acc. audited Roll 11 598a-651 # 650 John Bowers served as militia before the fall of Charleston in Brandons Regiment A. A. 650 xx dist of S. Carolina in Revolution Bobby G. Moss. (must be bro. of David Jr.)????? #649 DAVID BOWERS Private since Reduction of Charleston for duty with Col. Anderson paid 7 Sept. 175 sc-ar-m8 acc. audited rool 11 598A-651 1814 Deed Book 35 page 142 Benjamin Bowers sold to his brother David land left to him by his father bounded by the Savannah River, John Clark on the North, heirs to James Jones: South by estate of Joseph (Blood ?) and land near Galphin's Mill 60 acres on Hallow Creek and Silver Bluff land Jones and (Bruners ?) land now in possessionof my other brother Philemon also 200 acres laying on Long Branch a prong of Town Creek on which my mother now lives, adjoining land of John Burgess and next to John (Panton?) and others dates 1814. 1818 Deed Book 40 page 48 1822 Seaborn H. Jones and James W. Jones of Burke Co. Ga, sell to David Bowers of Edgefield, 188 acres of Beech Island bounded on North by land of David Bowers (Sr.) deceased and all other sides by Savannah River. 1833 Deed Book 46 page 228 dated 1833 Jacob Wise to William Cary 14 3/4 acres (for saw mill)orginially belonged to John Wise. Sr. throught a grant also signed Elizabeth Wise, her mark x and witnessed Henry Wise Sr. his mark x property bounded by S.C.R.R. 15 right of way. 1991 Insert by Josephne (Dunbar, Bowers) Latham above document because in the Bowers and Galphin from Augusta Genealogy Socity names Eliza H Wise daughter of David and Martha Bowers. 14 Feb 1719-22 Aug. 1819 Yet David mentions Eliza his dau. wife of WILLIAM DUMBAR and Thomas Dunbar which would be about same age as the Elize H. in cem. I wonder if it might have been misread and that Eliza remarried after the William L died. ca 1833? 1870 Augusta, Ga. Sept 1870 record of sale by administrator James E. Harper of 97 acres known as Swamp place bounded on the north by Svannah River and south by land of A. S. Newhouse on east and west by Savannah River. Land given Eliza Bowers Dunbar wife of William Lamar Dunbar and parents of Thomas Dunbar by David Bowers Dr. Father of Eliza H. Bowers Dunbar of Edgefield, SC. in his will 1833 David B. Hack paid $3,500. 1833 Document in Richmond Ga. or Edgefield dist SC2 Feb. 1833 Ga. David Bowers Jr. to Jesse Kent Trustee for (slaves)Eliza and Thomas Dumbar, Eliza Bowers wife of Willam Dumbar. 1831 Deed John Burgess to DAVID BOWERS Edgefield, Dist. SC. 12 June 1831. A tract of land granted to John Stergenegger, 200 acres new survey shows to be 228 acres now owned by DAVID BOWERS and John Burgess. Sell unto David Bowers that mority, or half tract of land and the said Bowers owner of half of part granted to John Stegenegger on the waters of Long Branch and after taking off 30 acres for said Burgess leave 198 acres on which David Bowers now lives. To have and hold. I the said John Burgess for myself and my heirs and for the heirs of Giles Bowers deceased Samuel Burgess deceased Barbara Fox (maybe David's Sr. dau.) deceased Phileon Bowers and Martin Everett (maybe husband of Nancy Bowers, David's Sr. dau) dated June 17, 1831 recorded June 21, 1831. 1831 Deed David Bowers to John Burgess, Edgefield, Dist. SC. Do sell unto John Burgess all those several morlies and half of the following tracts of land the said Burgess being the owner of half part viz one tract of Swamp Land containing by resurvey 141 acres and know as the Swamp Plantation belonging to the estate of David Bowers deceased. Adjoining lands of Clark and Bowers and Savanah River also one tract of land know as Pettis tract originally granted to James Fair for 150 acres also one tract of land lying below Fitzsimmons mill on Town Creek adjoining the Swamp River orginally granted to Uriah Sambard for 60 acres also 30 acres part of a tract of land granted John Stegenegger on which the David Bowers now lives, lying next to the land where on Giles Bowers now lives. To have and hold unto the said John Burgess. 17 June recorded June 21, 1831 1833 Will of David Bowers names wife and children. Edgefield Co. vol. 2 1817-1835 Sce c pg. 589. Old 96th District contained Beech Island and ws divided into counties in 1790. Beech Island was then in Edgefield County was later divided and Beech Island is now in Aken County. Martha out lived David and was still living several years later. ******************************************* BOWERS, DAVID OF BEECH ISLAND, EDGEFIELD DISTRICT, WILL TYPESCRIPT (8 FRAMES) (MSS WILL: BOOK C, PAGES 389; ESTATE PACKET: BOX 4, PKG. 142) Edgefield County Wills 1787-1836 (Wooley) WILL OF DAVID BOWERS P.390. 23 Sept.1833,. WILL OF DAVID BOWERS In the name of God, Amen. I David Bowers of Beech Island Edgefield district, South Carolina being of Sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all others.. After the payment of all my just debts, my Will and desire is that the Remainder of my property be divided in the following manner. 1st Provided my wife Martha shall not make a claim on my Estate for Dower in my Lands, or anything more than is herein bequeathed to her, I give and bequeath to her the following property forever. Viz: Three negro men Joe, Doctor and Dick, and one negro women named Charlotte, one of my best horses, my Gig, & 4 Cows & Calves, and annually, during her natural life, one third of the annual Rent of my Beech Island & Georgia plantations (the rate of Rent after said plantations pass out of the hands of my Executer and into the hands of the Legaties to be fixed by the Valuation of three or five disinterested and competent persons) the first named of those plantations lies in this District on Savannah River and is known as Ten Mile bar, the other lying in Richmond County Georgia, and known as Bellmount, also during her natural life the use of my negroe men John, boy Jim, and girl Jinny (bought from my Brother Philemon Bowers) and woman big Mary (without the children That she now has), the man John to revert at the death of my wife Martha to my Son James, the boy Jim and Girl Jenny and increase if any to my Daughter Catherine Barnes, big Mary and the increase she may have while in possession of my Wife Martha to my Daughter Anna wife of William Carey-- I also give and bequeath to my wife Martha during her natural life the use of my household and kitchen furniture (except two good beds, bedsteads, and furniture, one of which for my Son James, and other for my daughter Catherine Barnes Said household & Kitchen furniture to revert at the death of my Wife Martha to my Son James & my Daughter Catharine Barnes, and be equally divided between them-- I also give and bequeath to my Wife Martha during her natural life the use of lot No. 1 of the tract of Land on which I live including the buildings (except the old house in which I now live as will appear by reference to a platt made by William Burkhalter dated 17th April 1826 and containing ninety nine acres, which at her death is to revert to my Daughter Catharine Barnes, and where my Said Daughter may make her home until then she marries or attains the age of Twenty one years----But should my wife Martha contrary to my wish, be dissatisfied with this my last will and attempt to break it or let it aside, or make a claim on my Estate for Dower in my lands, or anything more than is herein bequeathed to her, then, and in that case my Will is that the three negroe men Joe, Doctor, and Dick, the woman Charlotte, the & gig and four Cows and Calves, herein bequeathed to her forever, be sold on such terms as my Executor may think best, and proceeds of such Sale expended as far as it will go in paying off his dower, and if necessary my horses, mules, cattle, hogs and plantation tools and waggon be sold in the same way and money applied to the same purpose, and also my crop on hand if any, and should this not be sufficient, each of my Children are to bear an equal proportion in paying off the remainder of her Dower, and the negroe man John revert to my Son James, boy Jim and girl Jenny to my Daughter Catherine Barnes, and big Mary to my Daughter Anna.. 2ndly I give and bequeath to John Hatfield in trust for the sole use and benefit of my Daughter Eliza during her life, and to her Son Thomas at her death, but should he die before he attains the age of Twenty one years and without leaving lawful Issue ( his mother being dead) it Shall revert to my Daughters Anna and Mary Hatfield and be equally divided between them, lot No. 2 my Bellmont tract containing ninty Seven acres as will appear by reference to a platt made by Wm. Burkhatter dated 18th April 1832, also the highland situation on which my said Daughter Eliza lives, in the same way, being 150 acres which I purchased from my Son John, and formerly the Residence of Col. Robert Jones, also, one negroe man named Caffer, and should my wife Martha be Satisfied with this my last will both and above described lots or tracts of Land shall pay annually to her during her natural life, one third of what shall be considered a fair Rent for them by three or five disinterested and competent persons.. 3rdly To my Daughter Susanna wife of Henry Starr I have already given two negroes viz a man named Morris and a girl named Annarchy which two negroes I estimate to be worth nine Hundred and fifty Dollars (950) and one Thousand and fifty Dollars to be placed in the hands of John Woolfolk, one thousand Dollars of which to be laid out in a tract of Land by him, the title to which to be taken in such way as to secure the same to the sole use benefit and behoof of my said Daughter Susanna during her natural life and at her death to her Son Samuel Starr, and the remaining fifty Dollars to pay commissions to John Woolfolk. I also give and bequeath to John Hatfield in Trust for my said Daughter Susanna and heirs of her body a negroe woman named Patience. 4th To my Daughter Sarah wife of George Dunbar I have already given a negroe girl by the name of Mariah which I estimate to be worth $350, and I give and bequeath to John Hatfield in trust for, and for the sole use and benefit of my Daughter Sarah during her natural life and after her death to the heirs of her body a small Tract of pine land containing seventeen and a half acres knows as the Holcomb place and adjoining Lands of Elihu Williams, Dr., Urich B. Clarke and others --also in trust as above, Lot No. 1 of my Bellmount Tract lying in Richmond Georgia, containing agreeable to a platt made by William Burkhalter dated the 18th April 1832 one hundred and thirty seven acres (137) one third of what shell be considered a fair Rent to be paid annually to my wife Martha during her natural life for both those places, the rate of Rent to be fixed by three or five disinterested & competent persons. I also give in Trust as above one negroe man named Robin. 5th I give and bequeath to my Son James one negroe boy Charles and one girl about twelve years of age named Sophy (I consider the value of these two negroes to be equal to what each of my Daughters that are married had given to them at the time of their marriage one negroe man named Jerry, also the lot No. 2 being the lower part of my Beech Island Plantation known as Ten mile bar it having been divided by myself in the presence of my Son James and Stephen Heath by a line of planted Catalpa Tree, commencing on the River bank running through the entry of the Barn, throwing the South end of the Barn the overseers house, Smoke house and Bread Crib into this lot, (No. 2)----also five and a half acres known as the hog house lot lying on bridge creek. Also lot No. 2 in my tract of Land known as the Hankinson & Butler Survey which I purchased from Barna McKinne and containing 148 � acres, bounded by lands of John Deck and others, which by reference to a platt made by William Burkhalter dated the 15th Dec. 1830 will more fully appear, also lot No. 2 in the tract of land on which I now live being the part on which my mother formerly lived, containing agreeable to a plat made by William Burkhatter dated 17th Apr. 1826 ninty nine acres, each of these lots that are cultivated to be subject to pay to my wife Martha annually one third of what shall be considered a fair Rent, the rate of Rent to be fixed by three or five disinterested and competent persons----I also give and bequeath to my Son James the old house in which I now live, with permission to move it to where he pleased as soon as the new house I am now building is finished. 6th I give and bequeath to my Daughter Catherine Barnes and the heirs of her body one negroe man named Will and one small girl Fanny ( I consider these two negroes to be equal in value to what each of her sisters recv. at the time of their marriage) I also give and bequeath to my daughter Catharine Barnes and the heirs of her body a negro boy named Handy also a boy about seven years old by the name of Will, also a negroe Women named Lucy and her child Jinny and their increase also a girl named Raney and Mary (Daughter of Sary) and their increase,--- also lot No. 1 in my Beech Island plantation known as Ten mile bar, being the upper part thereof and divided as described in the 5th clause, including the north end of the barn, the high stable and the negro houses also a lot of Twelve acres of pine land known my the name of Ceder Grove, also Lot No. 1 in the Hankinson and Butler Survey which I purchased from Harna McKinne containing as per platt of William Burkhalter dated 15th December 1830 148 � acres----also Lot No. 1 in the tract of Land whereon I now live which is to be here at the death of my wife Martha, containing according to a platt made by William Burkhalter dated the 17th of April 1826 ninty nine acres---- lot No. 1 in the Ten Mile bar tract and the Cedar Grove tract to be subject to pay annually to my wife Martha one third of what shall be considered a fair Rent for them, Rent to be fixed by three or five disinterested and competent persons. 7th I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter (Daughter of my Son John) Martha Theresa, and the heirs of her body two negroe boys each about thirteen years of age one named Washington the other Sandy, also a negroe girl about Twelve years old named Susky, my desire is that my grand Daughter live with my wife Martha and my Daughter Catharine Barnes If agreeable, and that provisions be laid in for them sufficient for the first year after my decease, should by grand Daughter Martha Theresa die without leaving living lawful Issue, the three negroes herein bequeathed to her are to revert with the increase of the female if any to my five eldest daughters and be equally divided amongst them. 8th I give and bequeath to my Daughter Anna wife of William Cary the following named negroes viz Cato, Ephraim, Billy, Elise and child Mariah, Tom, Henry, Louisa and old Sophia, together with the increase of the females if any. 9th I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary wife of John Hatfield the following named negroes viz Stephen, Phill, George, Clarissa and child Jane, Nancy Jordan and old Sary, and the increase of the females if any. 10th I give and bequeath to be paid out for my Son James in such way as my Executors may think best, Three Hundred Dollars for the purpose of rebuilding the house I now live in and making other improvements on lot No. 2 of the tract of land I now live on, but should I so far recover my health this claim is void. 11th I give and bequeath to my Daughter Catharine Barnes Three hundred dollars which I wish advanced to her as my Executor in his direction may think She need it. 12th I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Martha Theresa (Daughter of my son John) Three Hundred Dollars which I wish advanced towards her Support and maintenance as her necessities may require it at the direction of my Executor. 13th I give and bequeath to my Executor John Miller Five Hundred Dollars. I give my Executor full power to move my negroes and other moveable property from Georgia to South Carolina, also to rent out Lands and hire out the negroes of such of the Legatees as are under Twenty one years of age and unmarried, also to sell my negroe woman Dina, my remaining horse and mules, cattle and hogs, waggons, plantation tools crop on hand (if any) etc. whenever he may think it best, and should my Executor have, at any time money in his hands belonging to the minor Legatees (viz my daughter Catharine Barnes, or my Grand daughter Martha Theresa) which he may think can be spared from their support he is hereby authorized to lay it out on a young negroe or negroes for them or either of them as the case may be, or let it out at Interest as he may think most advantageous. And should there on the final settlement of my Estate by any reminder in money my Executor is hereby authorized to make an equal distribution of the same amongst the Legatees. As it is reasonable to suppose that my Executor has a better knowledge of the intention and meaning of this my last Will and Testament than any other person, in case any difference of opinion should arise amongst the legatees, or between the legatees or any of them, and my Executor, relative to the manner in which any part of it should be construed, the construction, or definition, of my Executor on any and every part of it shall be conclusive, he being hereby authorized to construe it in his own ways, having full confidence in the honesty and integrity of my Executor, I intend his being vested with this power shall prevent (as far as possible) lawsuits, and the unnecessary waste of time and money in that way, and further, all the actings and doings of my Executor upon oath, shall be deemed and taken as facts, nor shall he be liable for any of his deeds, nor for anything which he omits doing, unless it can be clearly shown that he has willfully and with intention defrauded the Legatees, or some or one of them for his own benefit. If any of the Legatees are dissatisfied, or claim anything more than is specially given in this my last Will the property herein devised to such one, or more, to revert to my Estate and be equally divided amongst the remaining legatees. I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my friend John Miller Executor of this my last Will and Testament, and guardian for my daughter Catherine Barnes and my grand Daughter Martha Theresa. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd September in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Thirty three--- In the present of David Meyer Jonathan N. Miller David Bowers (SEAL) John Burgess Recorded in Will Book �C� Page 589 Recorded April 21, 1834 J. Richardson O. E. D. Box4; Pkg. 142
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