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Robert Patterson of Linville Creek: His Will

By Wes Patterson (Last Revised: 31 March 2017)

Robert Patterson wrote his last will and testament on 21 July 1775, in York Co., SC. York Co was previously known as Craven Co. It also had been known as the NC counties of Anson, Mecklenburg, and Tryon during the 1760's and 70's. The following transcript of Robert Patterson’s Will is courtesy of Harald Reksten, who provided expert analysis of the original will at the SC Archives in July 2002.

Transcript of Will

In the name of God Amen the Twenty First day of July 1775 I Robert Patterson of Craven County farmer being very sick and weake in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do maeke and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say Principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shal receive the same again by the mighty power of God: and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form

And first of all I constituet make and ordain my beloved wife Sarah and my beloved sons Robert and Peter to be my whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and testament all and singular my lands messuages and tenements whith all household goods dets and moveable affects by them to be executed according to law and for them said Executors to take care and see that all and every one of my beloved family shall have there full share as I shall appoint

Imprimise I give and bequeath to Sarah my dearly beloved wife her full thirds of all my moveable affects and the homestead place till my son William comes of age and half afterwards while she lives and her hors and saddle.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas fifty pounds lawfull mony of South Carolina to be leveed out of my estate and all my cloathes except my fir hat and one gray three year old mare and colt to his son John.

I likewise give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah one cow and calf, and what is between Joseph and me.

I likewise give unto my son William the homestead place after his mother's decease all only from where the line crosses the road that goes to Peter's old place and straight & cors to the old saw pit below the muddy branch and straight on to the outside line and from that said line down to Peter.

I likewise give and bequeath unto my sons Peter and Robert each of them an equal part of my land and clames in the province of Virginia.

I likewis give and bequeath unto my children all and every one of them is now single with my daughter's Elisebeth and Lydia each of them an equal part of the remainder of my movable affects by all and every one of them freely to be possesed and enjoyed: and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other formal testaments wills legacies and bequeaths and Executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written

Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said Robert Patterson as his last will and testament in the presence of us the Subscribers

Nathaniel Harrison, James Dickie
Robrt (his mark “R”) Patterson

(York Co SC Will Book A R 32, pages 57-59, South Carolina State Archives, Columbia, SC)