Last Will and Testament of Jeremiah Leak
4 July 1851, recorded 4 March 1853
Laurens County, South Carolina
In the name of God amen
I Jeremiah Leak of the District of Laurens and State of South Carolina being of sound and disposing mind and memory calling to mind the uncertainty of Life and being desirous to dispose of such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with do make constitute and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say
First It is my will and desire that all my just debts funeral expences and the expences of my last Illness be paid as soon after my death as practicable.
Second I Give and bequeath to my beloved wife Jane Leake during her natural life the following property to wit, one half of the tract of land whereon I now live and one half of my tract of Land on Bush River and my Negroes John Pompey Milton Wesly Moses Lindy Nancy Martin and Samuel and their future increase and I also give to her absolutely to be disposed of as she pleases my Slaves Minny and Addeline and their future increase.
Third I have given to my daughter Margaret L Bonds five Negroes to wit Matilda Caroline Martha Madison and Cicly which I confirm this my last will.
Fourth I give my son Jeremiah Leak in trust for the use of my daughter Racheal B Leake during her natural life the following slaves to wit—Anna Lucretia Henry Bedford and Betty with their future increase and at her death to such [child] and children as she may leave surviving her but should my said daughter die leaving no child or children then the said negroes and their increase are to be equally divided amongst her brothers and sisters of the whole blood.
Fifth I Give to my son Jeremiah Leake in trust for the use and benefit of my daughter Lucinda B Leak during her natural life the following slaves to wit Randel Tabitha Lucy Elliott Martha and Louisa with their future increase and at her death to such child or children as she may leave surviving her but should my said daughter die leaving no child or children surviving her the aforesaid negroes and their increase are to be equally divided among her Brothers and sister of the whole blood.
Sixth I give to my son Jeremiah Leake in trust for the use and benefit of my daughter Jane Eveline Leake during her natural life the following slaves to wit Polly Elizabeth Caroline and Wyatt(?) with their future increase and at her death to such child or children as she may leave surviving her but should my said daughter die without leaving a child or children the aforesaid slaves are to be Equally divided amongst her Brothers and sisters of the whole blood.
Seventh I give to my son Jeremiah Leake in trust for the use and benefit of my daughter Isabella [initial] Leake during her natural life the following slaves to wit Dinah Cather Luiso? Louisa and their future increase and at her death to such child or children as she may leave surviving her but if my said daughter should die leaving no child or children the aforesaid slaves with their increase should be Equally divided among her Brothers and Sisters of the whole blood.
Eighth I Give to my son Jeremiah Leake one half of my plantation and tract of Land on Bush River adjoining lands of Mason Young Hichero Barksdale and others and the following slaves to wit Jacob Jane and Lucretia with their increase but should my said son die the aforesaid property with the increase of the slaves to be equally divided among his Brothers and sisters of the whole blood.
Ninth I give to my son William J Leake one half of the tract of Land on which I now live adjoining lands Dr. Young James Hipps Andrew Studdard and others and following slaves to wit Gideon and Hester and the future increase of the slaves but should my said son die leaving no child or children surviving him the aforesaid property with the increase of the slaves is to be equally divided among his Brothers and Sisters of the whole blood.
Tenth At the death of my Wife I give and bequeath to my son Jeremiah Leake the remaining half of my tract of land on Bush River. To my son William J Leak the remaining half of the tract of land whereon I now live and the slave Milton to my daughter Rachael B Leake the slave Mose to my daughter Lucinda B Leake the slave Pompey to my daughter Eveline Leake the slave John and to my daughter Isabella P Leake the slave Lindy to be held subject to the same Trusts and —- hereafter before proved as to the property given to them respectfully.
Eleventh I give and bequeath to my wife Jane Leake during her natural life all the balance of my estate of every description and herein disposed of.
Twelvth I give and bequeath After the death of my wife it is my will that my Executors herein after named do raise from that portion of my estate given to her for her life exclusive of the Land and negroes the sum of one thousand dollars which is to be placed by them at interest as an accumulating fund until the income shall amount to three hundred dollars which sum of Three hundred Dollars I give to my granddaughter Jane Eveline Bonds and the principal sum of one thousand dollars is to [be] held by Executors for the sole and separate use of my Daughter Margarett L Bonds during her natural life and at her death to be Equally divided among her children if she should leave no child or children then the fund above given to her shall be equally divided amongst my children by my present wife
Thirteenth After the death of my wife all the balance of the negroes herein given to her for life is to be equally divided amongst her four youngest daughters.
Fourteenth It is [my] will and desire that in all cases [my] property is limited by this my will to my children for life with remainder to their children and in the event of their leavings no child or children surviving them then to the Brothers and sisters that the grand children of a deceased child of any one of my children shall represent their parent and be entitled to whatever these parent would have been entitled to have [had] they survived their Father or Mother under this my will.
Lastly I do nominate constitute and appoint my son Jeremiah Leake Executor of this my last will and testament and in the event of his death I appoint my son William J Leake Executor hereby making all former wills by me hereto made [void] In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this fourth day of July one thousand eight hundred and fifty one
Jeremiah Leake
his mark
Jerimiah Leake was my 5th great grandfather.
Holland Leak Adair Cemetery is in Clinton, SC