Greenville County, South Carolina Probate Judge - Estate Records
Will of G.W. Earle
Apt. 2 File 143
1821 [when Sarah Caroline Earle would have been about age 4]


Excerpts from Will of G.W. Earle


I George Washington Earle being in ill bodily health but of sound and [sic]dispossing mind memory and understanding do make ordain & publish this as my last will & Testament

1 It is my wish that my body after death shall be decently buried after the fashion of Christian people as it is my hope that my Immortal Soul will experience the mercy of its creator.

2 It is my wish that all my just debts be immediately & punctually paid and for that purpose my executors are directed to dispose of as much as they deem adviseable of my personal Estate Excepting my negroes which are hereafter bequeathed.

3 It is my will that my Executors shall also sell if they deem it prudent for the payment of debts of the education of my children the following negroes (viz) Handy, Dorsey, Davy, Old Jack, Old Pug, Jude, Dinah, Lotty & her two children Nathan & Malinda, and Old Pheobe...

5 In consideration of the great service Rendered me by my dear son Elias in the discharge of my official duties I do give and bequeath to him my said son Elias a negro boy named Harry in addition to his equal share of Estate herein after provided for.

6 In consideration also of the serious misfortune which has befallen my beloved daughter Sarah Caroline in the loss of one of her eyes and to compensate in a very small degree so great a calamity do also give and bequeath to her my said Daughter Sarah Caroline the following negro girls viz, Aggy, Molly, Dianna, & Levinia with there future increase. This legacy is also intended to be in addition to her equal portion of my Estate herein after provided for. And if should die under age without issue to revert to my estate and to be equally [sic]devided amongst my other children then living.

8 I also give and bequeath to my said wife the following negroes viz, Cesar & his wife Pheobe with [sic]there five children Rebecca, Agrippa, Judy, Cesar or Joe & Catherine with the future increase of the females. Also I give and bequeath to her my said wife the girl Ary & little Bob with the increase of Ary.

10 In relation to all the Estate both real and personal of which I am possessed it is my will and desire that my Executors shall retain the same in their hands undivided except that which is herein before bequeathed or directed to be sold that the negroes shall be kept together and the plantations cultivated under the superintendence of my Executors [sic]untill some one of my children shall marry or come of age...