Dicey Langston Statue Project in Traveler's Rest, SC

Thomas Springfield’s Last Will & Testament

TEXT OF THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THOMAS SPRINGFIELD Recorded in Will Book C, pages 16 9-171 Apt. 10, File No. 28SC-AR-M 9/16 AD 539 SC WILL TRANSCRIPTS 1782-1868 /Roll 16, VOL . I/1766-1825.

In the name of God Amen I Thomas Springfield of Greenville District and State of South Carolina being weak of Body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for the Same do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the dust to be decently buried by the directions of my executors who I shall hereafter name appoint. 

  • Item I, I give to my son Aaron Springfield one hundred dollars to be paid out of my estate by my executors and 
  • to my son James Springfield I give ten dollars to be paid by my executors out of my estate 
  • to my son Hugh Springfield I give Fifty dollars to be paid by my executors out of my estate. 
  • To my Daughter Patsy Magness I give her one hundred dollars to be paid to my executors out of my estate. 
  • To my son Thomas Springfield I give a Negro boy named Adam and a large family Bible. 
  • I give to my son Bennett Springfield all the woodland that lies on the South side of the road that runs from my house to Moons. 
  • I give to my daughter Sarah Bates a Negro girl named Jin. 
  • To my Daughter Nancy Miller, I give two thirds of the profit of a Negro woman named Liza and at the decease of the said Nancy Miller, this part of the Said Negro to be equally divided between Nancy Miller’s four children, viz., MahaliaDicae said Negro woman named Liza viz Franklin, HenryThomas and Jasper. 
  • To my granddaughter Sarah Springfield, I give one hundred acres of land the plantation hereon I now live and house and I also give her one Negro boy named Good also one feather stead and furniture. 
  • To my grandson Pinkney Springfield I give a certain parcel or track of land Bounded by my home track and bounded by Lemmons land and by Moons land containing 70 acres more or less. 

My Negro George is to be sold and all my loose property and stock and all kinds to be sold and my debts paid out of the proceeds. And if there is more money than pays my debts I want it equally divided between my three grandchildren viz Dyca, Harkins and Nansey Harkins and Thomas Springfield in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the twenty eight day of October Eighteen hundred and forty three.

Signed in presence of W. M. Goodlett Thos. Chiles Joseph McJunkin M.G. D. Thomas Springfield (L: S.) Probated the 7th day of April A.D. 1845

BIOGRAPHY: “Roster of SC Patriots in the American Revolution” Author: Bobby Gilmer Moss, Publishers: Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc., 1983 Library of Congress Catalogue Card Number 82-83584 “Some Heroes of the American Revolution” James Davis Bailey Publishers: Band an d White, 1924, Spartanburg, SC. He was a soldier in the SC militia, Laurens District

BIOGRAPHY: Thomas SPRINGFIELD

BIRTH: 15 JUL 1766 DEATH: 21 MAR 1845, Greenville County, South Carolina BURIAL: Springfield Family Cemetery, Greenville, South Carolina OCCUPATION: Captain, SC Revolutionary Troops ( Militia) MARRIAGE: 9 JAN 1783, Laurens County, South Carolina, to Laodicea “Dicey” LANGSTON