CLAUDIUS RICHBOURGH died prior to September 6, 1788, the day on which Thomas Avery, one of the subscribing witnesses to his will, made oath as to its execution before John Ridgill, a justice of the peace of Clarendon County. All available data indicates that he was then about 72 years of age.
The will appears of record in the office of the Judge of Probate of Sumter county and reads as follows:
In the name of God Amen
I, CLAUDIUS RICHBOURG of Craven County in the Province of South Carolina of St. marks, planter, being of perfect health and of perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God, and calling to remembrance the mortality of any Body and that it is ordained for all men once to die, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, first and principally I recommend my soul into the hands of God, beseeching him to forgive me all my sins through the merits of Jesus Christ my blessed redeemer, and my body I bequeath to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named. And as touching such goods and worldly estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and bequeath and devise of the same in manner and form following:
Imprimis – it is my will, request and order that all my just debts be first of all duly paid and discharged.
Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved son Henry Richbourg a negroe man by name Minsor to him the said Henry Richbourg, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved son James Richbourg one negroe boy to the said James Richbourg, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved son John Richbourg one negroe girl by name Celia with her issue and increase to him the said John Richbourg, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved son Nathaniel Richbourg a negroe boy by name Sandy to him Nathaniel Richbourg during his life and after his death to the lawful heirs of his body forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved son William Richbourg one negore girl by name Kiah with her issue and increase to him the said William Richbourg, his heirs and assigns forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Unity Gayle a negroe girl by name Maria with her issue and increase to her the said Unity Gayle during her life and after her decease then to the heirs of her body forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Susannah Richbourg one negroe girl by name Betsey with her issue and increase to her the said Susannah and after her decease then to the heirs of her body forever.
Item – I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Unity Richbourg all the remainder of my estate of what kind, nature or denomination whatsoever it may be, or wheresoever it may be found at the time of my decease and both real and personal during her life, and my will and pleasure is that my said wife UNITY RICHBOURG shall have freely possession and enjoyment of the same without any molestation or hindrance whatsoever from or by my executors or to the children during her life and further that after her decease then I give and bequeath all my estate real and personal wheresoever and in what nature or kind soever that was in her possession to be equally divided among Henry Richbourg, James Richbourg, John Richbourg, Nathaniel Richbourg, William Richbourg, Unity Gayle and Susannah Richbourg to be equally and impartially shared and divided between them share and share alike to them or their heirs and assigns forever.
Lastly – I nominate, constitute and appoint my three sons Henry, James and John Richbourg executors of this my last will and testament revoking and disannuling all other former will or wills, testament or testaments, in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the sixteenth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and seventy eight and further it is my will all that part of my estate that falls to my son Nathaniel and Unity Gayle, that after their deaths it shall return to the heirs of their bodies forever.
CLAUDIUS RICHBOURG SEAL
[Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in presence of
R. G. Dennis Joseph Joyner Thomas Avery.
Recorded in Will Book AA, page 209, Sept. 6, 1818, Bundle 86, pkg. 5, Sumter County wills.]
On October 18, 1788, the will of CLAUDIUS RICHBOURGH was proved before the Judges of Clarendon County, and his sons, Henry Richbourg, James Richbourg, and John Richbourg qualified a its executors.
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