Chesterfield County SC Estates~Estate Folder #589–William ‘Bill’ Copeland

This is a new series of posting, appearing every Sunday, on selected Estate Folders from the Estate files of Chesterfield County. No known estates exist for the period before the Civil War. They were destroyed with the burning of the Courthouse. There are a few “Equity Records” in the State Archives. Do not overlook this valuable resources if you are looking for ancestors in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. 

Today we will be looking at the following Estate folder:
Folder #589
William ‘Bill’ Copeland

The estate folder begins at image 811. There are 5 images within the estate folder. (images 811-815)

https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19427-40676-37?cc=1911928

William ‘Bill’ Copeland was born about 1818 a son of John Copeland, Jr and his wife Nancy. Bill married Nancy Sellers about 1843. Their first born child, a daughter, was listed as 6 years old in the 1850 Chesterfield County census making her birth year to be 1844.

Bill and Nancy had a total of 5 children; all daughters. Their second born, Mary Caroline married Hugh Moore Smith. The grandchildren mentioned in William Copeland’s will are all children of Hugh Moore and Mary Caroline Smith. 

The estate file contained William Copeland's Will and a court document proving the Will in Probate Court. The Will is dated 26 April 1895 and it was proven in court on 30 May 1899.



TRANSCRIPTION:
Chesterfield County South Carolina
In the name of God Amen this is the last Will and Testament of William Copeland of Chesterfield County South Carolina. I being of Sound mind memory and understanding do make ordain and constitute this as my last will and Testament in manner and form following to wit
I give and bequeath to H. M. Smith my Grand Son and Julius S. Smith my Grand Son all of my land or real estate to be equally divided divided between them Share and Share alike my will is that H. M. Smith acts as Guardian for Julias S. Smith til said Julias S. becomes of lawful age I further give to Julius S. Smith mu double barrel Shot gun. I also give my Grand daughter D. L. Smith my fine Table Cloth
Signed Sealed and Set forth in the presence of these witnefs April the 26^th A.D. eighteen Hundred and ninety Seven.                           William X his mark Copeland {seal}
D. B. Smith
W. J. Thurman
E. B. X his mark Moor
 









 
____________________________
[1] Citation - "South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19427-40676-37?cc=1911928 : accessed 20 February 2016), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0553B-0637 > image 811 of 1488; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.