Amanuensis Monday~Chesterfield District Will of Daniel A. McNair, 1862.

Amanuensis Monday is a genealogy blogging theme. It was started by John Newmark who writes the TransylvanianDutch blog.
 His definition of Amanuensis is:
Amanuensis: A person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another.

Today’s subject is the Chesterfield District Will of Daniel A. McNair, 1862.¹

Daniel A. McNair was born  6 May 1826, the first born child of Neil McNair and Mary A, Crawford. In the 1850 Chesterfield Census, Daniel was still living at home. On 13 March 1856, Daniel married Sarah A. McLaurin. They are enumerated in 1860 as a family household with no children. ²

Daniel A. McNair died 29 January 1865 at the age of 38. I could find no record of his widow after the 1860 census and the 1865 probate of his estate.³

Transcription:
State of South Carolina}
Chesterfield District} I do solemnly swear, that the annexed writing contains the last will and Testament of Daniel A. McNair so far as I know or believe’ and that I will well and truly execute the same, by first paying the debts and then the Legacies contained in said will as far as his goods and chattels will extend and the law charge me; And that I will make a true and correct inventory of all such goods and Chattels – so help me God-
Sworn before me}
Feby 7^th 1865}                                                              D. Douglaf
Hugh Craig, Sen
Ordy C. D.
 

Transcription:
In the name of God Amen I Daniel A. McNair of the District of Chesterfield and state of South Carolina being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life do therefore make ordain publish and declare this to be my Last Will and testament to say First after all my debts are paid and discharged the residue of my estate real and personaly <sic> I give bequeath and dispose of as follows to wit To my beloved wife all the property that I now hold own also all my interest in my Fathers estate to be disposed of by her after my death as she may see proper.
Likewise I male constitute and appoint David Douglaf to be execute of this my Last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witnefs whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight thousand <sic> and sixty two [1862].
Signed in presence}
of us}                                                                  Dan’l McMair {seal}
Wm. A. Mulloy}
John W. Swinney}
J. F. Swinney}
 













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[1] “South Carolina Probate Records, Files and Loose Papers, 1732-1964," images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1-19383-23682-16?cc=1911928 : accessed 17 April 2016), Chesterfield > Probate Court, Estate records > 1865-1927 > Cases 0001-0022 > image 374 of 493; county courthouses, South Carolina, and South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia.
[2] 1860 U. S. Census, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, population schedule, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, , Page: 127 (stamped); Line 30, Dwelling 471, Family 470, Household of Daniel A. McNAIR; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 11 April 2016); citing National Archives Microfilm M653-1217.
[3] Find A Grave, Inc., Find A Grave, database and digital images, (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 11 April 2016); Memorial page for Daniel A. McNair; (6 May 1826–29 January 1865); Find a Grave memorial # 44702977, Citing McNair Family Cemetery; Ruby, Chesterfield County, South Carolina, USA.