Thompson Family Wills
York County, SC
Submitted by Audrey Pool

 
Source:  York County SC Will Book A-1 1800-1813:
 
“Pages 263-264:  Will of Samuel THOMPSON of the State of 
So Carolina and district of York, being low in body…to my 
brother Nathaniel THOMPSON, $250 to be paid by Moses THOMPSON 
eighteen months after the date of this; to my brother 
Moses THOMPSON, one Negro man due me from my brother 
Alexander THOMPSON & John THOMPSON to be worth $500; to my sister 
Mary Ann EDMISTON (?), $250 to be paid her by Robert GRIER, 
two years after the death of this; to my sister Betsy Hannah GRIER, 
one Negro man named Peter which I have now in my possession; to my 
venerable mother one Negro boy named Ned with my new fir hat; to my 
two brothers Alexander THOMPSON & John THOMPSON, all the balance of 
my property with $400 due me from the estate of James THOMPSON, 
exrs., 3 March 1811.  Samuel THOMPSON. Wit: Thomas BROWN, Robert GRIER.  
The above will was proven August 5th 1811 upon the oath of Thomas BROWN 
witness thereto.”
 
Alexander THOMPSON is a witness to the will of James POWELL, 
August 1st 1803, York County, SC.
 
“Pages 61-64:  South Carolina, York District.  Will of Ann THOMPSON…
To my son Nathaniel THOMPSON my Negro boy named Ned.  To my son 
Moses THOMPSON a Negro woman Named Beck.  I leave to my daughter 
Mary Ann Edmiston $6.  I leave to my sons Alexander THOMPSON one 
fourth part of $475 due the first of Feb 1807 which is in the hands 
of the said Alexander & John THOMPSON. To my son John THOMPSON 159 acres 
of land whereon I now live.  To my daughter Betsy Hannah GREER $6.  
To my son John THOMPSON two beds and furniture.  To my granddaughter 
Ann Ewing THOMPSON one bed and some furniture.  To my two grandchildren 
Maryan EDMISTON and Samuel EDMISTON two beds with some furniture.  
I leave to my grandson John Brown THOMPSON my mare.  To my Negro girl 
Beck two shifts, two cots, two franks.  To my Negro boy Ned one 
suit of clothes and the rest of my estate to be equally divided 
between Nathaniel, Moses, Alexander & John THOMPSON, and they are 
appointed as executors, 2 Dec 1814.  Ann THOMPSON (mark) (LS).  
Wit:  Wm LOGAN, Jno LEECH (mark), Jane LEECH (mark).  Proved by 
the oath of William LOGAN 8 April 1815.  At same time qualified 
John THOMPSON executor.  Warrant of appraisement directed to 
Edward BYERS, David BYERS, William BYERS, john POWEL & Samuel WILEY, 
returnable 25 Oct next.”
 
“Pages 222-225:  Will of Ann MEEK of the District of York…To my 
son James one twelfth part left me by Adam MEEK dec’d will.  
To my daughter Margaret one twelfth part.  To my daughter 
Jean MITCHELL one third part left me.  To my daughter Agness one 
third part left me.  To my son William one sixth part left me.  
I appoint Edward BYERS & Sam’l B. BYERS, exrs., 27 Sept 1815.  
Ann MEEK (LS).  Wit:  Ezekial GILLHAM, John PILCHER, Robert PILCHER ®.  
Warrant of appraisement directed by John THOMPSON, John PILCHER, 
Wm THOMPSON, David BYERS & Alex THOMPSON 20 June 1818 returnable 
15 August.  Letters testamentary to Sam’l Baldwin BYERS 20 June 1818.”
 
“Citation.  Whereas Wm BARRY with the nuncupative will of 
Sam’l BARRY deceased annext applied for letters of adm, 3 Sept 1825.  
Warrant of appraisement directed to Wm JAMISON, Esq., John 
THOMPSON, Esq., John PILCHER, Rob’t HAYS & Alex THOMPSON 
 25 Sept 1825 returnable 20 November.”
 
Note Benj THOMPSON in the following will.  (aep)
 
“Pages 198-202:  Will of William PETTUS of York District…To my 
beloved wife during her natural life or widowhood the following 
Negroes Jack, Arthur, Moses, Frank, Bill, Charlotte, Aggy & Pricilla, 
with my household and kitchen furniture, with all implements of 
husbandry & half of my live stock.  To my son Sam’l K. PETTUS all that 
tract of land left him by his grandfather for which I after obtained a 
lease in my own name & since which have had run off to him by Jno FAIRIS, 
after the death of my wife.  My library be equally divided between my 
five sons, Viz:  Samuel K, George, Stephen B., William W. and Thomas N.  
To my son George one fourth part of all my land inclusive of that dividend 
to my son Sam’l K. according to quality including the improvement whereon 
Allen FELTS at present lives.  To my son George the following Negroes, 
Viz: Willis, Milly & her child George and my Negro boy Joe.  All my Negroes 
not herein before disposed of remain in the possession of my wife for the 
maintenance & education of my six younger children, Viz:  Rebecca W. PETTUS, 
Stephen R. PETTUS, Marria PETTUS, William W. PETTUS and Thomas N. PETTUS 
and that the said Negroes with their increase divided equally be divided 
equally according to quality between my two sons Stephen BULLOCK & 
William WADKINS (?).  At the death of my wife or her intermarriage the 
land divided or loaned to her belong to my youngest son Thomas Newton,  
I appoint John SPRINGS, Jr & John KENDRICK my executors, 18 July 1817.  
Will PETTUS (LS).  Wit:  J. BOOKER, ___FOX, Ben. W. THOMPSON.  Warrant 
of appraisement directed to Benjamin PERSONS, John HARRIS, Robert BELL, 
John JACKSON & James HARRIS 24 March 1818 returnable 1 May.  Letters 
testamentary not returned in order to be recorded.  Inventory certified 
March 27, 1818 at $20,216.20 by Benj PERSONS, John HARRIS, John JACKSON, 
and Robert BELL.”
 
THOMSON:
 
“Pages 230-231:  May 8th 1810.  The last will and testament of 
James THOMSON dec’d was proven by the oath of Edward BYERS, one of 
the witnesses thereto.”
 
“Will of James THOMSON of the District of York & State of South Carolina, 
being sick & weak in body…to my brother Nathaniel THOMSON, my claim of a 
certain tract of land in the State of North Carolina, Bunkham County, 
Butree(?) Creek, commonly known by the name of the cove, 50 acres, likewise 
$50 deducting whatever he may have against my estate out of the $50.  
To my sister Mary Ann EDMISTON, $5; to my brother Moses THOMSON, $100; 
to my brother Samuel THOMSON, $200; to my sister Betsey Hann GREER, $100 
at the expiration of two years.  If she should die without issue before 
the money becomes due from my estate, to my brother Samuel THOMSON; to my 
two brothers Alexander & John THOMSON the remainder of my estate to be 
equally divided between them.  I appoint Alexander THOMSON & John THOMSON, 
my executors, 11 June 1808.  J. THOMSON (LS).  Wit:  Edward BYERS, John CAIN, 
John LEECH (X).  May 7th 1810 qualified Alexander THOMSON and 
John THOMSON, exrs.”
 
“Pages 114-120:  Will of William THOMSON of York District…to my son 
Richard THOMSON all my lands called the beauty spot and all my lands 
adj. The same whereon I now live in York District & two other tracts 
of land near the same lying over the river in Union District that I 
purchased of Joshua PETTY*, dec’d, the widow GOOD(E) & her children, 
and two other tracts in York District on the waters of Beaver Dam Creek 
that I purchased from a Mr. BANKHEAD about 354 acres and three other 
tracts in York District at & near the mouth of Buffalo Creek, that I 
purchased from Richard QUIN, John DILL and James GARDINER, containing 
in the several above described tracts 3414 acres during his natural 
life for the sum of one dollar per year to be paid to my executors when 
they call for it.  At his death I bequeath all the lands whereon I now 
live called the beauty spot and others to his three sons William Hatten 
THOMSON, Henry Hopson THOMSON and James Maddison THOMSON bo be laid off 
to them in his life time equally as to quality & quanity, and the three 
tracts lying at the mouth of Buffalo Creek that I purchased from Richard 
QUINN, John DILL and James GARDINER, about 1100 acres to 
James Washington THOMSON & Joseph Waddy THOMPSON at the death of their 
father Richard THOMSON.  To my daughter Margaret MC KEE all my lands on 
Thicketty Creek in Spartanburg District where she now lives, 2000 acres 
during her life and at her death, one half to William NICHOLES my grandson 
including the land bought of Phillip WALKER, the house and plantation and 
the out land up main Thicketty around by the race paths & the other hand 
to Barlow Thomson COLLINS including HAINSWORTH and part of the MOORES 
tracts to be made equal with the out lands to quantity  & qualify by his 
paying his sister Caroline COLLINS $400.  To my daughter Nancy COLLINS 
that tract of land on the north side of Pacolet River in Union District 
called BULLOCKS old field, about 600 acres, and at her death to William 
NICKOLES her son.  To Richard Franklin THOMSON son of Richard THOMSON 
that tract of land & mills on LAWSONS fork that I purchased by a decree 
in the court of equity, 300 acres.  My will is that the following lands 
be sold, the tract on the Beaverdam Creek near GAFNEY’S & the land in 
partnership with William LIPSCOMB, dec’d that he willed to me with 
lime on it, both tracts in Spartanburgh District, & one tract of 
land in the State of Virginia in Amherst County, and the money 
arising from the sale to be equally divided between all of my 
grandchildren at the death of my son Richard THOMSON.  My will 
is that I leave all my Negroes & their increase (excepting four) 
to my son Richard THOMSON for paying the taxes of them, and at my 
son’s death the hold (whole?) of the Negroes to be equally divided 
among all my grandchildren namely Sarah MOORE, Narcissa OTTERSON, 
Nancy MC KEE, Melissa NORRIS, William NICHOLES, William H. THOMSON, 
Henry H. THOMSON, Nancy Ragland THOMSON, Ann THOMSON & Richard 
Franklin THOMSON, Barlow Thomson COLLINS & Caroline COLLINS.  
My will is that I hire two Negroes worth $3000 each unto Margarett 
MC KEE during her life for paying the taxes of them, also a horse 
mare & small dioned(?) stud and at her death to be equally divided 
between her three daughters.  I also have $2000 in my executor’s 
hands to be put at interest for the support of my daughter Margaret.  
I also have $2000 in my executor’s hands to be put at interest for 
the support of my daughter Nancy COLLINS, and at her death to be 
equally divided between Melissa NORRIS & her children.  I hire two 
Negroes worth #300 each to my daughter Nancy COLLINS, and at her death 
to her four children.  I leave four Negroes worth $300 a piece to all 
my grandchildren whenever they become of age or should marry:  
Sally MOORE, Narcissa OTTERSON, Nancy MC KEE, Melissa NORRIS, 
William NICHOLES, William H. THOMSON, Henry H. THOMSON, Nancy R. 
THOMSON, James M. THOMSON, Junius W. THOMSON, Joseph W. THOMSON, 
Polly ____THOMSON, *Smith LIPSCOMB & Elijah DAWKINS, Exrs., 27 Oct 1822.  
William THOMSON (LS).  Wit:  John HEMPHILL, James B. GOOD(E), 
James S. HEMPHILL.”
 
*Notes:
1.    Joshua PETTY m. a POOL girl from Spartanburg, SC
2.    See the following marriage record from GA.
 
Forsyth County, GA Marriage Record E
 
Page 42
Name of Groom:  Dr Thomas LIPSCOMB
Residence:  Forsyth County
Age:  25
Occupation:  Physician
Place of Birth:  Hall County, GA
Father’s name:  Smith LIPSCOMB
Mother’s name:  Nancy POOL, dec’d
 
“Citation Richard THOMSON has applied for letters testamentary 
22 Sept 1823.  Warrant of appraisement directed to James MEEK, 
Alexander THOMSON, Esq., John HEMPHILL, Esq., John LITTLEJOHN & 
Samuel DAVIDSON 6 Oct 1823 returnable 1 December.  Letters 
testamentary on the will of William THOMSON of Broad River 
6 Oct 1823.”