Home in 1850: Kershaw, Kershaw, South Carolina
Joab Cotton 70, NC
Sarah Cotton 61, SC
Elza Cotton 29, SC
Elizh Cotton 27, SC
Darcus Cotton 25, SC
Francis Cotton 21, SC
John Ford 15, SC

Joab Cotton was a Methodist Minister and was instrumental in organizing Smyrna Methodist Church about 1809.

WILL OF JOAB COTTON

In the name of God amen.
State of South Carolina
I Joabe Cotton of the Mstrict of Kershaw and the State aforesaid, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and Calling to mind the uncertainty of life, and being desirous to dispose of all such wordly Estates it bath pleased god to bless me With, do make and ordain this my last Will and testament in the matter and form following that is to Say: It is my desire and Will that my Cotton Crop if any reaming after my decesend as much of my provision Crop as my Executors hereinafter named may think advisable to dispose of, to be sold and out of the Moneys arising therefrom, all my Just debts to be paid, and Should it prove insufficient the above purpos, then I desire that my Executros Sell What Stock it may require and pay satisfy such of my Just debts as shall remain unpaid, And after payment of my debts, I give bequeath and devise unto my Wife Sarah Cotton to be enjoyed by her and my two daughters Eliza and Elizabeth Cotton for the term of said Wifes natural life or Widowhood the plantation Whereon I now live, My Negroes Nancy Ginney Penelopy and Albert, and the stock of Horses, Mules, Cattle, Hogs, Sheep, Waggons, plantation tools, usually kep on my said plantation, And all of my house hold and KItching furniture; And it is my desire, that upon my said Wifes, Ceasing to be my Widow, either by deth, or marriage whichever shall first happen, The said plantation, Shall be sold at publick auction, on a Credit of one Year, the purchasers giving their notes with two approved Securietes, And it is my further Will that the said Negros and other property before Mentioned Sall be sold at the same time, and on the Same termes and the Moneys arising thairfrom to be equally devided between all of my Children Shair and Shair alike, and I do hereby five the Same to them for their use profet and benefit, and it is also my Will that the above negros So directed to be sold Shall be Baught and owned...the following Legatees hereinafter named and ther Children, that is to Say Robert B. Cotton Eliza Cotton Dorcas Mangram and Elizabeth Cotton. I give and bequeath unto my two daughters Eliza and Elizabeth Cotton my two Negros Sharlot and Ann for their use proget and benefit, and for them to dispose of by Will. I also give and bequeathe unto them two Fether beds and Covering for the Same, I give and bequeath unto Robert B. Cotton for his use profet and benefit and for the use profet and benefit of his Children My Negro Boy Richard..I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Dorcase Magram for her use profet and benefit my Negro girl Catherine, and for the use profet and benefit of her Children I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Franceis Oakes for her use profet and benefit and for the use profet and benefit of her Children My negro girl Lucy And Finally all the rest, remainder of my Estate and effects of real and personal Whatsoever, and Wharesoever, not hereinbefore otherwise effectually disposed of I give Devise and bequeath unto my Wife Sarah Cotton for her to dispose of equally among all my Children. And I do hereby Constitue and appoint my Son Robert B. Cotton and my friend James Team Executors of this my last Will and testament, In Witness Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this the Twenty eight day of May one thusand eight hundred and fify three.

Joab Cotton (SEAL)

Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator, as and for his last Will and testament, as and for his last Will and testament in our presence. Who at his request in his presence and in the presence each other, have Subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto,
C. Bailey
J.P. Richbourg
L.L. Hogan

Recorded in Will book A Page 243
Recorded Jan. 13, 1855

Death Notice: Died on Friday last, at his residence, Joab Cotton, Esq., a worthy citizen of this district, in the 75th year of his age. The issue date of the paper was Jan. 5. 1855