What is one to do after a stressful work day? One scrolls through the “South Carolina Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980”, on ancestry.
This record set has searchable names that have been extracted. However, and that is a big HOWEVER, not all names in the document are extracted.
So I started with one of the starting places where I had already located Basil Cowper and his wife Mary about a third of the way along, and I’m swiping left on the iPhone when my eye caught Samuel FICKLING.
Now, Samuel Fickling might not mean anything to most of you, and it wouldn’t have to me a few years ago. I actually have to mentally walk backwards in time to get to Samuel Fickling. There are so many people in various family trees that I research that I have to start at one point and trace my way around to get to the person I want. It is as if I have to surround myself with these people to get comfortable with my thoughts. Sometimes I trace my finger in the air, drawing an invisible tree with the relationships.
To get to Samuel Fickling, I have to start with Joseph Lawton who married Sarah Robert. No one is really sure how they met. He was from Edisto Island, and she was from French Santee, if my memory serves me correctly. Sarah’s brother was John Robert, the subject of several previous posts. Sarah and John’s father was a Robert and their mother was a Jaudon. Joseph, Sarah, and John all ended up in the area we know as Robertville.
I’ll start with Joseph whose mother was Mary Stone Grimball Lawton Fickling. Mary SGLF was lastly married to Samuel Fickling, most probably the same one in the document. Mary’s 2nd husband was William Lawton of Edisto Island; they were the parents of Joseph who married Sarah Robert. Mary’s 1st husband was Paul Grimball. See how these people are all interlinked? I know, I know, sometimes I need pencil and paper to draw it out, too.
How can I be sure that Mary SGLF’s 3rd husband Samuel Fickling is the same Samuel Fickling that is mentioned in the court document?
*RELATIONSHIPS*
South Carolina
Know all men by these presents that I SAMUEL FICKLING of Granville County in the province of South Carolina Planter for and in consideration of the sum of Eleven hundred and fifty pounds Current money of the said Province to me the said SAMUEL FICKLING in hand well and Truely paid at and before the Sealing and delivery of these Presents by ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT of the County & Province aforesaid the Receipt whereof I the said SAMUEL FICKLING doth hereby Acknowledge and myself therewith to be fully satisfied and paid by these Presents I the said SAMUEL FICKLING hath Granted Bargained Sold and delivered and by these presents Doth in Plain and open Market Grant Bargain Sell and deliver unto the said ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT the following Ten Negroe Slaves Viz Will, Adam, Harry, Pompey, Cuffee, Walley, Lucy, Tom, Hannah, and Will, formerly the property of PAUL GRIMBALL Deceased together with their issue and Increase unto the said ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT their Executors administrators and assigns to their only proper use and behoof To have and to hold the said Bargained Premises unto the said ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT their Executors Administrators and assigns for and during the Term of years that I the said SAMUEL FICKLING shall ever be hereafter Intitled to the said Negroes during which Time I the said SAMUEL FICKLING doth hereby warrant and forever defend the said administratos and assigns in witness whereof I the said SAMUEL FICKLING hath hereunto Set my hand and Seal this fourth day of February in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Nine.
SAMUEL FICKLING L.S.
Sealed and delivered in the Presence of
JAMES ROBERT & JAMES JAUDON
South Carolina
Berkley County
Personally appeared before me JAMES FORD on who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of God Almighty God made Oath he was present and saw SAMUEL FICKLING sign Seal and duly Execute the within Instrument of writing for the uses and purposes therein mentioned and that he the deponent together with JAMES ROBERT subscribed their names as witnesses to the same.
Sworn before me this
7th February 1769
GEORGE MURRAY
*****
South Carolina
Know all men by these presents That I SAMUEL FICKLING of Granville County in the Province of South Carolina Planter for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand Five hundred and fifty pounds Current money of the said Province to me the said SAMUEL FICKLING in hand well and Truly paid at and before the Sealing and delivery of these presents by ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT of the County and Province aforesaid the Receipt whereof I the said SAMUEL FICKLING doth hereby acknowledge and myself therewith to be fully satisfied and paid by the presents I the said SAMUEL FICKLING hath Granted Bargained Sold and delivered and by these presents Doth in plain and open Market Grant sell Bargain and deliver unto the said ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT the following Negroe Slaves being my own property Viz Tom, Harry, Abram, Jany and Mary To have and to hold the Said Negroes, Tom, Harry, Abram, Jany and Mary together with their Issue and Increase unto the said ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT their Executors Administrators and assigns to their own proper use and behoof forever And I the said SAMUEL FICKLING for myself doth covenant promise, grant and agree to and with the said ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT in manner and form following That is to say that I the said SAMUEL FICKLING my Heirs Executors and administrators the said prebargained premises unto the said ELIAS JAUDON and JOHN ROBERT their Executors administrators and assigns against all and every person and persons whatsoever shall and Will warrand and forever defend by these presents In Witness whereof I the said SAMUEL FICKLING hath hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine
SAMUEL FICKLING L.S.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of
JAMES ROBERT and JAMES JAUDON
South Carolina
Berkley County
Personally appeared JAMES JAUDON who being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God made Oath he was present and saw SAMUEL FICKLING sign Seal and duly Execute the within Instrument for the use Intents and purposes within mentioned and that he the Deponent together with JAMES ROBERT Subscribed their names as Witnesses to the same
Sworn before me this seventh of February
1769. GEORGE MURRAY
(There’s the start of another document at the bottom right of the page which mentions Mrs. Elizabeth Poyas, wife of James Poyas. I’ll have to go back to ancestry and screenshot the following page to see what the documents have to say about Mrs. Poyas. We have some Poyas followers here.)
Samuel Fickling would have been an old man when this document was executed. John Robert would have been about 27 years old. The Elias Jaudon (sometimes written Jordan in the document) could have been John Robert’s cousin or uncle; I can’t be sure which at this point. Paul Grimball is reported to be deceased about 1750, and I find it remarkable that the slaves are still reported as his original property 19 years later in 1769. This might require another timeline.
These slaves were originally the property of Paul Grimball, the 1st husband. How did they end up the property of Samuel Fickling, the 3rd husband? Why is there no mention to William Lawton, the 2nd husband? Did ownership skip by him? Once again, due to the customs of the time, women are not mentioned in the document, but we know that the common element is Mary SGLF.
And the slaves?
Will, Adam, Harry, Pompey, Cuffee, Walley, Lucy, Tom, Hannah, and Will are mentioned in the 1st part of the document.
Tom, Harry, Abram, Jany and Mary are mentioned in the 2nd part of the document.
All we have left of them are their names.
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