LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MALCOLM McPHERSON SENR - 1850
Contributed by Steve Edgerton
Contact: Myrtle Bridges June 28, 2004

"I believe this Malcolm was the son of Malcolm McPherson and Christian Downie, both of whom immigrated 
from "Glenurcha" [Glen Orchy in Argyllshire near Oban?] in 1774 aboard the ship Ulysses and landed at 
Wilmington with their two young children, William aged 9 and Janet aged 10. Malcolm and Christian bought 
land from and settled adjacent to Alexander McPherson on Beaver Creek in Cumberland Co., NC, eventually 
amassing over one thousand contiguous acres there. It is perhaps their daughter Janet who married late 
in life Thomas Brown in Richmond County, and I believe their son William went to Richmond County as well, 
leaving some inherited lands from his father, Malcolm, Sr., on Beaver Creek in Cumberland which he 
eventually sold to his brother, Malcolm [known as  "Malcolm, Jr." in Cumberland]. The will below is, 
I believe, that of Malcolm "Jr.'s". It is not known at this time whether Malcolm McPherson married or 
had children. Also, the 1822 estate record of Neill McPherson of Richmond County should be examined for 
additional relationships to the family of Malcolm McPherson." Steve

Also, from "Fayetteville Observer Marriage and Death Notices, 1841 - 1850," by Hubbard, p99: Nov. 12, 1850 
issue: Died at his residence in Chesterfield district near Cheraw on the 4th, Malcolm McPherson, aged about 
68, formerly a resident of Cumberland County..."


[along the side of the following will is written his own hand, "The blotted lines in this will not to 
be noticed if offered for record. Malm McPherson" Also scribbled on the edge: "Peter McIntyre of 
Chesterfield cousin"


On front: Last Will of Malcolm McPherson Senr

The State of South Carolina
Chesterfield District
To wit:

I, Malcolm McPherson Senr, of the District and State aforesaid, being reminded by bodily infirmities 
that an end shall come to the life which I now live in the flesh, but still, being of sound and 
disposing mind and memory, and desiring now to direct what disposition shall be made after my decease, 
of all my wordly goods do make, ordain and publish my last Will and Testament as follows: that is to say:

First: It is my will and desire, and my Executor hereinafter named shall at such early time after my 
decease, as to him shall seem proper, sell for cash, or good interest bearing securities, all my 
personal estate of what kind soever it may be, except such portions and particulars thereof as are 
hereinafter specifically bequeathed — and from and out of the proceeds thereof, and out of any money 
and the proceeds of any choses in action which shall be in my possession, or in the possession of 
any other for me, or which shall be due and owing unto me, my said Executor shall first pay and discharge 
in full, all my just debts, and the Expenses of my last Illness and decent interment. — and then the 
pecurinary legacies hereinafter mentioned and given:

Item: I give and devise unto my nephew, Malcolm McNair, all that Tract of Land, lying on Big Black Creek, 
in the District of Chesterfield aforesaid, containing Eight Hundred and fifty acres more or less, which 
was purchased by me, on the sixth day of March A.D. 1848, at a Sale, made by order of the Court of Ordinary 
for said District, of the real estate of Jane McLaughlin deceased and conveyed to me by William L. Robeson, 
Sheriff of said District, by deed bearing date on the Eighth day of March aforesaid and recorded in the 
Register's Office for said District in Book P. pages 411 & 412 – to the said Malcolm McNair, his heirs 
and assigns forever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my niece, Catharine Powers, my negro woman slave, named Nancy, to the 
said Catharine and her assigns forever:

Item: I give and bequeath unto Malcolm Hugh Campbell, son of my nephew Daniel Campbell, my negro woman 
Lucy and her four children, Margianna, Sarah, John and Ned, with the future increase of the females to 
the said Malcolm Hugh Campbell and his assigns forever – subject however to a charge of the sum of Five 
Hundred Dollars to be by or on behalf of the said Malcolm Hugh Campbell, within two years _________ [a 
blank, drawn line in document] after my decease unto John M. Campbell, Ann Campbell, Catharine Campbell 
and Gracey Downey Campbell, the children of my nephew John P. Campbell by his second marriage, the said 
sum of Five Hundred Dollars to be equally divided between and among the said children – and for the 
payment of which said sum, the said negroes shall be held security.

Item: I give and bequeath unto Nancy, the daughter of Malcolm McNair, one cow and calf to be selected 
out of my Stock by my Executor.[this item crossed through lightly in document]

Item: I give and bequeath unto my sister, Mary McCall, now in Florida, the sum of One Hundred Dollars – 
but if my said sister shall not be living at my decease, the said sum of One Hundred Dollars shall be 
given to and equally divided between my nephews Malcolm McPherson and William McPherson who are now 
in the State of Alabama.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my niece, Sarah Porter, wife of Henry Porter, the sum of Five Hundred 
Dollars. [this item completely crossed through in document]

Item: I give and bequeath unto my Grand Nephew William Campbell, son of John P Campbell, the sum of 
One Hundred Dollars. [this item completely crossed through in document]

Item: I give and bequeath unto my sister, Nancy McNair, the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300.)

Item: I give and bequeath unto each one of my nieces, Gracey Alford, Nancy Brown and Flora Brown, the 
sum of Fifty Dollars. [this item completely crossed through in document]

Item: All the rest, residue and remainder of my estate, real and personal in possession, remainder, 
reversion or in action, and of the proceeds thereof, I give, devise and bequeath unto my nephew Daniel 
Campbell, and to the aforesaid Nancy McNair, Sarah Porter [crossed through] and Catharine Powers to be 
equally divided among them, share and share alike.

Lastly: I nominate, constitute and appoint, my nephew Daniel Campbell, to be sole executor of this 
my Will, hereby revoking all former wills.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of September in the year of 
our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and fifty.

Done by the said Malcolm McPherson in           Mal.M McPherson
our presence, who at his request, in his presence and
in the presence of each other, signed as witnesses
John C. Pervis
Lauchlin McKinnon
Geo. W. Bell

 Back to Cumberland County Will Index
 Back to Cumberland County Home Page
 Back to What's New in Cumberland 

©Copyright June 28, 2004
Last up-dated August 29, 2022 by Myrtle Bridges