Will of Lillis Mitchell Shaw (1762-1853) who was the widow of immigrant John Shaw (1750-1810), at the immigration time of 1772, being in Sumter District, S. C. As outstanding as she was, take note that she signed with a "mark". Could this be low literacy, or is it possible that she had suffered a stroke & could no longer write? The will was devised 16 April 1839...years before her death. So, there are a number of codicils:
(1) original: estate to be divided into 6 equal shares to step-son, "David Shaw", to son "William A. Shaw", to daughter "Elizabeth J. Bradley", to deceased son's ("John Shaw") children, to deceased daughter's ("Lillis Cousar") children, and to deceased daughter's ("Sarah E. Whitworth"). And $200 to "Salem Church (Brick)" permanent funds. Lands to be valued at $3.00 per acre and grandson John S. Bradley have right of first refusal buying from estate; but, if he refuses, then...at same price...the lands go to son "William A. Shaw" and daughter "Elizabeth J. Bradley" & if "William A. Shaw" refuses, "Elizabeth J. Bradley" can buy it all. Grandson Calvin Shaw being the only living son of her deceased son John Shaw, he is to get one-third of the share over and above an equal share with his sisters of the other two thirds. Then it goes into details seemingly about distribution of a Negro girl close to the age of each granddaughter to each granddaughter.
(2) codicil 1 August 1843 (after death of stepson, David Shaw): his share to be turned over to the Executor or Administrator of David's estate. And, she stipulates that any children or grandchildren who are of age may go through a process to get lands share.
(3) 17 Jan. 1850: grandson, Calvin Shaw, to get one negro boy named Wesley instead of Board notes previously willed to be returned to Calvin. Also, what was to go to grandchild Isabella Shaw Scull [wife of John Gambier Scull, M. D.] is to go to Isabella's daughter (greatgrand of Lillis) and also to this greatgrand, her granddaughter, the Susannah Shaw English [died 1848], share (she notes David Kennedy acting as guardian for the Scull child). And, having contributed to the building of the new Brick Church, she deletes the $200 gift.
(4) 4 Sept. 1850 codicil: Gives to grandson, John Whitworth the tract of land that she now lives on for $3.00 per acre.
(5) 25 August 1852 codicil: in that granddaughter, Mary M. D. Goddard [wife of N. B. Goddard], is now deceased [1850], that her son's, John Gee Goddard, share be maintained by John S. Whitworth & Martin Rhodes until he marries & is age 21; if he dies short of such, the share to be equally divided between Martin Rhodes' wife (Sarah E. C. B. Rhodes) & John S. Whitworth & Lillis H. Whitworth & Elvira T. Whitworth.
(6) 22 August 1853 codicil: details some money and furniture that has been given to William Shaw, Elizabth Bradley, Lillis Whitworth, Oliviah Whitworth.

A clipping from a Sumter, S. C. newspaper (probably the weekly Sumter News) probably in the 1960s, about Lillis Mitchell Shaw (1762-1853) who was the widow of immigrant John Shaw (1750-1810), at the immigration time of 1772, being in Sumter District, S. C.