Last will and testament of John Gilliland
State of South Carolina,
Pickens District.

In the name of God, Amen
I, John Gilliland of the State and District aforesaid being of good bodily health and of sound and disposing mind and memory calling to mind the fraility and uncertainty of human life and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs and directing how the estate which is has pleased God to bless me shall be disposed of after my decease while I have strength and capacity so to do do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other last wills and testaments by me heretofore made and first I commend my immortal being to him who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried with little expence or ostentation by my Executor hereinafter named.
And as to my worldly estate and all the property real and personal or mixed of which I shall die seized and possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease I devise, bequeath and dispose thereof in the manner following, to-wit:
1st. My will is that all my just debts and funeral charges shall by my Executors hereinafter named be paid out of my estate as soon after my decease as shall by them be found convenient.
I devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Elisabeth Gilliland all my real and personal estate that I am possessed of during her natural lifetime or her widowhood and also all the improvements and increase of any property both real and personal during her natural lifetime and widowhood. To be for the sole use of herself her natural life or widowhood and provided my wife should marry or die then all my property shall be divided between John Roper, the son of Absolom Roper and Malinda Roper and Robert Banks the son of Warren T Banks and wife for the love and affection I have for them. Now in case of the death of my wife, Elizabeth Banks, or her marrying again all my property both real and personal as above stated shall be equally divided between my two nephews above named as John Roper and Robert Banks to be their own right and property forever, the same to be divided by themselves or by five disinterested freeholders of the district aforesaid the same division to be made equal between them without the same of property if possible.
Lastly, I do nominate and appoint Warren ? Banks to be the Executor of this my last will and testament.
In testimony thereof I the said John Gilliland have to this my last will and testament I have here subscribed my name and affixed my seal this first day of January one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.

Test George Hendricks John his X mark (L.S.)
Riley Simmons
F. E. Hendricks

South Carolina
Pickens District

Personally appeared before me, George Hendricks who being duly sworn saith on oath that he was present and did see John Gilliland sign and seal this forgoing as his last will and testament and that Riley Simmons and F. E. Hendricks were present and saw the name and that they all three signed their names as witnesses in the prescence of each other and the testator.
sworn before me Mar 2nd 1863
W.E. Holcombe O.P.D.

Recorded in Pickens District Will book no 2, page 78.

-transcription provided by Barbara Peterson, 2012