Moses Hollis
1728 VA - 1794 SC
son of John & Esther Hollis
Husband of Rosannah Berry Hagan
Moses is my 6x great grandfather.
There are several values in finding a will & estate papers for an ancestor. First, we can discover names of family members. Moses' will names Rosanna as his wife; Elijah, John, Berry & Nancy as children. The sale of his estate lists more Hollis family members, most likely more children & others. Unfortunately, the will also shows that Moses was a slave owner. Leaving out that information would be altering history. Reading through the items in his estate sale gives us a glimpse into his life. Many of the items relate to his farm: produce, livestock & tools. Household items are also mentioned: trunk, chairs, table, cupboard, pewter tableware & a frying pan.
The Will of Moses Hollis, 1793 SC
In the Name of God. Amen. This 9thday of April one thousand and seven hundred and ninety three. I Moses Hollis of the State of South Carolina and County of Fairfield being very sick and week but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, but calling to mind the mortality of my body, and that is appointed all men once to die do make this my last will and Testament. Imprimis my Soul I give to God who gave it to me, and my Body to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in a decent Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned.
Item. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Rosanna Hollis all my House and Household furniture, Also my Negro Girl Abe, my Horse Gruberty, Bridle and Sadle, [sic] two cows as long as she lives or remains a widow, and after that the Negro goes to my son Moses Hollis to his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath onto my son Elijah Hollis one Negro boy Tony, wherein his assigns forever.
Item. I give to my son John Hollis one Negro fellow Pad, to his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Berry Hollis my Negro boy to him his heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Gladden my featherbed to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter Catherine Paterson four head of cattle to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I have on Negro fellow Ned, and one Negro boy Glasco, also five head of horses and eleven head of cattle and working tools to be sold on my Death, debts paid with the money and the remainder to be equally divided between all my children.
Lastly I nominate and appoint Zachariah Cantley and my soon John Hollis and my son Elijah Hollis executors of this by last will and Testament hereby disannulling all others hereto fore by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal, the day and year above written.
Signed and sealed and acknowledged. Thomas Goodram, Edward Tidwell, Berry Hollis, Moses Hollis Proved 17 July 1794
Source: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, South Carolina Will Transcripts, Series S108093, Reel 11, Frame 100; digital image (scdah.sc.gov: accessed Sept 2020) Moses Hollis, Fairfield Co.
The Estate of Moses Hollis, 1794 SC
Papers relating to the estate of Moses Hollis have been saved in South Carolina. The papers are of various sizes and are worn around the edges. The handwriting is faded and difficult to read. The papers include his will and the “Sale of Home Goods of Moses Hollis, Senr., deceased.” The following is a list of items from his estate and the people who purchased them after his death. It is not complete because it is not all legible. The estate was settled in December 1794.
John Hollis one log chane [sic]
Isabell Littleton one Lot of pewter
Wm Evans eight bushes of Rye
James Hollis three bushels of oats
Elijah Hollis one Lot of hogs
Berryman Hollis one Lot of hogs
Peter Patterson one stack of fodder
Thos Hughsone Rifle gun
Peter Patterson one Lot of corn
Berrel Gibson one Lot of corn
Dit Tidwell one Lot of corn
Isabell Littleton one Lot of corn
Thos Hughsone one Lot of corn
Wm Hollis one hand mill
Samuel Pen one still
Jesse Gadden one horse
Hugh Brown one gun
Susannah Hollis one horse
Wm Edwins one cow
Dit Tidwell too [sic] cow
George Lott one horse
Edward Tidwell one cow
Samuel Owens one Bull
John Hollis one heffer
Moses Hollis one heffer
Charles ? one french musket
Moses Hollis one rifle gun
Moses Hollis one Lot of working tools
Wm Hollis one plow
Moses Hollis one hand mill
Berryman Hollis one chest
Berryman Hollis one bed
Nancy Hollis one trunk
Elijah Hollis one glass
Abner Smith too [sic] chairs
Susannah Hollis one saddle
Susannah Hollis one wheel
Widow Hollis one cupboard
Widow Hollis one churn
Widow Hollis one tub
Widow Hollis one oxen
Nancy Hollis one table
Nancy Hollis one frying pan
Berryman Hollis one sow
Peter Patterson seven head of hog
Moses Hollis one boar
Source: South Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1670 – 1980; digital image, Ancestry (ancestry.com: accessed Sept. 2020) Moses Hollis.
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