Legacy of slavery in Timbs clan

My ancestors owned slaves. And a plantation in South Carolina.

I’m not proud of this, but it’s a fact.

Recently, for example, I’ve come across the last will and testament of James G. Timms. (Yes, I know that today we spell my family’s last name “Timbs,” but in the late 1700s and early 1800s, our name was “Timms.”)

Seems that James Green Timms was an ancestor/predecessor/contemporary of my father’s great-great granddad, Amos Timms (born in 1816) of Chester County, S.C.

James Green Timms lived in Chester County, S.C. (then known in court records as the “District of Chester.”

His last will and testament was probated on Jan. 29, 1824. The document apparently can be found in courthouse records in Chester County, S.C. recorded in Book I, Page 86, Apartment No. 67, Package 1040.

Here’ are a few tidbits of interest—quoted verbatim from James G. Timms’ will:

•“I give to my Mother Patsy Timms one Tract or Parcel of Land Containing forty acres more or less Joining my brother Amos Timms land & also one negro Girl named Jane and one Sorrell Mare, one bay mule & five head of Cattle during her life and and at her death I give the Said Land, Girl, Mare & mule & Cattle to my Sister Hannah Timms.”

•“I give to my Sister Hannah Timms One negro Girl named Annis.”

Amos Timms’ will was probated in “the State of South Carolina and the District of Chester” on Nov. 21, 1831. Items of interest from this document—Recorded in Book K Page 203-204, Apartment No 67:

•“It is my will that my Bay Horse (Buck) and my Sorrell Mare (June) and my Cattle be Sold by my Executors & my Stock of Hogs to be Kept for the use of the family—and after Enough of my Present Crop is Reserved for the use of the family the remainder be Sold.”

•“I will and bequeath unto my Belovid Sister Johannah Timms My Plantation or tract of land whereon I now Live Containing one hundred & twelve acres more or less to her and the hers of her Body and if She Should die without any Children Then My Will is that the aforesaid Tract of Land be equally Divided between my Two nephews Thomas Tims Roden and Benjamin J L Powal and farther I will that my Three Negroes Dan Joe & Hannah be Sold at Public Sale and after paying my debts out of the Sale of my Horses & Crop & Catle and Negroes Whatever mony money that may Remain on hands in any maner Whatsoever is to be equally-divided between my Sister Johanna Tims & Thomas T Roden and Benjamen J. L. Powal Equaly.”

Joseph Timms’ first will was probated (again in the “District of Chester” in South Carolina) in September 18?? (cannot make out year)—recorded in Book B, Page 212, Apartment No. 66, Package No. 1039. Items of interest:

•“I give to my son Amos timms one negro man Named Jessee. I give to my Son John tims one Negro Man Named Nathaniel. I give to my Son Joseph Tims one Negro man Named Jeremiah. I give to My Daughter Sarah Estes one negro woman Named Hanah. I give to my Daughter Mary Carter one negro girl Named Dinah. . . I give to my Daughter francis Boyd one negro girl Named Lucey. I Give to my Daughter Elizabeth tims one Negro boy Named Ned & one Negro Girl Named Jude.”

And then, curiously, we have Joseph Timms’ second will (State of South Carolina, Chester District) probated November 1844. (Recorded Book A1 Page 32, Apt. 89, Pkg. 1417):

•“I give and bequeath unto my son Vincent Brown Tims . . . one Negro wimin named Mary and apoart of my adjoining Mrs. Robertson Lands.

•“I give and bequeat nto my beloved wife Winifred Tims a Negro Girl named Lucy and one boy named Ned and a Tract containing fifty and one half acres more or less known by name of the Peetree Tract and Eight..”

Note: Thanks to Lucille Brown of Johnson County, Tenn., for mailing me a copy of these documents this week. Lucille, my second cousin, is the resident historian of the Timbs family.