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State of North Carolina
Richmond County
I Darby Swinney-- }In the name of God amen Considering the uncertainty of this mortal Life also Being weak in body but at the same time being of Sound and perfect mind blessed be God for the same do make And publish this my last will and testament In the Manner and form following that is to say...I give and bequeath unto my grand son Siras Swinney a Negro boy by the name of Peter but to the use of his father During his natural life. I give and bequeath unto my grand son Elisha Pate a Negro boy by the name of Dick but first to the use of his Father and Mother during their natural lives. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Hannah Cole a Negro girl by the name of Lucey. I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Easter Pate the Wife of Thomas Pate a Negro woman by the name of Vilet. I give unto my old Negro woman Cate her freedom during Her natural life and if Cate should become helpless those Legatees who are in possession of her children and grandchildren shall maintain her. All my stock of cattle horses and hogs and sheep plantation tools household and kitchen furniture to be got up to be sold at the highest bider and the money to be eaquilly divided between Samuel Pate, Jacob Mangram, Mary Betha, Elizabeth Mathason, Sarah Graves, Martha Ridgel, James Cole and Stephen Pate. I hereby appoint Executors of this my last will and testament and hereby Revoking all former wills made by me. In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the 18 day October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty. Signed sealed published and declared by the above named Darby Swinney to be his last will and testament. In presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the testator
Tes Samuel Goodwin
D Swinney
Nathaniel Gibson
Alfred Bennett
[Note: Most of the land that Swinney had before his death went to Alfred Bennett, since there is a deed which agrees to transfer this property to him, provided he cares for Darby and pays the taxes on his property in his old age. Alfred Bennett got an official name change to Alfred Swinney and moved to Georgia. He named one of his sons Darby. He is said to have been an illegitimate son of old Darby by a Bennett woman.]
The children of Darby Henegan Swinney (1736 -- 1820) m. Mary Anderson (1740 - 1815) were:
1. Mary Swinney (1756 - 1824) m. John Bethea (1750--4 Mar 1812) of Marion District, SC.