Hearst Documents

Governor and Council Minutes and Treasurer's Records

In the late 1720's, South Carolina passed the Township Act. Its purpose was to encourage immigration by granting land and providing supplies to "free protestant settlers" that arrived from Britain or continental Europe. They were required to produce a certificate of good character and take an oath of Allegiance. Each head of household or child 16 years of age or older received 100 acres in their own right. The head of household also recieved 50 acres for each additional member of the household.

By legislation passed in the mid 1760's, immigrants too poor to pay their passage were allowed to travel to South Carolina for free. When they arrived, the captain of the ship on which they traveled was compensated for their passage. If an immigrant could pay for his own passage, he was reimbursed directly.

The Governor and Council Minutes more commonly known as the Council Journal recorded the land grants. The Treasurer's Records recorded reimbursements.

Council Journal 32, page 850-853

Meeting of 26th. October 1766

His Honour the Lieutenant Governor informed his Excellency that during the interuption giveing to Public Business by the Stamp Acts being prevented from operating several vessels had arrived from Europe with settlers on the encouragement of Bounty given by this Province and as Warrants of Survey could not then be issued for their Lands they had been sent into the Country to settle on such Lands that are vacant as they could find that as soon as the Stamp Act was repealed (to wit) on the sixth of May last their Warrants were issued but they had not takeing them out of the Surveyour General Office as the hot weather had probably prevented their comeing to Town and that the time for Executing them was now near expireing Whereupon the Board advised His Excellency to give orders to the Surveyor General to prolong such of the said Warrants as were now lying in the Office for six months from the date hereof which his Excellency was pleased to do accordingly.

Council Journal 32, page 851

Meeting of 26th. October 1766

The following Petitions for Warrants of Survey on the Bounty were presented and read.

Acres

...

John Hearse 400

John Hearse, Jun'r 100

...

At or near the Long Canes.

And they producing proper Certificates and also receipts for their respective passages It is ORDERED that the Secretary do prepare Warrants of Survey and that the Clerk do issue his Certificate to the Public Treasurer to pay them the Bounty allowed by the said Act.

Council Journal, page 255, 2 October 1767

His Excellency signed and sealed the following Grants for Land on the Bounty.

...

John Hearse 400 ac. in Belfast Township

The Stamp Act was signed by 22 March 1765 by King George III to take effect 1 November 1765. As per the journal above, the act was repealed 6 May 1766 (I have another source that says 18 March 1766). That would imply that John Hearst arrived between 1 Nov 1765 and 6 May 1766. It also tells us that he brought his wife and five children or if he was widowed, six children. This calculation does not include his son John who received land in his own right.

Treasuer's Records, page 483

Charles Town South Carolina 1766 & 1767

73/75 Fund for New Settlers Dr to Cash

Paid the following Sums from the 29th September 1766 to the 25th March 1767

Paid Bounty to the following New Settlers Vizt.

...

John Hearse & family £252

...

Wm. Ancrum for bounty allowed 73 Persons Passengers in the ship Britannia as per particular account £1533

Although not conclusive, this record may indicate that the Hearst family arrived on the Britannia.

The Will of John Hearst

From "A Collection of Upper South Carolina Genealogical and Family Records":

Hearst, John & William Box 42 Pack 944. Probate Judge Office. Abbeville, S. C. (There seemed to be two wills in the same pack).

I John Hearst of 96 Dist. being very sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mine, etc. I give to my wife Mary Hearst one third of all my moveable effects of whatsoever kind, also to enjoy the full benefit of this house and plantation where I now reside during her widowhood. I leave unto my son Robert Hearst and dtr. Mary Hearst one shilling sterling each if demanded. Also I leave to my son John Hearst one shilling sterling if demanded, likewise unto my son Joseph Hearst, Thomas Hearst, George Hearst, and William Hearst to each 100 acres of woodland belonging to this plantation. Each to receive their land when of full age. Unto my five dtrs. Christian Hearst, Elizabeth Hearst, Mary Hearst, and Magaret Hearst and Ann Hearst the remining two thirds of my moveable property, after my debts are paid. Also to my threee youngest dtrs. 100 acres of land I purchased from Jane Humphrey's. Unto my step daughter Eloner O'Bryan twenty three [pounds] currency to be paid when of age. I made and appoint my wife Mary Hearst sole ececutrix. Dated 9 Sept. 1780. Wit: cha Teulon, Rob X Wilson, Rob X Erwin. Signed: John Hearst. Probated: 23 Aug, 1782

The Will of William Hearst

Hearst, William Abbeville Dist., S. C.

I William Hearst being weak in body but sound in mind and memory. I hereby appoint John Hearst my executor with full power to pay all debts and demands. "I will that Ebenezar Pressly receive of my estate a suffitiantey to pay for his present steadys for his colegiate course his theological steadies or other profession to the amount of $1000." The remainder of my estate to be sold and divided between the children of my full brothers and sisters. Except the tract of land lying on the Reedy Branches adj. land of Wm. Drennon, James Pennal and others, which tract I will to John Hearst. Dated 8 Jan. 1823 Wit: samuel Pressly, Wm. B. Wardlaw, John T. Pressly, John S. Pressly. Signed: William Hearst.

Settlement of the est. 8 Dec. 1834 The children living at the time of the death of the testator. Brother Joseph Hearst had 8 children. Brother Thomas Hearst 8 chn. Sister Elizabeth who married W. Pressly 4 chn. Sister Christian who married Wilson had one child. Brother George Hearst had 5 chn. each child received $92.07 3/4.

George Hearst's Marriage Contract

This marriage contract made & entered into this 14th day of June 1862 between George Hearst of the one part & Phebe E. Eperson of the other part both of the County of Franklin & State of Missouri to wit. The parties to this instrument in consideration of the covenants & stipulations herein after _______ promises & agrees to intermarry with each other within a reasonable and convenient time after the execution hereof. 2nd To the said George Hearst in consideration of said future marriages hereby for himself conveys assigns & sets over into the said Phebe E. Eperson Fifty shares of Stock in the Gorden & Curry Gold & Silver Mining Company of Virginia City Nevada Territory US out of the in est. which said Hearst had in said Mining Company to be held for & during the natural life of the said Phebe E. Eperson and at her death to revert to the said George Hearst his heirs or legal representatives 3rd The said George Hearst & Phebe E. Eperson in consideration of the said future marriage hereby agree that the said Fifty shares of Stock as above described shall not under any circumstances whatever be liable for any judgment, or over Execution in Bill attachment debt contract or other liability which may at any time during said marriage be ______ made contracted or sustained by may in the said George Hearst 4th In consideration of said future marriage it is further agreed by & between the said George Hearst & Phebe Epperson that the said Fifty shares of Stock above described shall be her own separate estate & property for the sole exclusive & separate use & benefit & hers from the issuance or control of her said future husband for during the said term of the natural life of said Phebe E. Epperson 5th In consideration of the future marriage aforesaid it is hereby agreed by & between the aforesaid parties to this agreement that nothing in their marriage contract shall be so construed as to present the said George Hearst and Phebe E. Eperson jointly from making executing acknowledging or delivering any deed of assignment or other instrument conveying or assigning the said Fifty Shares of Stock as above described or in disposing of them as they shall jointly please to do to the same extent as either of the parties could have done if this marriage contract have not been made and the profit & monies rising & accruing from such assignment or transfer shall go to & apprise to the separate exclusive & sole use & benefit of the said Phebe E. Epperson free from the control of her said future husband & not subject to any debt or liability incurred by her said further husband whatever 6th In consideration of the said future marriage the said George Hearst & Phebe E. Epperson hereby agree & expressly stipulates that in case the said Phebe E. Eperson die before the said George Hearst then the said Fifty Shares of Stock as above described __________ to & belong to the said George Hearst as fully & to the same extent as before the execution of this instrument and further if If the said George Hearst shall die before the said Phebe E. Epperson then at the death of the said Phebe E. Epperson the said Fifty Shares of Stock as above described shall revert & belong to the heirs of the said George Hearst or his legal representatives The said Phebe E. Epperson having no claim to the above described stock beyond her natural has no power to convey or bequeath the same by any conveyance or will to any person for any purpose whatever at any time whatever either before or after the death of the said George Hearst witness our hands and seals this 14th day of June 1862.; Signed George Hearst, P. E. Apperson; witnesses: A. Emory, F. G. Andirson; State of Missouri; County of Crawford; filed 14 June 1862; The opening pages on the microfilm are chronologically out of sequence related to the bulk of the volume. The page numbers run from 1-20 and include only marriage contracts, not marriage records.; Note: "Phoebe E. Eperson is more commonly know as Apperson. The second spelling appears in the marriage book for the marriage itself."