Will of Christopher Loving, Sr.
Chester County South Carolina
Will Book. A, Page 36
Dated: 25 June 1790
Wife: Mary Loving
Eldest Son: Christopher Loving: James Loving
Dau.: Francis Barrett
All my children hereafter named: James; Mary; William; Joseph; John; Thomas; and Kizziah.
EX. WIFE: Mary Loving
James Loving
Joseph Timms
Wit. Mary Timms
Susannah Timms
Mary Kitchens
DAR Patriot Index
Page 426
Loving, Christopher b.c.1750 d.p.6-25-1790 m. Mary _____ Sol SC
Loving Family of America
page 585
Chapter Eight
Christopher Loving of Chester County, South Carolina
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Section H
Christopher Loving of Chester County, SC
Christopher Loving, born 1750, died 1790, was a veteran of the Revolution. He
was probably born in Virginia, for he returned to Virginia after the war, but he
entered the service from South Carolina and there he applied for a disability
pension, claiming to have served under General Sumpter in the Sixth Regiment of South Carolina.
He swore that in 1781, while on "furlo", he met with a party
who wounded him, causing him to lose his right hand. The committee which
reviewed his petition decided his claim was valid and his statements were true;
but they denied his pension on the ground that he had returned to Virginia and
was no longer a resident of South Carolina. (The papers relevant to this event
are on file in the South Carolina Archives, Columbia, but they bear no register
number and no specific dates.)
Motivated by the statement of the committee, it seems, Christopher returned to
take up residence in South Carolina. He was paid for 133 days of duty in the
South Carolina Militia in 1780-81. His will was filed in Chester County, SC 25
June 1789 and he died later that year or early in 1790. The will names his
wife, Mary, and all the children except Thomas, who may have died in early
childhood. James Loving seems to have been his favorite son, for he was named
to inherit the farm of 100 acres and his choice of the horses and livestock.
James was only 15 when the will was written and Christopher may have passed on
to him the responsibility of looking after his mother and the younger children.
To "Christopher, my eldest son" he gave only one shilling, and the same to
daughter Frances (Bennett). Me rest of the children were to share equally in
the estate, with wife Mary retaining all his belongings until her death. Mary
Loving was the executor and son James and "my trusty friend Joseph Timms" were
appointed to serve with her in that capacity. (NOTE: the Timms family were
related in some manner, either to Mary Loving or to Christopher, for they named
a son John Timms Loving, and the witnesses to the will were Mary Timms, Susannah
Timms, and Mary Kitchens.)
On 27 August 1790 an inventory of the estate of Christopher Loving was filed in
court. Among the assets listed were 8 head of cattle, a bull, a bay horse, a
black horse, a stud horse, 2 sheep, 34 hogs, a sow and 9 pigs, and two saddles.
He was not a wealthy man, but his estate shows him to have been typical of the
farmers of his era. He was thrifty and kept careful accounts of money owed him
by his neighbors. Among the outstanding debts was noted that Adam Walker had
not repaid the 20 sheets of paper he loaned him!
Christopher's will is found in Will Book A, page 44, apartment 37, package 58,
in the Archives at Columbia SC.
No clear connection is seen between this Christopher and that of the earlier
chapter, even though this one had a son named Christopher. Proof of a link is
not known to exist, but it is possible that some eager historian will one day
find new evidence to clarify the situation.
Some confusion is encountered in the question of Christopher's wife, who was
named by him as Mary. Christopher Loving, Jr. applied to the court of Chester
County, SC, to establish himself as a legal heir to the estate of Christopher
Loving. (See Order Book B, page 33, Minutes of County Court for 1785-1799). A
statement reads: "Christopher Loving, Jr, was proven in open court to be the
only and legal heir of Christopher Loving Senior, who married Sally Beaver, late
of the State of Virginia and County of Lunenburg,.." The statement was
supported by oath of Usley Bond, "who knew the said Christopher Loving, Jr.,
from his childhood upwards.,," and it was recorded for evidence.
Obviously young Christopher was stung by the gift of one shilling and the action
of his father in leaving the farm to a minor child, James, who was only fifteen
years old. It may be that Christopher was the only one of the children who had
passed his 21st birthday, since the court notes that Christopher Jr. was the
"only & legal heir" to the estate. How this dilemma was solved by the courts is
not known. It appears there was a rift in the family relationships that may
have predated the writing of the will. This may have been a divorce and a
second marriage. Frances and Christopher may have been children of the first
marriage, which could explain the token gift of one shilling to each of them,
and the equal sharing of the estate among the other, younger children. But that
is speculation only.
Christopher, Senior's wife may have been named Mary Sarah Beaver. Sally was a common nickname for Sarah and if she was the second wife, young Christopher may have referred to her as Sally, while his father had called her Mary. No proof has been found, of course, that there was a prior marriage. Perhaps Sally Beaver was the first wife? Perhaps the second wife was Mary Timms? This is just one more of the many riddles that fascinate Loving historians.
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On the LDS Library
Christopher Jefferson LOVING
Sex: M
Event(s):
Born: 1763 Chester', Camden District, 'South Carolina
Parents:
Father: Christopher Jefferson LOVING
Mother:
Source Information:
Film Number:
170663
Page Number:
248
Reference Number:
5816
South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research, Vol. 1, 2
The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research
59. LOVING. Mrs. Ruth Colby (Madison Road, Rt 1, Box 235, Burlington Iowa 52601) wishes to contact descendants of Christopher Loving who d. in 1790, in Chester Co., S. C. Wife was Mary; was her maiden name Beaver? Children: Christopher (Revolutionary soldier, d. in Va., in 1830), Frances (mar. 1st a Barrott and 2nd a Griffin), James (d. in Chester Co. in 1804), Mary (mar. probably Davis), William (d. Chester Co. 1806), Joseph, John Tims, Thomas, and Kizziah. Was William Loving who purchased land on the Peedee in 1767 a relative?
The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research
SCMAR, Volume II
Number 2, Spring, 1974
Early Wills of Camden District (Continued from Vol. 2, p.12.)
SCMAR, Vol. II, Spring 1974, No. 2, p.101
Christopher Loving
The South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research
SCMAR, Volume V
Number 1, Winter, 1977
Charleston Deed Book T-3 (Continued from Vol. 4, p.201.)
SCMAR, Vol. V, Winter 1977, No. 1, p.39
Pp. 341-343: 21 July 1768, Adam McCoole of Craven County, SC to Thomas Bosher, of same, for Š100, 200 A on S fork Sandy River granted to sd. McColl by Mathew Rowan, then president of North Carolina, adj. John Stewart…Adm McCooll (LS), Wit: Christopher Loving, John Lion, John Pugh (X).
Proved in Craven County, by Christopher Loving, 21 July 1768, before Thomas Fletchall, JP. Rec. 31
May 1771.
174? South Carolina
Historical reg. Of Virginians in the Rev., soldiers, saliors and marines, 1775-1783. Ed. By John H. Gwathmey. Richmond, Va. 1938. (13, 872p.):485
175? South Carolina
Heads of Fams. at the first U.S. census. SC. By U.S. Bureau of the Census. Washington, 1908. (150p.):14
Marriage Bonds of Franklin County Virginia 1786-1858
page 139
Lambert, Miles and Naomi Loving,Nov. 27, 1822. Sur. Christopher Loving.
Marriage Bonds of Franklin County Virginia 1786-1858
[p.257] INDEX OF BRIDES, PARENTS, AND SURETIES
page 281
Loving, Christopher 139; Minerva Ann 236; Naomi 139
On the LDS Library online...May 7, 2000
I found this:
Christopher Jefferson Loving
b. abt 1738 Chester, Camden District., SC
Relative: John David Loving
Film # 170663
Page # 246
Reference # 5764