Information courtesy of Bill Belton, wbelton@intrepid.net

Samuel was born about 1741. He settled on farm in what is now Lancaster County, beyond the Camden area where several of his siblings established themselves, either permanently or temporarily. He married Rachel Payne. According to available information, this was her second marriage, so I do not know whether Payne was her maiden name or that of her first husband. She is reported to have eventually had five husbands. Samuel and Rachel had five children: John, Samuel, Martha, Ann and Charlotte. Birth dates are not available for any of them, but Charlotte, the youngest, was born about 1780.

Samuel, the father, died in 1793. Following is his will: copied from copies in Kershaw County Archives, transcribed by WPA.

Samuel Belton - 29 November 1790

I, Samuel Belton, planter of Lankaster Co. in the State of SC being Sick and wak of Boady ... I give unto my beloved wife Rechal Belton the Plantation whereon I now reside it being one hundred and fifty Acres setuate on the Noreast Side of Wateree River, purchest from James Beaty the half of Three hundred granded to Edward howard. Likewise Three Negroes one called Dick, one called Nan, one called james. Likewise the stock of horses and catle and hogs during her life Time. I give unto my Son John Belton one Negroe boy called Will one mare and colt. It is my will that the Plantation and the three negroes Dick Nan James afore mentioned shall at the Death of my wife Rachel Belton desend unto my son John Belton to him and his lawful heirs of his body. I give to my Son Samuel Belton one Plantation containing one hundred Acres butting and boundeing upon the North East Side of Savana River in Granvil Co. when the Land was Run and grated to myself Likewise on Negroe boy called Isaac one Negroe fellow called Bob. Item. I give unto my daughter Martha Belton one Negro woman called Cae one Negro girl called Luce, one feather bed and furniture. Item. I give unto daughter Ann Belton one negro girl called Rose with feather bead and furniture. I give and demise unto my daugher Charolet Belton one Negro girl called wine, it is my will that one negro woman called Fabe shall continue with my wife Rachal Belton and Children to help seport them during their minority. If farther my will that if Ann Beltons Negro girl Rose Die or Charolete Belton Negro girl Wine should die during their minority it is my will that either of them so losing shall be entitled to the aforesaid mentioned woman called Fabe. It is further my will that the two Negroes mentioned unto each and Eaver of my Children shall be to them and their heirs for Eaver. I give unto my beloved wife Rachel Belton on feather bed and furniture. etc. I appoint Rachel Belton and Abraham Belton Executrix and Executor of this my last will this 29th day of November one Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety.

Recorded in Will Book C, page 108. Recorded March 11, 1793. Francis Boykin, C.C.

Daughter Ann died later that year, as shown by the following:

Kershaw County Court Minutes, page 130
22nd October 1793:
Estate of Ann Belton, Deceased, sold at plantation of Samuel Belton, deceased.

I have not seen a will for her. Because she was referred to by her maiden name, we can assume she was unmarried.

A few months later Samuel Belton, Jr. died, about February 1974. He was apparently unmarried, for his oral will left his entire estate to his sister, Charlotte. He specifically excluded his sister, Martha, and her husband, Zachariah Thompson. The pertinent document follows:

Will - copied from Kershaw County Archives, transcribed by WPA

Samuel Belton, Jr. 1st March 1794

Elizabeth Mickel, Rachael Belton & Daniel Payne appeared in Open Court & made Oath to the substance and effect of the last Will and Testament of Samuel Belton Junior Deceased which was made and nuncipatively published in his last Sickness in the present of said witnesses who were desired to attest the same is in substance as follows: That it was his will and desire that his Sister Charlotte Belton should have and enjoy all his estate real and personal excluding thereby his Brother in Law Zachariah Thomson and his wife Martha and that Johnn Mickle and John Belton should Act as Executors and manage and Settle his estate agreeable to his will. It appearing to the Court that the said Thomson had been duly served with a process agreeable to law to contest said will and no cause being shown and the court being satisfied with the said probate of said will.

Executor ordered to return to court before 7 November 1794. Witnessed this 3rd day of October 179_ [blank] and of American Independence the 18th.

Recorded in Will Book C, page 151. Recorded October 3, 1790. Francis Boykin C.C.

I have no further information on Martha, her husband, or any children they may have had. However, I recently found, in the LDS Family Search web site, reference under Martha's name to a will dated 1 Mar 1793. Whether this was a will of hers or a reference to Samuel Jrs. will (above) with a typo in the date remains to be determined.

John Belton died in 1808. He was apparently unmarried, for he left his entire estate to his mother, whose name by now was Rachael Watson. His will reads as follows:

Wills - copied from copies in Kershaw County Archives, transcribed by WPA

John Belton - 4 February 1808

I, John Belton ... being very weake and in a low Condition But of Sound Mind and Memory cauling to Mind the mortality of my Body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to died -- I leave and bequeath to My Mother Rachel Watson My whole possession of land on the Water Ree River to her and to her heirs and assigns for ever - also my Negroes Namely Bill Clem and Mance - which is now in my possession - also Nan and Martha which was to be my property at my Mothers decease and any claim to horses and all other living stock ... in witness thereof ... this fourth day of Feby. In the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and eight. John Belton.

Recorded in Will Book C, page 396. Recorded March 2, 1808. Ord. Ker. Dist. I. Alexander.

Charlotte, the youngest child, was the only one for which I found evidence of descendants. She married John R. Pickett in Fairfield County, SC in 1802. They had two children, James Belton Pickett, b. 25 October 1803 in Chester, SC, and Charlotte Belton Pickett, b. about 1805, also in Chester, SC. This younger Charlotte married in 1823 and died in Richland County, SC in 1833. According to LDS records, James Belton Pickett married Paulina Degraffenried, who gave birth to John Belton Pickett in Chester, SC on 21 July 1834.

That concludes what I have learned about Samuel Belton, Sr. and his descendants.