John Sawyer of Old Ninety-Six District, South Carolina is the earliest proven ancestor of this line. Where he was born is not yet known. Based on a census record of Colonial South Carolina, it is probable that John Sawyer was in Old Ninety-six District by 1779. He died between October 2, 1784, the date his will was made, and October 13,1784, the date his will was proved. Circumstantial evidence in his will indicates he was married twice. The dates of his marriages are unknown. The name of his first wife is unknown, but the first name of his second wife was Priscilla. He had eight children of record given in his will.

THE WILL OF JOHN SAWYER

" in the Name of god Amen the second day October 1784 I John Sawyer of ninety six District being sick in body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty god and calling to remembrance the uncertain of this transitory life and that all flesh must Yield unto Death when its hall please god to call do make constitute ordain and declare this My last Will and testiment in manner and form following revoking and annulling by these Presents all and every Testiment and Testaments, Will and Wills heretofore by me made And declared Either by Word or Writing and this is to be taken only for my last Will and Testiment and none other. And first being penitent and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my Sins past most humbly desiring forgiveness for the same I give and commit my soul unto Almighty God my saviour and redeemer in Whom and by the merits of Jesus Christ I trust an believe Assuredly to be saved and to have full remission and forgiveniss of all my sins and that my soul With my body at the general Day of resurrection shall rise again with joy and through the merits of Christ death and passion possess and inhearit the kingdom of heaven prepared for his Elect and Chosen, and my body to be buried in such place where it shall please my Executors hereafter named to Appoint And now for the settling of my Temporal estates and such goods, chattels, and debts as it hath Pleased god far above my deserts to bestow upon me; I do order give and dispose the same in maner and Form following(that is to say) first I Will that all those Debts and Duties as I owe in right or Conscience to any maner of person or persons Whatsoever, shall be well and truly contended and paid Or ordained to be paid Within convenint time after my decease by my Executors hereafter named I am give and bequeath unto My Dear Wife Prisseler Sawyer my plantion and bilding as I now live On and all my household firtuner all so one negrow man named Merduke all so one negrow woman named peg all so my stock of neet cattle and hog use and a certon black Horse in Durin her Life time and after her Decease then to be Equelly to be Divieded betwixt and amoungst My five Der younger children Named John Sawyer and Lewis Sawyer and Sarah Sawyer and cader Sawyer & Debony Sawyer I all so give and bequeath unto MyDearly beloved Son Elkinah Sawyer One plantion or track of land lying of the Westerd side of the Mill streem all so the mill that Lyes on the sade streem all so one negrow boy named pomey I allso give and bequeath unto myDere beloved Son George Sawyer one Plantion or track of land contang one hundred acres lying On the Estward side of my plantion as I now Live atallso one negrow boy named Dick allso One fether bead and a reameant of black smith Tuels I allso give and bequeath unto My Dearly beloved Daughter Sevility Sawyer a young negrow out of the price of a Ceartain chusnut sorril horse and the overplush to be returend unto the Estate andsix head of neet Catle allso one fether bead I do here by nommenate constute apint my trusty and wel beloved Frends Prissiler Sawyer and Elkanok Sawyer and George Sawyer to be my excetors to this My Last Will and testement Contained in these prentens Signed Sealed Pronounced and Declaired This to be my Last Will and testement In the Presence of Jnthos Fairchild Benjamin Powell Lewis Powell
John Sawyer X his marke"

REVOLUTIONARY WAR SERVICE

Patriotic service was rendered during the Revolutionary War by John Sawyer as evidenced by the fact that two receipts for provisions supplied to American troops are on record in the South Carolina Archives at Columbia. One receipt, dated January 12, 1782 at Camp (indistinguishable), reads "Received of Mr. John Sawyers for the use of the detacht under my command Thirty bushells corn also 100 (indistinguishable) pork. Leroy Hammond, Colol." The other receipt, dated January 23, 1782 at Camp Fairchild's Place, reads "Received of Mr. John Sawyer Ten bushells of corn Eight bushells of Potatoes for the use of the detacht of militia under my command Which I think is as much as he can spare resirving a subsistence for his family. Leroy Hammond Colol."

Note: Whether John Sawyer was married twice remains an active point of debate among researchers on this line. This compiler feels that circumstantial evidence leans toward a "two wife theory," but maintains an open mind regarding this.