Connection Map — Jacobs Land Case

Step-by-Step: How the Land Was Taken

South Carolina documents only · Every step backed by a physical instrument

1946 — Marion County, SC

The Family Owns Their Land Outright

Harvey Woodberry deeds 62.3 acres in Marion County to Willie Jacobs (Deed Book A-48, Page 252). The family also farms 32.5 acres in Dillon County. Both parcels are owned free and clear — no mortgages, no liens.

Woodberry Deed A-48/252 · Marion Co.

March 20–25, 1959 — Marion & Dillon Counties, SC

Scheme Begins: Two Mortgages Placed on Both Tracts — Same Week

Two mortgage instruments are executed within days of each other. The Federal Land Bank mortgage (#S-174-948) encumbers both Tract A and Tract B as collateral for $4,000. The PCA mortgage (Book 127/288) adds a second encumbrance. All four signatures on both instruments are forensically questioned — larger letter size, steeper slant, separate "i" dots vs. the confirmed 1967 baselines. Both notarized by S.R. Pridgen, who also appears on Fowler instruments.

FLB Mortgage #S-174-948 — QUESTIONEDPCA Mortgage Book 127/288 — QUESTIONEDNotary S.R. Pridgen — in both Jacobs AND Fowler docs

October 1965 — Marion & Dillon Counties, SC

Financial Pressure: Both Farms Leased Out

Willie leases both farms to E.A. Beeson Jr. for $1,500/year. A man leasing out both farms is under financial pressure — consistent with mortgage obligations bearing down before the 1966 forced sale.

1965 Farm Lease to Beeson · Marion + Dillon Co.

July 1, 1966 — Marion County, SC

The Forced Sale — 62.3 Acres Taken for $12,500

Willie signs away the family homestead to R.M. Fowler. Three red flags: (1) The June option described 85 acres; the deed describes only 62.3 — roughly 23 acres vanish. (2) The mortgages encumbered both tracts but the sale covers only Marion — Dillon was separately arranged via the 1967 lease. (3) The 1966 Renunciation of Dower (Book A-85, Page 298) — required by SC law — has never been confirmed located. If Lucile's signature is forged, the deed is void.

Deed Book A-85/297 · Tract A transferredMissing Dower A-85/298 — Priority #185ac option vs 62.3ac deed — 23ac gap

March 13, 1967 — Dillon County, SC

The Concession: Fowler Leases Tract B Back at $1/Year for 99 Years

R.M. Fowler grants a 99-year lease of the 32.5-acre Ed Bethea place to Willie AND Lucile AND THE SURVIVOR OF THEM. Annual rent: $1.00. The nominal rent and near-permanent term signal this was part of the arrangement that induced the 1966 Marion County sale. Lease expires March 13, 2066.

99-Year Lease confirmed · Dillon Co.Survivor clause — Lucile full rights after Willie 1990

November 1985 / February 1986 — Dillon County, SC

The Family Fights Back: 1985 Deed Names 12 Heirs

Attorney Charles T. Speth (Marion SC) records a deed conveying Tract B as a life estate to Lucile and William A. Jacobs, with remainder to 12 named heirs: Minnie Lee Fore, Barbara J. Graves, Carolyn V. Jacobs, Willie Gene Jacobs, Shirley Mae Barnes, and 7 others. Recorded February 11, 1986 at Deed Book 195, Page 143, Dillon County. Barbara J. Graves — who received the 2023 attorney letter claiming "no Jacobs interest of record" on Tract A — is a named remainder heir in this Dillon County deed.

1985 Deed Book 195/143 · Dillon Co. — STRONGESTSpeth letter Feb 17 1986 confirms recordingFSA 2001 confirms continuous possession

April / November 1992 — Marion County, SC

Fowler Violates His Own Will — Tract A to Son for $5

Seven months before he dies, Fowler transfers Tract A to son Robert for $5 + love and affection (Deed Book A-309/139). Both his 1964 and 1967 wills left all real property to wife Geraldine. Robert holds Tract A through a deed that conflicts with two standing wills — a title defect. Fowler dies November 24, 1992. Probate Case 92-ES-33-180.

1992 Deed A-309/139 — $5 · Conflicts with both wills1964 Will + 1967 Will — all to Geraldine

June 2022 — Marion County, SC

Foreclosure — The Final Act of Dispossession

Robert C. Fowler faces foreclosure on Tract A (Case 2022CP3300316). A 2023 attorney letter to heir Barbara Graves states "no Jacobs interest of record" — but this covers Tract A only. Graves is a named heir on the Dillon County Tract B deed. The window to file an appearance and assert forgery/title claims is open but time-sensitive.

Foreclosure 2022CP3300316 — TIME SENSITIVEWilliams and Hulst 2023 letter — Tract A onlyTract B: 1985 deed names Barbara Graves · Dillon Co.

April 2026 — South Carolina Legislature

The Window: SC H.4477 Heirs' Property Tax Relief Act

SC House Bill 4477 (companion S.950) received a favorable committee recommendation with amendment and was placed on the House calendar in April 2026. Once signed into law, it will exempt title-clearing transfers among qualified family members from triggering property tax reassessment (ATI). For land directly adjacent to Inland Port Dillon, a full-market reassessment at the time of title consolidation could create a crushing tax burden. The window to consolidate Tract B title using this protection is open right now — before the bill is signed and assessed values are locked in. Contact an SC real estate attorney immediately. The Center for Heirs' Property (heirsproperty.org) provides free legal support for families in this situation.

SC H.4477 · House Calendar Apr 2026SC UPHPA · Code 15-61-310 et seq. · Already ActiveCenter for Heirs' Property · heirsproperty.org

Forgery Evidence

1967 confirmed SC lease signatures vs. 1959 questioned SC mortgage signatures

The One-L Rule: Lucile Williams Jacobs consistently signed her name with one L — "Lucile." Every document drafted by a Fowler-side attorney uses "Lucille" (two L's). This pattern is consistent with those drafters never having directly observed Lucile sign — a person who witnessed her sign would copy the spelling from her own hand.

1959 FLB Mortgage Copy 1 — Most Concerning

Letter size: ~12–15mm — significantly larger than 1967 baseline (~8–10mm)
Slant: ~25–30 degrees — steeper than 1967 (~15–20 degrees)
"i" dot: Separate dot — 1967 baseline shows NO separate dot
Capital J: Less controlled, different formation than 1967
Middle letters: Ambiguous — possible different hand entirely

1959 FLB Copy 2 + PCA Mortgage — Still Questioned

Spelling: One L — "Lucile" readable
Slant: ~15–20 degrees — closer to 1967
"i" dot: Separate dot — still differs from 1967 (no dot)
Letter size: Still larger than 1967 baseline
Pattern: All three 1959 signatures show consistent differences across separate documents

✓ 1967 Lease Signatures — Confirmed Authentic (SC Baseline)

Spelling: One L — "Lucile" — authentic baseline
Letter size: Compact ~8–10mm
Slant: ~15–20 degrees forward
"i" flow: No separate dot — flows into "l"
Source: Dillon County, SC lease instrument

⚠ Critical Missing — 1966 Dower Renunciation (Book A-85/298)

The 1966 deed signature has never been produced or compared
The Renunciation of Dower (Book A-85, Page 298, Marion County) required by SC law has not been confirmed located
If forged — matching the 1959 pattern — the 1966 deed is void under South Carolina law
Request from Marion County ROD immediately — this is Priority #1

The Notary Connection: S.R. Pridgen notarized the 1959 questioned mortgage signatures in Marion County. S.R. Pridgen also notarized the Fowler/Merck Dower Renunciation — spelling Lucile's name "LUCILLE" (two L's). One SC notary connecting both the instruments encumbering Jacobs land and the Fowler deed instruments is central to the forgery case.

Book A12, Page 286 — Marion County ROD: A ~1981 Renunciation of Dower uses "LUCILLE" (two L's) in a document Lucile supposedly signed. The original must be physically inspected. If the signature line itself uses two L's, that is strong evidence of forgery.

Evidence Matrix

South Carolina documents only · What each instrument proves in the forgery and land theft case

Document	Date	What It Proves	SC Location	Status
Woodberry Deed	1946	Jacobs owned 62.3ac Marion free and clear before any Fowler contact	Book A-48/252 · Marion Co. ROD	Not yet obtained
1959 FLB Mortgage	Mar 1959	Questioned signatures. Encumbers BOTH SC tracts. Notary: S.R. Pridgen	FLB records · Marion + Dillon	Forensic exam needed
1959 PCA Mortgage	Mar 1959	Questioned. Second mortgage doubles pressure. Same notary Pridgen	Book 127/288 · Marion Co.	Forensic exam needed
1965 Farm Lease	Oct 1965	Financial distress before 1966 sale — both SC farms leased out	Marion Co. records	In file
1966 Deed — Tract A	Jul 1966	Transfer instrument. 85ac option vs 62.3ac deed. Willie signature uncompared	Book A-85/297 · Marion Co. ROD	Original not examined
1966 Dower Renunciation	Jul 1966	CRITICAL. Required by SC law. If forged = 1966 deed VOID	Book A-85/298 · Marion Co. ROD	NOT LOCATED — Priority #1
99-Year Lease	Mar 1967	Willie + Lucile + SURVIVOR hold Dillon lease to 2066. $1/yr = concession	Dillon Co. SC records	Confirmed text in file
1967 Lease Signatures	1967	CONFIRMED AUTHENTIC. One-L Lucile + Willie. Forensic baseline	Dillon Co. SC lease	Confirmed baseline
Fowler 1964 + 1967 Wills	1964/1967	All SC property to Geraldine — conflicts with 1992 $5 deed to Robert	Marion Co. Probate	In file
Dower Renun. A12/286	~1981	QUESTIONED. "LUCILLE" two L's in body. Signature line must be inspected	Book A12/286 · Marion Co. ROD	Signature line not inspected
1985 Life Estate Deed	Nov 1985	STRONGEST. 12 named SC heirs vested in Tract B. Barbara Graves named	Book 195/143 · Dillon Co. SC	Confirmed — Critical
Speth Attorney Letter	Feb 1986	SC attorney confirms 1985 deed recorded. Title professionally executed	Speth office · Marion SC	In file
FSA Letter 2001	Aug 2001	Jacobs family farming Dillon land in 2001. Continuous possession of Tract B	USDA FSA · Dillon SC 29536	In file
Fowler Probate	Dec 1992	Death Nov 24 1992 confirmed. Devisees include Geraldine — conflicts with $5 deed	92-ES-33-180 · Marion Co.	In file
1992 Deed to Robert	Apr 1992	$5 deed conflicts with both wills. Title defect in Robert chain	Book A-309/139 · Marion Co.	Need original
Foreclosure 2022	Jun 2022	Marion Co. Circuit Court. Window to assert SC forgery and title claims	2022CP3300316 · Marion Co.	TIME SENSITIVE — Active

Key People — South Carolina Only

Every individual connected to Marion or Dillon County, SC instruments in this case

Victim · Marion Co. SC

Willie Jacobs (1912–1990)

Born Marion Co. SC. Farmer, 62.3ac Tract A + 32.5ac Tract B. Died Nov 14, 1990, Florence SC. No probate found in SC. Signed 1959 questioned mortgages. 1967 Dillon Co. lease = confirmed authentic signature baseline.

Victim · Dillon/Marion SC

Lucile Williams Jacobs (1918–1995)

Born Dillon SC. One L — "Lucile." Died Jan 21, 1995. Held SC life estate in Tract B. No probate found in SC. 1959 questioned signatures show discrepancies vs. 1967 confirmed baseline. Named in 1985 Dillon Co. deed.

Perpetrator · Marion Co. SC

R.M. Fowler Jr.

Mullins / Marion Co. SC. Died Nov 24, 1992. Purchased Jacobs homestead 1966 ($12,500). Executed 1967 Dillon Co. lease to Jacobs ($1/yr). Both SC wills conflict with 1992 $5 deed to Robert.

Perpetrator · Mullins SC

Robert C. Fowler

Son. Route 2 Box 75-B, Mullins SC 29574. Received Marion Co. Tract A for $5 — conflicts with both wills. Active foreclosure Case 2022CP3300316, Marion County SC.

Enabler · Marion Co. SC

S.R. Pridgen (Notary)

Marion County SC notary. Notarized the 1959 questioned mortgage signatures. Also notarized the Fowler/Merck Dower Renunciation — spelling Lucile as "LUCILLE" (two L's). Same notary in both Jacobs and Fowler instruments.

Enabler · Marion Co. SC

Charles Merck

Marion Co. SC. Co-executed Lot 4 deed with Fowler. Witness on Fowler 1964 will. Wife Phyllis H. Merck co-executed Dower Renunciation naming Lucile as grantee.

Family Attorney · Marion SC

Charles T. Speth

109 E. Layton St., P.O. Box 2186, Marion SC 29571. Recorded 1985 Skillet deed, Book 195/143, Dillon Co. naming 12 heirs. Key witness to family intent.

Fowler Attorney · Mullins SC

Robert H. Corley

P.O. Box 651, Mullins SC 29574. 803-464-9765. Handled Fowler estate probate 92-ES-33-180. Has information about the conflict between Fowler wills and the 1992 $5 deed.

Named Heir · 1985 Dillon Deed

Barbara J. Graves

Named remainder heir in 1985 Deed Book 195, Dillon County. Received 2023 Williams & Hulst letter about Tract A only. Has SC legal standing to enforce interest in Tract B.

Named Heir + Active Farmer · SC

William A. Jacobs

Named in 1985 Dillon Co. deed. Received 2001 FSA letter at Dillon SC 29536 — actively managing Skillet crop allotments in 2001. Establishes continuous possession.

10 Additional Named Heirs · 1985 Deed

Minnie Lee Fore + 9 Others

All named in 1985 Deed Book 195, Dillon Co.: Minnie Lee Fore, Banton Jacobs, Horace Jacobs, Dorothy B. Jacobs, Carolyn V. Jacobs, Willie Gene Jacobs, Gladys M. Edmunds, Thelma M. Jacobs, Jim Arthur Jacobs, Sylvia Ann Dosey.