WILL
of Rev. Thomas Thornton
1791 Last Will and Testament of my
paternal 4th great-grandfather, Thomas Thornton who passed away in
1792. He is buried at the old Church yard in Dumfries, Prince William County,
Virginia. Thomas was married to Mary Ann Bertrand Ewell, daughter of Col.
Bertrand Ewell & Frances Kenner. Thomas & Mary had three children: Ann,
Dr. Thomas B. Carr Thornton & Sarah.
In the name of God amen. I
Thomas Thornton of Fredericksburg [Clerk] being weak of body but of sound and
perfect mind and memory, do make and ordain in this my last will and testament
hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
First I recommend my soul to God who gave it in hopes of a Joyful
resurrection to eternal life though Jesus Christ our Lord and the worldly Goods
and estate wherewith it hath pleased a gracious God to bless me I give and devise
as follows.
Imprimis: I give and devise to my loving and well beloved wife Mary
Ann Bertrand Thornton two tracts of land Lying situate and being in the county
of Prince William given unto me by her father Colo Bertrand Ewell containing by
estimation four hundred an three acres be the same more or less to have and to
hold to her during her natural life she making no waste or destruction
thereupon and after her decease I give and devise the same to my Son Thomas
Thornton Jun. To have and to hold to my said Son his heirs & assigns as an
abs [?] estate of inheritance in fee simple forever. I further give and devise
unto my said wife all that tract of land lying situate and being in the county
of Prince William aforesaid which I bought of David Reno to have hold occupy
and enjoy the said tract with the building thereon until my said Son Thomas
shall attain unto the full age of twenty-one years she making no waste or
destruction thereon and after the end and expiration of the said Term, that is
to say when my Son Thomas shall attain unto the Said full age of twenty on
years I give and devise the said tract of land unto him my said Son Thomas his
heirs and assigns as an absolute estate of inheritance in fee simple forever.
It is my will and desire that all my stock of horses, cattle, sheep, Hogs,
&c and all my household furniture and plantation utensils be kept together
for the joint use of my wife & children until said Son Thomas shall attain
unto the full age of twenty one years and then I give and bequeath the same
unto my said wife and my said Son Thomas to be equally divided between them to
their own use & behoof forever. I further give unto my said wife the
following negro slaves viz: Lotto Senr. Winny Senr. Vernon Squire Tom the Son
of Winny Senr. And Maryann the daughter of Ralph and Mary to her own use &
behoof forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my said Son Thomas four negro slaves,
viz: Ralph, Mary, Lotto Jun. & Billy the Son of Ralph & Mary. All the
books I shalt die possessed of one enameled gold ring in memory of Col. William
Goldsborough, also all my plate viz: one silver watch, one large two handed cup
and cover, two pint cans, two large sauce boats, one soup ladle, one soup
spoon, one silver cup, or lamp four salts with their glasses and shovels,
eleven Table spoons, twelve tea spoons, one spoon strainer and one pair of
sugar tongs.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Thornton the following
negro slaves, viz: Ben Johnston Sarah and her other two children, Sam and
Harry, which she had by Ben Johnson and her two children Lucy and Jack with she
had by Col Taliaferro Randall to her own use and behoof forever.
Item: I give & Bequeath to my daughter Sarah Thornton three negro
slaves viz: Abraham, Davy and Winny to her own use and behoof forever and I
further give and devise to my said Daughter Sarah Thornton a land office
Treasury warrant No. 15.524 drawn in my favor by the Register of the land
office for fourteen hundred and sixty two acres now lodged in the land office
of the Western District for location hereby assigning unto my said Daughter all
the right title or interest which I have in the same or which may accrue
therefrom and to hold to her heirs and assigns forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my said wife my said Son Thomas and my
said two daughters Ann & Sarah three loan office certificates, issued from
the land office of the United States, in the State of Maryland the twentieth of
October seventeen hundred and ninety viz: No. 8 for the sum of nine hundred and
ten dollars and fifty cents bearing interest of six per cent per annum from the
first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety one. Also No. 8 for the Sum
of four hundred and fifty five dollars twenty five cents bearing interest at
six per cent per annum from the first day of January One thousand eight hundred
and one, also No. 9 for the Sum of nine hundred and sixty two & eighty four
cents bearing interest at three per cent per annum from the first day of
January Seventeen hundred and ninety one also two other certificates issued
December the thirtieth from the loan office of the State of Virginia Seventeen
hundred and ninety both numbered One hundred and four One for the Sum of
Sixteen dollars & eighty four cents bearing interest at six per cent per
annum from the first day of January seventeen hundred and ninety one, the other
for the Sun of eight dollars and forty three cents bearing interest at six per
cent per annum from the first day of January Eighteen hundred and one to be
equally divided between them together with the interest that has or may arise
from the same to their own use & behoof forever, and I do thereby
constitute & appoint my said wife to be Executrix and my worthy and
esteemed friend Doctor Robert Wellford to be Executor of this my will &
testament & joint Guardians to my said children.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas Thornton have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty fourth day of March in the year of our Lord One
thousand seven hundred and ninety one.
Thomas Thornton [SEAL]
March 24th 1791
Fixed and sealed and declared by the said Thomas Thornton to be his Last
Will and Testament in presence of:
Chilton Randell
W S Stone
Thomas Garnett
