Ok I think I've figured it out...... Basically, Elizabeth is their daughter. Mom, Million was unable to come to court to administer the oath of her husbands will when they wanted to prove it on May 7th 1712 so John Tarpley and James Griffin went to her.... to administer the oath and they then made a report thereof and returned that to court to be present at the next court with the Will. THEN, on June 4, 1712 The Last Will and Testament of WILLIAM DOWNEMAN, deced., was this proved in Court by the Oath of WILLIAM ACKERS and WILLIAM GOAD and ordered to be recorded, and ELIZABETH DOWNEMAN, the Executrix therein named having taken the Oath of an Exrx. before Capt. JOHN TARPLEY and Mr. THOMAS GRIFFIN according to a former Order of this Court, Probate of her Husband's Estate is accordingly granted her.. So basically she stepped in "the executrix therein named having taken the oat before John Tarpley and Thomas Griffin..... according to a former order. I think there are some important words missing here... this is an abstract... so not complete and taken out of context. Here are my notes on William Downman Downman, William. 23 May, 1711 - 4 June, 1712. Son Rawleigh, son Robert, son Travers, son William; daughter Million, daughter Elizabeth; son Glascock; daughter Priscilla. Downman, William. 8 June, 1727 - 21 March, 1728. Son Travers; daughter Priscilla; grandsons William and Rawleigh, sons of son Rawleigh Downman; sons William and Travers, and daughters Million Glasscock and Elizabeth Downman and Priscilla Heale. William Downman, North Farnham Parish, Richmond Co., Will; 23 May 1711, 4 Jun 1712 son Rawleigh tract of land bought of Edward King called "Mt. Sion" and 250 ac. bought of Charles Caleb; son Travers all the land I bought of Arthur [Attey] in the forest of Moraticon; son William what moneys son Glascock owes me for the millstones and what belongs to them; daus. Million, Elizabeth, Priscilla; ex: wife; wits: Abraham Goad, William Ackers, William Goad. So I think Elizabeth was named Executrix to stand in for her mother in court per a previous order of the Probate of Williams estate... I think the wording is just confusing. A year later William Fox filed a complaint against the estate it appears and names John Tarpley..... Mrs. Million Downman and George Glasscock who happened to be Millions' son-in-law. I think if you saw the whole will it would make much more sense. Janean -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of mike marshall Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2011 7:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [VA-NORTHERN-NECK] William Downman d 1712 & Wife Elizabeth I had this William Downman d 1712 married 1st to Million Travers. Who is the following William Downman (married to Elizabeth) since Million was still alive in 1713 according to the last record?   === 1712-1713 Richmond Co VA Order Book 6; Antient Press: (Page 16) Richmond County Court 7th of May 1712 - The Last Will and Testament of WILLIAM DOWNEMAN being this day presented to this Court for proofe, Capt. DANIELL McCARTY suggesting to the Court that the Exrx. of WILLIAM DOWNEMAN is uncapable of coming to Court to make Oath thereto, it is therefore ordered that the Will be lodged in the Office and that Capt. JOHN TARPLEY and Mr. JAMES GRIFFIN administer to the Exrx. the Oath of an Exrx. as by Law appointed and make report thereof to the next Court === 1712-1713 Richmond Co VA Order Book 6; Antient Press: (Page 22) Richmond County Court 4th of June 1712 - The Last Will and Testament of WILLIAM DOWNEMAN, deced., was this day proved in Court by the Oath of WILLIAM ACKERS and WILLIAM GOAD and ordered to be recorded, and ELIZABETH DOWNEMAN, the Executrix therein named haveing taken the Oath of an Exrx. before Capt. JOHN TARPLEY and Mr. THOMAS GRIFFIN according to a former Order of this Court, Probate of her Husband's Estate is accordingly granted her - THOMAS GLASCOCK, WILLIAM SMOOT, THOMAS BRYAN and DOMINICK BENEHAM or any three of them are appointed sometime betweene this and the next Court to inventory and appraise all and singular the Estate of WILLIAM DOWNEMAN, deced., as shall be presented to their view and make report thereof to the next Court under their hands in writeing. Mr. THOMAS GRIFFIN or some other Justice of the Peace for this County, is requested to administer an Oath to the Appraisers for their true appraisement of the deced.'s Estate and also to the Exrx. for her true discovery thereof === 1712-1713 Richmond Co VA Order Book 6; Antient Press: (Page 106) Richmond County Court 3d of June 1713 - Ordered that the Sheriff summons to next Court JOHN TARPLEY, MRS. MILLION DOWNMAN, Exrx. of the Last Will and Testament of WILLIAM DOWNMAN, deced., and GEORGE GLASCOCK to answer a Bill in Chancery this day exhibited against them by WILLIAM FOX ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message