ROSSER is definitely ROSSER and not ROZIER/ROSIER, and definitely English. David Rosser is the rare case where we know when he left England, on what ship, and what date, and from where, and to whom he was indentured, and for how long, and when he died. He was not claimed as a headright until years after his death. That is what made him a case study. That article about him and others in that group I posted here sometime back. It might be worthwhile to re-send it. It's a great lesson in headrights. Point here is that ROZIER/ROSIER is one family, probably French Huguenot, and ROSSER is quite another family, English. Craig On Nov 28, 2012, at 2:54 PM, Kathleen Much wrote: > On Wed, Nov 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM, someone wrote: > >> >> It's unlikely that Rozier and Rosser are the same family...and it's an >> unlikely transcription errors due to the "z". > > > I agree that they are two different names, but not because of > transcription. The Roziers appear often as Rosier in colonial records. > Crozier shows both spellings in a single will: > Westmoreland Co Will Book 2: "Solley, Thomas, 12 Oct 1663. Wife Elizabeth > my extx; my son John Rosier; my dau. Eliz. Rozier." > > Kathleen Much > The Book Doctor

King George County, Virginia Will Book A-1 1721-1752 George Harrison King Fredericksburg, Virginia 1978 page 48. Will of Francis Thornton In the Name of God Amen. I Francis Thornton of the County of King George considering the frailty of this mortal life and being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect sense and memory praised be God for the same doe make nd Ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following: ( #) Imprimis: I give to my two sons Francis Thornton and Rowland Thornton all my tract of land at the foot of the Lower Falls of Rappahannock River containing Eight Hundred & Odd acres which I purchased of Mr John Hawkins, my son Francis to have the upper part and my son Rowland the lower part of the said land by equal portions as it is already divided. The said land with all its appurtenances and I give and bequeath to my said two sons Francis and Rowland to them or either of them their heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Rowland Thornton the one moiety or half of a tract of land containing one thousand acres which I purchased of Mr John Wright as by deed of sale recorded in Richmond County Court may appear the said moiety or half which I do give and bequeath to my son Rowland beginning on the lines of John Hawxford and Thomas Tippett and running the full bredth of the said land on both sides Crowes Swamp upwards to a division Line already made by my son Anthony Thornton by my consent which said five hundred acres I doe give and bequeath to my said son Rowland Thornton his heirs and behoofs forever. Item: I give and bequesth the other moiety of half of the said Thousand acres of land purchased of John Wright to my loving wife Ann Thornton in full dower and satisfaction of all my lands before given and bequeathed that she shall claim not right, title, interest or claim in or to any of my other lands before bequeathed which said five hundred acres of land I give to my said wife during her natural life and after her decease that is to say after the death of my wife Ann then the said five hundred acres of land I give and bequeath unto George Riding the son of my wife Ann Thornton to him the said George Riding his heirs and behoofs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to George Riding the son of my wife Ann Thornton, one tract or tenement of land containing one hundred and seventy odd acres which I purchased of Capt John Washington lying and being in the County of King George, the said land I do give and bequeath unto the above named George Riding to him and his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath unto my eldest son William Thornton Five pounds Sterling. Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Francis Thornton Five pounds Sterling. Item: I give and bequeath unto my eldest daughter Elizabeth Gibson five pounds sterling. Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Taliaferro Five pounds sterling. Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret Strother Thirty pounds sterling. I having ninety pounds sterling now due to me from my son Anthony Thornton, my will is that these above named legacies to all my children above named be paid out of the said ninety pounds and the remainder of the said ninety pounds after all the above said money legacies are paid, I give and bequeath unto my son Anthony Thornton. ' Item, I give and bequeath unto my grandson Francis Conway, one mulatto girl named Bess. Item: I give and bequeath unto the within named George Riding son of my wife Ann, five slaves by name - Mulato James, Negro Dick, negro Jane, Negro Nanny and a Negro boy named Samuel. Item: I give and bequeath unto Margaret Riding, daughter of my wife Ann Thornton, six slaves by name - negro Charles, a girl names Peggee, a negro girl named Frank, Negro Susan, Negro Billy, a boy mullatto Jacob. Item : The rest of my negroes I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Ann Thornton during her natural life and after her decease I will and bequeath all my said Negroes to be divided by equal portions between George & Margaret Riding, son and daughter of my now wife Ann Thornton. Item: I give all my personal estate unto my Loving Wife Ann Thornton during her widdowhood and in case she married my said personal estate to be equally divided between my said wife and her two with in named Children George & Margaret Riding by three equal portions. An I do hereby make constitute and ordain my loving wife Ann Thornton My whole and Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament. In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seale this 10th day of May 1726. Fran s Thornton (Seale) Signed sealed and acknowledged in presence of us T: Turner Thomas Moore John (his X) Kendall At a Court held for King George County on Friday ye 7th day of October 1726. This last Will & Testament of Francis Thornton, deceased, was made oath thereto and the same was proved by the oaths of Thomas Turner, Thomas Moore and John Kendall the Evidences thereto and Admitted to Record. Copy Test T: Turner Cl: Cur: The Thornton Family by W. G. Stanard 2. Francis (2) THORNTON born Nov 5, 1651, settled in Stafford County, probably before the year 1700. He married first Alice daughter of Captain Anthony SAVAGE, of Gloucester county, who was a justice of Gloucester in 1660, and had considerabel landed estates on the Rappahannock), and secondly Jane, widow of John Harvey of Stafford. he had no issue by the second marriage. in 1706 Francis thornton of Stafford and his wife Jane widow of John Harvey, mae a deed of 684 acres in Stafford and Westmoreland to Anthony, son of the said Francis Thornton, with reversion to his other sons, Francis, Rowland and William. (Westmorland and Stafford records) In 1715-16 Anthony Thornton of Stafford, petitioned the proprietors of the Northern Neck for a regrant of this land, which he stated had been left to Mrs Jane Thornton, by her former husband, in 1700; that the said Jane died with out heirs, but being :an imperfect deed: gave the land to him (a.T.) in 1706. The grant requested was issued. it is not know when Francis Thornton died, unless he was the Francis Thornton whose will was presented to King George County Court for probate by his widow Anne, in 1726. (This appears from the order-book. The Will-book coverting this period was carried off by Federal Soldiers during the late war. About ten years ago some person in the State of New York wrote to the authorities of the county offering to sell them this book. Unfortunately the offer was not acted on, and it is not now known where the book is. It is to be hoped the present possessor will make it existene know, as ossibly arrangements may be made to purchase it). Issue by (first marriage only) 20 Elizabeth born January 3, 1674 Margaret born April 2, 1678 married William STROTHER who was the Sheriff in King George County, Virginia There is recorded in King George a deed, dated 1727, from Margaret Strother, widow for land deeded by her grandfather, Anthony Savage to her father Francis Thornton, and Alice his wife. William(twin) born December 17, 1680 Sarah (twin) born December 17, 1680 There is recorded in Richmond county a deed dated 1706 from Francis Thornton, of stafford, conveying land to his daughter Sarah, wife of Laurence TALIAFERRO Francis rowland Anne born Mar 22, 1689 Anthony