King George County, Virginia Will Book A-1 1721-1752 Will of Rowland Thornton pages 147-149 In the Name of God Amen. I Rowland Thornton of the Parish of Hanover in the County, of King George being of perfect sense and memory do make and ordain this to be my last Will & Testament in tha manner and form following: Imprimis: I give to my son Francis Thornton all my land lying in Spotsylvania County near the Great Falls as also one tract of land lying in King George County containing three hundred acres, it being the land whereon he now dwells which said two tracts of land I give to my son Francis and his heirs forever. Item: I give to my loving wife Elizabeth Thornton the following five Negroes, viz: Frank, Robin, Peter, Caesar and Bess to her and her heirs forever. I also give to my said wife the use of my two Negroes Joe and Jemmy during her life and after her decease and after and my daughter Alcey to have Negro Joe. I also give to my loving wife Elizabeth her first choice of thirty head of cattle our of my whole stock together with all my stock of hogs as also all my household goods with all my personal estate both in Virginia and England to enable her to pay my debts and legacy's except such particulars as I shall hereafter give to my children. Item: My will and desire is that my wife Elizabeth have the use of my dwelling plantation with all the land belonging to it on the Upper side of Crow's Swamp during her natural life and to my son Francis and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Thornton my whole right title property and interest (to purchase I made jointly with Colonel John Catlett my wife's Father) one moiety of five hundred acres of land lying in Caroline and being the land Dorothy Roy now dwells on which said moiety of land containing two hundred and fifty acres (if recovered from the heirs of Charles Smith who mortgaged the same to Micajah Perry, Merchant in London, of whom the said Catlett and I made the purchase), I give to my daughter Elizabeth and her heirs forever. And in case the law is such that the said land be not recovered from the heirs of the said Charles Smith, then I give to my daughter Elizabeth all the Money that shall or may be recovered by virtue of the said purchased mortgage. Item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth the following twelve negroes, Viz" Tom, Kate, Little Bess, Stephen, Sias, Hannibal, Judy, Grace, Moll alias Poll, Ben, Ralph and Phillis. Item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth, Thirty Pounds Sterling, also a good feather bed and furniture and a black horse called Button with her side saddle and furniture, a mare called Phenix, and her next choice of eight head of cattle after her mother. I also give to my daughter Elizabeth, Negro Jemmy after my wife's decease. Item: My will is that my daughter Alcey have the use of my quarter with the land adjoining to it below Crow's Swamp until she marries, then I give the said land to my son Francis and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Alicey the following fourteen Negroes, viz: Caesar, Flora, Frank, Nan, Milly, Ester, Bristol, Sibby, Jeffrey, Harry, Titus, Mariah, Davy and Jenny. I also give to my daughter Alcey her choice of eight head of the remaining part of my cattle with one good feather bed and furniture and five pounds sterling to buy her a side saddle. I also give to my daughter Negro Joe after my wife's decease. Item: I give to my son Francis the remaining part of my negroes not herein bequeathed and fifty pounds Sterling together with the remaining part of my Negroes not herein bequeathed and fifty pounds Sterling together with the remaining part of my cattle and also my new gun, pistolls, holsters, scimeter and new trooping saddle. Item: My will is that my estate be not appraised. And lastly if constitute and appoint my loving brother Anthony Thornton and my son Francis Thornton Executors of this my Last Will & Testament hereby making void all wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this 21st Day of September 1741. Rowland Thornton ***Seale*** Sign'd Sealed, Published and Declared) to be his Last Will & Testament in ) the Presence of us - - - - Test: Wm Mackay John Moore At a Court held for King George County the fifth day of March 1741. presented into Court by Francis Thornton his Executor who made oath thereto and the same proved by the oath of William Mackay and John Moore and admitted to record. Cop: a Test. T. Turner Cl: Cur: