THORNTON-CATLETT, VA, WILL, 1741
Comtributed by:  pmullinax@mindspring.com (Pam Mullinax)
Sender:	owner-afrigeneas@MsState.Edu
To:	AFRIGENEAS@MsState.Edu
 
 Hi,
 
Thought you'd like to have this information for your site.  Best wishes in your hunting!
 Pam Mullinax (in Atlanta)
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"WILL OF ROWLAND THORNTON, GENTLEMAN, OF KING GEORGE COUNTY
 
In the name of God Amen, I Rowland Thornton of the parish of Hanover in the County of King George being of Perfect sence and memory do make and ordain  this my last will and testament in 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 followig five negroes viz:  Frank, Robin, Peter, Caesar and Bess to her and her heirs forever.  I also give my said wife the use of my two negroes Joe & Jenny during her life and after her decease my will is that my daughter Elizabeth Thornton have my said negroe Jenny and my daughter Alsey to have negroe Joe.
      I also give my loving wife Elizabeth her first choice of Thirty head of cattle out 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 Legacies 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 crows swamp during her natural life and then 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 a purchase I made jointly with Colonel John Catlett my wife's Father) one moiety of five hundred acres of land lying in Caroline county and being the land Dorothy Roy now dwells on which said
moiety of land containing two hundred and fifty acres (if revovered 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 hereafter 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, a black horse called Button with her side saddle and furniture, a mare call'd Phenix and her next choice of eight head of catle after her mother.  I also give to my daughter Elizabeth negroe Jenny after my wives decease.
      Item:  My will is that my daughter Alcey have the use of my Quarter with the Land adjoining to it below Crows swamp untill she marries then I give the said land to my son Francis and his heirs forever.
      Item:  I give and bequeath to my daughter Alcey the following fourteen negroes viz:  Caesar, Floria, Frank, Nan, Milly, Ester, Bristol, Sibby, Jeffery, Harry, Titus, Mariah, Davy and Jenny.  I also give to my daughter Alcey her choice of eight head of cattle 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 Alcey negroe Joe after my wives decease.
      Item:  I give to my son Francis the remainig part of my negroes not herin bequeathed and fifty pounds sterling together with the remaining part of my cattle and also my new Gun, pistolls, Holsters, Sumpter and new trooping saddle.
      Item:  My will is that my Estate be not appraised and lastly I constitute and appoint my loving brother Anthony Thornton and my son Francis Thornton executors of this my last will and 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.
 
  				Roland Thornton *Seale*
 
 Signed sealed published and declared to be his last will & Testament in presence of us:
 
      William Mackay
      John Moore