Will of Daniel Thornton
Contributed by
Stan
Thornton, MCP
Will
of Daniel Thornton (1733-1821)
Orange County, VA - Will Book 5, page 396-397
Typed by Stan Thornton, 6th great grandson of Daniel Thornton, from a
photocopy received from Orange County Clerk's office. (spacing added for
readability).
In the name of God amen, I, Daniel Thornton of Orange County, Virginia,
being of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament
revoking all others, in the following manner
(1) My wish is that my body be buried in a Christian like manner and that
my executors do first of all pay all my just debts and all necessary
funeral expenses.
(2) I give to my dear beloved wife Sarah Thornton during her natural life
or widowhood, all of my estate both real and personal of every description
but should she marry, she then is to have no more of my estate than the
law would allow her if I had died without a will.
(3) I give the land whereon I now live to my sons Luke and Thomas and
their heirs forever. The fence that now runs along up the branch between
me and my son Thomas to be the dividing line between them. Thomas to have
the upper part where he now lives, and Luke the lower part upon their
paying the following legacy's (namely) to my son Sanford fifty pounds. To
my son Caleb's children ?VIS? John Thornton, Isabel Thornton, Kitty
Thornton, Joseph Thornton, Nancy Thornton and Sarah Thornton, seventy
dollars apiece; and to my son Jesse's son William Thornton seventy
dollars. As my son Luke's part of the land is of more value than that of
Thomas', Luke in paying off the legacy's is to pay twenty pounds more than
Thomas. Should any of my son Caleb's children die before they receive
their legacy, that it is to go to the surviving brothers and sisters but
if my son Jesse's son William Thornton die before he receives his legacy
that it is to go to my son's Luke and Thomas.
(4) I give all of my house hold furniture and Kitchen furniture of every
description with all my stock of every kind, plantation utensils to my son
Sanford, but should he have no heirs of his body and die before he
receives what I give him, my wish is that what I have given him be equally
divided between my sons Luke and Thomas or their heirs.
(5) I do constitute, ordain and appoint my sons Luke and Thomas Thornton
my lawful executors to this my last will and testament. In consideration
of which I have set my hand and seal this 31st day of August in the year
of our Lord 1815.
Daniel Thornton [Seal]
Tested in presence of
Reuben T Clarke
George Waugh
Jas Clark
Gowrey Waugh
William A Moore
At a quarterly court held for the county of Orange at the Courthouse on
Monday the twenty seventh of August 1821, this Last will and Testament of
Daniel Thornton, deceased, was proved by the oath of Reuben T Clarke,
James Clarke, Gowrey Waugh and William A. Moore, witnesses thereto and
ordered to be recorded. And at a monthly court held for the said county at
the courthouse aforesaid, on Monday the twenty fourth of September
following. On the matter of Luke Thornton an executor named in this Last
will and testament of Daniel Thornton deceased, who made oath thereto
according to law and together William Morton Jr., his security entered
into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of six hundred dollars
conditioned as the law directs, certificate was granted him for obtaining
a probate thereof in due form.
Teste