Person:Francis Thornton (4)

About Col. Francis Thornton

Francis was a Colonel of the Virginia Militia, and members of the House of Burgesses from Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Various Virginia records reveal that the elder William and his three sons were active in matters pertaining to the purchase and sales of lands, involving some extensive tracks; they were active in the Church of England, the High Church, though at one time were, by their own request, removed as Vestrymen, publicly avowing their disbelief in the doctrine of Transubstantiation. They were Justices, members of the Burgess, and honored with various offices of public trust.

Will of Francis Thornton

Will of Francis Thornton (d.1726) King George Co VA

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 and Ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:

Item: I give to 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 doe 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 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 breadth 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 bequeath the other moiety or 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 no 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 said 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 of 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 Lagacies 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 - Mullato James, Negro Dick, Negro Jane, Negro Nanny and a Negro boy named Samuel.

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 Negros to be divided by equal portions between George & Margaret Riding, son & 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 marrieth my said personal estate to be equally divided between my said wife and her two within named Children George & Margaret Riding by three equal portions. And 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 whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this 10th day of may 1726.

Francis Thornton (Seale) Signed Sealed

1. ↑ Genealogies of Virginia Families: From the William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1982)
   p. 20.