Person:Sterling Thornton (1)

Will of Sterling Thornton

In the name of God Amen I Sterling Thornton of the Parish of Petsworth and county of Gloucester, being in my perfect senses, do make and constitute this my last will and testament in manner following: Imprimis. I give and bequeath to my son John Thornton my whole estate, both real and personal to him and his heirs forever, but in case my son John should die under the age of twenty one years, and without a child or children, living at his death, then my will and desire is that my whole estate so as aforementioned be divided equally between Watt Cole, half brother to my son John, and the children of my brother John Seawell, and my brother Francis Thornton, whom they have now, that is to say, one eighth thereof to Watt Cole, three eighths between the children of my brother John Seawell, by name, John, Sterling and Francis, and ot,her four eighths between the four children of my brother Francis Thornton, by name James, Elizabeth Ann and Francis, to them and their heirs forever as tenants in common. They, the said Watt Cole and the children of my brother John Seawell, and Francis Thornton, paying, and their estates above given to be chargeable with the sum of one hundred pounds to my relation Meaux Thornton, and twenty five pounds to each of the children of Capt William Vaughn and Capt John Camp, whom they have had by the daughters of Mr John Seawell, Senr., but if either of the children of my brothers John Seawell and Francis Thornton should die under the age of twenty one years, and without a child or children living at his or her death then I desire and will the part or proportion of the deceased may be equally divided amongst the survivors and their heirs. Item. I desire that my executor hereafter named do build a comfortable house, twelve by sixteen feet for my negro woman Cate and her children to live in, and that it be placed in the peach orchard back of the little house in the garden, and that the said Cate be annually furnished out of my estate, with two hundred weight of good pork, salt and meal, as well as clothes, and it is my will that the said Cate may never be compelled to work unless she chooses and that she may be found fire wood. Item. I desire that the old woman Leah shall have to her own use and disposal one half the money she may earn as a midwife. Item. I do constitute my brother John Seawell guardian to my son John Thornton. Item. I desire that my estate be kept together, and land and negroes and team be worked as usual until my son arrives at the age of twenty one years. I direct that my executor do sell my studd horse Brilliant and my old gray horse and my large bay mare called Phoenix. Item. I do direct and order that my executor hereafter named may, if he shall see it advantageous, sell as many negroes or personal estate as he shall think proper to purchase lands for my son John and his heirs, which, if he doth, I desire shall be in all respects under the like limitations and restrictions as the estate above devised. Lastly, I do nominate and appoint my brother John Seawell my whole and sole executor, hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. I do constitute this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 28th day of March, 1790. STERLING THORNTON Seal Teste, Ben. Dabney, Alice Brodie, Jane Seawell. Recorded April 6 1790

1. ↑ Genealogies of Virginia Families: From the William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Magazine. (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1982)
   p. 25.