Elbert County GaArchives Wills.....Thornton, Reuben January 31, 1855 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Chandler Eavenson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294 August 5, 2007, 9:56 pm Source: Elbert Co., Ga Will Book A, 1835-1860,pages 151-52 Written: January 31, 1855 Recorded: September 4, 1855 State of Georgia, Elbert County) In the name of God Amen. I Reuben Thornton of the State and County aforesaid being afflicted in body but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following To Wit. Item 1st - I will that all my just debts, funeral and buriel expences be paid out of my estate. Item 2nd - I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Thornton during her natural life the following property, to wit, nine negroe slaves by the names of Little Lizy, Jimmy, Martha, Mary, Celia, Joe, Little Jerry, Louiza and Henry, and their increase the one half of all my household and kitchen furniture two horses of her choice five cows and calves the one half of the hogs on the plantation whereon I now live my carriage and harness, and provisions sufficient to support the family and stock for one year agreely to law, and at the death of my wife all the above property and the increase of the negroes that may be remaining I give to my son William Thomas Thornton if he be living, but if my William Thomas Thornton should die before the death of my wife leaving no child or children then the above property I give to my brothers and sisters and the children of my deceased brothers and sisters, the children of those of my brothers and sisters to have the same share that their father or mother would have been entitled to had they been living to be equally divided between them. Item 3rd - I give and bequeath unto my brother Benjamin Thornton one negroe boy by the name of Ben. Item 4th - I give and bequeath unto my brother Dozier Thornton one negroe boy by the name of George. Item 5th - I give and bequeath unto my neice Prisciller E. Hunt one negroe girl by the name of Lucy, but if the said Prisciller E. Hunt should die leaving no child or children then the said negroe girl Lucy to go to my son William Thomas Thornton. Item 6th - I will that all my lands be sold by my Executor and that he purchase a smaller tract of land with a part of the money arising from the sale of my lands the purchase of the to be made in this county and my wife to be consulted in what part of the county the lands shall be located and be a tract sufficient for her and the hands I have loaned her and my wife to have and enjoy said land during her natural life, and at her death the said land to be sold and the proceeds to be distributed and go in the same way and to the same persons as the negroes and other property as mentioned in the second item of this Will, and I do further will and direct that none of the property which I have left to my wife during her natural life shall be removed out of the limits of Elbert County. Item 7th - I give and bequeath all the remainder of my estate real and personal after my just debts are paid to my son William Thomas Thornton but if my son should die leaving no child or children then the estate both real and personal which I bequeathed to him shall go and vest in my brothers and sisters and the children of those brothers and sisters who may be dead in the same manner as directed in the second item of this Will. Item 8th - I do hereby appoint my brother Dozier Thornton Executor to execute this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this the thirty first day of January one Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Five. Signed, Sealed and acknowledge his in the prsence of Reuben X Thornton (Seal) William H. Harper mark George W. Allen Benjamin Smith Georgia, Elbert County) Court of ordinary, September Term 1855. Personally came into open Court, Benjamin Smith and George W. Allen two of the witnesses and being sworn saith that they saw Reuben Thornton sign the above and foregoing instrument of writing as his last Will and Testament and they they together with William H. Harper signed the same as witnesses in the presence and at the request of the testator and in the presence of each other, and that they believe the testator to have been of sound mind and disposing memory at the time he executed the same Sworn to in open court this 3rd of September 1855. Attest Wm. B. Nelms, ordinary ) George W. Allen Benjamin Smith Georgia, Elbert County) Court of ordinary September Term 1855. The within Will and Testament of Reuben Thornton deceased having been proven at this regular term of court on the oaths of Benjamin Smith and George W. Allen two of the subscribing witnesses to said Will and Testament, it is ordered by the Court that the same be recorded. Attest. W.B.Nelms, ordinary. Recorded the 4th day of September 1855. Wm. B. Nelms, ordinary Additional Comments: This Reuben Thornton was the son of Benjamin Thornton, Sr., and was, according to the 1850 Elbert Co. census, born ca 1798 in North Carolina. The brother Benjamin mentioned in the Will was Rev. Benjamin Thornton, Jr., born 1801 in NC, and the brother Dozier Thornton who was Executor was the youngest son of Benjamin Thornton, Sr. The niece Priscilla E. Hunt was the daughter of Reuben's deceased sister Priscilla Thornton Hunt (Mrs. Sion Hunt). File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/elbert/wills/thornton601gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.9 Kb