Caswell County, N.C. - WILLS - Thomas Rice, 20 March 1804 -------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. --------------------------------------------------------- Contributed by Ellen M. Crawford emcraw@azstarnet.com THOMAS RICE WILL In the name of God, Amen. Thomas Rice of the County of Caswell and State of North Carolina, being in a declining state of health, but of perfect mind and memory, do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament thereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore published. In the first place I recommend my soul to Almighty God who gave it to me and my body to be committed to the earth from whence it came, to be buried in a decent Christian burial such as my Executors hereafter named may think most suitable, Secondly, after paying my just debts, I recommend the following disposition of the worldly estate as which it has please God to bestow on me, Viz: Imprimes,(?) I give and bequeath to my son Elisha Rice the sum of Five Shillings. Item, I give unto my son Joel Rice Five Shillings. Item, My will and desire is that my slave called Sarah, be allowed the Liberty of living in the whichever of my children she may think proper to live with, and not to be sold or divided as my Estate hereafter mentioned. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son William H Rice one seventh part of my estate to him and his heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebecca Windsor, one seventh part of my estate to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Gwyn one seventh part of my estate to her and her heirs forever. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Marcy Nunn one seventh part of my estate to her and her heirs forever. Item, I lend unto my daughter Lucy Scoby one seventh part of my estate during her life and after her decease to be equally divided between her living children, shear and shear alike. Item, I lend unto my daughter-in-law Sally Rice, widow of Nathan Rice, decs, one seventh part of my estate during her life and after her decease, to be equally divided between her living children, shear and shear alike. Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Oldham's children, one seventh part of my estate, to be divided between them shear and shear alike, to them and their heirs forever. Lastly, I do by these presents nominate, constitute, and appoint my son William H Rice and John Windsor, son-in-law executors of this my last will and testament. In witness hereunto sit my hand and seal this 20th day of March, 1804. Signed, sealed and acknowledged Thomas Rice (Signed) James Williamson (Jurat) William (?) (Jurat) unreadable (?) (?) (Jurat) unreadable State of North Carolina Caswell County The execution of this will was duly proved in open court by the oaths of James Williamson, William Paxton, and Christopher Brooks three of the subscribing witnesses thereto and on motion ordered to be recorded at the same time William H Rice and John Windsor, Sr. qualified executors and letters in testimony filed. (?) D Murphy GC Recorded Book E Page 13 D Murphy GC (This was received from the State of North Carolina Archives. It was photo copied by them on November 2, 1993)