Will of James Thornton (08 Aug 1731 -1791) Orange County, VA Will Book 3, page 
226

Typed by Stan Thornton from photocopy of court documents obtained from the 
Orange County Court Clerk's office. (spacing added for readability)
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Will of James Thornton (08 Aug 1731 -1791) Orange County, VA Will Book 3, page 
226

In the name of God Amen, I, James Thornton of Orange County being very weak and 
much afflicted in body but perfectly sound in sense and memory for which I have 
reason to thank Almighty God for the same. I do hereby declare and confirm this 
as my last will and testament in form and manner as follows. 

First, I desire my body to be decently buried as my Executor hereafter named 
shall direct and my funeral expenses and my just debts be first paid and the 
residue of my estate to be divided amongst my nine children named as follows - 
Franky Bryant, James Thornton, Ransdell Thornton, John Thornton, Betsey 
Thornton, Salley Thornton, Rose Thornton, Jenny Thornton and Jeremiah Thornton.

Item- And for a more convenient and Equal division of the same my will and 
desire that my lands and Plantation and all my estate to be sold and a twelve 
months credit given for the purchase money at a time and in such a manner as my 
executor shall think is mostly to the advantage and welfare of my children also 
selling such things or parts of my estate for ready money as they shall think 
proper.

Item- My will and desire is that my two youngest children Jenney Thornton and 
Jeremiah Thornton to have Twenty pounds Cash money more than their equal parts 
of my estate each of them and the remainder to be equally divided amongst all my 
children as above named.

Lastly, I constitute and appoint my brother Daniel Thornton and my son in law 
Thomas Bryant executors to this my last will and testament revoking, 
disannulling and making void any will or wills heretofore by me made. Signing, 
Sealing and declaring the above written as my Last Will and Testament this 13th 
day of June One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Nine in the presence of

Francis Moore
Daniel Thornton					James Thornton  [seal]
Caleb Thornton



At a Court held for Orange County on Monday the 28th day of February 1791, the 
Last Will and Testament of James Thornton Dec. was presented into Court by 
Daniel Thornton and Thomas Bryant and proved by the Oaths of Francis Moore and 
Caleb Thornton two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on 
the motion of the said executors, who made oath according to Law, certificate is 
granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form whereupon they with 
Finlason Sleet and Francis Moore grant their securities entered into bond and 
acknowledged the same in the sum of L500 [pounds] current money.

						Teste
						James Taylor COC