WILL OF ROBERT THOMAS Orange County Va. Will Book 3, pg. 195 Written 3 Feb 1788 & probated 28 Jul 1788 IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. I, Robert Thomas, of Orange County, Virginia, being in very weak and low state of bodily health at this time but perfectly sound in mind and memory, thanks be to Almighty God, for I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the form and manner as follows, Viz.: 1st: My will and desire that my body be decently buried as my Executor hereafter named shall direct 2nd: My will and desire that my funeral expenses and my just debts be paid and the residue of my estate be left as follows. 3rd: My lands and plantation I now live on, I leave to my wife, Anne Thomas, to live on until she and my Executors shall think it convenient for her to move, at which time the said land and plantation to be sold to the best advantage for the payments of my debts and moving her and joining my family in Kentucky. 4th: In fairness, I give to my son William Thomas, a negro fellow named James, which he has now in his possession, likewise the other property namely a horse, cow and calf, bed and furniture, which he has had from me to him and his heirs forever. 5th: I give and bequeath to my daughter Frances Woolfolk the negro girl Dinah and her increase, with the other property she has had from me and now in her possession, to her and her heirs forever. 6th: I give to my son, John Thomas, a fellow named Sam with the other property he has had from me and now in possession of him and his heirs forever. 7th: I give to my son, Richard Moore Thomas, a negro boy named Randolph when he has a mind to take him, with the horse he now has in his possession and likewise a bed and furniture when he chooses to take it, to him and his heirs forever. 8th: I give to my son, Reuben Thomas, a negro boy named Allen and a bed and furniture when he has a mind to receive the same, to him and his heirs forever. 9th: I give to m son, Robert Thomas, a negro boy named Lawson when he marries or becomes of age and likewise a bed and furniture at the same time and the horse he has now in his possession, to him and his heirs forever. 10th: I give to my son, Joseph Thomas, a negro boy named Ben, when he chooses to take him and the horse he has had from me with a bed and furniture as soon as it can with convenience be made for him, to him and his heirs forever. 11th: I give to my daughter, Sally Thomas, a negro girl named Lucy, when she comes of age or does marry, likewise a horse, bed and furniture as soon as my Executors can make it convenient and furnish them to her. The negro girl and her increase to be hers and her heirs forever. 12th: I give to my daughter, Nancy Thomas, a negro girl named Sylvia with her increase, when she does marry or becomes of age also a horse and saddle, bed and furniture when my Executors can make it convenient, to her and her heirs forever. 13th: I give to my daughter, Polly Thomas, a negro girl named Levina with her increase, when she does marry or becomes of age, a horse, saddle, bed and furniture as above directed to my other daughters, to her and her heirs forever. 14th: I give to my daughter, Betsy Thomas, a negro girl named Winney and her increase when she does marry or becomes of age, with a horse, saddle, bed and furniture as above directed with my other daughters to her and her heirs forever. 15th: I leave to my wife, Anne Thomas, the remainder of my negroes with their increase also my stock and furniture of all kinds during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided amongst all my children as above named. 16th: My will and desire that if any children should die without an heir, lawfully begotten, that their such child or children's part or parts of my estate given them to return to that part of my estate first to my wife and with that to be equally directed at her death as above directed and if any of my children should have their negro to die that I hath given them, before they received such negro into their possession then such losing such child or children to have such loss or looser made whole, out of that part of my estate lent to my wife before an equal division shall commence having regard to the loss sustained. 17th: My will and desire that such lands of mine in Kentucky that is saved by Lillard and Willis which is supposed to be and containing two thousand acres, fifteen hundred of which land being laid off together in one tract or parcel to be equally divided with my son, William Thomas, Robert Thomas, and Joseph Thomas in the form and manner that they can best agree thereto, the other five hundred acres of the said land to be equally divided between my son Richard Moore Thomas, Reuben Thomas and Robert Thomas as they all best agree, and what other lands as shall or may be saved by the Land Warrants and delivered to the above named Lillard and Willis, to be equally divided amongst all my sons as has been named in my Will as they shall best agree in such division to them and their heirs forever. 18th: My will and desire that the five hundred acres of land that I purchased on Elkhorn in Kentucky to be divided as follows, first two hundred acres of the said land for my wife, Anne Thomas to live on with the younger children and the negroes that I lent her when she is moved or does move to it, she is to enjoy the same without interruption during her natural life or widowhood, the said two hundred to be chosen out of the tract of land together in one place as my son, Richard Moore Thomas, shall think convenient which two hundred acres of land after her death or marriage to belong to the said Richard M. Thomas or his heirs forever and the remainder of the said Elkhorn land to be equally divided equally between my sons, Reuben Thomas and John Thomas, to them and their heirs forever and that my Executors and my son Reuben Thomas do settle with Joseph Walker and take in my bond. 19th: And lastly I constitute and appoint my wife Anne Thomas, Executrix, my son Richard Moore Thomas and Mr. John Stevens, Executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking in writing and making dead all other Will or Wills heretofore by me made as Witness my hand and seal this 3rd day of February 1788. Robert Thomas {Seal} Signed, sealed and acknowledged this my last will and testament in the presents of Joseph Carter, John Carter, Sarah Stevens. At a court held in Orange County, Virginia, on Monday the 28th of July 1788. This last Will and Testament of Robert Thomas, deceased, was presented into court by Ann Thomas, Executrix and Richard Moore Thomas, two of the executors therein named was proved by the oath of Sarah Stevens and Joseph Carter, two of the Witnesses therein named, to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executors who made oath according to have certificate, is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form whereupon they with Reuben Thomas, Joseph Spencer, Reuben Moore their securities intend into and acknowledge their bond for the same in the Sum of two thousand pounds of current money. Teste: James Taylor, Clerk of Court. ------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Anne Baker abaker@searnet.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data 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 cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.