Luke Thornton

LUKE THORNTON'S WILL


In the name of God, Amen. I Luke Thornton of North Farsham Parish in Richmond Co. being weak in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be to God for the same, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First, I bequeath my soul to Almighty God that gave it hoping through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain everlasting life and as for my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter mentioned.

Imprimis

Item I will that my just debts and funeral charges be first paid out of my estate.

I give to my son, Thomas Thornton the land belonging to me in Westmorland County from a branch beyond Pontico as goes to Mr. Sorrell's land where John Holiday now lives and to his heirs forever.

I give to my grandson Wm Thornton a piece of land bounded a followeth: from the fence where his mother now lives down to Pottage Pott and a water course to their spring, thence to a line which devides his and my land, to him his heirs forever.

I give unto my daughter Ann Mountjoy and to my granddaughter Sarah Jones all the rest of my land during their natural lives and to the longest lives of them, and after their deceases the land where Richard Evans now lives I give to my grandson Mark Thortnon is to go up to a branch beyond Pontico joining to the land given to my son Thomas Thornton.

I give to my son Mathew Thornton four head of cattle, the youngest one to be three years old and the oldest one not to be above ten, also twenty shillings to buy him a ring.

I give to my daughter Elizabeth Nash twenty shillings to buy her a ring. Whereas I have sold to my son Thomas Thornton one negro woman names Dido for two thousand pounds of tobacco, one thousand to be paid this present year and one thousand next year which tobacco I give unto my daughter Ann Mountjoy and my granddaughter Sarah Jones.

I give to my daughter Ann Mountjoy and granddaughter Sarah Jones my negro man named Tony during their natural lives and after their decease to go to my grandson Rowland Thornton and his heirs forever.

As for the rest, residue, and remainder of my estate, I give unto my said daughter Ann Mountjoy and to my granddaughter Sarah Jones and their heirs, whom I also make, constitute and appoint my whole sole executors of this my last will and testatment, in witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 29th day of January 1725.

Luke # Thornton Seal

His mark
Will Book 5 page 6 Richmond Co. Va. Warsaw

Deed Book 8 pg. 294
Luke Thornton north Farnham Richmond Co., gives power of Attorney to Wm. Hodgkinson Oct. 5, 1725 in presence of Wm. Thornton and Michael Wilder.


The Luke Thornton Family


Luke1 Thornton of Richmond Co. was born about 1650-55 and died in Richmond Co., Va. between Jan. 29 and Mar. 2, 1725/6. His wife was named Anne, as shown by the Northfarnham Parish Register. She died between Oct. 5, 1725, when she is mentioned in a deed that Luke Thornton made to his heirs, and Jan. 29, 1725/6, when Luke wrote his will and makes no mention of his wife. Luke Thornton first appears in the records of Westmoreland Co., Va. Sept. 26, 1677 (O. Bk. 1675/6-1688/9, p. 341). However, he moved very soon thereafter to old Rappahannock (later Richmond) Co., where he was deeded land successively in 1679, 1681, and 1685 (Rappahannock D. & W. 1677-82, pp. 255 and 310; 1680-88, p. 169). He and his son, Luke Thornton, Jr., were deeded additional land in Westmoreland Co. May 29, 1700 by Randolph Kirk (Westmoreland O. B. 1698-1705, p. 81a). There was some dispute about the title to Luke Thornton, Jr.'s land, which resulted in several law-suits in Westmoreland Co. from 1701 to 1704. However, that of Luke Thornton, Sr. continued to be held by him and was passed on by him to his youngest son, Thomas. In a deed dated Oct. 5, 1725 (Richmond Co. D. B. 1720-23, pp. 294-5) and in his will, dated Jan. 29, 1725/6 and probated Mar. 2, 1725/6 (W. B. 5, p. 6), Luke Thornton mentions the same legatees with very slight changes in the bequests of land, but the deed mentions his wife as still living, while the will does not mention her, indicating her death in the interval. The bequests of the will were: son Thomas, land in Westmoreland; grandson William Thornton land "where his mother now lives"; daughter Ann Mountjoy and granddaughter Sarah Jones the rest of the land, and after their deaths to grandson Mark Thornton; "the land I now live on" to grandson Roland Thornton; son Matthew Thornton cattle and 20 s. for a mourning ring; daughter Elizabeth Nash 20 s. for a mourning ring; a negro to Ann Mountjoy and her daughter Sarah, after their deaths to go to grandson Roland Thornton; Ann and Sarah residuary legatees. The deed mentioned previously also mentions John Mountjoy, husband of the daughter Ann. The persons mentioned in the deed and will are easily identified with the exception of the grandson, Roland Thornton. Luke Thornton's sons, Luke, Jr. and Mark Thornton, had predeceased him. The grandson, William Thornton, was a proved son of Luke, Jr., and it is practically certain that Mark was a son of Mark. This leaves uncertainty as to the parentage of Roland. Since the will and deed seek to provide for each of the children, including the eldest sons of Luke, Jr. and Mark, it would seem that the grandson Roland was the son of another son who had predeceased his father. This son was probably a John Thornton, who was witness for his brother, Luke, in suits in Westmoreland Co. in 1704 (Westmoreland O. Bk. 1698-1705, pp. 225a and 226), and was probably born about 1680. After the will, the grandson, Roland, disappears from the records, and probably died without issue.