Page created: July 19, 1998

Page updated: September 6, 1998

Last Will & Testament of William Thomson

Halifax County, NC - 1770

Halifax County Will Book #2 (1758-1774) page 288.

In the name of God Amen. The Eleventh Day of December 1770. I William Riddle Hurst Thompson of the County of Halifax in the province of North Carolina being verry sick & Weak in Body but of perfect mind & memory Thanks be given unto God. Therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body Do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament

that is to say principally I give & recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it and my Body I recommend to the earth to be Buried in Decent Christian Buryal at the Discretion of my Executors nothing Doubting but the General Resurection. I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God; -- And as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give Devise & Dispose of the same in the following manner ----

Item I give to my Grand Daughter Martha Thompson one Feather Bed, Bedstead & all furniture thereunto belonging together with one Spinning Wheel, one Iron Pott & Hooks. One Desk(?) & two Plates the same being now in her mother's possession

Item I give & Bequeath to my son William Thompson all the land & plantation which I purchased of Charles Jolley to him & his heirs forever ---

Item my Will & Desire is that what my son Charles Thompson owes to Lore's(?) & Roxburgh's Store be paid out of my estate ---

Item I give to my Daughter Susannah Lee one schilling Lawfull money of Great Britain & no more of my Estate ---

Item I give to my son Charles Thompson John More(?)head's Bond of Eight pounds Cash due to me ---

Item I lend to my loving wife Agnes Thompson & my son William Thompson all my Estate during my Wife's natural life or Widowhood but at her death or marriage I give to my son John Thompson Thirty Pounds Current Money of Virginia & the remainder of my Estate which is not above given to be equally Divided amongst my four daughters Elizabeth, Sarah, Lucy & Nancy ---

And lastly I do nominate & appoint my loving wife Agnes & my son William Executors of this my last Will & Testament. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & fixed my seal the Day & Date first above Written ---

signed sealed & Declared in the presence of us --

Charles James William Riddle Hurst (X) Thompson
Robert (X) Carter his mark
his mark
Charles Jolley Halifax County -- May Court 1771

What can be learned from this will?

  1. William Thompson had five daughters and three sons that he named in his will.
  2. William's wife was named Agnes, and was living in 1770.
  3. William's daughter Susannah had married a man whose last name was LEE

Things "TO DO" based on the content of this will:

  1. Is Charles Jolley related to this family?
    Check other Halifax County records dealing with Charles Jolley to see if any relationship or information on the Thompson family is revealed.

    My check of other deeds written during this period did not suggest any relationship between Charles Jolley and the Thompsons. It turns out that William Thompson bought the Jolley property referred to in his will, just a week before the will was written. In a deed dated December 4, 1770, Charles Jolley deeded 100 acres of land to William Thompson. The deed was witnessed by Charles Thompson, Robert Carter and Charles James.

  2. Research any deeds involving William Thompson's heirs

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