CASWELL COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Thomas Rice, 1800

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Archives by: Lucy McGhee mollie@dnet.net

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Contributor's Note: The information I have is that Thomas Rice's first

wife was Jane Mills, and that he married Abigail Hewlett about 10 years

after Jane's death. His childrens' names all started with the letter

"Z". The heirs named in the Will are his sons-in-law, except for Zeri

Rice, who was his son.

WILL OF THOMAS RICE

Will Book 2 Pg 438 - Caswell Co., NC

13 Apr 1800

In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Rice of the county of Caswell, being

sick in body, but of perfect mind and memory, do make and ordain this my

last Will and Testament in manner and form following. First, I give and

bequeath to my beloved wife, ABIGAIL, the house wherein I now live with

one Hundred and Fifty Acres of land to be laid off in or near a square

to include said house and improvement to her use and behoof during her

natural life, and the reaminder of my said tract of land adjoing I give

and bequeath to my son, Zeri Rice, also the aforedsaid house and

furniture with said hundred fifty acres to him and his heirs forever

after my wife's death. Also, I give to my six children or their heirs,

viz, Zeri Rice, George Sims, Robert Blackwell, Lancelot Johnson, Daniel

Gwyn and Louest Vannoy, my three negroes, viz Charles, Ben and Lydda,

the said Lydda to be valued and have liberty to choose her master. The

other two to be sold and all three equally divided among the aforesaid

six children or their heirs. I give unto Margaret Starkey a mare colt

named Jewel and one featherbed. Likewise, it is my desire that a small

tract of land on the north side of country line where John Payne

(Taylor) formerly lived and my ......set of surveying instruments be

sold to pay off my debts. All the remainder of my estate real and

personal I give to my beloved wife during her natural life and at her

death to be equally divided among her children. But it is my will and

desire that each of the children shall have a home and a bed as they

come of age or leaves their mother or what other property she can best

share to be valued and counted in their dividend.

I constitute and appoint Robert Blackwell and Lancelot Johnson Executors

of this my Last Will and Testament revoking all and every former wills

by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal

this 13th day of April 1800.

Thomas Rice

Signed, seal and pronounced in presence of us

Thos Slade (illegible)

Zire Guegn (illegible)

Submitted by: Lucy McGhee - mollie@dnet.net