[WHT: The three generations of Thomas Christmas' ancestors were received via email in Jan. 1997, I have not documented all of this information; it is given here for information purposes only; if anyone should prove or disprove this information, please write me.]Middle name could be Cross.
Will of THOMAS CHRISTMAS:
Will: Thomas Christmas of St. Martins Parish, Hanover Co., VA. 29, Dec. 1768. Recorded Hanover Co., VA Sep 7, 1769. Attested copy records Bute Co., NC, Feb. court 1770.
In the name of God Amen. I Thomas Christmas of the Parish of St. Martins in the County of Hanover, being sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and memory. thanks be given to Almighty God for the same and Calling to mind the uncertainty of this vanishing life, and being willing to settle my worldly affairs in order, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
I command my soul to God who gave it hoping thru death and merits of Jesus Christ my Savior to be made Partaker of the never fading joys of Immortality at the day of Resurrection and as for what temporal Estate it has pleased God to bestow upon me I give and bequeath the same In manner and form fo11owing, that is to say,
First: I give and bequeath unto my son John Christmas and to him and heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture, my riding chair and harness one horse names Shaven, also five Negroes (Viz.) Old Peter, Charles, Young Peter, Young Harry and Mllly;
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Paulett to her and to her heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture, and eight Negroes (Viz.) Matt, Louise, Fanny and her two girls, Jenny and Morning and one boy Stephen, Old Beck and her child Beck;
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Caty Higgason to her and to her heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture; also six Negroes (Viz.) Quon, Will, Old Ned, Moses, Rachel and Nan; also all the land I hold on the North side of the road being Part of the track I Purchased of James Flannakin, and also thirty Pounds current money;
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel Chrisholm to her and her heirs and assigns forever, one feather bed and furniture, also eight Negroes (Viz. ) Old Harry Young Ned, Robin, Lucy and her two children, Betty & Rachel also Lidy and Betty;
Item I give and bequeath unto the children of my son Thomas Christmas, deceased, (Viz.) John, Mary, Thomas, Richard and William Christmas to be equally divided between them and their heirs and assigns forever, at the time William Christmas, the younger shall arrive to the age of sixteen years of age, Six negroes (Viz.) Tom, Dick, Blackman, Moll, Judah and Patt, also three stock of cattle, sheep and working tools which Is now in the Possession of Temperance Christmas, widow of my son Thomas Christmas;
Item: It is my will and desire and accordingly order It so that the estate so as above given to my Grandchildren be immediately after my decease taken in the hands and under the management of my son, John Christmas and his son, Thomas Christmas and by them be divided accordingly as above directed, sooner if they think proper;
Item: I give and bequeath unto my six grandchildren (Viz.) Charles Whitlock, James Whitlock, Mary Jones, Anne Austine, Thomas Whitlock and Nathaniel Whitlock, to them and to their heirs, assigns forever ten pounds current money each;
Item: I give and bequeath unto my five grandchildren (Viz.) John Sanders, Elizabeth Sims, Nancy Sanders, Mary Sanders and Reitta Sanders, to them and to their heirs, assigns forever ten pounds current money each;
Item: I give and bequeath unto John Christmas, son of Elizabeth Paulett, to him and to their heirs, assigns forever twenty pounds current money;
Item: I desire all that tract, parcel of land and plantation whereon I now live, lying on the South side of the road together with all the rest and residue of my Estate of what nature or quality so ever may be sold to the best advantage by my Executors hereafter mentioned and the money arising by such sale to go in discharge of the above legacys given by me in current money and the over plus to be equally divided between my four children (Viz.) John Christmas, Elizabeth Paulett, Caty Higgason Rachel Chrisholm and the children of my son, Thomas Christmas, deceased, who are to be entitled to one fifth part amongst them share and share alike.
Item: It is my will and desire that my estate be not appraised, And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son, John Christmas and John Higgason Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void and null all former will or wills heretofore made Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the ninth day of December One thousand seven hundred and sixty eight.
Thomas Christmas [by Mark] [Seal]
Sealed and delivered in the presence of David Anderson, Richard Higgason & John Higgason.
Hanover Co., VA. Sept. 7, 1769. The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Christmas, deceased was offered to proof by John Christmas and John Higgason, the Executors therein named and was proved by the Oath of David Anderson, Richard Higgason and John Higgason the witnesses thereto, and also by Oath of the said Executors, and Ordered to be Recorded. Test: William Pollard C.H.C
A copy of the above Will has been given to Hanover C..H. VA. State library and National DAR Library, Washington, D.C.
Warren Co., North Carolina Will Book A p. 105-109 (old Bute Co.) p. 105: Will dated Dec. 29, 1768; recorded Hanover Co., VA. Sept. 7, 1769. "Abstracts of Granville Co., N.C." 1746-1808, by J. W. Watson: p. 30, A Thomas Christmas is witness to the will of Phillip Walstone, Nov. 27, 1749, the oldest will in the county.
[WHT comments:] Some researchers think Elizabeth Paulett might be a daughter-in-law of Thomas Christmas, instead of a daughter. Thomas Christmas mentions her son, John Christmas, in his will but none of her other children. Thomas Paulett, in his will (1771) also mentioned his "wife's son John Christmas." Elizabeth is called daughter in the will of Thomas Christmas, and she is referred to as a child in the next to last paragraph. I think she is a child of Thomas, and bequeaths could have been given to her and her children earlier. Her son, John Christmas, could have been born out of wedlock.
Just a note regarding when counties were formed: Granville Co. Parish of St. John was changed to Bute Co.; Bute Co. was divided into Warren & Franklin Counties in 1779.]
Mary Kerr's Will Book-A, p. 105, Bute Co; plus, Abstracts of Warren Co., N. C." Vol. 1, p. 73 and 21; also see father's will.
The history & genealogy of our Christmas family continues to grow, with the addition of many new families and allied surnames. If you find errors in these pages or have additions, please write Herbert Turner at the Christmas Home Page; the corrections & additions will be made; thank you.
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