Notes |
- "Our Meador Families in Colonial America" by Victor P Meador & Bernal M Meador:
Thomas is first mentioned in the deed of gift that his father made in 1694 to the children of his first marriage. In that division of property, Thomas was given a portion bounded by the Cold Spring, the Great Branch (which also bounded the property given to Richar and John Jr) and the main run of Hoskins Creek. The land given to Thomas was probably 100 acres, as this was the amount noted on the rent (tax) roll in 1715. The property remained in the possession of Thomas and his descendants for nearly a hundred years.
Thomas died in 1758, and his detailed will was probated Sep 19, 1758. In it, he named four sons and five daughters: John, Thomas, Ambrose, Reuben, Sarah, Easter (Esther) Elizabeth, Rachel and Frances. Three of thesse sons, John, Thomas and Reuben were willed portions of the plantation lands, and the daughters received a feather bed apiece. Only Ambrose was accorded no bequest, other than an equal share in the personal property. There was no explanation. From this will, we learn that the "burying place" was on the portion given to Reuben. The personal estate left by Thomas included 4 slaves, 5 cows, 2 horses, 40 barrels of corn, sheep, hogs and a fiddle.
Will of Thomas Meador
In the name of God, Amen. I, Thomas Meador of Essex County in the Parrish of South Farnham, being in perfect sence and memory, Praise the Almighty for the same. I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, revoking and disanuling all other wills heretofore written, in manner and form as followeth, to wit:
First and principally I commend my soul unto the hand of Almighty God who gave it, hoping through , , the Merrits and Death of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon of all my sins and wickednesses in general and to inderit everlasting life through my Savior Christ, and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently and Christianly buried, hoping at the Last Day of Judgement it shall be reunited to my soul to a happy Ressurection, and as for my worldly estate which it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me with, I do give as followeth:
Item: I give unto my son John Meador a peace of land in Esex County and Parrish aforesaid, being the land on which I live, bounded as followeth: beginning at my Cool Spring and running to a Great White Oak standing on my Spring Hill, thence across my corn field to the head of a Branche called the Poplar Spring Branch, then down the Branch to the Great Branch, to the Main Pocoson & down the main Pocoson to the mouth of Cool Spring branch & so up the said Branch to the beginning - - - to him & his heirs lawfully begotten of this body forever.
Item: I give unto my son Thomas Meador eighty acres of land more or less beginnng at a corner oak between Nicholas Faulconor and myself, thence to the Corner of the Ditch, thence down the Ditch so to the head of the Branch, thence down the Branch to the great Branch, so up the said Branch to Harbett Waggoner's line, thence along the said line to a corner White Oak, thence along Waggoner's line to the mouth (of) Clements Spring Branch, so up the said Branch to the main Road, so along the said Road to the Blody Oak, thence North East to a corner Hiccory by Nicholas Faulconer's fence so to the Beginning, to him and his male heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever and for want of such heirs to Rubin Meador and his male heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.
Item: I give to my son Rubin Meador all the remainder part of my land belong to the Burrying place lying between the lands I gave to my sons John Meador and Thomas Meador, to him and his male heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever and for want of such heirs then to my son Thomas Meador and his male heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever.
Item: I give to my son Ruben Meador my old hunting gun whuich was made by Peter Byram & three good cows and calves and desiere they may not be appraised being left him instead of mony lond to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth Allen, wife of Benjamin Allen, the same feather bed I lent her at the Day of Marriage to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter Rachel Armstrong, wife of Ambrose Armstrong, the same feather bed I lent her at the Day of Marriage to her and her heirs forever.
Item:
I give to my daughter Sarah Meador one feather bed with all the furniture &c to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter Easter Meador one feather bed with all the furniture &c to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter Frances Bell one feather bed with all the furniture &c to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to Susannah Meadow forty five shillings current money to be put to her use durng her life, to be paid yearly by my Executors hereafter named.
Item: I desire that all the remainder part of my estate of what kind soever being real and personal and lying and being in what place soever be equally divided amongst my nine children; viz. : John Meadow, Thomas Meador, Ambrose Meador, Ruben Meador, Sarah Meador and Easter Meador, Elizabeth Allen, Rachel Armstrong, & Frances Bell, to them and their heirs forever.
Item: I do constitute and appoint my two sons Thomas Meador & Ruben Meador full, whole & sole executores of this my last will and testament, revoking all other will or wills heretofore by me made, & acknowledge this my will & no other.
In witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and fixt my seal this 31st day of July Anno Domi 1758.
Thomas Meado
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of
Waters Dunn
William Meador Jr
Robert Sp Coleman
At a court held for Essex County, At Tappa, the 19th day of September 1758 this last will and Test. of Thomas Meador dec'd was this day presented in court by the Ex. herein named, who made oath thereto acc. to law and was proved by the oaths of the witnesses hereto, and on the motion of the Execs admitted to Record and so Recorded.
Test.
John Lee Jun, WD Clerk
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