IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD GOD AMEN.
The last Will & Testament of Thomas Blanton being very sick & weak yet in perfect sense & memory first I bequeath my Soul to the Lord that gave it me & my body to the earth from whenth it came it.
I give to my daughter Jene Blanton two heifers one marked allreddy and the other a whit pide heifer about three years ole. I give to my other daughter Elizabeth Blanton one heifer marked allreddy and another which is about three years ole being a brindle heifer and I give one Town Gray Mare being about two years ole branded with my Brand and the said Mare to run & her increase for the benefit of these two Daughters. & I give to my four sons Thomas and John and William and Richard Blanton all my Land it to be equally divided unto them and if either of them shall die before he shall come of age then his part shall come to the others and so in case to them all & my son Richard Blanton shall hafe my plantation in his part & I give to my daughters before mentioned each of them a young sow and I give to my loving wife Jene Blanton all the remaining part of my Estate so long as she shall remain a widdo and when she shall marry then the said Estate shall equally be divided unto the remaining part of my Children and my Wife shall hafe a Childes part with them and shall hafe the plantation for her life.
Sealed in the as Witness my hand this Seventh day of February 1697.
Thomas Blanton
John D. Doughty, his mark
Peter H. Himan, his mark
John Butcher
Proved by the oathes of Jno Doughty and Jno Butcher in Essex County Court ye 16th day of March Ano Dom 1697.
Test
Francis Meriwether Cl Cur
Clerk
Deed Book 9, page 160