M. Ressler Genealogical Database

From https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178739561/Edward-Thomas-Watts:

While I included a birth date I have no proof of Thomas Birthdate.
Married Esther. No proof of maiden name has been found. Esther died in 1772 in Orange County, Virginia

Will of THOMAS WATTS

In the name of God, Amen; I THOMAS WATTS of St. Thomas Parish in Culpeper County, planter, being in sound and perfect health of mind and memory, thanks be to Almighty God for the same, and calling to mind the mortality of mankind and that it is appointed for all en once to die, and as touching such worldly estate which it has pleased God to bless e with, I do hereby make an ordain this my last will and testament allowing this and only this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking, disallowing and disannulling all former wills, testaments or bequests, and allowing none but this my last will as in manner following:

Imprimis: I give and bequeath my soul to Almighty God that gave it me, and my body to the earth to be buried a the discretion of my executors.

Item: I will and desire that my beloved wife ESTHER shall live on the plantation I now live on, if she shall be the longest liver, and have 100 acres of land adjoining with timber and wood for the use of the plantation for an during the time of her widowhood and no longer, and at the time of her death or day of marriage that the said plantation to return to them as shall be hereafter mentioned.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son EDWARD WATTS the plantation he now lives on with a tract of land thereto belonging estimated at 200 acres to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my son JOHN WATTS the plantation he now is possessed with the lands bounded accordingly estimated 200 acres be the same more or less, to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give to my son BENJAMIN WATTS the plantation commonly called the schoolhouse with the tract of land bounded on JAS. BARBOUR and JOHN WATTS, so up to the Great Branch, including the land between them bound, and BLAN BALLARD'S line estimated 200 acres more or less to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give to my son THOMAS WATTS the plantation known by the name of JOHN STONE'S plantation with the tract of land adjoining there to containing by estimation 185 acres be the same more or less, and bounded on BLAND BALLARDS line, JAS. BARBOUR'S line and DIXON'S line to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give to my son JACOB WATTS a tract of land containing by estimation 150 acres be the same more or less, and bounded between BLAND BALLARD and BENJAMIN WATTS, to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give to my daughter SARAH WATTS a tract of land containing by estimation 150 acres be the same more or less, and bounded between JAMES BARBOUR'S, JOSEPH ROGERS, DIXON'S line to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath after my decease and the decease or day of marriage of my wife ESTHER the above mentioned plantation I now live on with 100 acres of land thereunto adjoining an bounded on the River and running to BENJAIN CAVE'S line on the River, thence along Captain BENJAMIN CAVE'S line to my back line so far as to included 100 acres which said plantation and land I give to my son WILLIAM WATTS, after my decease or day of marriage of my wife to him an his heirs forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter ESTHER WATTS a tract of land containing by estimation 100 acres and bounded between the land belonging to the MANOR plantation and JOHN WATTS land to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I will and devise that after my decease my still shall be the use of my wife ESTHER during her widowhood, and all y children in general, that is to say my son EDWARD, my daughter ANN, my son JOHN, my daughter ELIZABETH, my son BENJAMIN, my son THOMAS, my daughter SARAH, my son JACOB, my daughter ESTHER, my daughter MARY, my son WILLIAM, my daughter FRANKY, which said still shall be to their use an if any benefit or income shall accrue by the said still, the same shall be equally divided among my above mentioned wife and children should, and if my wife should either die or any of the above said children should die then the still shall be amongst the remainder of my children an the income of the said still shall be equally divided between such of my above mentioned children as shall remain alive.

Item: I constitute an appoint my beloved sons JOHN WATTS and BENJAMIN WATTS to be my said executors of this my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

THOMAS WATTS
X (his seal)

Signed, sealed published and pronounced in the presence of

ROBERT SHERMAN
WILLIAM TWYMAN
GEORGE TWYMAN

At a court held for the County of Culpeper Thursday the 10th day of March, 1749, this last will and testament of THOMAS WATTS dec. was this day exhibited into court by JOHN WATTS and BENJAIN WATTS, the executors therein ??? , And at a court continued and held for the said county on Friday the 16th March 1749, EDWARD WATTS the heir-at-law of the deceased appeared in court an declared he had no objection to make against the proof of the said will, whereupon the court proceeded to examine the witnesses upon their oath, to-wit: ROBERT SHERMAN, WILLIAM TWYMAN and GEORGE TWYMAM whose depositions and hereto announced an ordered to be recorded with the said will an on the motion of the said executors, certificate is granted the for obtaining probate thereof in due form, they having sworn to the same and given security in the penalty of 1000 pounds according to law.

ROGER DIXON, clerk.