Birth & death dates verified from cemetery listing.
Will of Thomas Norman
(Isaac, Joseph)
(On file in Culpeper Court House dated 1838. The following is a copy of the original will which was found in a secret drawer in Thomas Norman's walnut desk in which it was found about one hundred years after he wrote it).
I Thomas Norman of the county of Culpeper and state of Virginia being in common health and state of mind and knowing agreeable to the course of nature I cannot have long to live and being desirous to dispose of the small property which it has pleased God in his providence to suffer me to possess do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit: 1st My will and desire is that all just debts which I may owe at my death be first paid. 2nd, I give to my son Gabriel T. Norman negro man John which he has had, also negro Washington Jack son of Any. 3rd. I give to my son John S. Norman the tract of land I hold on the South side of Stevensburg. which I purchased of Reuben Zimmerman heirs and other, containing Six or Seven hundred acres, also my right to the tanyard and lots of land formerly Lewis, also the lots purchased of Tibb & c. also negro man Billy the tanner, also Rose daughter of Mereche. also my cherry desk and walnut desk and book case and one half of all my books. 4th I give to my son Joseph T. Norman the plantation or tract of land whereon I at present live with the tract I lately purchased from Joseph Basy the said tracts contains about eight or nine hundred acres with the mills and everything thereto attached or belonging - also forty acres of land taken from the tract on the east side of piney ridge, to be taken from the side adjoining Fitzhugh and the land called Samuels, so that timber and wood can be had for the support of the other lands, also Ben son of Mereche also Jene daughter of Mereche. also George and Bouly sons of Betty Pack. also one side board and one half of all my books. 4th I give to my daughter Myre H. C. Norraan one half of a tract of land I own near Elkwood. containing 435 acres to be divided between Georgianna H. T. Hudson also Lucy daughter of Betty Pack. and all her increase that she now has or may have also one feather bed and furnichere (furniture) to her and so - 6th I give to my daughter Georgianna H. T. Hudson one half of the tract of land near Elkwood containing 435 acres to be divided equally between her and my said daughter Myre H. C. Norman also negro girl Eliza which she has had-7th I give to my daughter Lucy Stanton, eight hundred dollars she to have the use and interest of the money during her life and at her death to be divided equally between her children to them and their heirs forever-8th I give to my daughter Elizabeth Fishback the tract of land I own near Jeffersonton containing upwards of eighty acres, also the three negro children, that children of Hannah which was sold also Sarah daughter of Sharlot (Charlotte) to her use and profit so long as she lives, and at her death the whole to be divided between her children to them and their heirs. 9th I give to my daughter Elizabeth Thompson negro girl by the name of Matilda and negro boy bot (bought) of Montgomery Thompson, also the negro girl purchased of Gabriel Norman which they have had in possession, also Sharlot (Charlotte) and her youngest child, that she now has. my said daughter to have the use and profits of the said negroes so long as she lives, and at her death to be divided among her children to them and their heirs forever. 10th I give to my grand daughter by the name of Sophronia B. Willis two negro girls one by the name of Matilda daughter of Sharlot (Charlotte), and one by the name of --- but should she die before she arrives at lawful age without issue then the said negroes to be divided between -------.
11th I give to my daughter Kesiah Cunningham, Betty Pack, also one half of a tract of land bot (bought) under a deed intrust, given by Leroy D. Nutt. the two tracts to be divided between Kesiah and Nancv Buragealso the tract of land whereon William Cunningham now lives in the county of King George , also the household and Kitchen furniture of every description, also the stock of horses, cattle, and plantation tools of every description to her during her life and at her death the whole of the above property to be divided between all her children, to them and their heirs forever, the above named property, they have now in possession that is mentioned for her benefit 12th I give to ay daughter Nancy Burage negro girl by the name of Milley, which she now has in possession also Nell and old woman also one half of two tracts of land bot (bought) under a deed intrust given by Leroy D. Nutt. the said tracts to be divided between her children to them and their heirs &c 13th I give to my three daughters Sarah Martha Norman and Jene Carthern Norman and Lavinia L. Norman the tract of land I own on the east side of the piney ridge containing after taking out the forty acres left to Joseph T. Norman about one hundred and twenty acres, it being the tract whereon the spring called Sand spring lyes (lies), also my houses and lots in the north side of Stevensburg lying between the tavern and store of William Almond and the store and dwelling house of Martin Nalle also thirty acres of land formerly John Stewart's deed. that was coming to me in the division also the following negroes. to wit, Meriche. and all her children that she now has or hereafter have which is not otherwise disposed of. also Henry and Charles, also Ellen; and all her increase, also the children of Nell of every description of age and not otherwise disposed of. 14th. I give the lot whereon the meeting house now stand for the purpose of a meeting house and to remain for that purpose so long as made use of for a meeting house. 15th. and lastly. I give to my wife Fanny all my household and Kitchen furniture of every description that is not otherwise disposed of. also Jim and Ellick. also the profits of my land and negroes left to my son John till he arrives at the age of twenty three years, also the land mill and negroes left my son Joseph T. Norman, my wife Frances is to have the use and profit of the same as long as she lives or lives a widow, also the property of every description left to my daughters Sarah Marthy and Jene C. Norman, and Livinia L. Norman, my wife Fanny is to have use and profits of the same so long as she lives, or she lives a widow. But she can let either have part whenever she thinks proper to do so. my stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs she can sell to pay the money clames (claims) with the crops on hand &c. And lastly I leave my wife Fanny Executrix of this my last will and testament- and an in hopes the court will not hold her to security. In witness whereof I have thereunto set my Hand and seal this 4th day of June 1838.
Thomas Norman seal .
At a court held for Culpeper County the 19th day of November 1838
This paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Thomas Norman dec'd. was exhibited to the court and there being no subscribing witness thereto John Shackelford, Fayette Mauzy and Frances T. Lightfoot were sworn and severally depd. that they are well acquainted with the hand writing of the testator and verily believe that the said writing and the name thereto subscribes to be wholly written by the testator own hand whereupon the said writing was ordered to be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said Thomas Norman deceased and on the motion of Frances Norman the executrix therein named who made oath thereto and entered into bond in the penalty of thirty thousand dollars conditioned according to law.
Certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form
Teste, F. Mauzy C. C.
Note: Cunningham vs. Norman, File 43, Culpeper Clerk's Office, mentions James H. Vowles as administrator.
In 1847 Frances Norman for $500 gave her lifetime interest in the land on which she resides to son Joseph Thomas Norman (Deed Book 8, page 276, Culpeper County).
In 1846 Frances Norman sold for one dollar to James H. Vowles and wife, John J. Duerson and wife, and Lavinia L. Norman, her lifetime interest in land willed to them by Thomas Norman (Deed Book 3, page 277, Culpeper County).
Thomas enlisted in the Revolutionary Army, Virginia State Troops, at the age of 19, in the fall of 1779, as a Private in Capt. Benjamin Roberts company, Col. George Slaughter & Col. Crockett's Virginia Regiments. He was in the expedition to the "Falls of the Ohio" & in several skirmishes with the Indians. He served 2 years and in 1831 he was granted an allowance of $80 annually (#W26580). Pension started 3/14/1831 at age 72. At this time he was living in St. Mark's Parish Culpeper Co., VA. NOTE: This information taken from the actual application papers signed by Thomas Norman.
His wife, Frances, applied for & was allowed his pension on 12/19/1853. She was living in Stevensburg, Culpeper Co., VA and aged 69.
In 1832 Thomas was a Magistrate for Culpeper & a "member of the court bench."
At his death, Thomas was said to own 2000 acres of land, 32 slaves, a grist mill and a tan yard in addition to much livestock.
He moved about 1800, to "Fairfield", near the town of Stevensburg, where he died.
He is said to have had 21 children, sixteen of whom were named in his will.
Thomas & Mildred Tutt Norman were the grandparents of Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War under Abraham Lincoln.
Thomas was a Virginia planter & resided near Stevensburg & was the owner of the farm where the Battle of Cedar Mountain was fought in 1862.
Darlene Clemons Berchtold