Thomas Durham was born on 6 Mar 1660 in Farnham, Richmond, Virginia to parents Henry Durham and Judith Hunt. He married Dorothy Gilbert Smoot in 1685 in North Farnham, Richmond, Virginia. Children: Richard, Samuel, Mary, Thomas, John. He died on 30 May 1715 in North Farnham, Richmond, Virginia.
Children baptized at North Farnham Parish Church)
It is known from a 1704 court deposition that Thomas lived near Gilbert (sending servant Anne Kelley to invite Gilbert over to his home to "pipe it" (smoke tobacco), whereupon Gilbert proceeded to accompany Kelly toward Durham's house, passing by the residence of neighbor James Mills.)
The following is quoted from a 1999 forum post by Michelle Ule, excerpting an article she wrote on the Durham family: "On August 2, 1700, William Smoot Sr. of Richmond County, for love and affection for Dorothy Durham, wife of Thomas Durham, and her children, deeded sixty-two acres of land entailing it upon their [sic: the deed said "her" eldest son Thomas Durham Jr., their [her] second son, John Durham and their [her] eldest daughter, Mary Durham; he provides if all of these children the said land was to descend to the fourth, fifth and sixth child of the said Dorothy Durham and if all the aforementioned children of Dorothy Durham deceased, said land to descend to Ann Fox, wife of William Fox, Gentleman, of Lancaster County. Ann Fox, to whom the land would revert if no Durhams survived, was Dorothy Durham's niece, the married daughter of her sister Ann Chinn Stretchley. Ann Stretchley had other children who apparently were overlooked in this potential gift.
"In 1707, William Smoot deeded Thomas and Dorothy Durham another fifty acres (Deed Book 4, page 109, 111). That same year, on April 26, Mary Gilbert deeded the Durhams 50 acres of land "adjoining William Smoot's" gift, according to Shirley Corbari in The Guio-Dodson Family. The property was described in the deed book as being upon a branch of Farnham Creeke called and knowne by the name of the Buory [Briery] Swamp, containing by estimation fifty acres, now in the tanure and occupation of William Wright. The deed was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of William Smoot and Mil. Walters. Miles Walters witnessed Thomas Durham's will eight years later, so perhaps he was a neighbor." [4]
Will of Thomas DurhamWill dated 4 Aug 1711; Probated 1 Jun 1715. Named wife Dorothy, children Thomas, John and Mary Durham., a grandson Thomas Dodson. [Richmond Co WB 3, p210] [5]
In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Durham of Northfarnham in the County of Richmond.
Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Dear and Loving wife Dorothy Durham the use of my Plantations, together with all my Lands and Tenements with all and Every of their Appurtenances--Profits and Commoditys ----Belonging or appertaining for and During the ----of her natural Life and after her Decease if my Son Thomas Durham and Mary his wife do by some sufficient instrument in writing under their hands and seals and affording to due forme of Law Release and Acquitt all and singular their Right ,title and Interest in and unto Fifty acres of Land being the same Tract & Plantations which we had conveyed us by Mary Gilbert unto my son John Durham and his heirs or pay him the said: John Durham Eight Thousand Pounds of Tobacco in Lieu of His said Land and also pay unto my Daughter Mary Dodson Fifteen hundred pounds of Tobacco that then and upon this consideration-----aforesaid: I do give and bequeath unto my said son Thomas Durham and his heirs Lawfully Begotten and for want of such issue unto my son John Durham and his heirs Lawfully Begotten and for want of such issue unto my GrandSon Thomas Dodson and his heirs. But if my said son Thomas Durham doth refuse and will not release the said fifty acres of Land nor pay the Tobacco aforesaid: I do will and Bequeath the said Plantation whereon I now dwell with all my Lands unto my son John Durham and his heirs---
Item. I give and Bequeath unto my Son John Durham Fifty acres of Land more or less being the Plantation with all the Tract and Parcell of Land that was Conveyed us by Mary Gilbert, to have and to hold the said Tract and Parcell of Land with the appurtainances unto my said son John Durham and his heirs Lawfully begotten and for want of such issue unto my GrandSon Thomas Dodson and his heirs-
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Son John Durham one Feather Bed and Furniture, one Cow and calf, one Mare and Iron Pott, Two ____ Dishes and half a dozen Plates
Item. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Dodson Five Thousand Pounds of Tobacco; Fifteen hundred Pounds of the same to be paid by my son Thomas Durham within Nine months after the Decise of my wife and Five hundred the Rest of the said Tobacco to be paid by my Son John Durham at the Decease of my Wife----
Item. I give and Bequeath all the Residue of my Estate, Goods, Cattle and Chattells unto my wife Dorothy Durham for & During her widowhood, but if she doth Marry that _____ off my Personal Estate, Except what is herein given to John Durham shall be Equally Divided between my wife and my three Children, and I do make and Ordain my Dear & well beloved Wife Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament---Ratifying and Confirming this & none other to be my Last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this Fourth Day of August in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven. Signed, Sealed & Published and Declared in the presence of us, Joan O Searles her mark, Arthur Kay his mark, Miles Walters
Thomas Durham his mark (seal) Att. at a Court held for Richmond County ye first Day of June 1715. This Will was approved in open Court by the oaths of Arthur Key & Joan Searles ______ of the Witness or thereto be on admitted to Recored. Tests M: Beckewith C.C.O."Is Thomas your ancestor? Please don't go away!
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