"First, it is my will that funeral expenses and just debts be fully paid. second I give, advise and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth and Thomas Jefferson Clayton my beloved son, in lieu of his dowery, one hundred acres of land, the plantation on which we now reside, enduring her widowhood or lifetime, then this land to be selected by Elizabeth H. Clayton, and all of the livestock, horses, cows, hogs, and "c" (other things) by me owned and kept therein. Also, all the household furniture and other items not furthur described and otherwise disposed of in the will during her natural life as aforesaid. She, however, first disposing of a sufficiency thereof to pay my just debts as aforesaid .. or so much there of as may remain to my son Thomas Jefferson Clayton and his heirs and assignees forever. I give and devise to my three sons, George Washington and Eliak Sander (Alexander) and James Briley (James Riley) the remaining land that is now owned by me which is 160 acres and "c" to them and to their heirs and assignees forever, lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my wife Elizabeth Clayton to be the executor for this my last will and testament, revoking and annulling all former wills by me made and ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament and that my wife Elizabeth settle all the debts without administering if the law will admit of such a testimony where of I have herein to set my hand and seal the 27th day of November 1857, signed and published and declared by the above Thornton Clayton to and for his last will and testament in presences of us who at his request have signed as witnessess to the same. William Abney, N.D. Brown ......Thornton Clayton (seal).................................................................
State of Illinois, Saline County at a court of probate judicially setting at the town of Harrisburg in Saline County. December 21st, 1857 personally appeared in open court, Nathan Brown and William Abney, seen two subscribing witnessess to the foregoing will and after being duly sworn say respectfully that they were well acquainted with Thornton Clayton of Saline County, Illinois in his lifetime that he died on the 28th day of November 1857, the instrument in writing so produced by Elizabeth Clayton purporting to be the will of Thornton Clayton, they further respectfully say that they were present when the SAME WAS EXECUTED BY THE SAID Thornton Clayton, and saw him sign it and there to be his act and did that each of them believed at the time of signing, the same of sound mind and memory, that each of them signed the same as afore said attesting witnessed at the request of said Thornton Clayton."