The Virginia Gazette

LEICESTER. March 18. At this assize a remarkable cause was tried, by a special jury, touching the right of inheritance to an estate at Bottesford, in the vale of Belvoir, which by the decease of an aunt was bequeathed by will to one Thomas Sansome, and his heirs, but if the above Thomas Sansome died before he attained the age of twenty one, and without issue, in that case to a sister named in the will, and her heirs. About twenty five years ago the above Thomas Sansome, on the very day he came of age (as appears by the verdict) was killed by a fall from a loaded waggon. The matter in dispute was whether he was killed on Thursday or Friday; if on the former day, the children of his sister claimed under the will of the testator (and who had held the estate for some time under a decree in chancery) if he died on the Friday, his heir at law claimed. Towards of twenty credible witnesses swore positively to his being killed on Thursday, and more than that number swore as positively to his being killed on Friday. The jury, after a fair hearing, gave a verdict in favour of the plaintiff and heir at law.