52 Ancestors #18 - Jonas Thomas - a 4th great-grandfather

This post is for Week 18 of the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge - 2015 - by Amy Johnson Crow from No Story Too Small. Prompt for Week 18 - Where There's a Will.

Aren't wills an amazing insight into someone's life? It is an opportunity to glimpse a fragment of their lives. Sometimes it is a clue to other family members that you weren't aware existed. Sometimes it allows you see how different family members were perceived by the testator. For example, in the will of Jonas Thomas, my 4th great-grandfather, he mentioned his son James Thomas owing him money, so he reduced the amount left to him, another insight into the Thomas family.

Jonas Thomas Will, Somerset, 1825

My 9th great-grandfather, Johannis Proverbs' Will revealed a daughter Mary Budd. Mary had obviously married a man named Budd as Johannis left her 3 acres of land. I could then trace her in the English Settlers in Barbados 1637-1800  records. Without the will of Johannis, I would not have known of Mary's existence.