Will of Isaac Phillips
Sussex Co., Delaware
February 19, 1831
In the name of God Amen. I, Isaac Phillips of Sussex County in the state of Delaware being weak in body but of a sound perfect mind, memory and understanding and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me home, do therefore make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally commit my soul unto the hands of Almighty God and my Body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor herein after named and after my just debts and funeral charges are paid I devise and bequeath as follows:
Item, I give and bequeath unto James H. Phillips my eldest son one hundred & fifty acres of land to be laid out of the land where my son Noah's widow now liveth on the west side beginning at the line next to James W. Bradley's and thence running a straight line to the River to contain one hundred & fifty acres of land to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my son William Phillips the sum of one hundred dollars to be paid to him by my Executor after my decease herein after named to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto Hiram Cooper fifteen acres of land to be laid off to him where Minas Cannon now liveth next to the River, by my Executor herein after named to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I give and bequeath all the balance or residue of the land where my son Noah's widow now liveth and not otherwise devised unto my two grand children namely Elisabeth Phillips & Noah Phillips children of my son Noah Phillips to be equally divided
between them after my decease by my Executor and to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto Kottman Phillips one Shilling Sterling to be paid to him by my Executor to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto Peggy Cooper my daughter the sum of one Hundred Dollars to be paid to her after my decease by my Executor herein after named to her and her heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rachel Robinson the sum of one Hundred Dollars to be paid to her at the discretion of my Executor ??? it after my decease to her and her heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Phillips out of the tract of land where Rebecka Phillips now liveth as I shall describe Beginning at the Corner Red Oak close by the end of a lane and thence running by and with the land that formerly belonged to Jonathan Badley to the Branch and them by and with the run of the Branch untill it intersects the line of William Badley and then with a straight line home to the aforesaid Red Oak let there be more or less to him and his heirs forever. Also the one third part of my mill called Hardy Mill and dirt and Banks and stock yard whatever is necessary to repair said Mill Banks to my son Joseph Phillips to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my grand sons namely Isaac James Cooper & Roger Phillips all the balance of the land where Rebecka Phillips now lives to be equally divided in number of acres between them so as Roger Phillips part to be next to Hardy Mill to be laid off to them at the discretion of my Executor herein after named with one third part of Hardy Mill to Roger Phillips with dirt to repair Banks and one third of all that is belonging to said mill all the above described property to them and their heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my grand son Levin Cooper the one third part of Hardy Mill with dirt and necessary apparatus belonging to said mill to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Phillips my plantation where I now dwell with all the land attached to it also the one half of the mill called the Waller Mills and Mill lots of both Grist Mill and Saw Mill with half the apparatus belonging to said mills that I own called the Waller Mills with all the land adjoining said mills that I bought of Jonathan Waller containing one hundred & forty eight acres more or less. Also one negro girl called Leah & one negro boy called Byard one negro boy called Charles also one Timber Cart and one Yoke of Steers called the Culver Steers, one Bureau, one Cupboard in Great house, one Grind stone all the above described property to Joseph Phillips my son and to be to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto Patty (Culon?) one bed and furniture her choice one core straight horned pided, two hundred and fifty weight of bacon one hundred bushels corn one barrel fish & all the pork and beef all the above described articles except the bed to be for the use of the family. Also one half dozen ? chairs for the use of family but if Patty goes away she takes her bed and no more all the rest for the use of the family all my sheep for the use of the family ? hog one red sow for the use of family all the above property except the bed to be for the use of the family & at the discretion of my Executor herein after named to them and their heirs forever.
My will is that my negro woman called Ailsey shall be at the discretion of my Executor to stay and work until she helps raise the children and then to be free as if I myself had ? her in my life time
My will is that the negroes bequeathed to my son Joseph, Leah to free at thirty years of age, Byard at thirty five & Charles at thirty five and then to be free as if I myself in my lifetime had ? them. All the balance of my negroes to sell & my son Joseph the girls until thirty years of age and the boys until thirty five and then to be free as if I myself had ? them in my life time.
And lastly as to all the rest of my Estate not bequeathed personal goods & chattles to be sold and the assets to be equally divided among all my children.
I hereby appoint and ? my well beloved son Joseph Phillips my sole Executor of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made heretofore in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the nineteenth day of February Eighteen hundred and thirty one.
Isaac Phillips (his mark) (seal)
Witnesses: Jesse A. D. Badley, Samuel Phillips, Thomas Baley
Recorded: fourteenth June 1831
