Will of William Bradley
Sussex Co., Delaware
January 12,1841
In the name of God, Amen, I William Bradley of Sussex County in the State of Delaware being weak in body but of a sound and perfect mind, memory and understanding, blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following; Viz, after all my just debts, burial and funeral expenses be paid, I give and bequeath as follows,
I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Esther Bradley one bed, bedstead and furniture, one blue chest and one floor carpet extra of her dower, to her and her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Stephen Bradley a Note of Hand that I hold against him for forty six dollars and fifty four cents and interest thereon and no more of my Estate that to be to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath to my son William H. Bradley all the land that I bought of Elisha Cordery and Priscilla Cordery, his wife, where on my son now lives my son William H. Bradley paying to my daughter Ellenor Neal, late Ellenor Bradley the sum of two hundred dollars clear of interest in twelve months after my decease with the exception of two hundred dollars out of said land, to be to him his heirs and assigns forever, and my will is that my daughter Ellenor Neal, should die leaving no heirs, my son William H. Bradley must pay the aforesaid two hundred dollars to be assets in my personal estate to be equally divided among all my legal representatives. If my said daughter should die before payment of said two hundred dollars and leave an heir my son William H. Bradley, must pay the said amount of two hundred dollars to that heir & to be to them, their heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto my son Josiah J. H. Bradley all the land that I bought of my brother John N. Bradley with the exception of pine timber off of said land necessary for my two sons Benjamin and Huffington to build two houses sixteen by eighteen feet long with the exception of that the said land to be my son Josiah J. H. Bradley, his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto my son Benjamin Bradley all the land that I bought of my brother John Bradley, by my son Benjamin Bradley paying to my daughter Ellenor Neal late Ellenor Bradley the sum of two hundred dollars clear of interest in twelve months after my deceased. Also my old desk, one bed, bedstead and furniture, one cow and calf and one ewe sheep with the exception of the said two hundred dollars to be paid to my daughter, all the aforesaid bequests to be to my son Benjamin, his heirs and assigns forever. And my will is that if my daughter Ellenor Neal should die leaving no child my son Benjamin Bradley must pay the aforesaid two hundred dollars to be assets in my personal estate to be divided among my legal representatives. And if my said daughter should die and leave an heir my son Benjamin must pay the aforesaid two hundred dollars to that heir to be to them, their heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto my son Huffington N. Bradley on the North and Easterly side of my house not heretofore devised ? to a divisional line I made my self in my life time, between my two sons Huffington & Jacob. Beginning at a post I settled on the North state line thence running Easterly to a north post in the field and thence running south easterly to a northern post I settled at the line the division between Samuel Phillips and my self. Also one desk, one bed, bedstead and furniture and cow & calf, one ewe sheep, all the aforesaid bequests to be to my son Huffington N. Bradley, his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath to my son Jonathan J. Bradley, all the land on the South of the divisional line made between my two sons Huffington & Jacob, not heretofore devise of including the mansion house where I now live. Also one cupboard in the kitchen, one blue chest, one bed, bedstead and furniture, one cow & calf, one ewe sheep all the foresaid bequests to be my son Jonathan J. Bradley his heirs and assigns forever.
My will is that either of my sons Huffington or Jonathan should die without lawfull begotten heirs, the surviving one, all the land bequeathed to the one deceased shall have by paying the rest of the heirs two hundred dollars and by the surviving one paying to the heirs two hundred dollars the aforesaid lands to be to him, his heirs and assigns forever.
I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Sally Ann Bradley the sum of four hundred dollars to be paid her at the age of sixteen years out of my personal property, by my executor hereafter named. Also one spinning wheel, first choice, one cupboard in the great house, one bed, bedstead and furniture, one cow & calf and one ewe sheep all the above bequests to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
My still must be assets in my personal estate, that at my son William H. Bradley and after all the bequests in this will be paid & all my just debts be settled out of my personal estate taking my own crop that maybe grown or growing on the said lands at my deceased for assets in my personal estate and if there be any balance left my will is that it shall be equally divided among my seven children in this country to them their heirs and assigns forever.
And I hereby appoint my son William H. Bradley my sole executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the twelfth day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty one.
William Bradley (seal)
Witnesses: George Phillips of Joshua, Joshua Phillips, Jesse A. D. Bradley
Recorded May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred forty one.
