Will of Francis Lane Goddard
Sussex Co., Delaware
May 25, 1794
In the Name of God Amen, the Twenty Fifth day of May One thousand Seven hundred and Ninety four I Francis Lane Goddard of Little Creek Hundred Sussex County, State of Delaware, planter being sick but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God Therefore, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say, principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul unto the hands of Almighty God, that gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth As to be buried in a decent Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and such worldly goods and Estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First, I give and bequeath unto Mary Goddard my dearly beloved Wife my dwelling House wherein I now liveth, with all the Appurtenances thereunto belonging Lands be known by the name Day's beginning, during her lifetime except Seventy Acres of Land which I give to my Son Griffith Goddard, to be laid off to him where he now liveth by my son John Goddard, as my Son John Goddard, sees most convenient, not to injure the Plantation whereon I now liveth, and the said Seventy Acres _____ to be made over _____ Griffith Goddard by my Son John Goddard, in a convenient time or upon the reasonable request of my Son Griffith Goddard to him and his Heirs forever, to be freely possessed thereof: But in Case my son Griffith Goddard ____ or his heirs inclines to sell the aforesaid Seventy Acres of Land it must be sold by my Son Griffith Goddard or his Heirs unto my Son John Goddard his Heirs or Assigns.
ITEM I give and bequeath unto my son John Goddard, his Heirs or Assigns the whole of my dwelling plantation Lands and Tenements after the death of my Wife Mary Goddard, to him his Heirs and Assigns forever.
ITEM I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Mary Goddard, my Negro Woman named Bridget and her two children, one named Sarah and the other named Caleb, to be freely at her disposal after or before her Last Will and Testament, with all my Household Goods debts and moveable Effects, except such as will be hereafter mentioned to be freely at her disposal. Also, I give and bequeath to my beloved Son William Goddard One Shilling to be raised and levied out of my Estate. Also I give and bequeath to my Grandson Francis Lane Goddard, Son of William Goddard & Elizabeth his wife Ten pounds ______ to be levied out of my Estate, and paid him at the age of his being Twenty one years. Also I give to my daughter Eunice Goddard, One Looking Glass. Also I give to my well beloved daughters Sarah and Goodin Goddard, One Looking Glass to each of them, to be theirs forever. I also give to my daughter Eunice Collins wife of William Collins an oval black walnut Table, to be hers and her Heirs forever. I give to my daughter Sarah a Blue Tea Table forever. I give to my daughter Goodin my Chest forever, the whole of the Lands ___ aforementioned to belong to my Son John Goddard his Heirs or Assigns after the death of my wife Mary Goddard, except the Seventy Acres which my Son Griffith is to have in the manner and form aforementioned. I Constitute make and ordain my Son John Goddard my Executor of this my Last Will and Testament and to discharge and pay my debts with or by the Sale of any of my moveable Estate that he and my loving Wife Mary Goddard shall see most convenient And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every former Testament Wills Legacies bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named Willed and bequeathed, ratifying this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament, whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal the day and year above written. Signed Sealed Published and pronounced in the Presence of the Subscriber by the said Francis Lane Goddard.
Edw. Creagh, Jonth. Cathell, John Bacon
Sussex County
Francis Lane Goddard
Memorandum the 21st day of November 1794 before me Phillips Kollock Register appointed for the probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration for the County afs. appeared Edward Creagh and Jonathan Cathell two of the witnesses to the foregoing Will who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God and severally express and say that in their sight presence and hearing the Testator Francis Lane Goddard did sign Seal publish and declare the same to be his Last Will and Testament and that at the _____ thereof he was of a sound and perfect mind memory and Judgment, and that they and each of them together, with John Bacon Subscribed the same as Witnesses in presence of the Testator at his request.
Phillips Kollock Regr.
