Will of Dr. Danial Hudson
Sussex County, Delaware
April 24, 1851
In the name of God, Amen. I, Daniel Hudson of Broadcreek hundred in the county of Sussex and state of Delaware, being mindful of my mortality, do this Twenty fourth day of April in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and fifty one make and publish this, my last will and testament in manner and form following:
First I desire to be decently and privately buried in my own burial ground without any funeral pomp, and with as little expense as may be.
And as to my worldly estate I give and divise as follows:
1st. I give to my beloved wife Sarah in lieu of Dower, all my lands and impovements (with the exception of my office and the buildings attached there to; which said buildings shall be moved off). Situate of the east side of the County road leading from Georgetown to Laurel during her widowhood, or life time, all which she shall quietly enjoy so long as she remains my widow. I also give to her two Beds, bedstands and furniture, one Cow, Six cheers, one Chest, my best mahogany Mantle clock, and fifty dollars in cash, also I give her one hundred Bushels of corn out of the crop now growing on the ground and fifty pounds of Bacon and four live hogs now in the pen. (several adjustments were scratched out and added to in this section: fifty bushels was increased to 100: one hundred and fifty pounds of bacon was reduced to fifty; twenty five pounds of dryed beef was scratched out)
2nd. I give and devise to my Daughter Mary Short now in the state of Ohio the sum of fifty dollars in Cash if she should be living at my Decease.
3rd. I give to my Daughter Sarah M. Messick one mahogany Beauro and fifty dollars in cash and one Bed, Bedstand and furniture.
4th. I give to my Daughter Maranda Cannon all that part of my lands, Bounded as follows beginning at the County road and running with the division fence between Nehemiah Messick's home place and me untill it reaches Philip Short's land and then with the line till it intersects with a straight line ranging with my Crops fence back to the County road and at her death; I give and devise the same to her son Daniel H. Cannon to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
5th. I give and devise to my Daughter Harriett Hudson all that part of my lands bounded as follows. Beginning at the County road and running with my crops fence with a straight line untill it intersects with Jewel Messicks line, and then with his line, and the line of Nehemiah Messick land back to the County road and up with the Lane to the Crop fence, and also I give her my office and the buildings attached thereto, to be moved up on the hill near where a large white oak stump stands all which will include the barn and Corn Crib as standing thereon to her and her heirs forever. But if she should die without lawful issue I then give and devise the same to be equally divided between Sarah M. Messick and Maranda Cannon to them their heirs and assigns forever.
6th. I give to my son James A. Hudson fifty dollars in Cash, my surgical instruments, all my drugs and medicine, Bottles and fixtures, all my medical books. And all my manuscript book provided he will have them printed and published. But if he should refuse or neglect to publish them I then give the said manuscript Books to Grandson Thomas F. Hudson to have published and injoy the profits arising therefrom.
7th. I give and release all the money due me from Leonard Short, James A. Hudson, John H. Messick, James Mitchel Messick and Johnson W. Cannon my children either by note, Bond, Judgment or Book account, or otherwise. On Condition, that they do not present any account against my estate after my decease, as I am due none of them anything; And further on Condition also that they stand to, and abide by this my last will, and if either of my Children should attempt to set this my last will aside and render it null and void, then him, her, or them so attempting, shall forfeit and loose all that I have left them, and their part or portion shall be equally divided between Sarah M. Messick, and Maranda Cannon, and Harriett Hudson.
8th. I give to my Daughter Maranda Cannon my negro girl Mary untill she arives to the age of twenty one years, and if she should have issue, the male to serve untill they are twenty five years old, and the female issue to serve untill they are twenty one to her and her heirs forever. I also give her two volumes of Dr. Clarks notes on the new Testament to her and her heirs forever.
9th. I give to my Daugher Harriet my Negro boy William untill he arives to the age of twenty years, and the best Bed, Bedstead, one new yarn Counterpin, one good Cotton Counterpin, one new yarn home made blanket, one good Bed guilt, Bolster, and pillows with three muslin cases, and one pair of good sheets, which now stands in the back room to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
10th. I give to my son James my four volumes of Dr. Clarks notes on the old Testment to him and his assigns forever.
11th. After the death of my wife Sarah, or her marriage, I then give and devise all the lands I have left her as dower unto my three Daughters Sarah M. Messick; Maranda Cannon and Harriett Hudson to be equally divided between them quantity and quallity alike to them and their heirs and assigns forever. But if Harriett should die without lawful issue, then I give her part to Sarah M. Messick and Maranda Cannon share and share alike to them their heirs and assigns forever.
12th. I give Matilda Messick my Daughter the sum of fifty dollars to be paid to her by my Executor within one year after my decease clear of interest.
13th. I give to my Daughter Ann T. Messick the sum of fifty dollars to be paid to her by my Executor within one year after my decease clear of interest.
14th. I give to my son James A. Hudson my silver watch; and all my wearing apparel.
All the rest residue and remainder of the real and personal estate of whatsoever nature or quality it may be, not herein disposed to be sold a publick sale with the crops now growing on the ground after all my just debts and funeral expenses are all paid, I give all the remainder to Mary Short, James A. Hudson, Sarah M. Messick, Matilda Messick, Ann T. Messick, Maranda Cannon, and Harriett Hudson; to be equally divided between them share and share alike, to them their heirs and assigns forever.
And I do hereby Constitute and appoint my son James A. Hudson my Sole Executor of this my las will and Testament, hereby revoking and disanuling all former will or wills by me hereto made. I Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal, the day and year first above written.
Daniel Hudson (seal)
Signed, Sealed, published and declared, by the said testor, as and for his last will and testment in our presence, who at his request, and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto
John P. Hudson
Isaac M. Hitchens
Josephus Messick
