Will Of John Messick
Sussex County, Delaware
January 31,1825
In the name of God Amen, - I John Messick of Broad Creek Hundred Sussex County State of Delaware. Being weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be unto God for the same, but calling to mind the mortabilty of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, I do make and ordain this my last will and testament; that is to say; prencibly and first if all I give and recommend my soul unto the hand of almightly God that gave it and my body. I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Exeactors hearafter Mentioned, Nothing Doubting, but at the Resurrection that I shall Receive the same Again by the Mighty Power of God...,and as touching ____ Worldly estate whare with it Hath Blessed God to bless me with in this life. I give Demise and dispose of the same in the following way and Maner and form, that is to say.....
First....... I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Milcah Messick one third part of all my Estate During her widowhood and no longer to be bursest (?) by her for ever....
2) Item......... I give and bequeath to my elsdest son James Messick one Dollar Currant money to be paid by my exeactor out of my Estate and no more of my estate forever.
3) Item.........I give and bequeath to my son Jacob Messick one Dollar to be paid by my Exeactor and no more of my Estate forever....
4th Item........I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Nathan Messick on Dollar to be paid by my exeactor out of my estate and no more of my Estate forever....
5th Item.......I give and bequeath to my beloved son Burton Messick to be paid by my Exeactor out of my estate to be present to him or his heirs for ever....
6th ............I give and beqeath to my daughter Polly Elliott one Dollar to be paid out of my estate to be present to her and her heirs for ever....
7th............ I give and bequath to my daughter Sally Daughters one dollar and no more of my Estate for ever.
8th Item..... I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Cullin one dollar and no more of my Estate for ever.
9th ..........I give and bequeath to my son Nehemiah Messick one Bead and furniture and no more of my Estate.
10th ....... I give and bequeath to my daughter Bethany Messick one Bead and furniture and one buerror, six stools, one chist, one spinning wheal and one Cow.
11th.........I give and bequeath to my son Jewel Messick one half of all my land and one cow and one bead and furniture................
12th.........I give and bequeath to my beloved son John Messick My dwelling house and one half of my share with land off on the North End of my Land and one Horse and Saddle and Bridle and one Bead and Furniture, one Cow and one yeah of Oxen...
13th..........I give and bequeath to my daughter HeneMeriah Messick one bead and furniture , one cow and one beaurron, one walnut table and six chears and one chist and one spinnint wheal
....and...I also give and bequeath the remainder part of all my movable Estate to be eaquealy devided between my four youngest children that is Jewel Messick, Bethany Messick and John Messick and HeneMeriah Messick......
and also if my son Jewel should die without a lawful heir to his land to belong to John and if John should die with out a lawful heir his land to belong to Jewel and if boath them should die without lawful heirs their lands to belong to their two systers that is Bethany and HeneMeriah.
and lastly I Constitute and appoint my son Jewel Messick the Soal Exector for this my last will and testament and I do hearby ultimately Disallow Revoke Dis annuel all and every other former testament wills, legers bequeathments and Exectors by me in any wise before named to willed and bequeathed Rattifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament as winess my hand and Seal this the thirty first day of January in one thousand Eight hundred and twenty five......................
