Will of David Williams
Sussex County, Delaware
June 19, 1776
In the name of God amen this nineteenth Day of June in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and seventy six I David Williams of the County aforesaid being sick and weak in body but of a sound disposing mind and memory thanks be given to God for the same calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed once for all Men 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 into the Hands of God who gave it me and for my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors my Funeral charges and all my just Debts to be paid first of all by my Executors. I give and dispose of my Worldy Estate in the manner and form following that is to say.
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Elijah Williams one hundred and seventy Acres of Land being part of two Tracts of Land one called Williams's vexation and the other called Bachelors Quarter to him his Heirs and assigns for-ever and I give & bequeath to him black Mare called pleasure and one Man's Saddle
Item I give and bequeath to my Son Morgan Williams one hundred and seventy three Acres of Land being of the above-mentioned Tracts Adjoining Morgan Williams's Land to him his Heirs and Assigns for-ever
Item I give and bequeath to my Son William Williams a parcel of Land called Bacters and 20 perches over the Road towards my dwelling plantation adjoining Jehu Ricards's likewise twenty perches from the Road adjoining William Payter's Lands thence with a Straight Line from the one twenty perches to the other to him his Heirs and Assigns for-ever and I give & bequeath to him one young Horse called Duke and one Man's Saddle
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son John Williams one hundred Acres of Land Deeded form Richard Hays To Levin Crapper to him and his Heirs for-ever
Item I give and bequeath to my Son David Williams all the Land and Plantation that I now live on with all the buildings improvements and Appurtenances thereunto belonging to my Son William's line to him and his Heirs for-ever and further I give and bequeath to him the first Colt that my Son Elijah's Mare brings
Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Curtis Williams a parcel of Land called partnership at the north-west end to a line drawn in the Plot to him and his Heirs assigns for-ever and further I give and bequeath to him one Negro Lad named Dick to him his Heirs and Assigns for-ever
Item I give and bequeath unto Robert Ross all the remainder of the Land call'd partnership the south east end from the said line drawn in the Plot to him his Heirs and Assigns for-ever
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Rebekah Carlisle one Negro Girl nam'd Rose to her and her Heirs for-ever and one Feather-Bed & Furniture and one Cow and a two year old Heifer
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Lucrecia Williams on Negro nam'd Jude to her Heirs and Assigns for-ever and one Sorrel two year old Horse named Snap and one three year old heifer
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Williams one Negro Girl named Grace to her and her Heirs and Assigns forever and one three year old Heifer to her & her Heirs for-ever
Item I give and bequeath unto Nelly Smith Williams one Negro Girl nam'd Chloe to her & her Heirs for-ever and one Feather-Bed and Furniture
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Peggy Williams one Negro Boy nam'd Isaac to her & her Heirs and Assigns for-ever and one Feather-Bed and Furniture
Item I give and bequeath unto my tow eldest Sons Elijah and William Williams all my wearing Apparel to be equally divided between them
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Mary peaceable and quiet possession of the two new Rooms of my dwelling House on the lower Floor during her widowhood or Life time also I give her the full possession of a Negro Lad named Dick until my Son Curtis Williams arrives to the age of twenty one years
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Mary Williams all the residue of remainder of my Estate to her and her Heirs and Assigns for-ever
Item I Constitute authorize and appoint my loving Wife Mary Williams and my loving Son Williams Williams my sole Executrix and Executor of this my last will and Testament and do hereby utterly annul and revoke all other former Wills and Testaments whatsoever by me made and executed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in witness where-of I have hereunto set my Hand Seal the Day and year first above Written
The words (and assigns) in the 4th 5th and 6th articles And the word her in the 8th articles and the word my in the 15th article intelin'd before sign'd
