Kent Co., DE. Wills: Reynear Williams
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Reynear Williams - Will 1773 - 1775
Vol. I, -- Folio 125

In the name of god Amen. The Twelfth Day of August in the year of
our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and seventy three, I Reynear
Williams of Kent County and State of Delaware being very weak in body
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 to be buried in decent Christian burial 
at the direction of my executrix., nothing doubting but at the General
Resurrection I shall receive the same again, by the mighty power of God.
And as touching such worldly estates where with it has pleased God to
bless me with in this life, I give, devise, and dispose of the same
in the following manner and form.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Penelope Williams
all and singular the use and benefit, rents and profits of my several
farms, save only the half of which is hereafter to be by me bequeathed
to my son Aaron which he is to have and enjoy forever after the death
of my wife, to her during her natural life and no longer and I bequeath
to my wife AF(?), my horse named Pompy and chairs, four head of cows
and two head of sheep, and all my stock of hogs and one bed and
furniture, one yoke of oxen, one desk which now stands in the front room
below stairs, one dozen of her choice of my chairs and one square walnut
table and her choice of my looking glasses and my two negroe boys until
they be free, namely Toney and Elijah.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons, namely John Williams and
Reynear Williams all and singular that farm or plantation whereon sd.
John Williams now dwells to them, to be equally divided between them
or sold and the money equally divided between them. Also I bequeath to
my son John afrsd. four head of cattle.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Reynear Williams afrsd., beside
the one moyety of land afrsd. two cows, two ewes and four head of young
cattle and the bed and furniture which he now has with him, a
stilyard, and six silver spoons, sixty pounds in cash and one horse
worth fifteen pounds, and also one other bed and furniture.
Item. I give and bequeath to my two sons, namely Aaron and Reynear
Williams, my home or dwelling plantation to be equally divided
between, by the following marks or line of division. That is to say:
beginning at Mispillion creek side near where my wash gates did stand,
from thence up the straight ditch to the head of my meadows and then
corner and thence straight course up a ditch to the marsh ditch, from
thence up the said ditch to the head thereof, then along to the head of
the first ditch that negro Hareales cutt, then a straight course to the
woods where the new fence now joins the woods fence, then along the
woods fence to near the marsh between Mollestones and Andersons and from
there a straight course to the head to divide the woodland equally
between them according to its quality. Then southwest ______of the
afsd. dividing line, I give and bequeath to my son Spencer Williams
after the decease of my wife, to him and his heirs or assigns for ever. 
At the other side or line where my dwelling house stands, to my son
Aaron. Reserving as heretofore _______ to my wife during her natural
life and no longer and his heirs or assigns forever.
Also I give and divise to my son Aaron afrsd. one yoke of oxen, one
walnut table, one good bed and furniture, six ewes and six lambs, six
head of young cattle, one silver spoon and six chairs.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah, wife to Nathan
Hill, all and singular goods and chattels which I have heretofore paid
unto her or her said husband's possession. Also two cows and two calves
and one heiffer, four ewes and four lambs, one looking glass, one
clothes press and one silver spoon and fifteen pounds cash.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Spencer, one bed and
furniture and four cows and four calves and one heiffer that is called
his, six head of sheep, one silver spoon, to him and his heirs forever. 
And whereas my wife, afrsd, is to have the use and benefit of his hands,
my will is that she shall keep, support and school him without any
charge upon his estate and tho I have here left unto my wife afrsd., the
yearly rents and profits of my farms as afrsd., yet I will that the
pastures down the neck called the Island, shall be equally enjoyed
among my whole family, each and every of my before named children to
have an equal right or share therein, in fee simple. And if any shall be
disposed to sell or dispose of their respective share that one, or
any of the whole, shall sell to the rest, or anyone of their brothers
_________(page torn)____________________and that the sum of one
thousand pounds for a single share or fifth part. I say that at the
desire of my wife afrsd. the farm and pastures called the Island to me
belonging shall be equally divided or enjoyed by my children and that
one share shall be sold or disposed of to any other person or persons
whatever and the person who do sell shall take from the rest, one hund.
pounds & no more. And lastly, I do hereby constitute, appoint and
ordain my wife afrsd. to be my lawfully executrix together with my two
sons, John and Aaron, hereby disclaim all other wills before made by me
and do hereby acknowledge this to be my last will and testament as 
witness my hand and seal the day and year first written.

Signed, sealed, acknowledged, pronounced and delivered to me this
last will and testament of Reynear Williams the afrsd. testator in the
presence of us. 
Sarah Peterkin - John Hudson - John Ralston
Proved by the oath of John Ralston, Esq. and Sarah Peterkin the 24th
day of September 1773 - F. Many, Reg.
State of Delaware, personally appeared to me Francis Many, Esq. Reg.,
for the probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in
and for Kent County, John Ralston and John Hudson, Sarah Peterkin, two
of the subscribing witnesses to the within will of writing who being
sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God, do say, that they saw
Reynear Williams sign and seal, and heard him publish, pronounce and 
Declare the same as and for his last will and testament, that at the 
time of his so doing and saying, he was to the best of their belief, of
sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding that at his instance
and request and in his presence, they signed their names as witnesses 
and at the like instance and request under his presence, saw John Hudson
sign his name as one other witness thereto. In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand at Dover this 24th day of September anno Domini
1793
Francis Many, Reg.
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