Be it Remembered that on the thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and Nine Henry Hoffeker did Exhibit to me Nathaniel Smithers Register of Kent county in the State of Delaware for the probate of wills etc an Instrument of writing purporting to be the Nuncupative will of John Vining free Negro late of said County for probate. Whereupon fourteen days notice being given in writing that the said Instrument of writing would be again Exhibited to me for probate on the sixteenth day of February in the year afsd. on which said day the said Instrument of writing was again Exhibited and proved as follows to wit. The Last Will And Testament of John Vining late of Duck Creek Hundred in the County of Kent and State of Delaware free negro declared by him by words of mouth on the Fourth day of this Instant being sick of the sickness whereof he died in his dweling house in the presence of us Henry Hoffiker, Henry Vining, Rachel Vining and Arraminta Rees who sign over names as witnesses thereof as follows that the said deceased declared in the presence and hearing of us the subscribers, that his will was that after his Just debts were paid that his property which remained should go to his wife and Children one half thereof to his wife  and the remainder thereof to be divided among his Children and requested us to Take notice that the above was his will. Henry Hoffiker

Subscribed and Sworn to 31st day of Jany 1809 before Nathl Smithers Regr

Be it Remembered that on the thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and Nine the Nuncupative will of John Vining decd. Was Exhibited and on the Sixteenth day of February in the year afsd. the said Nuncupative will was proved and approved and Letters of Administration with a Copy of said Nucupative will annexed was in due form of Law granted unto Henry Hofecker who being sworn gave bond with Abraham Allee his surety in the sum of two Thousand dollars as ye bond.

Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971, Kent County, Roll: Register of Wills, Book O-P, 1800-1822, Image 192, Book O, P 181

Transcribed by Nancy Maliwesky