In the name of God amen I Stepney Jackson free negro of Kent County being of a sound mind and disposing memory thanks be given to God for the same Calling to mind the mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed to all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last will and Testament in manner and form following to wit

First of all I give and recommend my Soul to God that gave it me and my body to buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my Executor here after to be named. Item the first. I give and bequeath to Mary Craig and Thomas Taylor all my personal estate after my debts are all paid and funeral charges Complied with to be equally divided between both. Item the second. I do hereby appoint Alexander Jackson my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament as witness my hand and seal this sixth day of May Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and forty six. Stepney Jackson his mark {seal}

Signed sealed and delivered in his and of us Ruben G Marvel Joseph Hart Robert B Cooper

State of Delaware Kent County SS. Ruben G. Marvel one of the subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and Testament of of Stepney Jackson of Murderkill hundred Kent County decd Came before Charles Polk Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for Kent County and being solemnly sworn deposits and saith that he the saw Ruben G. Marvel saw the said Stephney Jackson the Testator sign the said instrument of writing as and for his last Will and Testament and also saw him seal the same and heard him publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and Testament, at the time of his so doing he was of sound and disposing mind and memory and upwards of twenty one Years of Age. That this deponent attested and subscribed his name as a witness to the said Instrument of writing at the instance and in the presence of the said Stepney Jackson the Testator and in the presence of the other witnesses. Ruben G Marvel

Subscribed and Sworn this 16th May 1846 Before Ch. Polk Regr.

State of Delaware Kent County SS. Joseph Hart one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and Testament of Stepney Jackson of Murderkill hundred Kent County decd Comes before Charles Polk Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for Kent County and being Solemnly Affirmed and saith that he the said Joseph Hart saw the said Stepney Jackson the Testator sign the Said instrument of writing and saw him also seal the same as and for him publish pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and Testament that at the time of his so doing he was of Sound and disposing mind and memory and upwards of twenty one Years of age That the affirment attested and subscribed his name as a witness to the said instrument of writing at the Instance and in the presence of the said Stepney Jackson the Testator and in the presence of the other Witnesses. Joseph Hart

Subscribed and affirmed this 16th day of May 1846 Before Ch. Polk Regr

Be it remembered that on the sixteenth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty six the afore said last will and Testament of the afore said Stepney Jackson of Murderkill Hundred Kent County decd of which the aforesaid is a true Copy being proved as aforesaid by the Subscribing Witnesses whose affidavits the foregoing are true Coppies the same was all made by the Register and Letters testamentary there as were granted to Alexander Jackson the Executor named in the will, who was affirmed and gave with Ruben G Marvel as his surety in the penal sum of one hundred and fifty dollars Warrant of appointment issued to Ambrose Broadway and John Taylor. Ch Polk Regr

Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971, Kent County, Register of Wills, Book Q-R, 1822-1849. Image 487, Book R, Page 388.

Transcribed 9 May 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky