By the permission of almighty God, I Rachel Wilmer, of the Town of Smyrna, Kent County, and State of Delaware being in feeble health, but of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs that I may be the better prepared to leave this world whenever it shall please God to call me hence, DO therefore make, publish and declare this my last will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void and null all former wills by me at any time heretoforemade, and first and principally, I commit my soul, into the hands of almighty God my creator, looking for the pardon and remission of my sins, and the enjoyment of everlasting life in the kingdom of Heaven through the merits & atonement of my Lord and Savior Jesus christ who I believe has redeemed me by his blood renewed me by his grace, and adopted me into his family. and as to such worldly Estate, wherewith it hath pleased God to intrust me, I dispose of the same as follows to wit. Imprimus. I direct that all such Just debts as shall by me owing at my Death together with my funeral expenses, shall in the first place, be paid and satisfied out of what money, I may have at the time of my Death, and the rents and profits of my real Estate. Item. I give and Bequeath unto my beloved son Edwin Wilmer all my furniture and Household goods, of whatever nature or description they may be. I also give and bequeath to my beloved son Edwin Wilmer, one full equal third part of all my real estates wherever the same may be situated to him, his Heirs, and assigns forever. Item, I give & Bequeath, to my beloved daughter Henrietta Coombe, wife of the Rev Pennell Coombe, one full equal third part of all my Real Estate wherever the same may be, situate during the term of her natural life, to her sole and separate and own peculiar use during the term of her natural life notwithstanding her coverture, as if she were a meme sole, without being subject to the ??? or engagements of her present or any after taken Husband and at the death of my daughter the said Henrietta, I give and Bequeath the said one equal third part of my Said Real Estate to the children of my Daughter the said Henrietta their heirs and assigns forever, but if it should be the opinion of my children the said Henrietta & Pennell Coombe that it would be for the benefit of my daughter, the said Henrietta to sell the said one Equal third part of my said real Estate, I hereby authorize and empower the said Henrietta and Pennell Coombe to sell and convey the said real Estate upon the express condition and limitation that the money arising from the sales of the said Real Estate shall be forthwith invested in Real Estate so as to secure to the said Henrietta the rents and profits of the said Real Est. during the term of her natural life, and at the death of the said Henrietta, to the children of the said Henrietta, the said Real Estate to them their heirs and assigns forever. Item I give and Bequeath to my beloved daughter Susan Elizabeth Farrows wife of Lambson Farrow the remaining one full equal third part of all my Real Estate wherever the same may be situated during the term of her natural life to her sole and seperate and own peculiar use notwithstanding her coverture as if she were a meme sole, without being subject to the debts, control or engagement of her present or any after taken husband and at the death of my Daughter the said Susan Elizabeth I give and Bequeath the said one full equal third of my said Real Estate to the children of the said Susan Elizabeth their heirs and assigns forever, but if it should be the opinion of my children the said Susan Elizabeth and Lambson Farrow that it would be for the benefit of my daughter the said Susan Elizabeth to sell the said one equal third part of my said Real Estate, I do hereby authorize and empower the said Lambson & Susan Elizabeth Farrow to sell and convey the said Real Estate upon the express condition and limitation that the money arising from the sale of the said Real Estate shall forthwith be invested in Real Estate so as to secure to the said Susan Elizabeth the rents and profits of the said Real Estate during the term of her natural life, and at the death of the said Susan Elizabeth to the children of the said Susan Elizabeth to them, their heirs, and assigns forever, and it is my wish and desire that Partition may be made of my said Real Estate by Five sufficient freeholders chosen by my said children for that purpose, and as I have heretofore discharged, and set free from slavery, my negro man Primus but have neglected to manumit him, I hereby declare the said Primus to be free and fully discharged from slavery And as I have heretofore given to my Daughter Henrietta my Negro Girl Alphonzo but have not executed any regular conveyance, to her, I hereby confirm the gift which I have heretofore made, and declare the said Alphonzo to be the property of my Daughter, the said Henrietta her Heirs and assigns, and as I have heretofore given my colored Girl Antonio to my daughter Susan Elizabeth, but have not executed any regular conveyance to her, I hereby confirm the gift which I have heretofore made, and declare said Antonio to be the property of the said Susan Elizabeth her heirs & assigns.
Lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute, & appoint my Beloved Son Pennell Coombe, the Executor of this my last Will & Testament In witness whereof I the said Rachel Wilmer the Testator to this my Testament, and Last Will, contained in this & the five foregoing Pages, have set my hand, and Seal this first day of November in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty Seven. Rachel Wilmer {seal}
Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced and declared by the said Rachel Wilmer, the Testatrix, as and for her last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at her request and in her presence and in the presence of each other, have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses. Phebe W. Rasin, Matthw. Kean
New Castle County Ss. Before me personally appeared Phebe W. Rasin and Matthew Kean Esq. the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Instrument of writing and the said Phebe W. Rasin, having been solemnly affirmed, and the said Matthew Kean Solemnly sworn, did severally say that they saw Rachel Wilmer, the Testatrix sign and Seal the said Instrument of writing and heard her publish pronounce and declare the same to be her last will and Testament. That at the time of her so doing, she was, to the best of their belief, of a Sound and disposing mind and that it was at the request of the Testatrix in her present, and in the presence of each other, they subscribed their names thereto as Witnesses. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at New Castle, the seventh day of December, Eighteen Hundred and thirty Seven. Evans H. Thomas Regr.
Be it remembered that on the Seventh day of December Anno Domini, Eighteen hundred, and thirty Seven at New Castle in and for the County of New Castle, was proved, approved, and insinuated the last will and Testament of Rachel Wilmer deceased and Letters Testamentary were granted unto Pennell Coombe, Executor in the Said Testament named and appointed he having been qualified well and truly to execute the same an Inventory to be exhibited into the office of the Register at New Castle, on or before the Seventh day of June next ensuing, and an account rendered, on or before the Seventh day of December, Anno Domini, 1838. Or when thereunto lawfully required Given under the Seal of the Registers Office, Bond in a penalty of $1000. Matthew Jean Surety.
Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971, New Castle County, Wills, Vol S-T, 1823-1839, Image 475, Page 552.
Transcribed 13 Jun 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky
Finding Your Delaware Roots 
Leave a comment