In the name of God Amen this Tenth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety six I Jehu Turner of Mispillion Hundred in the County of Kent in the State of Delaware, being at this time sick and weak in Boddy but of Pefect sound mind, and memory, blessed be Almighty God for the same do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and form following (that is to say) First, I Give and Devise unto my Eldest Son Charles Turner  his Heirs and Assigns All that Messuage, Tenement, or Tract of Land Whereon the said Charles Turner now Dwells being situate in Mispillion hundred afsd. and on the South East side of North West Branch the Same Called and known by the Name of Allen’s Delight Containing Two hundred Acres More of Less to hold  to him the said Charles Turner his Heirs and Assigns forever. Also my Will is that my Afsd. Son shall pay to my youngest Son William Turner the Sum of one hundred pounds with Lawfull Interest from the date hereof.

Item I give and Devise unto my Son Jesse Turner his Heirs and Assigns All that Tract or parcel of Land which I purchased of Benjamin Black and Wife, the same lying and being in Mispillion Hundred aforesaid adjoining Land of John Records, Robert McKnitt, Wm McKnitt, & others Containing one hundred acres more or Less to him his Heirs and Assigns forever. Conditioned as the above Clause that my Son Jesse Turner shall pay to my Son William Turner the sum of Fifty Pounds with Lawfull Interest.

Item I give and Devise unto my Son Reuben Turner all my manner and home or Dwelling Plantation, Comprehending several pieces to be Taken Together and be the Right of my said Son Reuben Turner his Heirs and Assignes forever, and Also my Will is that my son Reuben Turner shall pay to my younger son William Turner the like sum of Fifty Pounds with Lawful Interest.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Grandsons Namely Tilmon Turner & John Fleming one Bond which I have on William White for fifteen pounds to them and their Heirs to Inherrit as Coparseners forever. 

Item my Will is that my Negro Woman Called Nunez shall be free at Thirty One Years of Age… Should she live so long.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Youngest Daughter Unicy Turner Two third parts of all my personal Estate not before Willed to her and her Heirs and Assigns forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my youngest Son William Turner the one third part of the said personal Estate Remaining after the part heretofore willed to Unicy is taken out, to him his Heirs and Assigns forever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my three Children namely Elisabeth, the Wife of Beniah Fleming, Jesse Turner and Reuben Turner all the Remaining part of my personal and moveable Estate not before Willed to and among them to be, Equally and Equitably Divided, and at their Disposal forever. And my further Will is that my five youngest Children viz Elizabeth Fleming, Jesse Turner, Reuben Turner, William Turner, and Unicy Turner Shall after arriving at Lawful Age if Requested by Charles Turner afsd, his Heirs or assigns make sufficient Deed or discharges to him or them for all their part of that Land first Willed to the said Charles Turner his Heirs or Assigns all that is Willed to such Refuser or Refusers in this Will. further my Will is that my youngest Son and Daughter shall have free privilege in the House left my Son Reuben During their State of Single life. And I the said Jehu Turner do hereby Constitute and appoint my Son Jesse Turner and Reuben Turner Together to be my Soul Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby Recovering and disallowing All other Wills heretofore made by me In Testimony whereof I the Testator have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first Whithin and above Written. Jehu Turner {seal}

Sealed and pronounced In the presents of us   Caleb Cox Benja. Turner James Johnson

State of Delaware Kent County ss. Personally appeared before me John Laws Register for the Probt of Wills &c Benjaham Turner & James Johnson two of the subscribing witnesses to the within instrument of writing who being solemnly sworn upon the whole Evangels of Almighty God doth say that they respectively did see Jehu Turner decd. sign & seal this instrument of writing, & also heard him publish, pronounce & declare the same as ,and for his last will & testament, that at the time of his so doing & saying he was to the best of their judgement of sound, disposing mind memory and understanding And also that they and each of them did subscribe their names as witnesses to the same in the personce and the request of the Testator in the presence of each other. In testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand this 26th of January seventeen hundred & ninety seven.

Be it Remembered that on the twenty fifth day of January Anno Domini Seventeen hundred and Ninety seven the last Will and Testament of Jehu Turner deceased was in due form of Law proved by the oaths of Benjamin Turner & James Johnson the two subscribing witnesses to the same. Before me John Laws Register of the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration of Kent County in the State of Delaware and the same being by me approved Letters Testamentary at the same time were  Granted unto Jesse Turner & Reuben Turner the Executors therein named who being sworn give Bonds with Benaiah Fleming and Benjamin Turner their sureties in the sum of Fifteen hundred pounds lawful money of the same State as by the said Bond filed with the said Will may at Large appear. Regr.

Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971, Kent County, Register of Wills, Book M-N, 1783-1800, Page 163, Image 471. Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/9044/records/628946

Transcribed 9 Jul 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky