Sussex County State of Delaware In the name of God Amen this first day of April One Thousand seven hundred and Ninety seven, I Mary Polk of the County and state afsd. being in a low state of Health but of Perfect mind and memory and in my proper sences thanks be to God and calling to mind the Mortallity of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to Die do make ordain Publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my soul to the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body I Recommend to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like manner at the descretion of my Executor and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life. I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form First it is my will and desire that Betsey Bratton Daughter of James Bratton deceased should have a Bond that is upon Joseph & Charles King and the Lawful Interest thereon till Paid which Bond is forty Pounds also an Obligation on James Deriseson for thirty two Pound Seven Shillings and the Interest thereon till Paid to her and her Heirs. Secondly. It is my will and desire that my Negro Woman named Merear should be free at my Death, and it is my will and desire that the said Merears Children, to wit, Nearo, Mary and Betsey should be and Continue with their Mother and I give and bequeath Each of them to the said Merear, to wit, Nearo till he arives to the years of Twenty one and then to be free and Mary untill she Arives to the years of Eighteen and then to be free and Betsey untill she arive to the years of eighteen and the to be free. Thirdly It is my will and desire that my negro woman named Mela should be free at my Death, also it is my will that the said Mela’s Children, to wit, Ary and sobiney should be and Continue with their Mother until the arive to the years of eighteen and then to be free. Fourthly. It is my Will and desire that my Negro Men Richard and William and Jacob should be free the first day of January After my decease. Fifthly. It is my Will and desire that my Negro Boys to wit, Isaac, Dennis and Clement should serve my Nephew Jeremiah Brown and my neace Mary Brown Daughter of Ezekiel Brown Deceased till they arive or come to the years of Twenty Six and then to be free. Sixthly. It is my will and desire the Remaining Part of my Estate should be equally divided between my well beloved Nephews Jeremiah Brown and Mary Brown. to them and their Heirs. Seventhly. It is my Will and desire that in case my Sister Sarah Tingley  should be a Widow and should be destitute of the Necessaries of Life That my Nephews Jeremiah and Mary Brown should Support her during her Widowhood. I do hereby appoint my well beloved Nephew Jeremiah Brown to be my hole and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament and hereby Revoke all former Wills as Witness my hand and seal the day and year Above written. Mary Polk {seal}

Sealed and Acknowledged in the Presence of David Owens, William Hurst

Sussex County Sst, Memorandum This 6th day of September Anno Domini 1803 Before me Phillips Hollock Register appointed for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration for the County afsd. Appeared William Hurst one of the Subscribing Witnesses to the foregoing Will who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangels of Almighty God did depose and Say that in his sight presence and hearing the Testatrix Mary Polk did sign seal publish pronounce & declare the same to be her last Will and Testament and that at the doing thereof She was of a sound & Perfect mind, Memory & Judgment and that he Together with david Owens did sign the same as Witnesses in Presence of the Testatrix & At her Request. Phillips Hollock, Regr.

Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, Sussex County, Wills, Books E-F, 1794-1813, Image 248, Book F, Vol 6, Page 109.

Transcribed 10 Nov 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky