In the name of God, Amen, I James Jones of Duck Creek hundred in Kent County and State of Delaware knowing that it is appointed for all men to die, and being now of sound mind, memory and understanding (blessed be God) do on this Sixteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty make  and publish this my last will and testament in manner following: that is to say: –

First. I will order and direct that all such debts as I shall justly owe at my decease, together with my  funeral expenses shall be justly and fully paid and satisfied by my executor.

Item. Of the goods and chattels belonging to me, I give and bequeath to my son James Jones, the following articles, that is to say; two beds, bedding and bedsteads of his own choice, one horse; bridle and saddle of his own choice, six silver table spoons of the smaller size, six silver tea spoons, the smallest of my two looking glasses, one claw foot walnut dining table and one third part of all my table linnen.

Item. I give and devise to my said son James Jones all that certain tract or parcel of land situate in what is now called Beaver County formerly par of Westmoreland County, in the State of Pennsylvania, and which, in consideration of services rendered by me as a Surgeon in the army of the United States during the revolutionary war, was granted to me by the said State of Pennsylvania by a patent under the Seal of the said State bearing date the twenty ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven, signed by Benjamin Franklin Esquire , President of the Supreme Executive Council of the said State and attested by James Trimble for John Armstrong Junr. Secretary, and which said tract or parcel of land is described the said patent as follows. That is to say “a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the county of Westmoreland in the first district of the Donation lands, Beginning at a black oak tree the numbered corner and running south by lots no 82 one hundred and ninety five perches to a post, thence east by the Depriceation lands two hundred sixty one and a half perches to a post and white oak tree, thence north by lot No. 1 of 300 in the first district surveyed by William Alexander one hundred and ninety five perches to a  post and dead tree, thence west by lot No. 1740 two hundred sixty one and a half peruse to the place of Beginning, containing three hundred acres and allowance of six per cent for roads &c numbered LXXXI” to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with all the improvements and appurtenances unto my Son James Jones during the term of his natural life, and no longer, and from and after his decease I give and devise the same to his children lawfully to be begotten and their heirs and assigns forever, as tenants in common. And if he should die without having such issue living at the time of his death then I give and devise the same to my daughter Mary Walker and to my daughter Ester Layton as tenants in common, their heirs and assigns forever.

Item I give and devise to my daughter Mary Walker, to my daughter Esther Layton, to my grand children Mary Creighton Wilds and Thomas Jefferson Wilds and  to my grand daughter Rebecca Naudain, all my plantation tract or parcel of land on which I now reside, situate in Duck Creek hundred aforesaid Kent County and State of Delaware aforesaid, and all other my lands in Duck Creek hundred aforesaid, to be held and enjoyed by them in the manner following, that is to say, one fourth part thereof shall be deemed and taken as the property and estate and shall belong to my daughter Mary Walker, one fourth part thereof  shall be deemed and taken as the property and estate  and shall belong to my daughter Esther Layton, one fourth part thereof shall be deemed and taken as the property and estate, and shall belong to my grandchildren Mary Creighton Wilds and  Thomas Jefferson Wilds and the remaining one fourth part thereof shall be deemed and taken as the property and estate and shall belong to my granddaughter Rebecca Naudain to have and to hold the said lands herein last above described with all their improvements and appurtenances above mentioned to them my said daughter Mary Walker, my said daughter Esther Layton, my said grandchildren Mary Creighton Wilds and Thomas Jefferson Wilds and my said grand daughter Rebecca Naudain as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants; their children lawfully to be begotten and their heirs and assigns forever as tenants in common. And in case either of said children or either of my said grand children should die without having such issue living at the time of such death then it is my will in such case, and I give and devise the part of the one so dying to my said daughter Mary Walker and my Said daughter Esther Layton as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants, their heirs and assigns forever

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Esther Layton one horse of her own choice and my carriage six silver table spoons of the largest size, and all the rest and residue of my silver plate, not herein before Given to my son James Jones, my black woman named Letisha to serve until she is twenty five years of age after which she is to be free

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Walker and my daughter Esther Layton, all the rest and residue of my beds, bedding and bedsteads, not herein before given and bequeathed to my son James Jones, also all my table linen and all my books of Divinity, to be equally divided between them share and share alike by my Executor, or by some person appointed by him for that purpose.

Item, I give and bequeath to my grandsons Thomas Jefferson Wilds and George Walker all my wearing apparel, to be equally divided between them by my executor, or some person appointed by him for that purpose

Item. I will, order and direct that my negro man named Edward shall be free at my death.

Item. It is my will and I do hereby devise, order and direct, that all my certain tract or parcels of land situate in what is now called Erie County formerly part of Westmoreland County in the State of Pennsylvania, and which in consideration of Services rendered by me as a Surgeon in the army of the United States during the revolutionary war was granted to me by the said State of Pensylvania by a patent under the seal of the said state bearing date, the thirtieth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven signed by Benjamin Franklin Esquire President of the Supreme Executive Council of the said State and attested by James Trimble for John Armstrong Junr secretary, and which said tract or parcel of land is described in the said patent as follows, that is to say,  “a certain tract or parcel of land lying in the county of Westmoreland in the tenth district of donation lands Beginning at a Birch tree the numbered corner and running east by lot No 95 two hundred and Sixty one perches to a sugar tree, thence south by lots No 2030 and 2031 one hundred and ninety five perches to a Sugar tree, thence west by lot No 93 of 300 acres two hundred and sixty one perches to ^a beach tree, thence north by lot No 199 and 200 one hundred and ninety five perches to the peace of Beginning, containing three hundred acres and allowance of six per cent for roads &c numbered XCIV” and all my estate right, title and interest therein and thereas, be sold by my executor, and in case of his death, refusal or inability to act, then by such person or persons to whom administration on my estate may be granted by the Register for the probate of Wills and granting Letters of administration in and for Kent County aforesaid in the State of Delaware aforesaid, and that the monies thence arising shall be deemed and taken as a part of my personal estate and shall be disposed of in the manner herein after ordered and directed

Item. It is my will and I do hereby order and direct, that the monies arising from the sales of my personal property and from the sale of my land as hereinbefore directed, to be made, and all other monies belonging or appertaining to my estate as the same shall come into my executors or administrators possession, shall be applied and disposed of in the following manner, that is to say, so much thereof as shall be necessary shall be applied to the payment of my just debts and my funeral and administration expenses; and the balance of said monies

I give, bequeath and devise as follows, that is to say, I give, bequeath and devise one equal fifth part thereof to my daughter Mary Walker, her executors, administrators and assigns forever, one other equal fifth part thereof to my daughter Esther Layton her executors, administrators and assigns forever, one other equal fifth part thereof to my son James Jones his executors administrators and assigns forever, one other equal fifth part thereof to my grandchildren Mary Creighton Wilds and Thomas Jefferson Wilds their executors; administrators and assigns forever and the other fifth part thereof to my grand daughter Rebecca Naudain her executors, administrators and assigns forever

Item. And until the sale of the land aforesaid can be made as aforesaid, I do will order and direct that my executor or administrator have and take the care, control and management of said land so directed to be Sold as aforesaid, and keep the same with all the houses ^and buildings thereon in repair, and receive and take the rents and profits thereof, which said rents and profits shall be applied to the payment of taxes and repairs on said land, and the residue thereof, if any, shall be deemed and taken as part of my personal estate, and disposed of as hereinafter directed

Item. It is my will and I do order and direct that the accounts which I leave against my daughter Sarah Layton for goods  articles, monies and other things furnished and supplied to her while she was a widow of John Wilds and also while she was the widow of Mordecai Morris, shall be deemed and considered as part of my personal estate and shall be taken as forming part of the balance aforesaid of the monies aforesaid, and that the  amount of my said account against my said daughter Sarah Layton, without interest shall be deducted from the aforesaid one equal fifth part of the balance of the monies aforesaid so as aforesaid given and bequeathed to her said children the aforesaid Mary Creighton Wilds and Thomas Jefferson Wilds

And lastly. I do hereby make and constitute Presley Spruance the younger, of the town of  Smyrna in Kent County aforesaid the whole and sole Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me at any time heretofore made. James Jones seal}

Signed Sealed a published By the above named James Jones, and declared by him as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have attested and subscribed the same as Witnesses. S H Hodson. Thomas A Rees. Timothy C Raymond

State of Delaware Kent County Ss. Personally came Thomas A. Rees and Timothy C. Raymond two of the Subscribing Witnesses to the above and foregoing instrument of writing; before me William K. Lockwood Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of Administration in and for the County aforesaid; and being sworn on the Holy Evangels of Amighty God, did say that they saw the above named Testator James Jones, sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare said writing to be his last will and Testament and that at the time of his so doing and saying he was of sound disposing mind memory and understanding: that they subscribed the same as witnesses in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other and that they each of them saw Samuel H. Hodson subscribe the same as a witness. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this second day of June AD one thousand eight hundred and thirty 1830. William K. Lockwood Regr.

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSRM-W9FK-P?view=explore : Nov 26, 2025), image 459 of 785; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104426453

Transcribed 26 Nov 2025 by Nancy Maliwesky