[Will]

I John Vining of the County of Kent upon Delaware Esqr. being of sound disposing Mind Memory and Understanding Do make this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and Form Following that is to say

Imprimis I order and direct that all my just Debts shall be paid

Item It is my Will and I do hereby also order and direct that all and  every my Lots Messuages Tenements and Tracts of Land in the Province of Pennsylvania, the Lower County on Delaware the Provinces of East and  West Jersey or elsewhere that I am seized of or intitled to in Possession Reversion or Remainder shall be sold by my Executors herein after named or the Survivors or Survivor of them as soon as conveniently may be after my decease for the best Price that can be obtain’d for the same hereby fully empowering my said Executors and the Survivors of and Survivor of them to Bargain, sell convey and assure the same to the Purchasers in due Form of Law

Item I Give and Bequeath all the Money arising from the Sale of my Real Estate together with all my Personal Estate whatsoever to my affectionate Wife Phoebe Vining and my dear Children Benjamin Nicholas Mary and John to be equally divided between them share and Share, my Sons Shares to be paid them at their respective ages of Twenty one and my Daughters at the age of Eighteen or Day of Marriage and in the mean Time to be put out to Interest on good Security by my Executors to defray the Expense of their Maintenance and Education, but in case any ^one or more of my Children Should happen to die before their said respective ages unmarried and without Issue then I will and order that the Share of such Child or Children shall be equally Divided among my Surviving children.

Lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my Friend Benjamin Chew of the City of Philadelphia Attorney at Law my Brothers [in law?] Charles Ridgely of the Town of Dover in the County of Kent Physician and Benjamin Wynkoop of the City of Philadelphia Merchant to be Executors of this my Will hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix’d my Seal this Thirteenth Day of  November in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy. John Vining {seal}

Sign’d seal’d publish’d & Declared by John Vining to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who subscribe the same as Witnesses in his presence & at his Request. Th Bonds Jonathan Elmers Ann Nicholson

Personally appeared before me Caesar Rodney Esquire Register for the probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration Within the County of Kent on Delaware, Thomas Bond, of the City of Philadelphia in the province of Pennsylvania Physitian, and being Sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God declareth and saith That on the Thirteenth day of this  Instant November he was present and Saw John Vining Esquire the Testator Sign and Seal, and heard him publish Pronounce and declare the Above and Within Wills as and for his Last Will & Testament, and that he the said John Vining was then of Sound disposing mind Memory and Understanding and further that he this Deponent and Jonathan Elmer, and Ann Nicholson Who are two other Subscribing Witnesses living in the Jerseys and are now Absent Did Severally Write and Subscribe their names With their proper hands as Witnesses to the Signing Sealing and publishing the said Testament and Last Will in the presence of the said Testator and at his Request, and in the presence of Each other In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set My hand the twenty second day of November Anno Dom: one Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy.

Caesar Rodney Registr Personally appeared before me Caesar Rodney Esquire Register for the Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration within the County of Kent on Delaware Ann Nicholson of Salem County in the province of West New Jersey, And being one of the people Called Quakers Did on her Solemn affirmation declare and Say That on the thirteenth day of November one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy She was present and Saw John Vining Esquire the Testator Sign Seal, and heard him publish pronounce and declare the foregoing Will as and for his Last Will and Testament, and that he the said John Vining was then of Sound disposing mind, memory and Understanding, and further that She his affirming, and Doct. Thomas Bond of the City of Philadelphia, and Doctr. Jonathan Elmer of West New Jersey who are the other Subscribing Witnesses and are now absent, Did severally Write and Subscribe their names with their proper names as Witnesses to the Signing, Sealing and publishing the said Testament and Last Will. In the presence of the Said Testator and at his Request, and in the Presence of Each other. In Testimony to hereof I have hereunto Set my hand This thirty first day of July Anno Domi: one Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy one. Caesar Rodney Registr.

[end document]

Inventory Nov-December 1770

[partial]

Negrows

1 Negro woman Sabina very old     £5..0..0

1 Do man   Daniel £60..0..0

1 Do.    woman  Lucretia & 2 young children £75..0..0

1 Do     Girl Moll £40..0..0

1 Do.    Man Cato £75..0..0

1 Do.    Boy Tim £35..0..0

1 Do.   Man Dick £60..0..0

1 Do.    Man Sipio £65..0..0

1 Do.    Man Harry very old   £5..0..0

1 Do.    Woman Jane  old   £5..0..0

1 Do.    Woman Rachel [an idiot] £10..0..0

1 Do.    Boy Jem £20..0..0

1 Do.    Man Guy sold Stepn Miller Jun           £100..0..0

1 Do.    Man Stephen sold Trig? Joseph? £85..0..0

1 Do.    Man Sam sold Rich’d Smith Jun £85..0..0

1 Do.    Man Hampshire £45..0..0

1 Do.    Girl Kate £35..0..0

[end document]

Account of Sales of the Goods and Effects of John Vining Esquire Sold by Charles Ridgely. Executor

[partial]

To a Negro man named Daniel £60

To a Negro woman named Lucrie & 2 Children £75

To a Negro Girl named Moll £40

To a Negro Boy Tim sold at £35

To a Negro man named Cato and his Son named Jem £95

To a Negro man named Hampshire £45

To Negro Sam £85, Negro Guy £100, Negro Stephen £85

[To] Negro Scipio £85

To Negro Dick £70

To Negro Rachel, an Idiot £15

[end document]

Dr the Estate of John Vining Esq deceased to Charles Ridgely

[partial]

April 20 To Cash paid Mary Bryan for nursing old Sabina ill with an open Cancer in her breast 18 Weeks, ending 6 Sept 1770 2 30/p week £10..10..0

Sept 22 To Do paid Do in full for Sabina’s board a week more for the Trouble of her funeral £2..5..0

Oct 14 To Do paid John Cavender for a Coffin for Sabina dec £15

[end document]

“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSR9-HLN6?view=explore : Feb 15, 2026), image 119 of 816; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104429238

Transcribed 15 Feb 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky