Last Will & Testament of Benjm Blackiston Sr. 1801

In the Name of God, Amen. I Benjamin Blackiston of Kent County & State of Delaware being sick, and weak in Body, but of Sound mind & perfect Memory thanks be to Almighty God, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make constitute and ordain this my last  Will & Testament, in Manner & form following. to Wit, principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul to God that gave it, and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a decent like manner – at the discretion of my hereafter Executor, and touching my Worldly goods as it has pleased God to bless me with (after my Just Debts & funeral charges are paid) I give and dispose of in manner & form following.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann Blackiston my Mill and Mill Seat & Pond belonging to the same with four small Tracts of Land on the South side of the Mill Pond & at present occupied by Wm Greenwood together with three Acres of Land on the North end of the Mill damn & most adjacent to the Mill – the whole of this property is to Ann and her Heirs & Assigns for Ever, also I give to the said Ann Blackiston One Thousand Dollars to her & her Heirs forever to be paid in Specie.

Item, I give and bequeath to my Son William Blackiston the place that I now live on known by the name of Reserve, and also all my part of the Land called Deer Park which I now hold, all the said Land to the Said William Blackiston & his Heirs & Assigns for ever provided he shall not bring in any Account against my Estate.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my Son James Blackiston to him & his Heirs & Assigns forever all the Land which I now hold or am in anywise entitled to in Murderkill Hundred & County Afsd – provided he the said James Blackiston shall not bring in any account against my Estate.

Item, I give and bequeath unto Hannah Parsons the Sum of One Hundred Dollars Specie –

Item, I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Wallace the Sum of One Hundred Dollars Species –

Item, My Will and desire is that all the Negroes which I now hold or am in anywise intitled to shall have there Liberty & be deemed free as they arrive to the age of Thirty years, – each.

Item, My Will and desire is that all the residue of my personal Estate not already given shall be equally divided between my three Children Ann William and James Blackiston – I do hereby nominate and appoint my Daughter Ann Blackiston Executor of this my last Will and Testament Hereby releasing all former Will and Wills by me heretofore made, In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Twenty Second day of February One Thousand Eight Hundred And One – Signed Sealed Pronounced and declared by the above named Benjamin Blackiston for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who here unto subscribed our Names as Witnesses in the presence of the Testator and in the presents of each other –  Benjamin Blackiston {seal}

Eli Covington Perry Ward his mark Ebenr. Blackiston Jr

State of Delaware Kent County Ss. Personally appeared before me Isaac Davis Register for the Probate of Wills and granting Letters of administration for the county afsd Eli Covington and Perry Ward, two of the subscribing Witnesses to the above and foregoing Will, who being sworn on the holy Evangelists of almighty god, do say that they and each of them saw & heard Benjamin Blackiston the Testator, sign, seal, publish, pronounce,  and declare the same as and for his last will and Testament that at the time of his so doing and saying, he was, to the best of their belief of sound & disposing mind, memory and understanding and also that they signed their names as witnesses thereto, at the instance and request of the testator, and saw Ebenezer Blackiston Jun subscribe his name thereto as a witness. In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand the nineteenth day of March 1801. Isaac Davis Regr.

Inventory of Benjamin Blackiston Senr Feby 4th 1802

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1 Negro Girl cal’d Alice 7y 5mo old 3.10

1 Do Boy Benn 6y 8mo old 6

1 D Girl Judi 4{y} 5Mo old [no value]

The above are manumitted

at the age of twenty one yrs old

Negro Thomas to be free Nov 15th 1807 30 –

Stephen to be free 16th Feb 1811 30 – 

Rebecca to be free 16 May 1819. 11.5

Mike to be free 20th May 1819 22.10

Negro Lydia to be free 10th Aug’t 1820 11.5

Edward to be free 20 Ap’l 1823 22.10

Amy to be free 10th Aug 1824 7.10

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“Kent, Delaware, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS55-LCBF?view=explore : Apr 6, 2026), image 451 of 894; Delaware Public Archives (Dover).

Image Group Number: 104399900

Transcribed 6 Apr 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky