In the name of God, amen, I, Henry Webster of Brandywine Hundred, and County of NewCastle, in the State of Delaware, Farmer, being aged and infirm in Body, but of a sound and disposing mind and memory, for which I desire to be thankful to the author of all mercies, and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, and being desirous to settle my Temporal Estate, have thought proper to make and publish this my Last Will and Testament in manner as herein after is mentioned, that is to say,
Imprimis, It is my mind and will that all my just debts and Funeral expenses be paid out of my Estate within a reasonable time after my decease, by my Executors herein after mentioned.
Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah the use and benefit of so much of my household and Kitchen Furniture as she shall deem necessary for her convenience and accomodation, to hold to her during her natural life, and what she remain of Furniture at her decease, it is my will that the same shall be applied as the rest of my Personal Estate for the payment of any of my debts that shall then happen to be unpaid, I also give to my said wife the full and free use and benefit of all my present Dwelling house, and of all my Land thereto adjoining that lies on the north west side of the State Road and on the North East side of Shelpot Creek, be the same more or less, and also, the use and benefit of the Land lying on the Southwesterly side of the said Creek and between the said break and the Mill-Race, which my son George purchased of Francis Moore, and my mind and will is, that my said wife shall not be obliged to fence any part of the said Land from the remainder of my Real Estate, but that all necessary fencing between the same shall be done by those holding the remainder of my Real Estate, adjoining the same, and my will is, that the said premises shall hold to my said wife during her natural life, I also give to my said wife her choice one of my Cows, I also give to my said wife my Black woman called Jude to be entirely at her disposal, I also give to my said wife the sum of Eighty Dollars lawful money of the United States p annum, to be paid to her out of the remained of my Real Estate During her natural life. I also give my said wife the privilege of sufficient firewood and fencing timber off the remainder of my Real Estate during her natural life, all of which is by me intended to be for, and in lieu of her Dower in my Estate, and not otherwise.
Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Lodge all that Debt of Eighty two pounds which her Husband Samuel Lodge owes me on his Bond, dated may the first, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four, together with all the Interest that has accrued or shall hereafter accrue on the same, which, together with what she and her husband has already received of me shall be her full share in my Estate.
Item, I give and bequeath to my Daughter Hannah, now the wife of George Evans, all that Debt of Fifty Pounds due to me from the Estate of her former husband Robert Lodge, by his obligation dated the sixteenth day of June, in the year of our LORD one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight, and also, all her said former husband’s other debt due to me of Fifty pounds, fifteen shillings, which I lent him in the month of August, in the year last mentioned, together with all the Interest that has accrued, or shall accrue on the whole thereof, whi[ch] together with what she and her husband has heretofore received of me, shall be her full share in my Estate.
Item, I give and devise to my Grand son Henry George Webster all my Real Estate of every kind whether in Lands or Marshes or wheresoever or howsoever the same is situated, be the same more or less, with every the improvements and appurtenances whatsoever thereunto belonging or appertaining: To hold to my said Grandson Henry George Webster his heirs and assigns forever, under the subject to the privileges herein before given to my wife, and subject to the payment of all my Just debts that shall not be paid by my Personal Estate.
Item, I give and bequeath to my Grand-Daughter Abigail Webster the sum of Ten Dollars to be paid to her out of my Real Estate when she shall arrive at the age of Eighteen years, which is all I give her, knowing her to be entitled to one half of her Father’s Estate, and in case of her Brother’s decease under aged and without issue, to the whole thereof, And my mind and will is, that if my Said Grandson, Henry George Webster shall happen to die under age and without lawful issue, that then, and in such case, I give and devise all the Real Estate aforesaid, to two of my other Grandsons, namely, George Lodge, son of my Daughter Elizabeth, and George Webster Evans, son of my Daughter Hannah, to hold to them their respective heirs and assigns forever, share and share alike as Tenants in Common, and under and subject as before mentioned.
And as I have herein before bequeathed to my wife the benefits of a Lot of Land for life which is the property of my son George’s heirs, and which I cannot legally make her a right in, The fore for the purpose of securing to my wife the benefits of the said Lot during life, it is my will that if the holders or owners of my aforesaid Real Estate shall refuse to permit her to enjoy the benefits of the same, that they shall pay to my said wife the further sum of Twenty Dollars p annum out of my Real Estate during her natural life.
And I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends Thomas Lea and Isaac Stevenson Guardians of the persons and Estates of my two Grand Children Henry George Webster and Abigail Webster, to take care of, and see that the Mill and all other their Estates are kept in suitable order at all times during their minority, and to manage the same to the advantage of my said Grand Children as much as may be, and in case of the decease, or neglect, refusal or inability of either of the said Guardians to act in the premises, it is my will that the other of them together with the Magistreate of this Hundred for the time being shall choose another person suitable for that purpose in the room of such deceased or delinquent Guardian, who shall have equal authority to act in the premises.
And I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my aforesaid friends Thomas Lea and Isaac Stevenson Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking, annulling and making void all and every other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made, and declare this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I Henry Webster the Testator have hereunto set my Hand and seal, this twenty first day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and six. Henry Webster {seal}
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by Henry Webster the Testator, as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who subscribed our names hereunto as evidences at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other David Huston, George Evans
NewCastle County Ss. Before me personally appeared David Huston and George Evans the subscribing witnesses to the above and foregoing Will, who being solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God did say that they saw Henry Webster the Testator, sign and seal the above and foregoing Instrument of writing, and heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same as his Last Will and Testament, that at the time of his so doing, he was, to the best of their belief, of sound and disposing mind and memory, that it was at the request and in the presence of the said Testator, and in the presence of each other they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, the 24th Day of June, A.D. 1806.
Delaware, U.S. Wills and Probate Records, New Castle County, Wills, Vol Q-R, 1804-1823.
Transcribed 17 May 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky
Finding Your Delaware Roots 
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