In the name of God, Amen! I, Joseph Israel of NewCastle County, in the state of Delaware, Esquire, being in a sick and low condition of Body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory, considering the uncertainty of life, and knowing the certainty of death, Do hereby make, ordain and declare this Instrument of writing to be my last will and Testament, revoking all others.

Imprimus, It is my will and directions, that my Funeral charges and expenses, as well as all my Just and lawful debts, be punctually honestly, and speedily paid, by my Executors hereinafter, named and by me appointed, as soon as circumstances will permit and enable them so to do.

Item, I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Susan Israel, three of my negroes, that is to say, one Negro boy, one Negro woman and one negro-girl, to be of her own free choice and selection from and among all my slaves, also, two milk-cows of her choice, my Horse, Chaise, and Harness, together with all, or so much of my Plate, Household and Kitchen furniture, as she may deem proper to take and keep, to be used and disposed of as she may think proper.

Item, I do hereby direct and enjoin on my Executors, to make sale of all my negroes, excepting those three willed and bequeathed to my dear wife as aforesaid, for such term of years as they may deem and consider proper for the benefit of them, as well as of my Estate, as it is my will and desire that they shall not be sold as slaves, Tobias and Charles my two negro men having been manumitted and bound for a term of years, my Executors are to make sale of them for the unexpired term as express’d in their Indenture.

Item, it is my will and desire and I do hereby direct that my Executors make sale of the residue of my Personal Estate (after Deducting) or leaving what may and shall be taken by my dear wife under the afsd. bequeath) and the monies arising by or from such sale and sales, I allow and direct that the same be applied to the payment of my debts as aforesaid, and should the amount of the sales of my Personal Property, together with such sums as are due me, prove insufficient or inadequate to the discharge of all legal and just claims against my Estate, then, and in such case, my said Executors are directed to make sale of such part or parts of my Real Estate, as they in their Judgment and discretion may deem most advisable for the purpose of enabling them to make such discharges.

Item, It is my will and desire that my Executors make sale of all my Real Estate, in such parts and parcels as they may deem proper and beneficial to my Estate, excepting nevertheless my Mansion-House and Mill- Property with so much land attached to the same as may be sufficiently large and convenient for the accommodation of such a mill-property, but in case my Personal Estate and the detached Real Estate I hold should unexpectedly prove insufficient for the discharge of all my Just and legal debts, then, and in that case, I do vest in my Executors a discretionary Power, that is to say, either to make sale of my Mill property, or to Rent the same, to enable them to make such discharges.

Item, in case my Executors should not have occasion to sell my Mill-property for the payment of debts as aforesaid, I wish them to Rent the same, and pay the profits thence arising, over to my dear wife, for the purpose and with the intention of enabling her to maintain, educate and support my unmarried and minor Children, so far as she may in her Judgment and prudence deem proper and necessary, until my youngest Child shall arrive at, and to lawful age, but in case that my Executors should find or believe it would be better to make sale of my Mill-property, than to Rent, as the wear and repairs may be an object of consideration, I do give them full power and authority to dispose of the same in fee, to the best advantage.

Item, in case of the sale of my mill-property by my Executors, it is my will and desire that the final balance or nett proceeds of my Estate, whether on a settlement with, or without such sale, that my Executors or the survivors of them, pay over to my dear wife the Interest arising on such nett proceeds, for the purpose of enabling her to provide for, and support my unmarried and Minor Children, to be paid to her annually and every year, until my youngest child arrives at, and to lawful age, and then, and at that time to be divided equally between my dear wife and my Children, generally share and share alike or to, and among their legal representatives.

Item, in case of the death of my dear wife before my youngest Child shall arrive at, and to lawful age, then, and in that case, it is my will and desire that my Executors or the survivors of them, apply and direct the Interest and profits arising on the nett proceeds of my Estate, to and for the sole and entire use and benefit of my unmarried and minor Children, until my youngest Child as afsd. arrives to, and at lawful age.

Item, should my Executors find it more advantageous to keep my Mill- property under Rent until my youngest Child arrives at age as afsd then, and at that time, they are to make sale of the same, and the monies arising from such sale, to be distributed to; and among my wife and Children as aforesaid.

Item, the Thirty shares I hold in the Farmer’s Bank of the state of Delaware, “my Executors have, hereby full power and authority to dispose of them in any way or manner they deem most beneficial to my Estate.

Lastly, I do constitute, ordain, and appoint my dearly beloved wife Susan Israel, my son William Pussey Israel, my Brother Israel Israel of the City of Philadelphia, Esqr. and my friend John Hall, Jr of Christiana Bridge, in the state of Delaware, Esqr. my sole and entire Executrix and Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all and every other former Wills, Testaments, Legacies and bequeaths and Executors by me in anyway before this time name or willed and bequeathed, Ratifying and confirming this, and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal, this 9th day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seven. Joseph Israel {seal]

Signed, sealed, published, and declared by the said Joseph Israel, Esq: as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, and in the presence of each other… John Lewden Sen & James Couper Jr. James MCallmont.  NewCastle County Ss.

NewCastle County Ss. Before me personally appeared Doct. James Couper Jr and James MCallmont, tow of the subscribing witnesses to the above and foregoing Will, who being solemnly sworn did severally say, that they saw Joseph Israel, Esqr. 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 instance and request and in presence of the said Testator, and of each other they subscribed their names as witnesses thereto and at the same time and in like manner saw John Lewden Senr. Subscribe his name as another witness thereto. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, the twenty second day of December, A.D. 1807.

Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971, New Castle County, Wills, Vol Q-R, 1804-1823

Transcribed 21 May 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky