Last Will & Testament of Thomas Cooch Junr prov’d 3d Feby 1785 Record’d Book H page 78

I Thomas Cooch Junr. of New Castle Hundred & County, being weak in Body but of perfect ind & memory, calling to mind the uncertainty of human Life do hereby dispose of my worldly affairs in the manner following by this my last Will and Testament, this twenty eight Day of  December one thousand Seven hundred & eighty four 1784

Viz I do allow all my Debts to be paid by my Executors out of my moveable Estate on the Plantation whereon I live, and the residue to be divided between my two sons Thomas and Francis, but my wife is to have The Interest arising from sd residue untill they arrive to the age of twenty one years

I give to my beloved wife Sarah the full and whole of the amount of a Debt due to me from Messieurs Mease and Caldwell merchants in Philadelphia, on Bond, to be for her use for ever: and allso I give her the Choice of any of my negroe men or Boys, to be kept by her during her widowhood; then to descend to and be divided equally between my two sons Thomas & Francis

I order and allow all my negroes (except that one above mentioned) to be sold with the other Parts of my moveable Estate, and the money, and Interest, to be disposed of as is directed in the first Bequest

I do give all my Plate to my wife during her widowhood; then to go to, and be equally divided between my two son Thomas and Francis: I allso give her my Gray Horse and Chair for her use for ever: allso I give her my two negroe Boys Andrew and George during her widowhood, then to to go to & be equally divided between my sons Thomas & Francis

I do give & bequeath to my son William the Sum of five Pounds to be paid in one year by my Executors

I do give & bequeath to my Daughter Elisebeth Maxwell the Sum of five Pounds, to be paid in one year by my Executors

I do allso hereby constitute and appoint John Simonton and William McMeshen to be my Executors to this my last Will and Testament

And lastly, I do hereby make, declare, & allow this to be my last Will and Testament, annulling, revoking and disallowing all former wills and Testaments; In Testimoney whereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seel This twenty eighth Day of December one thousand Seven Hundred & eighty four 1784. Thomas Cooch Jun {seal}

Signed Sealed, published and   } pronounced as his last Will and Testament in presence of  Dorcas Armitage Ebenezer Morton }

Personally appeared before me the two Subscribing evidences to the above and foregoing Will and being Solemnly Sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposit and say that they did see and hear Thomas Cooch the Younger, sign, seal, publish pronounce and declare the above and  foregoing Instrument of writing, as his last Will and Testament, that at the time of so doing and saying; he was to the best of their belief of sound and disposing mind, memory and  understanding, that they did sign their names as Evidences thereunto at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, at NewCastle, the third Day of February A.D. 1785.

Gun. Bedford Regr.

Whereas Thomas Cooch Junr. Late of New-tle hundred & County by his last Will & Testament dated Dec’r 28th 1784 did nominate & appoint us the Subscribers to be the Executors of his Estate agreeable to his sd Will; but as we find it will be inconvenient to undertake the Execution of the sd. Will, we do hereby notifie you, that we do not intend to undertake this sd Execution, & do hereby renounce it, & request you to appoint some other Person as Law directs – given under our Hands this 31st Day of January 1784 John Simonton Wm McMechen

To Gunning Bedford Esqr Register of Wills

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KNOW all Men by these Presents, That WE Sarah Cook Widow, Solomon Maxwell and William Patterson all of the County of New-Castle, are held and firmly bound unto the Delaware State, in the Sum of Twelve Hundred pounds current Money of the said State; unto which Payment well and truly to be made unto the said State, WE do bind ourselves, our Heirs, Executors and Administra- tors, firmly by these Presents. Sealed with our Seals, and dated at NewCastle in New-Castle County aforesaid, this third Day of February in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty Five

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Admin Bond Cum test. Annx’d ? Thomas Cooch ???? Dec’d Febry 3d 1785

Record Book M p?? 85

Ads. Issued

To £3:37/6 paid

John Lundon & James Glasgow appt?

The Condition of this Obligation is such, That if the above bounden Sarah Cooch and Solomon Maxwell (upon the renunciation of John Simonton and William McMeehen with the Will Annexed Administrators of all and singular the Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits of Thomas Cooch the younger deceased, do make, or cause to be made, a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular the said Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits, of the said Deceased, which have or shall come to the Hands,  Possession or Knowledge of the said Sarah and Solomon or unto the Hands or Possession of any Person or Persons, for them and the same so made, do exhibit, or cause to be exhibited, unto the Register of wills in the County of New-Castle aforesaid on or before the third Day of August next ensuing the Date hereof, and the same Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits of the said Deceased, at the Time of his Death, or which at any Time after shall come to the Hands or Possession of the aforesaid Sarah and Solomon or into the Hands or Possession of any other Person or Persons, for them do well and truly administer according to Law and further do make, or cause to be made, a true and just Account of their Administration, at or before the third Day of February which shall fall in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty six and all the rest and Residue of the said Goods and Chattles, Rights and Credits, which shall be found remaining upon the said Administrators Account, the same being first examined and allowed of by the Orphans Court of New-Castle County aforesaid, shall deliver and pay unto such Person or Persons respectively, as the said Orphans Court, by their Decree or Sentence, pursuant to the true Intent and Meaning of this Act,  shall limit and appoint. And if it shall hereafter appear, that any last Will and Testament was made by the Deceased, and the Executor or Executors therein named, do exhibit the same in the Register’s Office, making Request to have it allowed and approved accordingly, if the said within bounded being thereunto required, do surrender and deliver up the said Letters of Administration (Approbation of such Testament being first had and made in the Register’s Office) then this Obligation to be void, and of none Effect, or else to remain in full Force and Virtue. Sarah Cooch {seal} Solomon Maxwell {seal} Wm Patterson {seal}

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the Presence of us W Cannan Ch Golton

Gun Bedford Recr

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…

[Inventory of estate incorrectly filed under the name of Thomas Couch as a separate probate file.]

Inventory

Thomas Couch Junr. dec’d

Filed Jany 17th 1786

Feb. 8, 1785

Inventory of the Personal Estate of Thomas Couch Jun Deceased Appraised the Eighth day of February 1785 by the Subscribers

…

Negroes

Bristol £30, Ceasar £15 Saml £40 {From Claim by Thomas Cooch Senr.]

Dinah £40, Carolina £20

Vincas & 2 Children £60, Jude £50

Andrew £50 George £45 {Bequeathed the widow during her life }

…

James Glasgow

Henry Darby

NewCastle County Ss Novembr 25th 1785 then James Glasgow and Henry Darby were duly Qualified to the above Inventory and Appraisement of the personal Estate of Thomas Cooch Junr. Dec’d Before William McClay

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The Administration Account of Sarah Cooch and Solomon Maxwell Administrators with the Will annexed of Thomas Cooch Junior exhibited by Solomon Maxwell acting Administrator.

This Account???? Solomon Maxwell Dr.

To an additional Sum for and ^on account of the advance of Sales – the same being stated in the former account only £25..0..5 3/4 by reason of sundry articles sold but then controverted which being since adjusted particularly in regard to A Negro Slave Sam – the advance of Sales now appears to have amounted to £73..8..11 1/4 the difference between which Sum & the Sum wherewith this accountant was heretofore charged amounts to £54..8..5 1/2 and therefore he charges himself the same…

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