I, Robert Middleton of Pencader Hundred, County of New Castle, State of Delaware, being sick of Body, but of perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life, Do make this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking and annulling all others.

To my son Robert Middleton, I give and bequeath my Desk, Books and Maps.

To my son William Cooch Middleton, I give my silver watch, and in addition thereto, three hundred Dollars – more than his equal proportion of my Estate.

To my son Joseph Lewden Middleton, I give and bequeath Four hundred Dollars in addition to his equal proportion of my Estate.

To my Daughter Dorcas Armitage Middleton, I give and bequeath a Bed and Beding with the new set of Curtains attached thereto: with an equal allotment of her mother’s Cloathing, to be divided and alotted by the appraisers between my Daughters Dorcas, Mary and Marianna, – I also give in addition my Daughter Dorcas, my Grey Horse, her saddle and Bridle.

To my Daughter Mary Lewden Middleton, I give and bequeath a Bed and Bedding, with the second choice of. Curtains attached thereto.

To my Daughter, Marianna Middleton, I give and bequeath a Bed and Bedding, with the third choice of Curtain attached thereto; and also, in addition thereto, the sum of Two hundred Dollars. I will here mark, that the several sums of Two, Four, Three and Two hundred Dollars, heretofore devised to my sons, Joseph and William and my Daughter Marianna more than their equal dividend of my Estate, is in consequence of their young and underage

I do hereby will and direct that all my silver or gold plate, not marked in the name of any of my Daughters, Dorcas, Mary and Marianna, shall be, by the appraisers of my Personal Estate, divided and allotted, to my three Daughters above named, the Eldest taking choice, and so on in Rotation. I also give and bequeath to Levi Hukin, a fine Hat, and a suit of Clothes of his own choosing out of my store goods.

It is also further my will, that all the residue of my Estate, Real and Personal, after the Executors shall have discharged all my legal Debts, shall [be] equally divided among my Children heretofore severally named, and should any of them die under age, or without issue legally begotten, then in that case, their shares  shares shall descend to the survivors in equal proportions.

And I do hereby authorise and direct my Executors herein after named, to make sale and dispose of my Real Estate (except the nine acres which I purchased of William Cooch some time since, which nine acres I allow to be attached and appertaining to the Tract of Land generally called the Saw Mill Tract, and from which it was separated by a Division of the Intestate Estate of Thomas Cooch the Elder, in which division the said Saw Mill Tract was laid off to my wife, as one of the heirs of the said Thomas Cooch deceased, At anytime after my decease, And the time that my youngest living Child shall have come to legal age, as they may be of opinion will be most conducive to the Interest of my Children, But should a sale not take place of my Real Estate by my Executors, between my decease and the time that my youngest living Child shall arrive at full age. In that case, my Executors shall (when my youngest living Child comes to full age) absolutely make sale of my Real Estate, and make equal distribution of the proceeds thereof among my then living Children, or their Representatives. But in order that my Real Estate might be productive in the sale thereof, I would recommend and direct the following Division, – which is, That with the Brick House I now live in, as much Land shall be attached as will be within a line running Northward from my dividing fence with John Hyatt’s Land, taking in all the improvements on the West side of the Road, untill it intersects the said Road leading from Glasgow to Elkton. In addition thereto, all the Land on the East side of the said Road, together with the Improvements, as far as the East corner of the Field on the North side of the said Road leading from Glasgow to Elkton, thence from the East corner of the Field aforesaid, a N.W. course untill the line intersects with the Lands late of Thomas Evans deceased, – which Division as above described, or the residue of my Real Estate, my Executors are directed to make sale of as has been before mentioned.

It is also my will that my Negro man Peter and my Negro woman Bell, shall be free after serving 6 years after my decease; and also, that my Negro Girl named Betha shall be free when she arives to the age of Twenty- eight years.

I do further will and devise to my son Robert Middleton, my Gun and two Pistols, and my wearing apparel. It is also my will, and desire, that should John Simonton and William Dunlap see proper to take my store goods at the appraisement of Joel Lewis and John Sutter, they shall have the same by giving sufficient and ample security, for the payment thereof in three years [a]fter my decease with legal Interest.

And I do hereby appoint John Simonton, William Dunlap and William Cooch, Guardians of my Children, as well as Executors of this my Last Will and Testament – But it is understood that should there be any moneys due to me, either from the Executors or Guardians above named, that their appointment is no Barr to the payment thereof. Robert Middleton

Signed and subscribed as my Last Will and Testament and revoking all others. In presence of Frances L. Lewis, Samuel A. Black, Ann S Dushane

NewCastle County, Ss. Before me personally appeared Frances L Lewis, Samuel A. Black and Ann S. Dushane, the three subscribing witnesses to the above and foregoing Will, who being solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty GOD, did severally say, that they saw Robert Middleton the Testator, sign the above and foregoing Instrument of writing; and heard him publish, pronounce, and declare the same to be 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, that they severally subscribed their names as witnesses thereto. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand, the thirtieth, Day of January A.D. 1805.

Be it remembered, that on the thirteth day of January, A.D. 1805, the Last Will and Testament of Robert Middleton late of Pencader Hundred and County of Newcastle, Esquire deceased, was in due form of law proved, approved and insinuated and Letters Testamentary thereon were granted unto John Simonton, Executor in the same Will named (William Dunmap and William Cooch the other Executors having renounced) he having first been solemnly sworn well and truly to execute the said Will, and to exhibit an Inventory into the Registers Office at NewCastle, on or before the thirtieth Day of April next, and to render a true and Just account of his administration on or before the thirtieth day of January A.D. 1806, or when thereunto lawfully required. Given under the seal of said Office, Bond in 8000 Dollars, James Anderson, surety.

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

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Transcribed 10 Jun 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky