In the Name of God Amen The twelvth day of November in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty four I Magdalene McKnit of the County of Kent on Delaware Widow being very Sick and Weak in Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for men once to die do make and ordain this my last Will ad Testament That is to Say, principally the first of all I give and recommend my Soul unto the hand of God that Gave it and I Recommend my body to the Earth to Buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the direction of my Executors Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the Same Again By the mighty power of God and as Touching Such Worldly Estate Wherewith It hath pleased God to bless me in this Life I give Devise and dispose of the Same the following manner and form. Imprimis I give and Bequeath unto my Well beloved Son James McKnitt my negro man Peter after deducting the Sum of thirty pounds of his Father Estate due to him from me as administrator with the Interest and other Expenses If any. Item I gave and bequeath unto my well beloved Son John McKnitt my negro Girl Orpah and negro boy Sheldon after deducting his part of his fathers Estate yet due in manner aforesaid: Item I gave and bequeath to my Well beloved Son Robert McKnitt my negro Boy Zabadee after deducting his part of his fathers Estate in Manner aforesaid Item I gave and bequeath unto my Well beloved Son William McKnitt my Negro boy Curles after deducting his part of his fathers Estate interest and other Charges as before mentioned for the Others being Still due. Item I give unto Bequeath to my Well beloved daughter Betsy Black all my Wearing apparel fine and Course with my Gold Ring and Silver Shoe Buckles. And do appoint and allow my negro Woman Phillis to be sold for the payment of my Just and lawful Debts and do desire and order my two younger Sons Robert and William to be found to trades And the two negro Boys before named to them bequeathed to be keeped and taken car of ‘till Said Robert and William my Sons arrives at twenty one years of age by James and John McKnitt my two Elder sons and at their Expense Whom I likewise Constitute make and ordain my Executors of this my last Will and Testament. I Do Hereby utterly disallow Revoke disannull all and  and every other former testaments Wlls Legacies bequests and Executors By me anyways before this time named Willed or bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal the day and year above written Signed Sealed publish’d pronounced Magdalene McKnitt her mark {seal}

And declared by the Said Magdalene McKnitt as her last will and testament In the presence of us the Subscribers John King. Robert Fleming junr. Elizabeth Fleming

N.B. All the Rest my Estate Goods Chattels & Effects after payment of all just Debts of mine to be Equally divided between my four Sons above named After my decease this was before Signing and Sealing of the above added by the same Athority as the above.

Delaware State Sst. Personally appeared before me Thomas Rodney Esqr. Register for the proving of Wills and Grantg Letters of Administration in and for the County of Kent John King and Robert Fleming junr. And being Sworn on the Holy Evangelists do Say that they Saw Magdalene McKnitt Sign and Seal and heard her publish pronounce & declare the Same as and for her last Will and Testament that at the time of her So doing and saying the same she was to their best of their belief of Sound disposing mind and memory the they at her Instance and request and in her presence Signed their Names as Witnesses thereto and also at the like Instance and request and In her presence Saw Elizabeth Fleming Sign her name as one Other Witness to the Same In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November Announces Dommini Seventeen hundred & Eighty Seven 1787. Thomas Rodney Regr.

Be it Remembered that on the fifteenth day of November Seventeen hundred and Eighty Seven The last Will and Testament of Magdalene McKnitt deceased was proved and approved in due Form and Letters Testamentary at the same Time Granted to James McKnitt and John McKnitt who being Sworn gave Bond In the Sum of Two thousand pounds Current Money of the Said State with Robert Fleming and John King for their faithful performance thereof agreeable to Law.

Wills: Kent. [DE] 1783-1800

Transcribed 16 August 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky