Be it Rembred that I John Toppen of Redlyon hundred in the county of Newcastle on Delaware farmer, whilst I am in health and sound disposing mind and memory think it necessary to make this my last will and testament hereby disposing of such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in the transitory life, and first of all I order and direct my executors hereinafter named to pay all my just debts and funeral expences as expediciously as possible after my decease, and then I give and devise to my eldest son Samuel Toppin that plantation on which he now lives heretofore purchased by me from Andrew Steelman together with another tract adjoining it which I purchased of Thomas Brown with the buildings and improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever and I do hereby give and devise to my second son John Toppin all that plantation which I purchased from Thomas Reynolds adjoining the lands above devised and lands now of David Thomas containing Two hundred and twenty five acres with the buildings and improvements thereon and appurtenances there unto belonging to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever. and I do hereby give and devise to my third son George Toppin all that plantation which I purchased from Zachariah Vanleuvanigh and the plantation which I also purchased from Thomas Murphy both these tracts adjoins the lands of Alexander Porter esquire, Robert Porter, and others, with the buildings and improvements thereon and appurtenances thereunto belonging to hold to him my said son George Toppin his heirs and assigns forever. I do hereby give and bequeath to my young lad named James Toppin who I have hither to brought up the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid him by my executors out of my personal estate when he arrives to the age of twenty one years and if I should not do it myself during my lifetime I do hereby order and direct my executors to put him to such trade immediately as they shall think most beneficial I do hereby give and bequeath to my wife Rebecca the sum of thirty pounds yearly and every year during her natural life to be paid to her yearly in the following manner, to wit, fifteen pounds thereof yearly by my son George his heirs and assigns out of the land devised to him ten pounds more thereof yearly and every year by my son John out of the lands so devised to him and five pounds the residue of the said thirty pounds to be paid her by my son Samuel out of the lands devised to him in lieu and full satisfaction of her dower And it is my will and pleasure that shoud my son George die without lawful issue of his body begotten then and in such case his part of my estate heretofore devised shall go and descend to my sons Samuel and John their heirs and assigns forever. I do hereby give and bequeath to my grand child John McCormick the son of my daughter Anna the sum of forty pounds to be paid out of my personal estate when he arrives to the age of twenty one years,  and I do hereby order my executors to put him out immediately to such trade as they think will best suit his capacity, and as for my negroes which I now have my will is and I do hereby direct it that Nan, Phill and Ginn who are now above the age of twenty one years shall be upon my decease immediately set free and at that time do hereby freely manumit them, and the rest of my negro’s That are not under the age of twenty one years I do hereby direct and order that they and each of them shall see my executors or others of their appointment until each of them arrives to the age of twenty eight years and they and each of them are hereby under this clause considered as part of my personal property after this time my will is that they shall be declared free. and it is my further will and I do hereby direct my executors to sell all and every part of my personal property at public venue and not by any means keep any share of it by appraisement taking good security for the same. I do hereby give and bequeath to the overseers of the Methodist Colledge instituted for the education of poor and fatherless children the sum of twenty pounds to be paid out of my personal estate. And I hereby nominate and appoint my sons Samuel, John and George Toppin executors of this my last will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of June Anno Dom. 1793. John Toppin {seal}

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and declared by the said John Toppin as and for his last will and testament in presence of us} John Lewden, Jediah Davidson.

Newcastle county Ss. Before me personally appeared John Lewden and Jediah Davidson, the two subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will, and the said John Lewden upon his solemn affirmation, and the said Jediah Davidson upon his solemn oath, severally say, that they saw John Toppin sign and  seal the foregoing instrument of writing, and heard him publish pronounce and declare the same to be his last will and testament; that the time of his so doing and saying he was to the best of their belief, of sound and disposing Mind and Memory, and that they respectively signed their names as witnesses thereunto, at the request and in the presence of the Testator, and in the presence of each other. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto  set my hand, at Newcastle, this twenty eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three. Jas. Booth Regr

Be it remembered that on the twenty eighth day of November A.D. 1795, the last will and testament of John Toppin deceased, was in due form of law proved, approved, and insinuated, and letters testamentary thereon were granted unto Samuel Toppin and John Toppin (George Toppin the other executor being absent from the State) Executors in the same will named, they being solemnly sworn well and truly to execute the same, and exhibit an Inventory into the Registers office, at Newcastle, on or before the twenty eighth day of February next, and render a true and just account of their administration on or before the twenty eighth day of November next, or when thereunto lawfully required. Given under the seal of said office P Jas. Booth Regr.

Bond in £ 1,000 John Lewden and Thomas Rhoads surety.

Wills: New Castle [DE} Wills 1777-1794

Transcribed 21 Aug 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky