In the Name of God Amen I Christopher Vandegrift of St Georges Hundred and County of New Castle in the State of Delaware the third Day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and Seven and Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die Therefore Do make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament Directing my Body to be Buried in the Earth in a Christian Like and Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executor herein after to be Amed Recommending my Soul to Almighty God that gave it Hoping for its Happy Redemption Through the Merrits and Intercession of Jesus Christ who ever Liveth and Touching Such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this Life I give bequeath and Dispose of in the following manner and form
Imprimis I give and Bequeath unto my Son Leonard Vandegrift the Sum of Seventy five pounds Lawfull money of the Delaware State to be paid to him or to his Heirs not herein after Named in one year Next after my Decease which is all I allow him of my Estate he Having had in advance.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Jacob Vandegrift all the plantation and Tract of Land he now Lives on that I purchased of John Stockton Esq Sheriff of New Castle County with the appurtenanes thereunto belonging to him his Heirs and Assigns for Ever I also give and bequeath to my son Jacob Vandegrift the whole of my Lot of marsh meadow on the Northside of Augustine Cannall with the Stacking ground thereunto belonging to him his Heirs and Assigns for Ever he the Said Jacob Vandegrift having paid to my son William Vangedgrift Twenty five pound at an agreed price for the half of the aforesaid marsh I also give To my Son Jacob Vandegrift A Negro man Named Sam now in his possession I Also Acquit him of All the Rents that is Due or Might be Said to be Due
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Son William Vandegrift one Hundred and thirty pounds, beside the Bond he ows me of one Hundred pounds to be paid to him in one year after my Decease I Also give and bequeath to my Son William Vandegrift a negro Boy named Harry now in his possession
Imprimis I Give and Bequeath to my Grand Daughter Rebecca Penington Intermarried with Aldridge Penington Daughter of Leonard Vandegrift The Sum of Twenty pounds, Lawfull money of the Delaware State in one year after my Decease also a Negro girl named Dida now in her Possession
Item: I Give and bequeath unto my Son Christopher VanDegrift All the Residue of my Estate of whatsoever kind it may be with the Land and plantation that I Live on with all the appurtenances, thereunto Belonging after my Just Debts funeral Expence and the foregoing Legacies are Discharged To him His Heirs and Assigns for Ever. And I Do hereby Nominate and appoint my Loving Son Christopher Vandegrift my whole and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament Revoking all other Wills by me Made and I Do hereby allow this to be my Last Will and Testament Published pronounced and Declared In Testimoney whereof I have Hereunto Set my Hand and fixed my Seal before Witnesses Called by me to Bear Witness the Day and year above written. Christopher Vandegrift
Witness present Robert Cole Thomas Ford John Sutton
In Addition to my above and foregoing will as follows I further will and order That a Certain Piece or parcel of wood Land I Bought of William Vandegrift containing Seven acres and fourteen perches with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging I will and bequeath to my Loving son Christopher Vandegrift his Heirs and Assigns, for Ever be the same more or Less As Witness my Hand and Seal this 7th Day of November 1810 before witnesses Called by me to bear Witness.
John Sutton Christopher Vandegrift. Margaret Sutton
NewCastle County Ss Personally appeared Thomas Ford, John Sutton and Margaret Sutton three of the subscribing witnesses to the above and foregoing Will and Codicil, and being solemnly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God did severally say, that they saw Christopher Vandegrift the Testator sign and seal the foregoing Instrument of Writing (the said Thomas Ford and John Sutton as to the Will and John Sutton & Margaret Sutton as to the Codicil) 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 disposing mind and memory ^and That it was at the request of the Testator and in his Presence they severally subscribed their names thereto as witnesses, In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at NewCastle the 14th day of June A.D. 1816. Evan Thomas Regr
Inventory Christo. Vandegrift April 9, 1817
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a Blackman named George aged about 32 years to serve during life 200.00
a Blackman named Joseph aged about 30 years to serve during life 200.00
a Black Boy named William aged about 9 years to Serve during life 200.00
a black Girl named Mariah aged about 13 years to Serve during life 100.00
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NewCastle County Ss Personally came before me the subsciber one of the Justices of the peace in & for sd county the Above Named Andrew Ford & Isaac Woods & ???? duly Sworn as appraisers to the above Inventory accounting to Nine Hundred Eighty three Dollars & seventy five cents this first day of March A.D.: 1817. W Carpenter
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Inventory and Appraisment of the goods and Chattles of Christopher Vandegrift Deceasd late of St Georges Hundred in the County of New Castle and State of Delaware, Taken and appraised by us the Subscribers this 19th day of March 1818_
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Negro Man Named George aged 31 years 250.00
do do Joseph aged 29 do 250.00
do do Isaac do 20 do 250.00
do do Charles do 15 do 200.00
do do William do 11 do 200.00
Negro Girl Maria do 15 do 150.00
do Sarah do 4 do 50.00
do Harris do 3 do 40.00
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Isaac Woods
John Sutton
Jacob Vandegrift Admr.
NewCastle County Ss Personally came before me the Subs scriber one of the Justices of the peace in & for sd County the Above Named Isaac Woods & John Sutton & Were duly Sworn that did well & truly appraise the goods & Chattles of Christopher Vandegrift deceas’d so far forth as came to their sight & knowledge, the 11th day of December 1818. W Carpenter
Sales of the Personal Property which was of Christopher Vandegrift late of the Hundred of St. George’s in the county of new Castle Dec’d sold at public Vendue this 20 day of March 1818.
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1 Negro Man George Jane Vandegrift 250.00
1 do. do. Isaac do. do. 250.00
1 do. Boy Charles do. do. 200.00
1 do. Girl Sarah do. do. 50.00
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Delaware, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1676-1971, New Castle, Register of Wills, Valentine, Horace-Vandergrift, Francis, Image 767
Transcribed 26 Sep 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky
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