Clement Ross's will

Date: 15 Jan 1808 [unknown]
Location: Sussex, Delaware, United States

I transcribed this will while documenting the slave Lydia. There is much information about his family in the below that could be used to create profiles for more of the family, but I'm not doing that. Enjoy....

Lydia is likely the most interesting person mentioned in this will, including future Governor John Collins.

Given that Lydia is known to have been 4 years old at this time, it is likely that two of the other slaves are her parents, or at least one is her mother. Unfortunately with no ages documented in the will, it's only a guess who. If I were to guess, I would guess Sidney to be the mother because she was left with the wife while the other females were left with the daughters.

• Wills, 1682-1851; index to wills, 1684-1948; Author: Sussex County (Delaware). Register of wills; Probate Place: Sussex, Delaware

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In the Name of God Amen I Clement Ross of Sussex County being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof do make and publish this my last will and Testament as touching my worldy Estate in manner and form following

M??imis. I give to my beloved wife Sarah Ross, my Grey Horse and Carriage, also one negro girl called Sidney over and above her dower or third half of my Estate to be returned into my Estate in case of her marriage after my decease. I also will that she come in for her dower after my decease in as ample a manner as though I had died intestate.

Item I give to my daughter Elizabeth Ross one negro girl called Rose, one father Bed and furniture, also one cow and calf.

Item I give to my daughter Mary Ross one negro girl called Lydia, one feather Bed and furniture, also one cow and calf.

Item I will that my daughter Lovey Adams shall have no more of my Estate than I have already given her.

Item I give and bequeath to my son Robert Ross, his Heirs and assigns for even two hundred and Sixty four Acres of land including my dwelling, plantation and improvements to be laid off for him by a line drawn beginning at the easternmost extremity or out line of my Tract of land called Rosses Choice and running a West course across my said lands towards the Statesline. I also give my son Robert one negro boy called Jerry and one negro Boy called John, his second choice of my Horses and twenty Dollars specie.

Item I give to my daughter Maria Ross her Heirs and assigns forever all the residue of my lands connected to the lands devised to my son Robert up to the said division line containing one hundred and Sixty Acres of land more or less. Also one negro Boy named Daniel, one feather bed and furniture, one cow and calf and also Sixteen Dollars.

Item I give to my Daughter Sally C. Ross, her Heirs and assigns forever all the lands that I purchased of Abraham Ross and Anthony Ross situate

in Caroline County on the Road from Marshy[?] Hope[?] to North West Fork Bridge containing one hundred and Seventy five Acres more or less, also one negro boy called Henry, one cow and calf and sixteen dollars Specie.

But my will is that if any of my Heirs above mentioned die without an Heir begotten of their body and before they or any of them have sold or disposed of the said property that then and in that case, the property of the said heir or heirs so dying shall descend to his or their nighest of kin in blood.

I give all the residue of my Estate to my son Robert Ross and my daughter Maria Ross & Sally C Ross to be equally divided between them.

And lastly I do hereby appoint my wife Sarah Ross and my brother in law John Collins the sole Executors of this by last Will and Testament revoking all former wills by me made confirming this and none other to be my last Will and Testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this fifteenth day of January in the year of our lord eighteen hundred and eight 1808.

Signed Sealed, Published, Pronounced and declared by the Testator Clement Ross to be his last Will and Testament in presence of us who in his presence and at his request subscribed our names as Witnesses

Olive Jump, Hewill Ross, Garry Hitch.

I John Collins one of the Executors in the authentic will named do hereby renounce my Authority by Virtue of the said appointment and refuse to act accordingly April 30th 1808

John Collins

Sussex County Fst[?] Memorandum April the day 1808 before me Phillips Hollock Register appointed for the probate of wills and granting letters of Administration for the County aforesaid appeared Hughitt Ross one of the subscribing witnesses to the written and forgoing will who being duly sworn on the holy Evangles of Almighty god did depose and say that in his sight presence and hearing the Testator Clement Ross did sign, seal, publish, pronounce, and declare the same to be his last will and Testament and that at the doing thereof he seemed to be of a sound disposing mind memory and Judgement and that he together with Olive Jump and Garry Hitch, subscribed the same as witnesses in presence of the said Testator and at his request