In the name of God Amen. I Jesse Dean, colored man, of Little Creek Hundred, Kent Co. and the state of Delaware being weak and sick of body but sound and disposing mind and memory do make and ordain this as and for my last will and testament in writing hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at anytime heretofore made.
And first I direct that my body shall be buried in a decent and Christialike manner and I assign my Soul to the keeping of Almighty God and as it respects such real and personal estate as I am the owner of I hereby dispose of the same in the manner following that is to say.
Secondly I give and devise unto my son William Dean of Duck Creek Hundred in the County aforesaid and to his heirs and assigns forever, all of my land and real estate with the building, improvements and appertenances situate, lying and being on the east side of the main state road leading from Dover to Smyrna in the county aforesaid and which is part of the tract upon which I now reside and contains about five acres more or less.
Thirdly, I give and devise unto my son Jesse Dean of Little Creek Hundred in the county aforesaid and to his heirs and assigns forever, all my land and real estate with the buildings, improvements and appertenances situate, lying or being on the west side of the main state road leading from Dover to Smyrna in the county aforesaid and which conatins about fifteen acres more or less.
Fourthly I give and bequeath unto my said son William Dean one calf now about six months old and one hog now in the pen and my colt.
Fifthly, I give and bequeath unto my said son Jesse Dean two hogs now in the pen, my bay horse, horse cart and harness, one brindle and pied cow and her calf not yet weaned, said cow being no horned and one small young steer about eighteen months old, the large stove and the piece of carpeting which now hangs at the foot of my bed.
Sixthly, I give and bequeath unto Elisha Durham , colored man, his executors, administrators and assigns the bed, bedstead and its furniture upon which I now lie, the bureau at the head of the said bed, the large rush bottomed arm chair, and the six yellow wooden bottomed chairs, the carpet now on the floor, my best cow, two hogs now in the pen, one red and white cow with long slim horns and her calf, and one small candle stand, upon the trust following, that is to say, Upon Trust to permit and suffer my daughter Sally Ann the wife of a certaine John Cott to have the use, possession, disposal and enjoyment of the same, so that the same or any part or parcel thereof shall not be liable for the debts, engagements or liabilities of her said husband the said John Cott.
Seventhly, I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Mary , the legacy or sum of two dollars to be paid to her by my executor within one month from the time of my decease; and I give to Elijah Concealor the pieced bed quilt upstairs which was made by his mother my last wife.
Eighthly And as to the rest, residue and remainder of my real and personal estate not hereuntofore specifically disposed of, it is my will and desire that the same shall be sold by my Executor herein named and the proceeds thereof applied in the first place to the payment of my debts and funeral expenses and the remainder after payment thereof to be paid over to my three children above named in the following manner, that is to say, two fifths parts thereof to be paid into the hands of my said daughter, Sally Ann and the balance or other three fifths thereof to be divided amond and paid unto my two abovenamed sons in equal share and proportions.
Ninthly, I do hereby except out of the sale of the residue of my property, my hay, husks and fodder, and I direct that the same shall be fed away upon the land to the stock herein before disposed of to my said children, so that the land and (unclear) as the said stock may receive benefit thereof, and I do hereby further except out of the sale of the said residue, the buckwheat which I now have and my old silver watch and I direct that my son Jesse shall have two bushels of said buckwheat and the residue if any together with the said watch shall be delivered to my said daughter, Sally Ann; and I also further except out of the sale of the said residue my wheat (fan?) and I direct that the said shall be delivered to my son William.
And whereas my two above named children, William and Jesse, are not legitimate but were born before my intermarriage with their mother Rebecca , now I do hereby adopt the said William and Jesse as my sons,and designate them as the persons above named as susch.
Lastly, I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint the before named Elisha Durham as the Executor of this my last will and testament.
(5 line unreadable...crossed out)
Signed in Jesse's hand & sealed

The State of Delaware
Kent County, SS
James Farrow one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing purporting to be the Last will and Testament of Jesse Dean late of Little Creek Hundred dec'd Comes before (unclear) Register for the Probate of wills and being sworn deposeth and said that he saw the said Jesse Dean the Testator, sign the said Instrument and saw him also seal the same and heard him publish pronounce and declare the same as (unclear) his last will & Testament that at the time of his so doing he was of souund & disposing mind and memory and upward of 20 years of age. That the deponent attested and subscribed his name as a witness to the said Instrument of writing at the Instance and in the presence of the said jesse Dean the Testator and in the presence of the oath witness.

(signed) james S. Farrow
Subscribed & sworn this 7th day December 1839

{Pre-printed form appointed Nehemiah Clark and John Simpson as the appraisers of the goods and chattels of Jesse Dean of Little Creek Hundred, Kent County, DE.
Subscribed and Sworn the 18th day of December, 1839 }

Inventory & Appraisment of the Goods and Chattles of Jesse Dean, dec'd
24 January 1840
Amount $576.12

Inventory and appraisment of the goods and chattels of Jesse Dean, dec'd as exhibited, Shown and made known by us, by Elisha Durham Administrator with the will annexed.

	1st. The Devise to William Dean one calf about 6 months old $6.00 one Hog in the pen 9$ Patent grain 12$ $21.00 one Sorrel Mare Colt rising 3 years old $45.00 $72.00
	Secondly The Devise to Jesse Dean 2 Hogs in the pen 18$ .. Bay Horse rising 12 years old 70 88.00 Horse Cart and Harness 10$ Large stove 10 20.00 One bridle and pied cow (no horned) and calf 20.00 one young steer 18 months old 10.00 one piece of carpeting 1$ 2 Bushels Buck Wheat 1$ 2.00 $140.00
	3 ly The Devise to Elisha Durham Excr. in Trust for Sally Ann Cott wife of John Cott One Bed, bed stead and furniture 10.00 One bureau 6$ Large Rush bottom chair .75 6.75 Six yellow wooden bottom chairs 3$ floor carpet 1.50 4.50 One Cow called the best cow (no horned) red and white 18.00 2 Hogs in the pen 18$ Small candle stand .50 18.50 One red and white cow with long slim horns & calf 18.00 the Balance of the Buckwheat, supposed about 5 Bush. 2.50 old silver watch 5.00 $93.25
	4 ly The Devise to Elijah Concealor The pieced Bed Quilt made by his mother $2.00
	5thly The Hay, Husks, Straw and fodder directed by the Testator to be fed on the premises one and a half stacks of blade fodder $15.00 Two stacks of Top Foddoe $8.00 Four small Stacks of Hay $10.00 Two small stacks of Wheat Straw $3.00 Corn shucks and Stalks $2.00 $38.00
	The Residue and remainder of the Personal Estate of the Dec'd directed to be sold Wheat Machine 2$ About 1200 Superior oak shingles 10$ $12.00 Lot of very superior white corn, part housed and part in the husk supposed to be 100 Bushels $45.00 About three hundred cypress shingles $4.00 About 300 Boards 3$ About 200 Ft. Pine(?) Poplar 3$ $6.00 New Concave Plough 5.50 Two barrells Vinegar $8.50 4 Tight hogsheads of vinegar 8$ Wood Sled 1$ $9.00 Cutting box and knife 2.50 Two sieves of 1/2 hogshead 2$ $4.50 Lot of Carpenters tools, augers, Saw draw knives, Adze $2.00 Large trough .25 (unclear) Two 2 horse trees .50 .75 Spade and old shovel .75 Two forks 1$ $1.75 Pair iron Wedges 1$ Notched device and Sickle 12 1/2 $1.12 1/2 Old Saddle and bridle 1$ Plough Geers .25 $1.25 Small Lot of broom (?) corn .25 old grubing hoe & chissel .25 Plough Geers .25 .50 a Lot of very superior class wheat in barrels supposed to be 18 Bushels $19.00 Six flour barrels ..75 Two kegs & small lot of old iron ..50 $1.25 Half bushel ,easure ...50 five Duck bill Harrow teeth.. 37 1/2 .87 1/2 1/2 Hogshead and Grubbing hoe 1$ small hoe & rake 12 1/2 $1.12 1/2 Small Patent Plough 3.50 Two old ploughs 1$ $4.50 old harrow frame .25 The 1/2 part of old carriage wheels .75 Old flax brake .50 Three young hogs & brood sow 15$ $15.50 Large Iron Kettle .50 Seven Stands of Bees 7 $7.50 4 (unclear) guns 1$ Fallow Harrow 3$ Small Tub 12 1/2 $4.12 1/2 2 barrels (unclear) & churn 1$ pair of old andirons & fluke(?) tooth .50 $1.50 Small gring stone & 2 small troughs Three axes & bucket $2.50 2 Ladders 1$ Lot of Potatoes, Turnips, Cabbages & apples 5$ $6.00 5 Grain bags 1.25 Iron Pot .50 pair large Steelyards .75 $2.50 Kettle, Small pot & griddle .75 Pot and frying pan 1.25 $2.00 1 Pot Trammels and (unclear) 1.75 pig Irons .25 & (unclear) $2.25 Small Walnut Table 1$ Knife box, knives & forks .25 $1.25 Pine Cupboard 2.50 Lot old Pewter, Dish & pepper mill 37 1/2 $2.87 1/2 Stone Jar, 2 dishes, glasses, bowls, plates, Sugar Dish & coffee pot $1.50 Ditto Pine Cupboard 2.50 handle basket .25 $2.75 2 Small broken looking glasses .25 Waiter & tin caddies .25 .50 Slate & Small lot Books 1$ Small trundle bed stead .50 $1.50 No. 1 Bed, Bed Stead, sheet and coverlet $11.00 No. 2 Ditto Bed Stead, sheet and coverlet $13.00 No. 3 Ditto Bed Stead, sheets and coverlet $10.00 Walnut Bureau 5$ Warming Pan .25 $5.25 Meal Chest .50 Case and Bottles .50 $1.00 Three large chests 3$ Candle Stand .25 $3.25 Lot of old Spools and cotten cards .25 One Spinning Wheel and cut Reel $2.00 Forker (?), Jugs, bottles and old Side Saddle .50 2 Harrows .25 Cross cut Saw $2 $2.25 Corn Cradle, Large Woolen wheels & quilting frames $2.50 6 Rush bottom chairs & 3 frames of ditto $2.00 $576.12

The Subscribers appointed by the Register Appraisers of the goods and chattles of Jesse Dean Deceased do on our oath respectively Say that the goods and chattels in the inventory have been appraised by us at the Sums set down against the Same respectively and that the Said Sums are according to the best of our Skill and Judgement the true Value of Said goods and chattels in money.

Dated the 18th day of December 1839
(signed) Nehemiah Clark
John Simpson

Jesse Dean - Amount of Sale - $283.07
8 Dec. 1840

{N.B. Old handwriting and spelling can be very "unique". The spelling on this sales list is even more "unique" than usual. I have tried to copy the spelling exactly as it appears in the list}

	William Dean		coffee pot		$0.14
	John Cott Junr.		two (unclear) bottles		$0.55
	Elisha Durham		two (unclear)		$0.10
	John Cott Junr.		4 dinner plates		$0.12
	John Martan		(unclear)		$4.55
	Elisha Durham		a large water		$0.37 1/2
	Robert Munce		Small Earthern Jar		$0.03
	William Dean		pine cubord		$5.05
	John Cott Junr.		Ditto		$3.40
	Elisha Durham		Lot Books		$1.00
	William Durham		Large water		$0.50
	Ditto Ditto		(unclear)		$0.12 1/2
	Ditto Ditto		bed spread		$1.05
	Robert Munce		coverlead		$1.35
	Jesse Dean		Ditto		$1.00
	John Morgan		(unclear) bed		$0.91
	William Durham		Bed stead cord		$0.60
	John Morgan		Under bead		$0.59
	Elisha Durham		Bed stead chord		$1.95
	John Cott, Junr.		Lot beans		$1.42 1/2
	William Dean		5 Grain bags .30		$1.50
	Elisha Durham		Tunel Bead Stead		$0.12
	Cristopher Hilliard		Corn ladle		$1.00
	Benj. Knott (?)		slate		$0.12 1/2
	John Cott		pot trammel		$0.90
	Ditto Ditto		Lot Bord		$0.27
	Ditto Ditto		Lot Bord		$0.31
	John Cott Junier		Brood Sows		$10.85
	John Cott Junier		Twelve Hundred OK shingles		$12.84
	John Cott Junier		Wheat Masheane		$1.50
	Gilbert Palmer		Turnips in hold		$0.52
	John Morgan		Potatoes in hold (unclear)		$3.36
	Isaiah Songo		Holde of cabbages		$1.00
	Ditto Ditto		(unclear)		$0.29
	Ditto Ditto		Holde of Apples No. 1 40 Bush.		$2.00
	Jesse Dean		Ditto No. 2 34 c. per Bushel		$2.04
	Robert Munce		Hold of Beets		$0.28
	William Durham		Beed No. 1 (unclear)		$15.05
	Isaiah Songo		Beede No. 2 c.25 (unclear)		$13.00
	Benj. Williams		Ditto No. 3 c.17 per (unclear)		$6.92
	Ditto Ditto		olde sheete		$0.06
	William Dean		Beede cover		$0.25
	Jesse Dean		Beed cover		$0.25
	Elisha Durham		Barrow		$6.10
	Ditto Ditto		walnut table		$1.75
	Absalom Howard		Knives & forkes		$0.20
	Isaiah Songo		Knife Box		$0.06
	John Morgan		Wash Borde		$0.17
	Elisha Durham		Coffee Mill		$0.06
	Ditto Ditto		Pewter Mug		$0.31
	Isaiah Songo		Sad irones		$0.25
	Absalom Howard		setof old pewter plates		$0.20
	Isaiah Song		pewter Bason		$0.40
	Elisha Durham		(unclear) Borde		$0.06 1/4
	James Commens		Small Looking Glass		$0.30
	Elisha Durham		Large dish		$0.20
	John Cott Junr.		Ditto Ditto		$0.12 1/2
	Benj. Enist		(unclear) & dish		$0.37
	Cristopher William		cupes & sauces		$0.04
	Elisha Durham		(unclear) dish		$0.06 1/4
	John Cott Junier		4 Dining plates		$0.06 1/4
	Absalom Howard		2 Sives		$1.75
	John Martin		a large auger		$0.26
	William Hull		Ditto		$0.42
	Ditto Ditto		adzd		$0.57
	George Clark		Lot of plans		$0.16
	Ditto Ditto		Lot Chisel		$0.20
	William Hutt (?)		Basket		$0.62 1/2
	Henry Todd		Ditto		$0.12 1/2
	Jesse Dean		old iron		$0.15
	Ditto Ditto		Ditto Ditto		$0.18
	Cristopher Hilliard		Ditto		$0.15
	John Cummins		Ditto plow shers		$0.02
	Cristopher Hilliard		old sadle & bridle		$1.20
	Ditto Ditto		plow garrs (?)		$0.28
	Isaiah Songo		old (unclear)		$0.23
	Ditto Ditto		Hig and churn		$0.04
	John Cott Junr.		Nes (?)		$0.31
	John Simpson		Cuting Bose and knife		$2.50
	Benjamine William		1 Jete Barrel		$0.50
	Robert H. More		1/2 hoghead		$0.10
	John Durham		small lot of Crumcorn (?)		$0.25
	Elisha Durham		Sider Trough		$0.30
	Thomas Butcher		tite barrel vinegar		$1.15
	William Dean		hoghead of vinegar		$4.05
	Benjamin William		wood slead		$0.50
	Elisha Durham		emty hoghead		$0.50
	William Dean		Ditto Ditto		$1.02
	Robert H. Moore		Ditto Ditto		$0.60
	Ditto Ditto		Cider Barrel		$2.00
	Samuel Emery		fifty lbs. per 53		$26.50
	Elijah Concelar		fifty bus corn 56		$28.00
	Elisha Durham		19 bus. wheat 1.10		$21.45
	Jesse Dean		4 empy Barrels		$0.35
	N. Clark		3 ditto		$0.12 1/2
			3 hogs		$15.00
	Jesse Dean		4 empy Barrels		$0.35
			Slop Buckett		$0.17
	John Morgan		Cuting axe		$0.50
	George Clark		Ditto		$0.66
	William Dean		cuting axe		$0.25
	Elisha Durham		a smal grinstone		$0.80
	John Durham		N. 1 Beve hive		$1.55
	Ditto Ditto		N.2- Ditto		$1.30
	Jasper Tuan (?)		N. 3- Ditto		$1.20
	Jesse Dean		N.4- Ditto		$0.55
	Ditto Ditto		N.5- Ditto		$1.10
	John Cott Junr.		N.6- Ditto		$1.05
	Jesse Dean		N.7- Ditto		$0.55
	Ditto Ditto		4 emty Beguns (?)		$0.50
	William Dean		Lot of pine board		$1.85
	John Morgan		Lot of popular bord		$2.90
	Philip Hofecker		Lot clabords		$2.25
	Henry Todd		1/2 hoghead		$0.49
	William Williams		fork and reals (?)		$0.14
	Henry Todd		and old hoe		$0.14
	John Cott		2 2 horse tree		$0.55
	Elisha Durham		1 3 Horse Tree		$0.31
	Joseph Durham		1 4 prong Fork		$1.00
	N. Clark		grubin hoe		$1.12 1/2
	Thomas Butcher		fore Iron weges		$1.00
	Joseph Truax		Smal Brinard (?)		$2.87 1/2
	Cristopher Hilliard		Concave plow		$5.35
	George Clark		old peacock		$0.65
	Elisha Durham		old Burnard plow		$0.25
	William Dean		Duck Bill harrow		$0.40
	Joseph Durham		Hlasebreak (?)		$1.85
	Benjamine William		Carrieg whells		$0.50
	John Simpson		Spad		$0.55
	Henry Todd		Sow & Drawing knife		$1.75
	Cristopher Hilliard		a Smal Bucket		$0.55
	William Dean		Meal Sifter		$0.51