This is my last will and testament and I Bequeath to my wife Sarah An Durham all the Land houses and fixtures that I own to be hers during her life time except twelve acres that I sold to my son Jeremiah Durham and that is all Paid for except ten dollars and at the Death of my wife Sarah An Durham I want it then divided equally between my children and at My Death My administrator Shall pay all my Debts and Sarah An Durham is to have (unclear) cow that she claims to be hers and at the close of all after all is paid and Collected and then what ever is left Sarah An Durham is to have one third to be hers and the Balance then what ever it may be I want it equally divided between my children.

July 19, 1888
BENJAMIN (his mark) DURHAM

13 September, 1888
(2 sep. documents...1 for each)
Benjamin W. Masten and Joseph H. Thomas...witnesse{s} to the within and foregoing instrument of writing purporting to be the Last Will and testament of Benjamin Durham deceased, late of West Dover Hundred, come before James L. Heverin, Register for the Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration for Kent County in the state of Delaware and on solemn oath say {they} saw the said Testator sign and seal the said Instrument and heard him publish, pronounce and declare the same as and for his last will and testament; that at the time of his so doing and saying he was of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding and u pwards of twenty-one years of age, that {they} the said Benjamin Martin {and} Joseph M. Thomas subscribed the same as witness at the instance and in the presences of {the other} ,the other subscribing witness, who subscribed the same in the presence of the testator and this deponent.

(signed) Benjamin W. Masten and John H. Thomas
(signed) J. L. Heverin, Register

3 April, 1889

Benjamin W. Masten and Andrew H. Moore are appointed appraisers of the goods and chattels of Benjamin Durham , late of West Dover Hundred... Sarah A. Durham, Administratrix.

Inventory & Appraisement of Goods & Chattels of Benjamin Durham deceased.
December 3rd, 1888

1 Table, 1 rocking Chair...................1.25
6 Chairs, 1 Reel.............................20
6 Windsor Chairs...........................1.50
1 Tin Can, 1 Table...........................50
1 Sausage Cutter.............................40
1 Bureau...................................2.00
1 Bed stead................................1.25
1 Straw & Feather Bed........................75
1 grind Stone................................25
1 peach Ladder...............................50
1 wheel rake...............................5.00
1/2 interest in Reaper.....................5.00
9 Plows....................................3.00
6 Iron Flukes..............................4.50
1 twin (unclear) harrow....................4.00
2 carriage poles.............................90
5 shovels, 4 forks.........................1.35
4 sets plow gears..........................2.00
1 grain fan................................8.00
6 empty barrels..............................50
16 grain bags 18 P Baskets.................1.36
1 carriage & harness......................11.00
1 horse cart...............................5.00
1 (unclear)...............................15.00
1 peach Wagon.............................10.00
1 Farm Wagon..............................10.00
1 set cart harnesses.......................1.50
1 corn sheller.............................1.00
2 big boxes (unclear)........................25
4 bus.(?) oats.............................1.00
21 bus.(?) offal corn......................2.00
275 Bus (?) corn on cob..................110.00
1000 Blades...............................15.00
4 cows....................................75.00
1 pr. mules..............................150.00
3 Horses.................................225.00
53 Bus Wheat..............................53.00
3 Stacks Hops(?)..........................20.00
5 Fat Hogs................................50.00
old iron ..................................1.00
TOTAL....................................799.96

We the subscribers appointed by the Register appraisers of the goods & Chattels of Benj. Durham, deceased, do on oath & affirmation, Respectively say that the Goods & Chattels in this inventory have been appraised by us in the sums Set down against the Same Respectively and that Said Sums are according to the best of our skill & Judgement the true value of Said Goods & Chattels in Money.
Dated the 3rd day of Dec. 1888.
(signed) B. W. Masten & A. H. Moore

A handwritten list of sale also exists....it's very difficult to read & hopefully can be transcribed later. Names that appear on the list include....Clem Durham, Torbitt, Nickles, J. Durham, E. Durham, W. Masten, W. W. Powell, Isaac Northen and Cale Owens

Benjamin Durham , final Administration & Unappropriated Bal.
Book J., page 416
1889

3 October 1888
(list of payments to various people.....will transcribe later)...342.52
Unappropriated Balance...........................................271.00
(TOTAL)..........................................................613.62

April, 1889
By Inventory & Appraisement on file..............................799.96
By this amount Rec'd after a fair sale..........................613.52
(the difference between the appraisment and the sale is caused by two horses added in the appraisement which was bequeathed this accountant and of right should not have been included in said appraisment)

The unappropriated Balance is divided among the following named Heirs:
To Sarah A. Durham (Widow) 1/3...............................90.33 1/3
To Margaret Norwood (?) ..........................................18.06 2/3
To Daniel Durham .............................................18.06 2/3
To John Durham ...............................................18.06 2/3
To Enoch Durham ..............................................18.06 2/3
To Jeremiah Durham ...........................................18.06 2/3
To Henrietta Morgan ..........................................18.06 2/3
To Amanda Salmons ............................................18.06 2/3
To Clem Durham ...............................................18.06 2/3
To Mariah Durham .............................................18.06 2/3
To Harvey Durham .............................................18.06 2/3

Examined, adjusted, allowed, proved & settled this 7th day of October, 1889 before
(signed) J. L. Heverin, Reg.