John Test, 1651 -1706

In the Name of God, Amen.^§ The twenty and first day of the month called July in the year 1706. I John Test, now of New Castle in the county of New Castle on Dellaware; being weake of body yet of perfect mind and memory doe make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and Forme as followeth, Vis:

After my funerall Charges defrayed and due debts paid as to the remainder of my Estate doe give and bequeath as follows: First I doe give unto my son John Test five shillings and to the rest or other of My children five shillings to each to be paid by Executrix to each particular when they that be married or att the age of twenty and one years being in full of what any or either of them may Claime as to any part of my estate.

Viz: I doe give and bequest unto My Welbeloved wife Grace Test all and every part of my estate both real and personall whatt and where forever it may be to be holden for her use and disposall for ever after the said five shillings to each of my children is paid as foresaid.

I doe likewise constitute and Appoint my Welbeloved wife full and absolute Executrix of this my last will and Testament hereby utterly disalowing make void and Revoking all former Wills, Testaments, Legacies Bequests, Executors by me heretofore made Given made or Constituted, Ratyfieing and Confirming this and none but this to be my Last Will and Testament in Confirmation whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & seale the day & yeare above written.

John Test

Signed, Sealed and Declared in the presence of George Hogge, Joseph Griffin, Benja. Swett.

Whereas John Bacon who hath Intermarried with Grace Test Widdow & sole executrix of John Test had produced unto me the within written copy of the last will and testament of the said Test and define the above mentioned of all and singular The goods chattels and credits of the said Deceased that are within the province might in the right of the wife be committed upon him.

I have thought and doe hereby grant unto him the said John Bacon the full and said administration of all and singular the law goods, chattels and credits of the deceased which was the said deceased whilst he live and at the time of her oath belong and do aprove and allow the within mentioned will and direct it to be entered into the secretary office. In witness whereof I have gave my seale the 30th day of January Ano Dom 1709.

^§ This oath is evidence that John Test was not a Quaker at the time of his death. --RWT

The following images are from the New Jersey Archives. They are from photocopies of the micro-film images of John Test’s Will.

These images were obtained and posted in May of 2018.

John Test’s Will was preserved in the archives of New Jersey. However, the will states that John Test is now of New Castle in the county of New Castle on Dellaware. We know John Test resided at times in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and in New Jersey. He may have been living in New Jersey at the time of his death. It seems likely that when his widow, Grace, married John Bacon the couple were living in New Jersey. And we know that administration of the will was transferred to John Bacon explaining why the will was filed in the archives of New Jersey.