Will of Timon Stiddem
1 Feb 1686
To all whom these Presents shall come Greeting: know ye yt Lucas Stiddem and Erasmus Stiddem have duly and legally proved in this office a certain will called ye last Will and Testament of Timon Stiddem, their late father deceased, the tenor wherof followeth:
Praised be God forever. In ye name of God, Amen. In ye year of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 1686 appeared before ye underwritten witnesses Mr. Timon Stiddem born at Hammell inhabitant in Christina Creek who being sick in body but full and perfect sound and understanding as outwardly appeared to us, and he consedering ye fraylty of his mortal life ye certainty of death and uncertain hour therof and being unwilling to depart this world until he should first have desposed of what temporal estate and goods (God) has been pleased to bestow on him. Therefore ye sd Testator doth first of all committ his soul into ye hands of God yt gave it him and his body after his decease a decent buriall and as for ye disposal of his temporall estate First I wil yt my wife Christina Oels daughter shall have and receive one part or share equall with my children of all loose and mouvable goods mouvable and immouvable present and to come. And as to ye land and its appurtenances ye same shall be by my children equally shared or injoyed except my daughter Ingober Stiddem who shall have for her part or share thereof one young steer and one cow. This Will and Testament being word by word read to ye testator he approved thereof and desired yt this might be held and reputed as his last will and testament might be held good and allowed of and in testimony of ye truthe hereof I have hereunto sett my hand in usuall form on ye 1st day of February 1686 in ye 1st year of ye Reign of our Souaraign Lord King James ye 2nd in ye presence of Hendrick Commens.
 (Was signed) Timon Stiddem
Witnesses Present Hendrick Commens
Carroll X Jansen
A true translation Eph. Herman
(his mark).
The document below appeared on April 24, 1686 at the office of Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration for New Castle County
Whereas Lucas Stiddem and Erasmus Stiddem the sons of Timon Stiddem deceased have exhibited into ye office of Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration for ye County of New Castle an Inventory of ye Estate of ye sd. Timon Stiddem deceased and given security to administer according to law These are therefore by ye Kings authority and in ye name of ye Proprietary and Gouvernor to authorize and impower ye sd Lucas Stiddem and Erasmus Stiddem to administer upon ye estate goods and chattels debts and other effects whatsoever belonging to the sd Timon Stiddem their late father deceased or to him in any ways appertaining hereby giving and granting to ye sd Lucas Stiddem and Erasmus Stiddem full power to enter upon and take possession of all ye estate real and personal whatsoever late belonging to their sd deceased father and to sue for recover and obtain ye same out of ye lands of any person or persons whatsoever that is owing unto or hath ought in custody of our belonging to ye sd Timon Stiddem deceased and therwith to satisfy all his just debts and according to law to pay all legacyes and to allot to his late wife Christina and ye children their several shares and parts by ye law is directed and further to do execute and perfoem such other lawful act or acts thing or things in and about ye premises as fully and amply to all intents and purposes as any other administrator by ye Laws of this Provicne of Pennsilvania and Territorys may can or ought to be. Given under my hand and ye seale of ye office this 24th of April, 1686.
Signed by John White, Dept of Register by order of James Bradshaw, Register Gen.
Source: Liber A, Folio 73. Wilmington, Delaware |
