1. William Eldridge of the Town and county of Gloucester in the State of New Jersey being weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this writing to be my Last Will and Testament as follows:

Item, It is my Will that all my Just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executor hereafter named out of my personal Estate. Second I do Give and Bequeath unto my son William M. Eldridge all my estate both real and personal. He paying the following Legices, My debts and funeral expenses out of the same. My will is that My Estate Real and personal shall be subject to the payment of the said Legices, Debts and Expenses.

Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Job Eldridge the sum Six Hundred Dollars to be paid him by my son William M. Eldridge in two years after my decease
Item, Give and bequeath unto my Daughter Deborah Wife of Isaac Kay the sum of Five hundred Dollars to be paid her in two years after my Decease

Item, I give and bequeath unto my two sons Josiah Eldridge and Eli Eldridge the sum of twenty Dollars each to be paid to them in two years after my decease

Item, I do give and bequeath unto my Daughter Hannah wife of Henry Wood the sum of two hundred fifty Dollars to be paid to her by said son William M. Eldridge at such times and in such proportions as he in his wisdom may think proper so that the whole there of be paid within two years after my decease and her debt shall be a discharge for the same or any part there of notwithstanding her present Husband Henry Wood

Item, I give and bequeath unto such of my Grand Children as inhere after named the sum of Fifty Dollars each to be paid them as they shall severally arrive at the age of Twenty one years to my son Enos Children namely Joseph, Rebecca, Ann, Agnes, Enos, Deborah and Griffith M. Eldridge and to my son Elis children William, Abigail, Susannah, Eli, Borrough Hannah and Isaac Eldridge and to my son Josiah children - Duncan, Hannah, Josiah, John and Ann Eldridge all which said Devises I Give and Bequeath unto the several persons afore named to hold to them there as aforesaid their heirs and Assigns forever and Lastly I Nominate and appoint my son William M. Eldridge my Lawful Executor to this my Last Will and Testament in Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Eighteenth day of November in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twelve 1812.

Signed Sealed published and
Pronounced to be my last Will
And Testament In the presence of William Eldridge
Joseph W. Clark (signed)
Isaac Doughten
Morris Hale Jr.

William M. Eldridge sole Executor in the within Testament named being duly affirmed according to Law did declare and say that the within Instrument Contains the True last will and Testament of William Eldridge and Testator therein named so far as he knows and as he verily believes, that he will well and truly perform the same, by paying first the debts of the said deceased and then the legacies in the said Testament specified So far as the goods and Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased can thereunto extend and that he will make and exhibit into the surrogates office at Woodberry a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the goods, Chattels and credits of said deceased that have or shall come to his knowledge or possession, or to the possession of any other person or persons for his use and render a Just and true account. When thereunto lawfully agrees Affirms and Subscribes at Woodberry February 6, 1816 before

Jacob Glover Surrogate Wm. M. Eldridge


Inventory

A true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods Chattels Wares and Merchandises as well moveable as not moveable of William Eldridge late of the Town and County of Gloucester deceased made by us whose names are hereunto subscribed the sixth day of the second month in the Year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and Sixteen 1816.

His wearing apparel 40 00
Cash 800 00
Obligations 2251 48
Book Accts 157 50
Sundry Furniture 103 00
Waggen and Sulkey 51 00
1 Wood slab 400 00
1/2 of a Shallop 600.00
50 cords wood on timber Creek Landing 225.00
SUBTOTAL 4627.98

12 /cords wood in the Tolineer tract 30.00
______
TOTAL 4657.98

Isaac Kay
Isaac Doughten

A record exists in the Haddonfield, New Jersey, Friends Grave Yard of the burial of William Eldridge on
1 mo. 3, 1816 At the time of his death, he lived in the colonies of New Jersey and Pennsylvania under the rule of King George I and II. He had witnessed the birth of the United States and had seen four presidents take office: George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He and his family survived the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 with health and wealth intact. William Eldridge is surely an ancestor whose tenacity the present day generations ought to greatly admire.