NOTE:  We don’t know who this John Hilburn was.  I include it so that others can hopefully connect the dots through due research and documentation.

This will is transcribed by me, Joy Mohr. I’ve tried to stay true to the spelling found in the will; the name Hilburn is spelled in various ways within the same document. In addition, there is basically no punctuation within the will.

In the name of God amen, the 18th day of January in the year of our Lord God, 1728, I, John Hilburn of Queen Anne County, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for it calling unto mind the mortal of my body

First and foremost I desire my son Willm Hillburn to stay with my well beloved wife Frances Hellborn until he comes of years of one and twenty as also I desire my son Jeh Hellborn to stay at his brothers above mentioned as all soe I leave to my well beloved friend Mark Hargedine. and Jane his wife my daughter Elizabeth Hellborn until shee comes to the eage of 18 years and the said Mark Hargedine and Jane his wife, in consideration thereof must learn the said Elizabeth Hellborn to read, nit, spin soe and doe housework. (read, knit, sew and do housework). After I give and bequeath to my dear loving wife Frances Hilburn, a servant boy named Willm Smith, As witness my hand and seal this 18 day of January 1728.

John Boulton (signature}                                                       John H (mark) Hilburn
Edward Ellmore (mark)
William Gough (signature)

March 28, 1729…………… Then came William Gough & John Boulton, two of the subscribing witnesses to the above will and made both on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that they saw the testator, John Hilborn, signe and seal and heard him publish and declare the same as his last will and testament and at the time of his so doing he was to the best of their knowledge and apprehention of sound and dispossessing mind and memory & that they aforesaid William Gough, as witnesses subscribed the said will in the presence of the said testator sworn to before.                                                                                  W. Hemsley DiC?? Eq.