Sussex Cnty, DE Land Records 1789-1792, by Judith K Ardine, 2002, DelMarVa Roots, Lewes, MD. O-14:384. Petition. Ct of Common Pleas, Sussex cnty, DE 10 Feb 1791. Mary CLOWES & Isaac CLOWES, Execs of the last will & testament of John CLOWES late of Sussex cnty, Esq, dec'd. John CLOWES was seized in his lifetime of 140 acres of land situate in the forest of Broadkiln Hundred & by his Bond dtd 07 Sep 1772 bound himself to Isaiah JOHNSON of sd cnty, yeoman, in the sum of 100 w/condition that whereas the above Isaiah JOHNSON on the day & year last purchased of sd John CLOWES 140 acres of land situate in Broadkiln forest adjoining land then in the possession of Obediah & Nehemiah MESSICK, it being the lands the sd CLOWES purchased of Joseph LUFTON & Jane KIMMERY. LUFTON's 100 Acres is a PA Survey & KIMMERY's 40 acres a MD patent, which sd 140 acres of land & premises sd Isaiah JOHNSTON shall have under the conditions hereafter mentioned, viz: he shall pay yearly & every year 3 as rent for same during the full term of 10 years or until the payment of 50 be made by sd Isaiah JOHNSTON to sd John CLOWES & if sd 50 not be paid at the end of sd term then sd Isaiah JOHNSTON shall give up all title to sd land w/1 log house 18' x 20'& 1 other 12' x 14', fit for a tenant to dwell & also 50 acres of cleared land fit for the plough under good fence, but at the end of the term sd Isaiah JOHNSTON shall have a Did for the afsd land made by sd John CLOWES to sd Isaiah forever as he shall pay yearly forever to sd John CLOWES the sum of 3 ground rent for same. Condition of the w/in is such that if the above Bounded John CLOWES upon receipt of the above sum of 50 w/interest w/in 10 years by Deed of Sale convey to sd Isaiah JOHNSTON the above described 140 acres of land & premises & above Obligation to be null & void. Isaiah by his written assign on sd Bond dtd 22 day of Mar 1776 for the sum of 77 2s 6p sold all his title in sd Bond & lands thereby held to Nunez DEPUTY. A dispute thereafter arose between sd John CLOWES & sd Nunez DEPUTY & to settle the dispute by their several Bonds dtd 13 Mar 1789 became bound each to the other in the sum of 200 to abide by the final determination of Joseph HAZZARD, Nathaniel WAPLES, Esqs & John INGRAM, gent, any 2 of them so as the sd aware be made in writing to be delivered to sd parties on or before 01 May next ensuring the date of the sd Obligations. After duly considering the proofs & allegations of both sd parties two of sd Arbitrators, Joseph HAZZARD & Nathaniel WAPLES published their award dtd 11 Apr 1789 wherein they awarded sd Nunez DEPUTY should pay unto John CLOWES the sum of 50 on or before 01 Jan 1791 w/interest & upon payment sd John CLOWES should duly confirm unto sd Nunez DEPUTY all his title to the 140 acres of land above. Nunez DEPUTY by his Indorse on the Award delivered by sd Arbitrators dtd 30 Dec 1790 for the sum of 55 3s 4p by Richard HUDSON paid to your Petitioners sd Nunez DEPUTY did assign all his title & claim to sd award unto sd Richard HUDSON. Sd John CLOWES d: before he executed any Deed of Conveyance for sd lands having first made his last will & testament wherein among other things he apptd Petitioners his Execs. Petitioners request an Order authorizing them to execute a Deed of Conveyance for sd lands & premises to sd Richard HUDSON who is assignee of sd Nunez DEPUTY who is assignee of sd Isaiah JOHNSTON the original Obligatoree. Signed: Mary CLOWES, Isaac CLOWES. O-14:386. Deed. Mary CLOWES & Isaac CLOWES, Execs, of the last will & testament of John CLOWES late of Sussex cnty, dec'd. John CLOWES was seized of 140 acres of land situate in the forest of Broadkiln Hundred & by his Bond Obligatory dtd 07 Sep 1772 bound himself to Isaiah JOHNSON of sd cnty, yeoman, in the sum of 100 w/Condition that Isaiah JOHNSON purchased of sd John CLOWES 140 acres of land situate in Broadkiln Forest in Sussex cnty adjoining lands of Obediah & Nehemiah MESSICK being lands John CLOWES purchased of Joseph LUFTON & Jane KIMMERY whereon sd Isaiah JOHNSON shall occupy as his Freehold under conditions hereafter mentioned, to wit: he paying each & every year 3 as above sd rent for the full term of 10 years or until the payment of 50 by Isaiah JOHNSON to John CLOWES then upon such payment the above rent to cease. But if above sum of 50 not be paid by end of sd term then afsd Isaiah JOHNSON shall give up all right to sd land w/one logged house 18' x 20' & another 12' x 14', fit for tenant to dwell, also 50 acres of afsd land cleared for the plough, under good fence. It was further agreed that at the end of the term sd Isaiah JOHNSON should have a Deed for the afsd land made by sd John CLOWES to Isaiah JOHNSON., he paying yearly rent 3 for same. Condition of sd Obligation is such if John CLOWES at any time w/in the term of 10 years on rcpt of 50 w/interest shall release a sufficient Deed of Sale to sd Isaiah JOHNSON for the afsd 140 acres of land & premises then above Obligation shall be void. 27 Mar 1776 Isaiah JOHNSON assigned on back of sd Bond for the sum of 77 his claim to afsd lands to Nunez DEPUTY. Controversy arose between John CLOWES & Nunez DEPUTY re sd lands & by their sundry Bonds dtd 13 Mar 1789 became bound to each other in the penal sum of 200 to abide the award & final determination of Joseph HAZZARD, Nathaniel WAPLES Esqs & John INGRAM, gent, sd award to be made in writing on or before 01 May next. Sd Arbitrators after fully examining & duly considering the proofs & allegations of both parties did write their decision dtd 11 Apr 1789 wherein among other things they did award sd Nunez DEPUTY should pay to John CLOWES the sum of 50 on or before 01 Jan 1791 w/interest from date of award & sd John CLOWES at cost of sd Nunez DEPUTY should by Deed of Sale duly executed make over conveyance unto sd Nunez DEPUTY all his title & claim to the sd 140 acres. NunezDEPUTY by his assignment indorsed on sd aware delivered to him 13 Dec 1790 for the sum of 50 3s 4p by Richard HUDSON paid to Mary & Isaac CLOWES, parties to these presents, sd Nunez DEPUTY did assign all his right to sd aware unto sd Richard HUDSON. Whereas sd John CLOWES d: before executing any Deed of Conveyance having first made his last will & testament wherein he apptd his wife, Mary CLOWES, and heir, Isaac CLOWES, his Execs sd Execs petition Ct of Com Pleas to cause an order to be made empowering them to execute Deed of Conveyance for sd lands & premises to sd Richard HUDSON. Ct so ordered. Mary CLOWES & Isaac CLOWES make Deed of Sale to Richard HUDSON 12 Feb 1791. Signed: Mary CLOWES, Isaac CLOWES. Wit: Daniel ROGERS, Jno WILTBANK. There are also mentions of George, Isaac & Mary MESSICK in this land records book as well. Mostly George. If I remember correctly, Mary was the wife of George.