Following from the research of Jones historian Gilbert X. Drendel:
369William Wroten died in 1789 without a will. His wife Sabra Roten resigned administration of his estate “to my sons Henry and James” with a signature evidencing old age or infirmity and the statement -- “as I thought myself incapable of the task”. Whoever wrote the resignation spelled her name “Sabrough,” another example of how casual folks in those times were about spelling names. The change of administrators occurred on December 8, 1789. The final estate account occurred August 29, 1792.
William Wroten died without a will. Therefore, all heirs (in this case spouse and children) were entitled to a share of his estate. In the final account of his estate, money was received from Zebulon Hopkins, which is no surprise since he was a neighbor. Money was paid out to the same Hopkins and Henry Wroten for expenses of the estate and to an “Isaiah Jones” (a person I have not yet pursued fully). However, in the inventory of his non-real estate assets (tools, furniture etc) some of them were set off to heirs as their share of the estate. This is the entry that is important:
“Sundries let Mary Jones have in part of her portion” value = 30 pounds, 17 shillings, 6 pence”
We connect Mary to the nearby William Wroten family by sharing in her father’s estate and with a mother named Sabre.
Who is this Mary Jones? Given the geographic proximity of the Jones and Wroten families, the common neighbors and persons of acquaintanceship, and the shared family names, we know this Mary Jones is Ebenezer’s wife.
If Mary was a child of Sabra and William Roten, why was she not recognized in Sabra’s will?
Answer – Mary Jones was clearly their child as she inherited from William. In a will, such as Sabra’s, the decedent may pass her estate as she wishes and to whom she wishes. Apparently Delaware law, at that time, did not require that a will specifically identify and disinherit heirs. Sabra only owned some animals and a few household items. She may have decided it was impractical and unnecessary to remember Mary in her will when Mary lived hundreds of miles away and must have had substantial household items for her own family of seven children.
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Following from Land Records of Kent Co DE:
413Grantor: James & Frances Wroten, John & Sabery Cheasman (Cheasam) and
Bayley & Nancy Addams, heirs of William WrotenGrantee: Henry Wroten
Probably indicates that James Wroten, Sabery (Sabra?), Nancy, and Henry were sons and daughters of William Wroten.
Mary Jones’ mother’s name has also been given as Sally (or Sabea) Vance.
407Following from research of Gilbert X. Drendel:
369“Sabre Wroton” prepared a will whose date I do not have. Her estate was inventoried on October 9, 1795 (where she was described as “Sabro Rotten”. She left her estate “to my daughter Ann Adams one bed and furniture, one cow and calf, six pewter plates, six earthen ??, my side saddle, and all my wairing apparel, one duch oven, one iron pot, one kittel, ?? table; To my grandson Henry Adams or Wroten, one cow and calf and heifer and their increase”; Balance of estate to be equally divided between my son Henry, my son James and my daughter Ann Adams”. (original spelling unchanged)