Manuscript document signed by William McIlvaine. Fairview, Pennsylvania, 6 January 1770. 7 pages, folio, 9 1/2 x 15 1/4 in. Sewn. 

WITH Partly printed document completed in manuscript. Signed by Charles Biddle. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2 October 1786. 1 page, 8 x 10 in. Issued by the Supreme Executive Council, appointing John Matthews as probate. 

The last will and testament of William McIlvaine (1722 - 1770), in which he divides his land and assets. Most notably, the document lists twelve enslaved individuals. William's daughter, Mary, would receive the "negro girl called Rachel". To his wife, he bequeathed "my two Negromen the one called Sampson and the other named Tom, as also my Negro wench Marhtia and her young mulato child...my mulato boy Jean, as also the remainder of time of my servant boy James White." To his son Joseph he leaves "my negro man Paco, my negro boy Dick, and my negro woman called Sylvia with her child." Lastly, his son William was to receive "my negro boy called Bobb." 

William McIlvaine (1722-1770) was a Scottish-born shipping merchant who had served in the Independent Company of Foot under Captain John McKidd. 

The document is also signed by Pennsylvania statesman Charles Biddle (1745 - 1821). From a prominent family, he joined the patriots during the American Revolutionary War, working to thwart the British blockade of American ports as a captain in the merchant service. After Independence, he was elected to Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive Council in 1784; served as vice president of the council under Benjamin Franklin (1785 - 1787); and was a member of the state Senate (1810 - 1814). 

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