From Gillingham Family Descendants of Yeamans Gillingham, Compiled by Harrold Edgar Gillingham, Gillingham Family Descendants of Yeamans Gillingham, (Patterson and White Company, Philadelphia, 1901), p 4-6:
Family tradition said that Mary came from England about the same time as her husband. In the records of Abington Monthly Meeting her maiden name is not given. The dates of birth of their 7 children are given, the first as having been born May 8, 1694, and it is supposed they were all born in this country, no mention having been made of their being of foreign birth, as was sometimes done. No record has been found of Mary's death or place of interment.
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WILL OF MARY GILLINGHAM
Probated November 11, 1727
Book E, No. 67, page 63
Philadelphia Register of Wills
In the name of God, Amen. The twentieth of October, in the year of our Lord Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty-seven, I, Mary GIllingham, of Oxford, in the county of Philadelphia, in ye province of Pensilvania, widdow, being sick and weak, but of perfect mind and memory, calling to mind the uncertainty of this uncertain and transitory life, do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following: First, I recommend my soul to God that gave it; next, I commit my body to ye Earth to be decently buried at ye discretion of my executors, hereafter named, and for ye selling of my temporal estate I do order, give and dispose of ye same in manner and form following, viz -
Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto my two sons, James and John, each of them twenty shillings when they are of age. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Rebeckah, ye wife of William Wright, ten pounds, with the new bed and bolster, and one cow named Rose and four of the best ewes.
I give to my daughter Mary ye largest brass kettle and warming pan and one cow named Brisk.
Item, I give unto Joseph Paul, son of Henry Paul, five pounds.
Item, I give unto Hannah Wilson, daughter of James Wilson, five pounds, ye said money to be paid by my executors to their fathers and they to put it out to interest till they come of age.
Item, I will that all the remainder of the household goods and also the remainder of the money be equally divided among my five daughters, Ann, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth and Susannah, and as soon as conveniently be divided after my decease. My daughter Susannah, her part and dividend of money I order to put out to interest till she be of the age of eighteen years. But, in case any a one or more of the five daughters above mentioned should die without issue, my will is that the same shall be equally divided among the residue.
Item, I give to Ann, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth and Susannah, their heirs and assigns forever, to be equally divided share and share alike, a small piece of meadow land, about two acres be it more or less, fronting Frankford Creek, as appears by deed; also, another piece y't lies in the neck by Jonathan Dickinson's land, about ye same quantity as appears by deed to Yeamans Gillingham. And, also, I will to have two acres reserved for ye use of my two sons, James and John, to be equally divided between them, and ye said two acres afore reserved of this plantation shall be on that side lying and adjoining on the mill race and fronting Tacony road and ye King's road, and, if in case the said James and John, my sons, at the age of Twenty-one years will not take the said two acres in part of their portion allowed and given them by their Father's last will and testament, them the said two acres may be sold.
John Shallcross and John Knowles, both of Oxford, county and province aforesaid, yoemans, I do constitute and make and ordain my executors of this my last will and testament, herebgy revoking, disannulling and making void all former will bequests by me made and declaring this only to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Mary Gillingham (her mark)
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us, James Parsons, George Marrett, William Grimitt.
Probated November 11, 1727
Letters Test. Granted November 20, 1727
