Conception Bay North

Brigus - Will Of George Gushue, 1826

"GEORGE GUSHUE - COPY OF HIS WILL: In the name of God, Amen.

The Twenty third day of May, One thousand eight hundred and twenty six. I, George Gushue, of Brigus in Conception Bay, Newfoundland, Planter, being very sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be given unto God, therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial, at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, give, devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First, I order that Elizabeth, my dearly beloved wife, be maintained out of the effects of my estate agreeable to the direction of my hereinafter named Executors during her natural life.

I Will also to my dearly beloved son, George, that he be supported out of the effects of my property, and that he receive a good education.

And that my dearly beloved daughter, Ann, be supported out of the effects of my property, and likewise receive an education (inferior to that of my son) and when at the Age of Twenty one years, she shall be paid by my Executors Fifty pounds Sterling, lawful money of Great Britain.

To my son, George, I bequeath the residue of my effects (say House, Lands, Credits and all monies whatsoever) after the decease of my beloved wife, Elizabeth. But in the event of my wife marrying another husband, I then give her Fifty pounds Sterling to be paid her by my Executors at her marriage, with liberty for she and her husband to live in my Dwelling House -And to possess the Room and Plantation, but as soon as my son, George, becomes of age, he is to be put in full possession of my House, Plantation, Stock and all appurtenances appertaining thereunto, together with all Credits, monies, etc. and its also my wish that both the children remain with their Mother, until they are of age, unless a suitable education for them cannot be obtained in Brigus, and my Executors see fit to remove them. If my daughter, Ann, should not live to be of age, the Fifty pounds bequeathed her is to be given my son, George. But if my son George should not live to be of age and my daughter, Ann, should survive him, then my said Daughter is to possess the whole of my property and effects as before stated or willed to my Son. If neither should live to be of Age, then in such case, I bequeath one half of my property and effects to my Brother John's son, James, and the other half to John's son, John, but my wife to possess my House and Plantation during her natural life, either as a Widow or if married to a second husband, but should she remain single, she is to be supported out of the property as before stated, the residue after her death to be divided between my Brother's sons, James and John.

My Schooner, Craft, and all materials for the Fishing to be sold as soon after my decease as convenient, and the net proceeds with all other monies I possess, my Executors are to place at Interest in the hands of those they may deem best for those concerned. And I do hereby make, nominate, constitute and appoint John Gushue and John Norman joint Executors of this, my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all other Will or Wills by me at any time or times yet afore made.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year before written. Signed and sealed by George Gushue.

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said George Gushue as his last Will & Testament in the presence of us, John Norman, John Gushue and C. Cozens.

Property sworn to under two thousand three hundred pounds.

I hereby certify that the foregoing pages Two hundred and twenty three, twenty four, twenty five and twenty six contain a true and correct copy of the Will of George Gushue, proved in the Supreme Court on the Thirty first day of October and Probate granted the Fourth day of November, one thousand eight hundred and twenty six, and the same is hereby actually Registered by me this day.