4 October 1783 Will of John Parker of Bonavista (proved 13 February 1786)

Source: TNA, PROB 11/1139

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In the Name of God Amen
I John Parker of Bonavista Harbour in the Island of
Newfoundland being weak in Body but of sound Mind
and Memory thanks be to God for it Do make and
publish this my last Will and Testament in manner
and form following that is to say First I give and
commend my Soul unto the hands of almighty God
who gave it me and my Body to the Earth from
whence it came in hopes of a joyful Resurrection
through the Merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ and
as for what worldly Estate wherewith it has pleased
God to bless me I dispose thereof as follows Imprimis
I give demise and bequeath unto Mary Sheppard
of Bonavista in the Island of Newfoundland aforesaid
the Sum of One hundred Pounds I do also give
demise and bequeath unto Elizabeth Besant of
Bonavista in the Island of Newfoundland aforesaid
the Sum of One hundred Pounds I do also give
demise and bequeath unto my loving Sister Sarah
Skiffington of Bonavista in the Island of Newfoundland
aforesaid the Sum of One hundred Pounds I do also
give demise and bequeath unto Sarah Beacon
Daughter of Joseph and Sarah Skiffington of
Bonavista in the Island of Newfoundland aforesaid
the Sum of One hundred Pounds I do also give demise
and bequeath unto Martha Skiffington Daughter of 
Joseph and Sarah Skiffington of Bonavista in the
Island of Newfoundland aforesaid the Sum of One
hundred Pounds I do also give demise and bequeath
unto the poor of Bonavista Harbour one hundred
pounds to be distributed according to the Discrecion
of my Executrix amongst the Poor of this place
as she shall apprehend most to want such assistance


                 And as for my Burial I give
fifty pounds I desire it may be decent at the discretion
of my Executor hereinafter named who I doubt not
will manage it with all requisite Prudence Finally
I do by these presents make nominate ordain constitute
and appoint Mary Sheppard of Bonavista Harbour
in the Island of Newfoundland aforesaid Executrix of
this my last Will and Testament hereby making all
other Nul and void In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my Seal at Bonavista in the



Island of Newfoundland aforesaid this    Day
of October 4th and in the year of our Lord one
thousand seven hundred and eighty three  John
Parker  his Mark    In the presence of us
Bucklen Sheppard  Nicholas Walsh  Daniel Spald his Mark

Appeard Personally Bucklen Sheppard of
Bonavista Harbour in the Island of Newfoundland
Merchant now residing in the Town and County of Poole and
William Smart of Bonavista Harbour aforesaid Planter
now also residing in the said Town and County of Poole
and severally made Oath upon the Holy Evangelists
and first the said Buckler Sheppard for himself
deposed that he hath perused the paper writing
hereunto annexed purporting to be the last Will and
Testament of John Parker late of Bonavista
Harbour aforesaid deceased and that the obliteration
of the sixth and seventh Lines and part of the eighth
Line now appearing in the last side or page of the
said Will and containing a Bequest of twenty
pounds to Ann Dewey was made as this Examinant
verily believes in the life time of the said Testator
and by his Directions for this Examinant saith that
the said Ann Dewey died in the life time of the 
said Testator and that very soon after her death
the said Testator desired this Examinant to direct
on Abraham Akerman of Bonavista Harbour
aforesaid who drew the said Will and in whose
Custody the same then was  to strike the said Ann
Deweys Legacy out of the said Will and this
Examinant accordingly delivered such Message to the
said Abraham Akerman and the said Abraham Akerman
having afterwards told this Examinant that he had
struck out the said bequest this Examinant acquainted
the said Testator with its being so done and he
thereupon expressed his approbation thereof
and this Examinant further deposed that the said
Abraham Akerman immediately after the said Testators
funeral produced the said Will to the Relations of
the said Testator and that the same was at the
time it was so produced in the same state and
condition in every respect as the same is in at this
present time and this Examinant apprehends and
believes that the said Will remained in the Custody of
the said Abraham Akerman from the time it was
executed till it was so produced by him as aforesaid
And this Examinant further deposed that the
Christian name of Elizabeth Bezant to whom a
Legacy of one hundred Pounds is given by the said
Will was as he verily believes written on an Erazure



before the said Will was signed and executed by the
said Testator and that the Christian name of Mary
Sheppard the Executrix named and appointed in and
by the said Will (and who is the Wife of the Examinant)
was walso written twice on an Erazure before the said
will was signed and executed by the said Testator the
Drawer of the said Will having by mistake as this
Examinant verily believes inserted this Examinant's
name in both the places where the said two last
mentioned Erazures appear instead of the name of
his said Wife and that this Examinant's name was 
erased in both places and the name of Mary his Wife
inserted in its room by the direction of the said Testator
And this Examinant saith that the word Exector was
also altered into Executrix in two places in the said
Will where the latter part of the word Executrix
now appears to be written on Erazures before the
same was executed by the said Testator And this
Examinant further deposed that he was present when
the said Testator signed and executed the said Will he
being one of the subscribing Witnesses thereto and
that except the obliteration hereinbefore first mentioned
the same is as this Examinant verily believes in the
same plight and Condition in every respect as when the
same was so signed and executed And both the Examinants
Buckler Sheppard and William Smart depose that the
said Testator died in the Month of December one
thousand seven hundred and eighty three And that the
Ann Dewey died in the latter end of October or some
time in the Month of November preceeding the 
death of the said Testator  Buckler Sheppard
The Mark of William Smart  The ninth Day of
February one thousand seven hundred and eighty six
the said Buckler Sheppard and William Smart were duly
sworn to the truth of this Affidavit by virtue of the 
Commission hereunto annexed before me Saml ????oner
In the presence of John Lee Notary Publick

This Will was proved at London the thirteenth day
of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven
hundred and eighty six before the Right Worshipfull
Peter Calvert Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or
Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
lawfully constituted by the Oath of Mary Sheppard
(wife of Buckler Sheppard) the sold Executrix named
in the said will to whom administration of all and
singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the deceased
was granted she having been first sworn by 
Commission duly to administer

Last Modified: Sunday, 13-Apr-2014 15:13:43 NDT