DARRELL, JAMES Sr
W5:237
11 April 1716

In the name of God, Amen the eleventh day of Aprill in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixteen, I JAMES DARRELL Sr of Pagets Tribe in the Somer Islands alias Bermuda, joyner, being weak in body but of good and perfect memory, thanks be to God Almighty for the same, do make ordain and declare this my last will & testament in manner and form following, nulling and making void all former wills & testaments by me heretofore made either by word or writing and this & no other to be taken for my last will and testament; And first I comitt my soul to Almighty God my creator, redeemer, and sanctifier, in whom and by the merritts of my blessed Lord and saviour Christ Jesus I trust and believe to have the full and free pardon of all my sins, and to have everlasting salvation; and my body I comitt to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named; And for such temporary estate as it hath pleased God to bestow upon me, I do order, give and dispose of the same in manner and form following. First I will that all my just debts and funerall expence be paid and discharged.
Item: I give to my dear and loveing wife HANNAH DARRELL my dwelling house and my land in Pagets Tribe from the northside common path to the southside lea, untill my grandson JAMES DARRELL, the son of my son JAMES DARRELL lately dec'd, comes to the age of twenty one years or in the case of his decease without male issue lawfully begotten, untill the next surviving brother of him shall come to the age of twenty one years as aforesaid, if my said wife shall so long live, and after the expiration of the time aforesaid I give my said wife all my land from the northside common path as far southerly as the late dwelling house of my son JAMES DARRELL deceased with all and singular the edifices thereon; for and during the time of her natural life;
Item: I give to my son JOHN DARRELL my land from the northside common path aforesaid to the northside sea to him & his heirs male lawfully begotten of his body forever,
Item: I give to my grandson JAMES DARRELL the son of my son JAMES DARRELL my dwelling house aforesaid and all my land from the northside common path to the southside sea, which I will he shall possess from and after the decease of my wife. Provided he be twentyone years of age or married but if he shall come to the age of twenty one years before the decease of my said wife, then I will he shall possess my land from the southside sea as far northerly as the dwelling house of his mother MARY DARRELL: all which land in manner as aforesaid I give to him my said grandson JAMES DARRELL and his heirs male lawfully begotten forever with all and singular the appurtenances thereof. If my said grandson shall decease & leave no male line lawfully begotten then what I have given to him to his eldest surviving brother being the sons of my aforesaid son JAMES: in form and manner as before expressed, that is to him and his heirs male lawfully begotten forever and if my aforesaid wife shall decease before such grandson of mine as shall inherit my land aforesaid comes to the age of twenty one years or be married: then it is my will that the profit it benefit and advantage of my said house and land shall be equally among my said son JAMES his children untill he that shall inherit it comes to the age aforesaid and
Signed, seal'd & owned by the afores'd
JAMES DARRELL Sr.: in the presence of
NATHANIEL BASCOME
BENJAMIN ALBOUY
NATH: ASTWOOD

And as touching the disposal of my personall estate I give and dispose thereof as followeth:
First I give to my dear and loveing wife aforesaid all such goods, slaves and personall estate as was belonging to her at or before my marriage with her also the issue of such slaves to her & at her disposal. I give also to my said wife my negro woman BESS, during her naturall life & after the decease of my wife the said negro among my children also the rest of my estate I also give to my said wife and equal share of what profit & advantage shall come to my personall estate by my negro man TOM from the time of her going last from Bermuda till the expiration of twelve months after my decease or untill his return to Bermuda if longer
Item: I give to my son BENJAMIN DARRELL my negro boy called LEWIS: and one cedar chest in the porch chamber
Item: I give to my daughter SARAH DARRELL my feather bed, bedstead bolster and pillow; which she shall make choice of and also two pewter dishes and one basin and also the use of my hall chamber during the time she shall remain unmarried with liberty to pass and repass and whatsoever else be remaining of my personall estate not before given shall be divided among these my children following, viz. JONATHAN DARRELL, NATHANIEL DARRELL, & BENJAMIN DARRELL, MARY ARTHUR, and SARAH DARRELL; and the children of my son JAMES except he shall enjoy my land to have one equal share among them or the survivors of theirs; also two children of my son JOSEPH the same; also to my wife and equall part of what shall be gained by my negro man TOM in manner as before except to be at her disposall.
Item: it is my will that what ever gifts I have formerly given to any of my children stand good without any allowance for the same.
Item: It is my will that whatsoever provision shall be in my house or on my land at my decease shall be at my wife's disposal and of stock equivalent for what horses and cattle was hers at my marriage with her.
Item: It is my will that my son BENJAMIN sahll have room to lodge in my house during the time he remains unmarried
Lastly, I appoint my loving wife executrix of this my last will & testament and my sons JOHN, JONATHAN, NATHANIEL, & BENJAMIN executors of the same. In witness whereof I have to this last will and testament contained in two sheets of paper set my hand and seal to each sheet the day & year in the first sheet above written.
sign'd, seal'd, and acknowledged by the aforesaid JAMES DARRELL Sr
and declared to be his last will & testament in presence of
NATHANIEL BASCOME
BENJAMIN ALBOUY
NATHANIEL ASTWOOD

proved 24 October 1716 by NATHANIEL BASCOME & NATHANIEL ASTWOOD;
Gov. R BENNETT, GEORGE TUCKER secretary