DICKINSON, JOHN
W5:48
4 August 1714
proved 5 November 1714
In the name of God, Amen, I JOHN DICKINSON of Smith's Tribe in these islands of
Bermuda, being at present sick and weak of body but of mind and memory sound, joyous
thanks be to Almighty God, and calling to remembrance the uncertain estate of this
transitory life, and that all flesh must yield to death when please God to call, do make
ordain and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme following, hereby
revoking and by these presents annulling all and every former testament and testaments
will and wills by me heretofore made and declared either by word or writing and this only
to be taken for my last testament and will and none other.
Imprimis, I give and committ my soul into the hands of God that gave it hoping and ___ to
receive a joyfull resurrection in and through the merritts of Jesus Christ my only savior and
redeemer; and my body I committ to the earth from whence it was taken to be buried in
such decent manner and place, as to my executrix hereafter named should deeme
convenient; and to the worldly estate which God hath been pleased farr beyond my
deserts, to bestow upon me, I give, devise and dispose off as hereafter is mentioned.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my loving wife ELIZABETH DICKINSON for and
during her naturall life my now dwelling house scituate in Smith's Tribe aforesaid, and all
outhouses thereto belonging and all my lands on which it stands, abutting on the southside
sea, so running northerly to the northward of the said dwelling house to the northermost
row of cedars at the comon path or road, leaving from ATTWOOD's lands toward the
southside to WILLIAM SPACHAR's land, as now bounded, and after my said wives
decease to be disposed of as hereafter is mentioned, and the one half off all my personall
estate untill the marriage of my two daughters ELIZABETH DICKINSON and MARY
DICKINSON or their arrival to the age of twenty years which sahll first happen; and as
either of my said daughters arrive at the age aforesaid or be married, their to be possest of
their part as is hereafter expressed and that all other my houses and land remaining in the
hands of my said wife be to her use untill my said daughters arrive to ye age of twenty
years or marriage as aforesaid.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my said wife one half of all my household goods as it
shalbe furnished at my death, and the use of the rest untill the age or marriage of my said
daughters in manner aforementioned, and then it is my will that my said daughters and
either of them successively receive the one fourth part of the said wothr or vallue as they
shalbe appraised, which I desire may be done within four months after my decease, and the
remainder as soon as conveniently may be; And for the rest of my personall estate, my will
is that be inventoried and appraised within the said time together with my household
goods and the same to remain in my said wives hands as the rest untill the marriage or
arrival of either of my said daughters as aforesaid, and if either of them my said daughters
should dey before marriage or such age as before mentioned, my will is that the part of
the deceased be possessed and enjoyned by the survivor of them and their heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter ELIZABETH DICKINSON nad her heirs
forever, immediately after ye decease of my said wife, my now dwelling house and
outhouses with my aforesaid southside land from the southside sea to the northmost row
of cedars as they are now standing on the northside of the common road or parth leading
from ATTWARD's ground to WILLIAM SPACHARS ground aforementioned.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter MARY DICKINSON and her heirs for ever,
at the decease of my said wife, all the remaining part of my said land part whereof I now
dwell on from the aforesaid row of cedartrees running northerly and cutting upon some
part of the land now in possession of Mr. ADAM MOORE.
Item: My will is that my said wife to make no waste of any timber on the said land, nor
cutt any but for necessary repaires of the house thereon.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my loving sister ALICE DICKINSON the room or
chamber she now useth with suitable convenient cloathing meat drink loging and washing
during her naturall life continuous in Bermuda at the charge of whomsoever possesseth my
mansion house and land it stands on, and also all necessary accomidacon for her negro
BESS so long as she continues servisable in the family. I also give unto my said sister
ALICE, the sum of five pounds per annum current money of these islands to be paid her
during her naturall life by my said two daughters equally out of their share when they
possess them, or by the survivor of them and in the meantime to be paid by my said wife.
And if my said sister shall think fitt to remove from hence to Great Britain with design to
quitt Bermuda, my will is that she be then paid out of my estate in generall the sum of
thirty pounds current money of these islands in lew and to answer ye former bequests.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my said wife during her life, and at her death to my
daughter ELIZABETH DICKINSON hereafter for ever my seat in ye gallary in the
Church in Smith's Tribe aforesaid being my assignes.
Item: My will and desire is that if my said two daughters should be so inclined to agree
upon a change of their two parts of my said lands in this my will given and bequeathed to
them, for a valuable consideracon then it may be done without any stress laid on the price,
and to make the northside part afore given to my daughter MARY in a great measure
equall to the southermost part given to my daughter ELIZABETH, I doo to the said north
part by this my last will all my northside land where AARON GIBBINS and JOHN
VICKERS now dwells comonly called YOUNG's land, which I purchased of COLL.
CHARLES WALKER deceased with all houses and other appurtenances thereto
belonging; the third part of which is in possession of Mr. JONATHAN TUCKER, I desire
it may be purchased of him, at such rate and price as he and myself have partly agreed.
I gave my sister ATTWOOD for her third of same land, which purchase money I order
paid out of my estate in generall, and the aforemenconed house and land so added,
aforesaid, to be held and enjoyed by the possessor of my northside part of land already
bequeathed and to their heirs for ever as part and parcell of the same.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my loving wife ELIZABETH DICKINSON the use
profitts and occupation of my acre and half acre of comon land at the bottom of the Flatts-
together with the other part I intended for the wharfe and storehouse thereon which I
purchased of Mr PLACE dec'd and since confirmed by Mr CHARLES MALIGAN for and
during her naturall life nad at her death the wharfe and small part it stands upon, to such of
my daughters as shall possess my southside dwelling house and land; and the other part
that ANTHONY WILLIAMS lives on, I give to my other daughter that shall possess my
northside land and house.
Item: I give and bequeath my storehouse att town to my daughter ELIZABETH and her
heirs for ever, she to be possessed of the same when she attains to the age of twenty years
or day of marriage as aforesaid.
Item: I give and bequeath (in like manner) my other lott in the said Town opisite to the
said store house nad to ye northward of the same to my daughter MARY DICKINSON
and to her heirs for ever.
Item: I give unto my loving friend Thomas Bostock the sum of __ pounds money out of
my estate as a legacy in remembrance of me;
Lastly, I appoint and authoriza my loving wife ELIZABETH DICKINSON (at my
decease) and my wellbeloved daughters ELIZABETH DICKINSON and MARY
DICKINSON (as they successively attain to the age of twenty years or day of marriage as
such first happens) executrix's of this my last testament and will to see and cause the same
to be performed as executed in manner aforesaid and I also appoint the aforesaid
THOMAS BOSTOCK supervisor of this my last testament and will to advise and assist
my said executrix's in executing and performing the same.
In witness whereof I have to this my said last testament and will contained in the two sides
of this single sheet of paper ___ sett my hand and seal the fourth day of August in ye year
of our Lord 1714.
Signed sealed delivered and declared the said JOHN DICKINSON as his last testament
and will in the presence of
JOHN WINGOOD Jun'r
GEORGE STONE
JOHN VICKERS
Bermuda
By his excellency HENRY PULLEINE Esq'r Governour and Ordinary, GEORGE
TUCKER Sec'y
proved 5 November 1714 by JOHN WINGOOD Jun'r and JOHN VICKERS
(inventory follows)