Gilbert, John
W2, part 1:115
19 Feb 1699
proved 20 Mar 1700
died 17 Mar 1699
inventory 26 Feb 1700
Bermuda
In the name of God, Amen, I John Gilbert of Smith's Tribe in the island aforesaid, being at present sick and weak of body but of memory sound and perfect, thanks be to Almighty God, and calling to remembrance the uncertain state of this transitory life and that all flesh must yield to death when please God to call, do make, constitute, ordaine, and declare this my last will and testament in manner and forme ffollowing, revoking and annulling by these presents annulling all and every testament and testaments, will and wills heretofore by me made and declared either by word or writing and this only to be taken for my last will and testament and none other.
Imprimis: I committ my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom, and by the meritts of Jesus Christ, I trust and believe assuredly to bee saved and my body to be buried in such place as it shall seme fitt to my executors hereafter named , to appoint, and for the worldly estate which God hath beene pleased to bless mee with, I do give and bequeath in manner and forme ffollowing.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my sonn John Gilbert my now dwelling house in Smith's tribe with all out houses thereon (the shore house by mee built by the sea side with six feet of ground for privileges for landing, putting in and takeing out of goods in the said shore house... excepted) together with all that thirty and two acres of land one which the said house standeth formerly bought of John Wentworth
abutting easte on land in posession of Severaine Vickers or his assignes, west on land formerly belonging to John Young Senr or his assignes, north on the north side sea, south on land of John Righton or his assignes, and also the three acres of land bought of William Young adjoyning the north side of the said land to him and to heires for ever after my decease in manner and forme ffollowing:
I also give unto my said sonn my long table, nine joynt stooles, one joynt fforme belonging to the said table, the settel cubbard, two chests, two armed chares, now belonging and standing in the hall,,one small table in the northermost vhamber, with my silver hilted sword and belt, my silver headed cane, the half of my wareing apparell, my largest silver tankerd, my silver ___ ___, three silver spoones marked I E provided my said sonn John leaves
unto my sone Joseph Gilbert the long table and cubbard and the next best short table all now standing in my house which my said sonn John now dwells in Devon Tribe.
I give and bequeath unto my afroesaid sonn Joseph Gilbert my house and fourteene acres of land in Devon tribe bought of Samuel Wise Senr now in possession of my said sonn John Gilbet, with the long table, cubbard, and short table above expressed (the said land abutting east onthe school land, west on the land in possession of Capt John Tucker, north on land in possession of Samuel Wise Junr, south on the high way by ye pond) and to his heires for ever, in manner and forme ffollowing.
I also give and bequeath unto him my said sonn Joseph eighty pounds and all the debts hee now oweth mee and the __ whereby or half of the storehouse and privilededges(sp) above expressed, the said eighty pounds money to bee paid within six months after my decease by my executors here after named, and hee my said sonn Joseph, to hold the land half part of ye said shore house and privilege to him and his heires for ever. O also give and bequeath to him my siad sonn Joseph my molatto woman called Hanna, bought of Richard Appowen Senr and my other silver tankerd marked as above, my silver mugge without marke,
three silver spoones marked as aforesaid, and my hand gun and the other half of my wearing apparell.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Presila Tatem all that hundred pounds money shee had lately of me toward payment of her land shee bought of John Bullock and I also give and bequeath unto her my said daughter the sume of forty pounds money beside to bee paid out of my estate, as well undisposed of to bee paid within the yeare next after my decease or sooner, if itt may be, by and att the discretion of my executors hereafter named. And I also give to her my said daughter my silver cason(?), one large wrought silver drinking cupp, with three silver spoones marked as above said.
Item. My will is that neither of my aforesaid sonns John Gilbert nor Joseph Gilbert shall possess the houses and lands above given untill they shall build and erect or cause to be built and erected one house of stone one my share of land in Smith's Tribe bought of Nicholas Trott Esqr formerly belonging to Coll William Sayle, one the dementions hereafter
expressed on such a place on the said land as my now wife Mary Gilbert shall chuse and appoint.
The hall twenty and one foot long, the parlor fifteene foot long, sixteene ffoot brod each, two back chambers each fourteene feet square and entry proportionable and porch twelve foot square, with cellar under the hall parlor and porch with two chimnys suitable and hearths and one of the cellers and most convenient filled for kitchen and itt is my will that my servants bee constantly ___ ans ___lling wife, to say John Gilbert, Joseph Gilbert, and Presilia Tatem, and I do give and bequeath unto Thomas Bostock who is hereafter mentioned for ne of my executors the sume of three pounds money out of my estate
and itt is my will that soone after my decease that my executors hereafter named to cause this my will to be proved before the Govermor and then that my said executors do enter into and take possession of all my personall estate whatsoever and cause a just and true inventory to bee taken of the same and appraised indiferently and the said inventory to bee carryed before the Governor and likewise proved and recorded and if there bee anything on thi my will that shall bee doughtfull and hard to bee understood, I leave it to bee explained by the said Bostock, hee the best knowing my minde.
Lastly: I do appoint my wellbeloved cosen Richard Gilbert Junr, the said Thomas Bostock, and my two sonns John Gilbert and Joseph Gilbert
Signed and published in the presence of us
Samuel Harvey Senr
George Smith
John Smith
Bermuda
By his Excellency Samuel Day Esqr Governor and ordinary of these Islands.
These may certifye that this foure and twentieth day of March in the yeare of our Lord 1700, personally appeared before mee the Governor and Ordinary aforesaid Samuel harvey Senr, George Smith and John Smith who have subscribed their names as witnesses to the last will and testament within written and solemnly made their respective oaths, that they respectively saw ye within named John Gilbert Senr signe, publish and declare ye same within written to bee his last will and testament and that hee the said testator
at the time of the doing thereof, was of sound mind and memory. In testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand the day and yeare above.
Recorded the 18th of Aprill 1700 from the originall will and probate.
Charles Minors, D Secy
February the 26th 1700
An inventory with appraisement of all and singular the goods chattells &c: of John Gilbert of Smith's Tribe Esq'r who dec'd on the seaventeenth of March last past.
Bermuda
This twenty sixth of February 1700 personally appeared before mee the Governor aforesaid the severall appraisers who have subscribed their severall names as above and solemnly made oath that the inventory and appraisement above written conatined in the ffor preceeding
pages are very true to the best of their judgements.
Recorded the 28th of Ffeb of 1700 from the original inventory
( an inventory follows... total value 1,159 L-18-11)...
Errors excepted
John Argent Sen'r
Stephen Tynes Sen'r
John Smith
By His Excellency Samuel Day Esq'r Governor and Ordinary
Charles Minors D Sec'y