Hill, Joshua (elder)
W 9:85-86, film 710; also W12:533, film 712
will dated 8 June 1759
proved 28 December 1773

In the name of God, Amen, the eighth day of June in the year 1759, I Joshua Hill elder of Southampton Parish in the Islands of Bermuda cordswainer, being in perfect mind and memory, thanks be given to God therefore, calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say. Principally and first of all I give and recommend my souls into the hands of God that gave it and mybody I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent christian burial at discretion of my executors hereafter named nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty pardon of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give ____ise and dispose of the same in the following manner and forme. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary Hill all my whole estate real and personal during her natural life after my decease.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons Jeremiah Hill and B>Daniel Hill my now dwelling and all out buildings belonging to my now dwelling house equally to be divided between them two and their heirs for ever after mine and my wife decease.

Item. It is my will that if in case either of my two sons Jeremiah Hill or Daniel Hill should die and leave no issue to possess their parts of their said house then the said part of their said house shall returne unto the longest liver of them two and their issue for ever.

Item. It is my will that all my land shall be equally divided into six parts between all my children as I shall hereafter mention Joshua Hill, Josiah Hill, Jeremiah Hill, Daniel Hill, Martha Conyers, and my three grand daughters Love Hill, Martha Hill, Mary Hill and to each of their issue for ever after mine and my wife Mary Hill decease.

Item. It is my will that all my land shall be equally divided north and south whenever division shall be made between all my children.

Item. My will is that my two sons parts of land shall joyn to their house as I have above given to them.

Item. I give to each of my four sons Joshua Hill, Josiah Hill, Jeremiah Hill, and Daniel and their heirs ten pounds current money of Bermuda to be paid to them out of my personal estate before any division be made of my personal estate after mine and my wife decease.

Item. My will is that all my remaining part of my personal estate shall be equally divided into six parts above mentioned after mine and my wife Mary Hilldecease.

Item. My will is that my two grand daughters Martha Hill and Mary Hill shall have ten pounds current money out of their sixth part of my personal estate given them and after the ten pounds is paid to my two grand daughters Martha Hill & Mary Hill then to make an equal division between my three grand daughters and their heirs for ever as I shall mention Love Hill, Martha Hill, and Mary Hill.

Item. It is my will that if either of my children should die and leave no issue to possess their parts of land that then their parts of land shall returne equally between the longest liver of my children and their issue for ever.

Item. It is my will that neither of my children shall sell or dispose of any part of their land upon any account whatsoever except they sell or dispose to each other> I do appoint and make my four sons Joshua Hill, Josiah Hill, Jeremiah Hill, Daniel Hill to be my whole and sole executors to this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the said Joshua Hill as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers
John Beeak
John Dunscome
Mathew Smith
James Dickinson elder

(The second copy gives the folowing)
By His Excellency George James Bruere Esq.r Governor and Ordinary of these Islands

I do hereby certify that this 28 day of December 1773 before me personally appeared Captain John Dunscome one of the subscribing witnesses to the within will and solemnly made oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that he saw the within named Joshua Hill the testator sign, seal, publish, pronounce and declare the within to be his last will and testament who at the time of executing the same was of sound and disposing mind and memory to the best of his judgement. And that he also saw John Beeak and Mathew Smith and James Dickinson subscribe their names as witnesses to the same. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal at arms the day and year first above written.