Bermuda

In the Name of God Amen. I Sarah Joell of Pembroke Tribe Widow considering the Certainty of Death and of the Uncertainty of Human Life Do make and publish this my last Will & Testament, in manner & form following Viz:

Imprimis I will and order that all my just Debts and Funeral Expenses be fully paid and Satisfied.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Joell my Cedar Settle Bench, and also that my Cedar Table which now stands in my Porch.

Item Whereas my aforesaid Son hath in his possession a certain Negro Man Slave called Ben, the one third part of the property of the said slave, called Ben, being in one. It is therefore my Will and I give and bequeath, as well all such moneys which shall be due and owing to me, at the time of my Death, for the Hire, Wages or services of the said slave, as all my Property of, in, and to the said slave, to my said son, to my Daughter Rebecca and to the Children of my late deceased Daugher Sarah Albouy, in manner following, that is to say, one third part to my said son; one other third part to my said Daughter Rebecca, and the other third part to and amongst the Children of my said dec’ed Daughter Sarah Albouy, and to their respective Executors, Administrators or assigns for ever.

Item Whereas my former Father in Law Wm. Edward Hinson did in and by his last Will & Testament, give & bequeath to me the Sum of twenty five pounds of current money as a Legacy; and also my late Aunt Mrs. Felix Butcher did also bequeath to me the sum of forty nine pounds of current money as a Legacy, which said Legacys, or either of them, have as yet not been paid to me, I do therefore give and bequeath the said Legacies and each of them, when received by my Executrix, unto my said son, my said Daughter Rebecca and the Children of my said Daughter in manner following, that is to say, one third part to my said son, one other third to my said Daughter Rebecca, and the other third part to and amongst the Children of my said dece’d Daughter Sarah Albouy and to their respective Executors, Adminstrators or assigns forward.

Item I Give and bequeath unto the Children of my said dec’ed Daughter Sarah Albouy my Silver Tankard which is marked with the Letters W.J, a Looking Glass, four frame Pictures, one Bedstead, Bed & Furniture with two pairs of sheets and a Counterpaint, Six of my napkins which are marked with the Letters W.J., one pewter Dish, twelve pewter plates, my Common Prayor Book, and a Book intitled The Imitation of Jesus Christ.

Item I Give and bequeath unto my two Grand Children Thomas Joell Burch and Rebecca Sarah Burch each, one of my Silver Table spoons marked with the Letters S.J.

Item I Give and bequeath to each of my son Thomas Joell’s Children which shall be living at the time of my Death a mourning ring.

Item I Give and bequeath unto my Grand Children John Albouy, Susanna Albouy, Sarah Albouy and Rebecca Albouy each one of my silver Table spoons marked with the Letters S.J. I also give unto my said Grand daughter Sarah my Gold Stoned Ring I also further give unto my said Grand Children the Dozen of Ivory Handle Knives & Forks, the six silver Table spoons, the suit of Bed Curtains, the Diaper Table Cloth and the six napkins which are now in the possession (byLoan) of their Father Wm. Nicholas Albouy.

Item It is my Will and Desire, and I hereby order and direct that all the before Legacys and Bequeaths by me made and given to my aforesaid Grand Children John, Susanna, Sarah & Albouy be retained in the Hands of my Executrix (and in case of her Death then in the Hands of such person or persons which she shall appoint until my said Grand Children shall severally attain the age of eighteen years, or day of marriage; at either of which Periods, I will and order that my said Executrix, or her Committee, do deliver to such my said Grand Children, as well the [?] Legacy to him or her by me before bequeathed, as his or her, equal proportions of the other Bequests by me before made, according to the number of them my said Grand Children which shall be then living, and the Child or Children of such as may be then dead, it being my Intention that no other person or persons but my said Grand Children, or their Descendants shall benefit by the aforesaid Legacys & Bequests by me to them made and given. And it is further my Will that if neither of my said Grand Children shall either marry or attain their respective age of eighteen years, or shall have no legal Descendants that then my Daughter Rebecca or her Executors or Administrators do have and enjoy all the aforesaid Legacys & Bequests, or such part thereof, as shall not have been paid to any of my said Grand Children or their Descendants, and shall be then Dead.

Item All the Rest and Residue of my Estate of what nature or kind soever, or wheresoever [?] lying or being, I give, devise and bequeath unto my said Daughter Rebecca To Hold to her my said Daughter Rebecca and to her Heirs, Ex’ers Administrators or assigns for ever.

Lastly I hereby Constitute and appoint my aforesaid Daughter sole Executrix of this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made, Ratifying and Confirming this and none other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I the said Sarah Joell have hereunto set my Hand and seal this thirty first Day of March in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven.

Signed, Sealed, Published [?] and declared

by the witness named Sarah Joell as and for her last

Will and Testament in the presense of us, who at the Sarah Joell [her seal]

Request of the Testatrix in her presense inscribed [signed]

our names as witnesses thereto.

Peter Godfrey

John Hodsdon

Solomon Hodsdon

Bermuda alias By His Excellency William Browne Esquire Governor

Sumner Islands and Ordinary of these Islands

[seal & signature of I do hereby Certify that this 5th Day of September 1787, Wm. Browne] before me the Governor personally appeared, Wm. Solomon Hodsdon one of the sub[?]ing Witnesses to the written Instrument of Writing and solemnly made oath on the holy evangelists

of of Almighty God that he saw (the Testatrix) Sarah Joell sign, seal and duly exe

:cute the [?] as and for her last Will and Testament, and that at the time of such Executi

:on the said Testatrix was of sound, mind, Memory and understanding to the best

:of his, this Deponent’s Judgment, And that he also saw, Wm. Peter Godfrey and [?]

:John Hodsdon subscribe their names as Wittnesses thereto.

By His Excellency In Testimony whereof I the Governor [?]

Commander & said have documents set my Hand and seal at [?]

Henry Tucker the day and year above written

Secretary’s a true Record, Henry Tucker

Secretary

available through the generous contribution of Mitchell Hagerstrom 1999