1717, Will of William Pearman

W06:131

Bermuda alias Somers Islands

I William Pearman Snr of the Town of St. George in the Islands aforesaid, Joyner, being of sound mind and memory do make and advise that this to be my last will and testament in the manner and form my debts and funeral expenses **** satisfied and paid

I do hereby devise and bequest the house where I lived**** (in the Town of St. George aforesaid) together with all the land thereto belonging unto my sons William and Edward Pearman and their heirs and assigns to be equally divided between them and in case of either of their deaths without lawful heirs to the survivor of them.

I do hereby give unto my daughters Martha Holland and Mary Pearman the full ***** *** use of the room[s] the now usually lodge in during their ***** without any hinderence or interference from my said sons or any other person****** notwithstanding anything heretofore mentioned and [ specified] ***

Item: I give unto my daughter Martha Holland my Indian man named [ Ian] together with the *** and furniture she with her sister usually……

Item: I give unto my daughter Mary Pearman Negro man names Dick and my Negro woman named Susan _______

The rest of my household furniture and personal Estate whatsoever I give unto my said two daughters Martha and Mary to be equally divided between them and [shared alike] and it is my will that in the case that both my sons should happen to die without lawful issue that the aforesaid house and land then bequithed divided between my aforesaid two daughters and their heirs for ever and in case one of my said daughters should die without issue then the whole house and land aforesaid I give to the survivor and her heirs forever..

Notwithstanding what is before mentioned I do by this my last will and testament declare that none of the foregoing to my sons and daughters is to belong unto them or either of them during the natural life of my loving wife Judith Pearman but she is to have full and [ adequate] possession and enjoyment of all my said estate *** and pursuant to the day of her death after which the division of my said estate is to be made as before in my will mentioned.

I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving friend [Dan] Tucker Esq. and my loving wife Judith Pearman both of the town of St. Georges aforesaid and each of them in case of the death or absence of the other to be the executor and executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other will heretofore made IN TESTIMONRY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty Sixth day of Match in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventeen.

Signed sealed witnessed and delivered

by the forenamed William Pearman

to be his last will and testament

Benjamin Plummer

Mary

BY THE HONOURABLE JOHN TRIMINGHAM ESQ, PRESIDENT

These are to certify that his 8^th day of Nov. 1727 Honorah Harding and Mary L*** personally appeared before me the President afroesaid and severally made Oath on the holy Evangelists of Almighty God that they saw the within mentioned William Pearman sign seal and deliver the within instrument of writing to be his last will and testament and at the same time the testator was of sound mind and memory IN TESTIMONY whereof I the President aforesaid have hereunto set my hand the 8^th day of November 17

(Transcript available as a result of the generous contribution of Peter Pearman on Mar 2002)