Peniston, Jeremiah
W 9:1 (film 287)
will 30 May 1768
codicil 16 May 1769
proved 12 November 1769?
Bermuda alias _____.
In the name of God Amen I Jeremiah Peniston Senior of Smith's Tribe in the islands aforesaid
being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament hereby
revoking all former wills by me heretofore made. And as to what wordly estate God has been pleased
to bestow on me, I give and bequeath in manner and form following. It is my will that all my just
debts and funeral charges be first paid before any division of my estate be made.
Imprimis. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Miriam Peniston for and during her
natural life all my real and personal estate and after her decease I give and devise unto my eldest
son William Peniston my house and land where I now dwell that is to say from the north side sea
and southerly as farr as the ___ leading from Mr Thomas Pitt's line to the land of Capt Richard ___
where Mr James Hilton now dwell.
Item. I give likewise unto my said son William Peniston my Negro woman Beck, the
looking glass that stands in the hall, the largest and ___ ___ and one silver porringer which
last he now hath in his possession. I also give unto him the __.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Jeremiah Peniston my Negros Samuell and ?Luck,
and one silver tankard marked SMS.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Anthony Peniston my ____ ____ __eodan, also my silver
hilt sword, a silver porringer, six tablespoons, and my ___ Baptist, and a Negro woman called George's Hannah,
together with my bellows with blacksmith's tools.
Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Miriam Spencer my Negro woman called Phillis and all her issue
now born of her body. Also one cedar chest and furniture, and one silver porringer, which is in her own possession.
Item. I give and devise unto my daughter Mary Hinson widow during her natural life my house and a half share of
land in Hamilton Tribe where Mrs Elizabeth Newman now dwells and after her decease I give the said house and
land unto and between her five children now living or such or any of them as shall be living or such or any of them
as shall be living at the time of her decease, with liberty to sell to each other, but not to a stranger. I also devise
unto my said daughter Mary Hinson my negro boy called Ben, a bed and ___, a silver porringer and a chest which
two last articles are in her possession. I give unto my grandson Richard Jennings Peniston my ___ring marked ___ and a negro boy
called Will. I give unto my grandson Richard Spencer a negro girl called Moll and a cedar chest
which was called his mothers.
Item. I give and devise unto my grandson William Peniston son of my son William Peniston after his fatyher and mother's
decease, the remainder of my share of land from the south side sea so northerly to the path above the garden wall, such path
shall be a division line between him my said grandson and his father, which said land I purchased of my brother Richard Peniston
as per deeds will appear. But if my said grandson should die without having lawful issue, then I give and devise the said land
unto my grandson Hugh Peniston and his heirs.
Item. I give unto my grandson Samuel Smith Peniston a cedar chest in a ___ which stands in the parlour, as also a
square table and a silver porringer. I give unto my granddaughter Miriam Peniston, daughter of my son Anth: Peniston, six
silver tea spoons, tongs, and my gold buttons.
Item. It is my will and I hereby order that my negro woman Matilda be sold to defray the expences of mine and my wife's funeral.
And the residue and remainder of my estate not herein disposed of I give and bequeath equally unto and between my three children to wit.
Anthony Peniston, Miriam Spencer and Mary Hinson. And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my loving wife Miriam Peniston
my sole executrix to this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal the thirtieth day of May one thousand and seven hundred and sixty eight.
Signed sealed and declared by Jeremiah Peniston as his last will and testament in the presence _____
William Ball
Robert Adams
Toppin?? Hilton
I Jeremiah Peniston senior of Smith's Tribe in the Islands of Bermuda do this sixteenth day of May one thousand seven hundred and sixty nine
make and publish this my codicil to my last will and testament in manner following to wit. Whereas in and by my last will and testament I
give and devise to my grandson William Peniston the remainder of my share of land after his father and mother's decease that is to say
from the south side sea and so northerly to the tank above the garden wall. And whereas since that time my grandson Jeremiah Peniston is
deceased. Now I do hereby declare that I give and devise the aforementioned remainder of my share of land unto my grandson Hugh Peniston
and to his heirs lawfully to be begotten of his body and in default of such issue then I give and devise the aforementioned land unto my grandson
John Peniston and to his heirs as aforesaid and for want of such issue then I give and devise the said land unto and between the surviving
female children of my son William Peniston: provided always and it is the ___ intent and meaning by this codicil to my will, that my
loving wife Miriam Peniston shall have the liberty to cut down and dispose of any timber or other trees growing or standing upon all my land
as she my said wife shall think proper during her natural life. And lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Miriam Pensiton
by virtue of this codicil sole executrix to this and my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.
Signed sealed and delivered in presence of...
Josiah Smith
William Ball
Edward North
Bermuda.
By His Excellency George James Bruere Esq Governor and Ordinary of these Islands
I do hereby certify that this 12th day of November 1769? personaly appeared Mr William Ball and Captain Robert Adams two of the
subscribing witnesses to the annexed written instrument and ____ made oath on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God that they saw the ___ Jeremiah Peniston
Senr sign seal publish and declare the ___ ___ for his last will and testament and at the time of so doing he was of sound and disposing mind and memory
and that they also saw Toppin? Hilton sign his name as a witness to the same. And I do certify that _____ personally appeared the aforesaid William Ball
subscribing witness to annexed codicil and solemnly deposed on the Holy Evangelists that he saw the said Jeremiah Pensiton Senr the aforesaid testator
sign seal publish and declare the said annexed codicil as and for his will and deed for the purpose ___ contained and at the same time he the said William Ball saw
Edward North and Josiah Smith subscribe their names as witness to the said codicil.
In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal at arms the day and year abovve written.