Will of Lydia Gertrude Ayre
from Newfoundland will books volume 14 pages 7-10 probate year 1927

In re
     LYDIA GERTRUDE AYRE.     DECEASED.

I Lydia Gertrude Ayre of Saint John's in the Island of Newfoundland hereby revoke all wills and testamentary instruments heretofore made by me and declare this to be my last Will.

1. I appoint my brother-in-law Charles Pascoe Ayre and my nephew Harold Cecil Ayre (hereinafter called "my Trustees") to be the Executors and Trustees of this my Will.

2. I give devise and bequeath to my daughter-in-law Janet Morison Ayre my house known as "Brookdale" Circular Road, St. John's aforesaid with all Stables and other buildings and land belonging thereto or enjoyed therewith and also all the contents of such house stables and buildings (except the articles hereinafter mentioned) and all my carriages and the garden implements and tools used in respect of such lands and also all my wearing apparel, jewellery and personal effects.

3. I bequeath to my niece Violet Duff my Silver Tea and Coffee Service (consisting of Tea Pot, Coffee pot, Milk Jug, Sugar Basin, Hot Water Jug, and Tray) also twelve afternoon Tea Spoons in case.

4. I bequeath the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to each of my grand nephews and grand nieces as follows:-

• To John, Kathleen, Stewart and Gerald, children of my nephew James Ayre.
• To Lewis, Fred and Janet, children of my nephew Harold Ayre.
• To Mary, Gertrude, Geraldine and Bernard, children of my nephew Arthur William Ayre.
• To Betty, James, Cavan and Valerie children of my nephew Stuart Pitts.
• To Edwina daughter of my niece Ruby Emerson.
• To Gordon and Harry sons of my niece, Violet Duff.
• To Pamela and Douglas children of my niece Beatrix Pinsent.
• To Gerald William son of my niece Marjorie Godfrey.
• To Jean, Elizabeth and Peggy daughters of my niece Florence Knowling.
• To Joan, Blaikie, Jack and Desmond children of my niece Jessie Ayre.
• To Wilfred and Diana children of my niece Isabel Campbell.
  
  
5. I bequeath the following charitable legacies:-
• (a) To the Newfoundland Methodist Conference the sum of Five thousand dollars to be applied for the benefit of Supernumerary Minsters in Newfoundland and the Widows of Ministers in Newfoundland.
• (b) To the Trustees of each of the following Churches in St. John's aforesaid the sum of One Thousand Dollars. The George Street Methodist Church, the Gower Street Methodist Church, the Cochrane Street Methodist Church and the Wesley Methodist Church. Each of the above mentioned legacies of One Thousand Dollars to be expended by the Trustees of the several Churches for the benefit of their Church.
• ( c) To the Church of England Orphanage the sum of Five Hundred Dollars.
• (d) To the Roman Catholic Orphanage at Mount Cashel the sum of Five Hundred Dollars.
• (e) To the Ladies College Aid Society the sum of One thousand Dollars.
• (f) To the Women's Missionary Society of the Gower Street Missionary Society the sum of Methodist Church Five Hundred Dollars.
• (g) To the Women's Missionary Society of the George Street Methodist Church Five hundred dollars.
• (h) To the Permanent Marine Disaster Fund the sum of Five hundred dollars.
• (I) To the Board of Governors of the Methodist College, St. John's, for the Ayre Memorial Gymnasium the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars to be invested and the annual interest and earnings to be applied for the maintenance and upkeep of the said Ayre Memorial Gymnasium.

  And I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other proper Officer for the time being of the respective Trustees, Societies and Institutions above mentioned shall be a complete discharge for the respective legacies and exonerate my Trustees from all further concern or responsibility thereto.

6. I bequeath the sum of five Thousand Dollars to the persons who at the date of my death shall be the Directors of Ayre and Sons Limited of St. John's aforesaid to be distributed by them among the workers and persons employed by that company as they shall in their absolute discretion think fit and I declare that the receipt of the Chairman of Such Director's shall be a complete discharge for such legacy and exonerate my Trustee from the all further concern or responsibility thereto.

7. I give and bequeath all my shares whether preference or ordinary in the said Ayre & Sons Limited unto Frederick William Ayre (subject as hereinafter mentioned) the said Charles Pascoe Ayre, James Stewart Ayre and the said Harold C. Ayre in equal shares But I declare that my Trustees shall retain the said shares in Ayre & Sons Limited hereby given and bequeathed to the said Frederick William Ayre Upon Trust to pay the income and dividends in respect of such shares both preference and ordinary to the said Frederick William Ayre for his life and subject thereto my Trustees shall hold the said Preference and Ordinary shares in trust for my nephew Charles Robert Ayre and Arthur William Ayre in equal shares absolutely or for the survivor of them in the event of either of them dying in my life time.

8. I declare that all the legacies and bequests contained in this my Will or any Codicil hereto shall be paid free of all duties.

9. I give devise and bequeath all my property not otherwise disposed of by this my Will or any Codicil hereto but subject to and after payment of my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the legacies bequeathed by this my Will or any Codicil hereto and the duty on any legacies bequeathed free of duty and all estate or other duties payable on my Real estate to my said daughter-in-law Janet Morison Ayre for her own benefit absolutely.

10. I declare that in every case in which any legatee under this my Will or any Codicil hereto shall be an infant his or her legacy may be paid by my Trustees at their option and in their absolute discretion to the parent or guardian or guardians of such legatee whose receipt shall be a complete discharge for the same and exonerate them from all further concern or responsibility thereto.