Will of Robert Brown
from Newfoundland will books volume 1 pages 226 & 227 probate year 1836

In re
     Robert Brown       deceased.

St. John's Newfoundland. February 26^th 1836. My dear Son. Feeling My days in this world will very shortly be at an end and being desirous that you should know my intention as to how the little property I may die possess'd of should be managed so as to make more provision for my dear wife who has for nearly twenty years been to me everything I could wish or expect and of whose kindness both in sickness and in health I am unable to express myself in terms as highly as I feel and for whose provision I am truly sorry that I am not able to leave a sufficiency to make her comfortable, but trust by your good management and attention she may be placed out of the reach of depending on an unfeeling world. I therefore leave you as my executor to dispose of the little property as shall best conduce to her maintenance and support and would recommend for that purpose that the household furniture &c. should be disposed of to pay what debts may be owing at my decease and that my dear partner should go into some comfortable lodgings in order that she may have the rents to subsist on which will I hope produce about £55 pr annum, the house we now live in £45, Doyle's Estate to Freney £9, and the remainder at Torbay the two last lots are between W.C. Winton and myself. But if as I fear the furniture should not pay the debts I would recommend that one half the land attached to our dwelling house should be sold for that purpose and for which I have been offered £100 but as it is my will that the whole of this little property should become yours at the decease of my dear wife perhaps you would advance as much and take it to yourself but I leave this entirely to your own management neither binding you to this or any other arrangement further than that the property be made the most of for my dear partner during her life and then that it may descend to you or to whom you wish to bequeath it. I cannot close this without calling your attention to dear Betsy who has been so long with us and had I been enabled to have done anything for her I most assuredly should have done it, but has a kind and good providence has not left it in my power I must request you to give her something for me anything that may serve as a token of my attachment which is very great, as I believe and know her to be a kind good girl and hope she will continue so. I am sorry to say that I have not met with that attention from certain persons which I expected when I was induced to leave the employment I was in before coming to this Island but it would now be weak and useless to complain. I leave them and all the world to Him who judgeth righteously and whom I pray will prosper your rightful endeavours and keep you in all your way thro' this life that you may finally attain to life eternal thro the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour. I cannot conclude without again calling your attention to the comfort of my dear wife who has been so good and kind to me so many years of my pilgrimage and those years the most trying and vexatious of my life.
I remain Your truly affectionate father Robt Brown.
To Mr. Robt Brown Junr. Brigus.
N.B. There is no witness to my signature but it is well known by many in this Town if needs be who can attest it.

Certified Correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar