Will of Thomas Conway
from Newfoundland will books volume 7 pages 26-27 probate year 1900

Last Will and Testament of
Thomas Conway of Bay of Islands
Planter deceased.

      I Thomas Conway of Birchy Cove, Bay of Islands Newfoundland, Planter, being sick in body but sound in mind, do make this as my last will and testament as follows
1 Firstly. I hereby give devise and bequeath to my youngest daughter Teresa Conway, her heirs executors and administrators for her and their use and benefit for ever, the square of land with all houses or erections thereon and herein described containing about one and a half acres more or less extending along the north east River side Public Road about one hundred and thirty feet, and extending along the Back Road south west side also one hundred and thirty feet being a small portion of lot No 1 marked on the diagram of my Grant from Government for said land.
2 Secondly I hereby give devise and bequeath to my eldest daughter Catherine Badcock her heirs executors and administrators for her and their use absolutely and for ever, all the remaining portion of my land cleared and uncleared, held under Grant by me from Government entitled No. 1 and No. 2 Lots on diagram of the said Grant from Nfld. Government and containing about Twelve and a half acres more or less in all with all erections implements and messuages at present thereon and herein mentioned and described. One large store, one small store or shed on the water side and one large new house nearly finished and one barn for hay on lot No. One also one ox and what sheep I possess with all my fishing gear consisting of herring nets anchors, rope etc and one fishing boat intact all my real estate of every kind whatsoever that I am possessed of I give devise and bequeath to the aforesaid Catherine Badcock her heirs executors and assigns absolutely and for ever.
I appoint Alex. W. Ryan of Bay of Islands executor of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of July anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety six. (Sgd) Thomas his x mark Conway (LS) Signed Sealed and declared by the said Testator as his last will and Testament in our presence who in his presence and in that of each other have signed the same as witnesses to the due execution. (Sgd) George Webber (LS) (Sgd) William T. Petrie (LS) witness (sgd) Alex Ryan

      I certify the foregoing to be a correct copy of the last will and Testament of Thomas Conway deceased

D. M. Browning
Registrar

(Listed in the margin next to this will the following)
ordered
by the court
D. M. Browning
C. C. & Regr
Probate
granted on
the 4^th day of
Decr. 1900
to Alex W
Ryan.
Value of
Est $450.00

Note received from Thomas Battcock (Tom_Battcock@Videotron.ca on July 15, 201:
Thomas Conway was my great grand father and the Catherine "Badcock" was my grandmother. (His daughter. The correct spelling of our name is BATTCOCK. Catherine was married to my grandfather John Battcock. (Who came from Brigus, Nl) His son (my father) was Thomas Battcock. I find it hard to believe that this is the spelling in the will, although I'm sure way back then it was possible. I'm trying to find out where in Ireland Thomas Conway came from. Tom Battcock, Montreal, Qc.,

NGB note: Always keep this in mind about the spelling of names - it was spelled Badcock in the will. Ministers/Priests/census enumerators, etc. only wrote down in the registers what they heard spoken and that most of the people providing the information could not read or write so they didn't know what was written on the page themselves.