Part 1 - Contributed & transcribed by Jeanette Squires

In the Supreme Court.

In re
ESTATE THOMAS DONAVON
     deceased.

OATH OF ADMINISTRATOR
WITH THE WILL ANNEXED.

Administration granted to
Thomas Donavon
on the 27^th day of August 1923

Value of Estate $900.00
Sureties John Fitzpatrick
      John H. Lakin

Vol 8
Folio 140.

To the Honourable the Supreme Court or to One of the Honourable the Judges thereof.

1. Thomas Donavon, late of St. John's, Labourer, deceased, died at that place on or about the 6^th day of January, 1913, having previously made his last will and testament, but having appointed no Executor thereof.
2. The said deceased at the time of his death left him surviving as next of kin, Elizabeth, his Widow, and the following children, James, Bridget, Thomas and Patrick.
3. The said deceased at the time of his death was possessed of property within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court of the probable value of $900.00.
4. The paper-writing hereto annexed marked "A" is the said last will and testament of the deceased proved upon the affidavit of Nicholas Grace, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto.
5. The paper-writing thereto annexed marked "B" is a correct and true inventory and valuation of the estate and effects of the said deceased at the time of his death so far as Your Petitioner can at present ascertain the same.
6. Neither Probate of any will nor Letters of Administration to the estate of the said deceased have been applied for by or granted to any person within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court.

Your Petitioner, therefore, prays that this Honourable Court or Your Lordship shall be pleased to grant to him Letters of Administration cum testament to the estate of the said deceased.
And, Your Petitioner, as in duty bound, will ever pray &c.
Dated at St. John's, this 23 day of August, A.D., 1923.
T Donovan.

In the Name of God, Amen. I Thomas Donavon labourer of St. John's, Newfoundland, being of sound mind, hereby declare this to be my last will and testament, made this Twenty eighth day of February, Anno Domine, one thousand nine hundred and ten.

I leave to my wife Elizabeth Donavon my house, situate on the east side of Spencer Street, in the town of St. John's, and numbered 64, together with all its contents for her life, and for her use and benefit, and at her death said house with all its contents, shall be left to my daughter Bridget and to my younger sons James and Thomas

Signed by the said testator Thomas his X mark Donavon as his last will and testament in presence of us present at the same time who, at his request, and in his presence and in presence of each other have hereunto our hands subscribed as witness

Nicholas Grace
A Ball

This is the paper writing marked "A" which in the affidavit of Nicholas Grace hereto annexed made before me on the 14^th day of August 1923 is deposed to be the last will and testament of Thomas Donovan the Testator named in said will.
Robert Alsop
Clerk.

PROOF OF WILL - (MARKSMAN).

In the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.

In the Estate of THOMAS DONAVON, late of St. John's, Labourer,

     DECEASED

I, Nicholas Grace of St. John's in the Electoral District of St. John's in the Island of Newfoundland, Shoe-maker make oath and say, that on the 28^th day of February A.D. One Thousand nine hundred and ten, I was present and did see Thomas Donavon late of St. John's, in the Electoral District of St. John's named in the paper writing hereunto annexed, marked A, dully sign (by making his mark), publish and declare the said annexed paper writing, as and for his last Will and Testament in my presence, and in the presence of A. Ball the other subscribing witness thereto. That I and said A. Ball then and there signed our names to such Will as such witnesses, in the presence of the said Testator That previously to the Will being so signed, as aforesaid, by the said Testator and the said witnesses, it was read over to, and approved of by, the said Testator in the presence of me and the said A. Ball and that at the time of the said execution of the said Will, and the said Testator was of sound and disposing mind, memory, and understanding, to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Nicholas Grace

Sworn at St. John's this 14^th day of August, A.D. 1923 before me.
Robert Alsop
Clerk.

Administration Bond with Will annexed.

Know all Men by these Presets, THAT WE

are jointly and severally bound unto Our Sovereign Lord George the Fifth, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, &c., in the sum of Eighteen hundred dollars, to be paid to Our said Sovereign Lord the King, His Heirs and Successors, for which payment, well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and each of us for the whole, our and each of our Executors and Administrators, firmly by these presents. Sealed with our seals.
Dated the 27^th day of August, in the year of our Lord 1923.

The condition of this Obligation is such that if the above named Thomas Donavon, Administrator of all the Estate and Effects of Thomas Donavon, late of St. John's in the Electoral District of St. John's, in the island of Newfoundland Labourer deceased (who died on or about the 6^th day of January, A.D., 1913, do, when lawfully called on in that behalf, make, or cause to be made, a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the Estate and Effects of the said deceased which have or shall come into his hands, possession or knowledge, or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for him, and the same so made do exhibit, or cause to be exhibited, into the Registry of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland whenever required by law so to do, and the same Estate and Effects, and all other Estate and Effects, of the said deceased at the time of his death, which at any time after shall come into his hands or possession, or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for him, do well and truly administer according to law, that is to say, do pay the debts which the said deceased did owe at his decease, and then the Legacies contained in the said Will annexed to the said Letters of Administration to him committed, so far as such property will thereunto extend and the law bind him; and further, do make, or cause to be made, a full, true and just account of his said administration within twelve months or sooner if thereunto required and all the rest and residue of the said Estate and Effects shall deliver and pay unto such person or persons as shall be by law entitled thereto; then this Obligation to be void and of no effect, or else to remain in full force and virtue.
T Donovan
John Fitzpatrick
John Henry Lakin

Signed, Sealed and Delivered, in the presence of
D. Q. Kent
Clerk.

In the Estate of THOMAS DONAVON, late of St. John's, Labourer deceased.
We, John Fitzpatrick of the same place Grocer and John H. Lakin of the same place Plumber severally make oath and say: That we are proposed Sureties on behalf of the intended Administrator with the Will annexed, of the Estate and Effects of Thomas Donavon deceased, in the within Bond named, for the faithful administration of the said Estate and Effects of the said deceased; and I, the said John Fitzpatrick for myself make oath and say that I am worth property to the amount of Nine hundred dollars, over and above all incumbrances, and over and above what will pay my just debts, and every other sum for which I am now bail, or which I am liable as surety or endorser or otherwise; and I, the said John H. Lakin for myself make oath and say that I am worth property to the amount of Nine hundred dollars, over and above all encumbrances, and over and above what will pay my just debts, and every other sum for which I am now bail, or for which I am liable as surety or endorser or otherwise.
John Fitzpatrick
John H. Lakin

The above named John Fitzpatrick and John H. Lakin were severally sworn at St. John's, this 27 day of August A.D., 1923 before me,
D. O. Kent
Clerk

(In the margin of this will)
W. H. Horwood
C.J.
Aug 25/23

Part 2 - Contributed by Judy Benson as part of the wills project

Will of Thomas Donovan
from Newfoundland will books volume 12 page 422 probate year 1923

In re
      THOMAS DONOVAN          DECEASED.

In the Name of God. Amen. I, Thomas Donovan, labourer, of St. John's, Newfoundland, being of sound mind, hereby declare this to be my last Will and Testament, made this Twenty eighth day of February, Anno Domine, One Thousand Nine hundred and Ten.

      I leave to my wife Elizabeth Donovan my house, situate on the East Side of Spencer Street, in the town of St. John's, and numbered 64, together with all its contents for her life, and for her use and benefit, and at her death said house with all its contents, shall be left to my daughter Bridget and to my younger sons James and Thomas    THOMAS his X mark DONOVAN
Signed by the said testator as his last Will and Testament in presence of us present at the same time, who, at his request, and in his presence and in presence of each other have hereunto our hands subscribed as witness.
Nicholas Grace.     A. Ball.

CORRECT.
William F. Lloyd
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.

(In the margin next to this will the following)
Fiat August 25/23
Horwood cj
Adm C.T.A.
Granted to
Thomas Donovan
August 27/23
Estate Sworn
at $900 00/00