William Meadus
          1885

Estate of William Meadus 1885
From LDS Microfilm #2057177.

Newfoundland            }
In the Supreme Court }

AFFIDAVIT.
---------

You shall swear that you believe this to be the true last Will and Testament of William Meadus late of Grates Cove Trinity Bay Trader deceased --------------------------------------------
You shall swear that you will pay all the Debts and Legacies of the Deceased, so far as the Goods shall extend and the Law shall bind you; and that you will exhibit a true, full, and perfect Inventory of all and every the Goods, Rights and Credits of the deceased, together with a just and true account into the Registry of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland, when you shall be lawfully called thereto: And you shall further swear that the whole of the Goods, Rights, Chattels, Assets, Credits and Effects of the said William Meadus deceased, and of which he died possessed, do not, according to the best of your knowledge, judgment and belief, amount to the value of Fourteen hundred ----------------------------------------- Dollars

So help you GOD.

SWORN before me, at St. John's  }                              William Henry Meadus
This Seventh                                 }
September A.D., 1885                  }
Otto Emerson
Commissioner of Affidavits, Supreme Court.

1885

Estate of William Meadus
late of Grates Cove
in the Northern District
Fisherman deceased
---------------------------------

Dated September 11^th 1885
---------------------------------

--------------------
Probate granted to
William Henry Meadus
of Grates Cove aforesaid
the Executor named in the
will ---
------------------------------------

Est. sworn under 1400⁰⁰/100
========

          In the Name of God - Amen -
I William Meadus of Grates Cove in the Island of Newfound-land, Trader, being aged and infirm in body, but in perfect mind and memory, Knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die, do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, commending my soul to Almighty God who give it, and my body I commed to the Earth to receive at the discretion of my Exes 1- decent Christian burial, being as-sured that I shull receive the same again at the Last Day by the Mighty power of God - And as touching such world - by estate wherewith God has blessed me this life, I give and bequeath the same in the following manner and form -

          First - That for and in consideration of the love and affection I have and do bear toward my beloved Wife June Meadus, I give and bequeath unto her, for her use the sum of Three Hundred Pounds current money of the Island aforesaid, the same being a portion with other monies I have at present deposited in the Union Bank at Saint Johns in the Island aforesaid, for and during the remainder of her natural life, or, during her widowhood, and at her decase, or in the event of her again entering into wedlock, then, the said Three Hundred Pounds shall become the portion of my beloved and afflicted Son Joseph Meadus as one of the means of his support, for and during the remainder of his natural life, and at his de-cease the said Three Hundred Pounds shall become the portion of my beloved Son William Henry Meadus and his Heirs as hereafter mentioned. And I also give and bequeath unto her the said Jane Meadus the one half of my dwelling house, northward, that I now occupieth, and all my houe-hold furniture, beds, and bedding, together with all my cattle re-maining at my decease - But and if my wife said June Mea-dus again enter into wedlock, she shall be dispossest of the said half of dwelling house, household furniture beds and cattle and the same equally divided between my two sons the said William Henry Meadus and Joseph Meadus

Page 2

          Secondly - That for and in consideration of the love and affection I have and do bear toward my beloved Son Wil-liam Henry Meadus I have and bequeath unto him the sum of Four Hundred Pounds current money of the Island aforesaid being a portion with other monies I have at present deposit-ed in the Union Bank at Saint Johns in the Island aforesaid and also dwelling House and one half the fishing room, together with one half the land that I purchased of David Benson. And I also bequeath unto him, one half of my other fishing rooms, and fishing property and also one half my lands, held and possessed by me previous to that I purchased of said David Benson, as aforesaid, together with one half of my stores and ot-her building erected thereon and situated at Grates Cove aforesaid to be his and his heirs in the male line lawfully born forever
          Thirdly - For and in consideration of the love and affection I have and do bear toward my beloved Son Joseph Meadus (who, in the providence of Almighty God, is deprived of reasoning faculties) I give and bequeath unto him, that sum of Three hundred pounds, or the portion thereof unex-pended which is entrusted to my beloved Wife June Meadus and for her use during her natural life or widowhood, and which shall become his immediately after her decease, as mention-ed heretofore in the first section of this my Last Will and Tes-tament, and I also give unto him, one half of my dwelling house, Southward, that I now occupieth, and also one half of my fishing room, and one half of my land purchased of Jos-eph Benson, as mentioned aforesaid, and also one half of my other fishing room, and lands held and possessed by my previ-ous to that purchased of David Benson as mentioned aforesaid, and also one half my stores and other buildings erected there-on and thus providing a means, and assuring unto the said Joseph Meadus a confident and decent support for and during his natural life. And at his decease that said Three Hundred Pounds, or what remains unexpended thereof, together with the portions of Dwelling house, fishing rooms, lands, stores and ot-

Page 3

her buildings bequeathed to the said Joseph Meadus shall be-come the portions and properties of my beloved SonWilliam Hen-ry Meadus and his heirs lawfully born forever.

          Fourthly - In consideration of the trust and confid-ence placed in my beloved wife June Meadus, I commit to her the guardianship of my afflicted son said Joseph Meadus, and in the event of his end (crossed out, not decipherable) I intrust him to the care, safe-keeping and protection of my son said William Henry Meadus and his surviving heirs for the remainder of his natural life.

          Fifthly - Placing entire confidence in the ability and integrity of my son the said William Henry Meadus I hereby constitute, appoint and ordain him to be the sole executor to this my Last Will and Testament, and to hereby disannul, revoke, make void, and disallow, all and every former Will,Testament, Legacy and Bequest, ratifying and confirming this to be my LastWill and Testament

          In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal at Grates Cove aforesaid this twenty first day of November A.D. One thousand eighty hundred and Eighty two

Signed, Sealed, published             }
and declared by the within na-      }                    William his X mark Meadus (seal)
med Testator, in the presence        }
of us, being first read and approv- }
ed of by the said Testator               }
James Janes
Joshua Benson

          I William Meadus the Testator named in the foregoing Will do hereby Publish and declare that in the event of Elizabeth Ann Meadus the wife of my said Son William Henry Meadus surviving him she shall have a place of residence(?) ??????? with my same Dwelling house ?? ???? during her Widowhood and no longer.
William her X mark Meadus
Signed and declared
This 29^th day of November
A.D. 1882

James Janes
Joshua Benson

Last Will & Testament
of
William Meadus Esqr J.P.
Grates Cove
========

Newfoundland
Grates Cove   }                              Supreme Court of Newfoundland
To Wit            }
==========
Joshua Benson of Grates Cove in the said Island Accountant, maketh oath and saith that on the twenty ninth day of November A.D. One thousand eight hundred and eighty two at Grates Cove aforesaid, he, this Deponent was present and did See William Meadus, Late of Grates Cove a-foresaid, Trader, the Testator named in the paper writing hereunto annexed, duly sign, by making his mark, publish and declare the Said an-nexed paper writing as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of this Deponent and of James Janes the other subscribing witness thereto -
That Deponent and said James Janes then and there signed their names to such Will as such witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and of each other - That previously to the said Will being so signed as aforesaid, by the said Testator and the said witnesses it was read over and approved of by the Testator, in the presence of Deponent and the Said James Janes - And that at^the time of the said Execution of the said Will the said Testator was of Sound and Disposing mind memory and understanding to the best of Deponents knowledge and belief
Sworn before me at Grates
Cove aforesaid in the Island    }
aforesaid this eleventh day      }                    Joshua Benson
of August, A.D. One thousand }
eight hundred and eighty-five
W Christian
Commissrof Affidavits
Supreme Court

Newfoundland
In the Supreme Court
Old Perlican
to wit     }          William Henry Meadus of Grates Cove in Trinity Bay in the said Island Planter the petitioner named in this foregoing petition maketh oath and and saith that the matters and things contained in the said Petition are just and true
Sworn before me at          }                    William Henry Meadus
Old Perlican aforesaid      }
This 24^th day of August    }
A.D. 1885.                        }
W Christian
Commissr Affidavits
Supreme Court
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Supreme Court

In re Will of late     }
William Meadus   }
late of Grates Cove }
       deceased          }
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Petition for Probate
---

Fiat for Probate
as prayed ---
J.J. Little
A.C.S.C.

Newfoundland          
In the Supreme Court

To the Honourable the Supreme Court of Newfoundland or one of the Judges of the said Court

          The Petition of William Henry Meadus of Grates Cove in Trinity Bay in the said Island, Planter

Humbly Sheweth

          That your petitioner's father William Meadus late of Grates Cove aforesaid, Planter, departed this life on or about the twenty fifth day of July last having made his last Will and Testament hereto annexed of which he appointed your petitioner Sole Executor That the said William Meadus left him surviving June Meadus his Widow and William Henry Meadus his son and FannyAvery - Mary June Vey - Rachel Benson and Sarah Ann Benson his daughters

Page 2

That the said deceased was at the time of his decease possessed of property in Newfoundland of the value of about but not ex-ceeding in the opinion of your petitioner the sum of Three hundred pounds currency That no letters of Administration have been granted to the Estate of the said deceased. Your petitioner prays that Letters of Probate to the said writing be granted to him and as in duty bound will pray

Old Perlican twenty fourth  }                    William Henry Meadus
day of August A.D. 1885     }