Will of Joseph Bragg Forsey
from Newfoundland will books volume 2 pages 549 to 551 probate year 1864

In re
     Joseph B. Forsey deceased.

The last will and testament of Mr. Joseph B. Forsey.    In Dei nomini Amen.     Memorandum, the fourth day of February in the year of our Lord God one thousand eight hundred sixty and two that in the presence of John Winterbotham Wesleyan Minister of Grand Bank in Fortune Bay in the Island of Newfoundland and Robert Forsey Trader in the said place it was declared the day and year above written by Joseph Bragg Forsey, Trader, in Grand Bank as aforesaid, being on the day or the date of these presents, weak in body yet of perfect memory that if it should please God to take him out of this transitory world that his goods and personal estate should be disposed as followeth:     Imprimis:    I give and bequeath to my wife Jane Forsey and to each of my children George Robert, Charles Patten, Harriet and Elizabeth thirty pounds currency in money a piece-    The amounts for the children shall be placed in the Bank at interest to be paid them when of age or sooner if in actual want-

Item: I give and bequeath to my youngest son Charles Patten Forsey the new house with the ground on which it stands and surrounding, together with all the household furniture but the aforesaid shall be occupied and used by my widow only while she remains unmarried;    and also by my other children until they are married-

Item: I give unto my son George Robert the piece of ground adjoining and of equal size to that on which the new house stands Also to him I give the old house now standing on ground belonging to another Also to him I give the little meadow situated east of the Gut.    And also the potato garden adjoining Esther Forward’s and bounded by the road.

Item: I give and bequeath the ground situated on Point Bulley and bounded by the sea to be divided as followeth: - the eastern end as far as the little meadow I give to my son Charles Patten- The little meadow with breast in front forming a square, I give to my son George Robert-    The rest to be divided into three equal portions to be the property of my wife and my two daughters Harriet and Elizabeth.    And furthermore I give to my son Charles Patten the potato garden adjoining the Church And also to him I give the small beach situated east of the Gut-    And still further I give to my daughter Elizabeth the small meadow adjoining Mrs. Emma Hickman’s-     And to my daughter Harriet the Potato garden situated in Admirals Cove.    Also the workshop and tools on Mr. Newman’s ground I give to be the joint property of my two sons aforesaid.

Item: I give and bequeath to my two sons George Robert and Charles Patten the schooner four boats three seines, nets and all the fishing and sailing apparatus to be their joint property and employed by them in mutual business, and no division shall take place without the agreement of both parties. And furthermore, when my executors shall have settled all outstanding accounts, received all dues, and paying all my just debts, all the remaining money about one hundred pounds I give to my two sons aforesaid to enable them to carry on the fishing and trading business unitedly.

Item:     I give the two cows to my wife and my two daughters to be their joint property. Also of the three trunks I give one to each, my wife and two daughters Harriet and Elizabeth And furthermore I give the horse to be the joint property of my two sons George Robert and Charles Patten.     Also of the two watches I give one to each of my sons aforesaid And still further of the six volumes of Benson’s Commentary I give to my two sons those on the Old Testament and to my two daughters those on the New Testament     The rest of the books I give to Jane my wife. All the provisions shall be the united property of the whole family.

Item:     I give and bequeath to each of my children a feather bed a-piece, of those now in my possession- And further it is my will that the whole of my family shall be maintained and my two daughters educated out of the profits of the business aforesaid carried on by my two sons. And furthermore should should either of my sons leave the partnership and country there shall be no division of the business property until both are able to manage separately.     In either case my two daughters shall be well provided for until married.

Item:     I further declare that in case any of the aforesaid children should happen to die before the time limited for the receiving his or her said portion that then it be equally divided among the surviving children, and if they should all die, I give that part belonging to my sons to my nephew Joseph Robert and I give that part belonging to my daughters to my wife if still a widow, and if not I give it to my brother Robert.

Item: I appoint my brother Robert Forsey, Trader, and my friend John Charles Bethune, Carpenter, both of this place, to be my executors of this my last will and testament but I require not that they or either of them shall be answerable for any more than they receive. Also I appoint the Superintendent Wesleyan Minister for the time being of Grand Bank Circuit the overseer of this my last will and testament; into whose safe keeping I entrust this original document which I now sign and seal.

Joseph B. Forsey.     Signed and sealed in the presence of John Winterbotham, Robert Forsey-

Certified correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar