Last will and Testament of
Lawrence Gearin of St. John’s
Gentleman deceased

      In the name of God Amen. I Lawrence J. Geran being of sound mind, memory and understanding do make this my last will and Testament I give and bequeath to my wife Eliza Catherine Geran my property known as Springdale situated on Springdale and New Gower St. St. John’s for her life and while she remains my widow. The revenue or rents from the above mentioned property together with the interest on the mortgages hereinafter mentioned to be collected by herself or the Executors hereinafter named and to be paid to her for her sole use and benefit. The following are the list of mortgages

• 1^st Mortgage on the stock of E.M. Jackman of the value of Three Thousand $3000.00/100 bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent on which a rebate has been made of half per cent, this interest is payable in advance on the Twentieth of Nov. In each year.
• 2^nd mortgage on the property of Jas. C. Oke situated on the corner of Prescott and Duckworth Streets of the value of Twelve hundred dollars $1200.00/100 bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent 7 payable quarterly Feb 1^st May 1^st Aug 1^st Nov 1^st
• 3^rd Mortgage on the property of John C. Oke situated on the Forest Rd. Of the value of one thousand dollars $1000.00/100 bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent 7 payable quarterly Jan 8^th April 8^th July 8^th Oct 8^th.
• 4^th Mortgages on the property of Peter Dillon situated on Prospect Street of the value of one hundred dollars bearing interest at the rate of seven per cent payable May and October half yearly.

In order to enlarge the income from the above investments and make it more easy to collect I advise the foreclosure of the said Mortgages, as soon as it can be done without injury to any one, and the money invested in erecting suitable houses on the vacant ground belonging to the Estate. The first charge on the estate will be my lawful debts which must be paid at once. Masses or offerings for myself and family I leave to her sense of duty and affection All my household furniture pictures plate and etc I will and bequeath to my wife for her own sole use and benefit.

I hereby direct that the sum of one thousand dollars now on loan to E.M. Jackman one half of which is repaid and on deposit in the merchants Bank of Halifax the balance to be paid in about six months. I will and bequeath to my wife to be also added to the Building Fund. I hereby direct that after my wifes death my executors will proceed to realize all my property, land and houses, and out of the proceeds of their realization of my estate to purchase a first class organ for St. Patricks Church River Head provided that at the time of my wifes death the church is not provided with a suitable organ for such a building. My object in bequeathing this organ is to dedicate it to the Honour and Glory of God, and as a memorial to my wife and myself. The conditions under which this offering is made to the Church is: First that the said organ would be kept fully insured by the Church authorities and second to place a tablet on the organ stating that it is erected to the Honour and Glory of God and is a memorial to myself and my wife. In the event of a suitable organ being provided for St. Patricks before my wife’s death, I direct that the amount equivalent to the value of the said organ would together with whatever amount the executors would think fit, be given to Mount Cashell orphanage, under such conditions that would provide a permanent memorial to my wife and myself to be known as the Geran Memorial. The balance of the estate to be distributed amongst the charities according to the discretion of my executors and in such proportions as they may deem proper I especially recommend Mount Cashell Orphanage as being the most deserving and St. Michaels orphanage and the St. Vincent de Paul Society to also receive consideration. I recommend my Executors to be an advisory board to assist my wife in connection with the management of the estate, and in case either of my executors or both die or renounce executorship I would recommend that His Lordship the Roman Catholic Bishop of St. John’s would have the power to nominate as their successors such person or persons as in his judgment would be qualified to carry out conditions and directions of this my last will and Testament The will drawn up by me and signed on the Twenty second day of December last past is hereby revoked and declared null and void.
I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint E. M. Jackman Sr. and James Kenny Junior as the Executors of this my last will and Testament. Dated at St. John’s in the Island of Newfoundland this Fifteenth day of January in the year of our Lord A. D. nineteen hundred. (Sgd) Lawrence J. Geran (LS) witness to signature (sgd) Wm Duggen (LS) (sgd) Patrick J. Walsh (LS)

      I certify the foregoing to be a correct copy of the last will and Testament of Lawrence Geran deceased

D. M. Browning
Registrar

(Listed in the margin next to this will the following)
Fiat
G.H. Emerson
J.
Probate
granted to
E.M. Jackman
& Jos Kenny
the Exors
Dated
April 6: 1900
Estate
sworn under
$12,500.00