Will of Thomas Hann
from Newfoundland will books volume 3 pages 535 to 537 probate year 1877

In re
     Thomas Hann deceased.

In the name of God Amen The twelfth day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy two in Beaufet Placentia Bay I Thomas Hann now in sound health and memory but aware of the uncertainty of human life do make this my last will and testament, first I give and bequeath my soul to Almighty God by his son Jesus Christ my blessed Redeemer, my worldly goods and property of all and every description I hereby bequeath (after the just payment of my lawful debts) to be divided as follows;     To my dear wife Ann Hann out of whatever funds I am possessed of in the Commercial Bank of St. John’s or shares in any other savings banks or Companies I give and bequeath the interest of the sum of two thousand pounds that shall be bearing the highest interest at the time of my decease for her sole use and benefit so long as she shall survive me and remain a widow, together also with the dwelling house household furniture and bedding, the garden and land adjoining lying to the north west of the public road and measuring about one hundred feet north east and south west and about one hundred & 70 feet north and south-     The above sum of two thousand pounds with any addition that the said Anne Hann may make and invest therewith during her life together with the abovementioned dwelling house garden and ground at her decease or marriage shall be equally divided between my sons Frederick Hann and Isaac Hann their executors administrators or assigns, subject to the following proviso, that is to say, if either should die previous to marriage that then the survivor shall be entitled to one half of the sum of two thousand pounds and the whole of the said dwelling house garden and grounds the remaining one thousand pounds shall be divided as follows, one hundred pounds I give and bequeath to my son George Hann the remainder to be equally divided between my sons William Hann, Albert Hann, Thomas Hann and the surviving Frederick or Isaac Hann, and in case of both the said Frederick Hann and Isaac Hann dying unmarried the said sum of two thousand pounds together with the value of the before mentioned dwelling house garden and ground shall be equally divided between the said William Hann, Albert Hann and Thomas Hann after paying the said George Hann two hundred pounds, and each of my daughters Hannah Hann, Eliza Hann, Maria Hann and Eleanor Hann the sum of fifty pounds.

I give and bequeath to my son George Hann the sum of three hundred pounds and to my sons William Hann, Albert Hann and Thomas Hann the sum of one thousand pounds each-     To my daughter Hannah Meek I give and bequeath the sum of two hundred pounds, together with the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds to be laid out towards the education of her three children Amelia, Eliza and William Meek in such manner as my executors may direct- and in case of the death of Hannah Meek the above legacy of two hundred pounds shall be divided as follows one hundred pounds to the said William Meek and fifty pounds each to Amelia Meek and Eliza Meek-     To my daughters Eliza Hann, Maria Hann and Eleanor Hann I hereby give and bequeath the sum of five hundred pounds each-     That in case of the death of either William Hann, Albert Hann, Thomas Hann, Eliza Hann, Maria Hann or Eleanor Hann previous to marriage that then his or her share now bequeathed to them shall be equally divided between the survivors of them-

All the waterside of my premises extending from the north east end of the salt store up to the boundary of the fishing room lately occupied by Henry Reid and bounded on the north west by the public road together with all stores, stages or other erections thereon at the time of my decease together with vessels, boats, fishing craft, stock in trade and materials used therein together with all debts balances of accompts that shall be then due and owing to me I give and bequeath to my five sons William, Albert, Thomas, Frederick and Isaac Hann share and share alike in equal portions-     It is my wish and desire that the trade and business should be continued as at present carried on and whatever profits that may accrue or be derived therefrom should be equally divided annually between the above named William Hann, Albert Hann, Thomas Hann, Frederick Hann and Isaac Hann, the accompts thereof being regularly made up on the first of January in each year.     That in case of either of the above named William Hann, Albert Hann, Thomas Hann, Frederick Hann or Isaac Hann should be desirous of leaving or separating from the trade that in that case the before described waterside premises stores stages and other erections thereon together with all vessels boats fishing craft stock in trade materials debts and balances owing shall be valued and each of the said sons leaving the trade shall be paid the fifth portion of one half of the value thereof.

That the remaining portion of the land lying between the church yard fence on the south west side and the garden and ground belonging to the dwelling house and bounded on the south east side by the public road shall be divided into three equal portions which I hereby give and bequeath unto William Hann, Albert Hann and Thomas Hann for the purpose of building a dwelling house for themselves should such be their desire but to be built at their own private expense and not out of general trade, the said dwelling house and portion of ground facing their own private property.     In pursuance of this my last will and testament and for the effectual carrying out of this my desire I hereby choose and appoint Stephen Rendell and Thomas Brown esquires to be my true and lawful executors.     In witness whereof I have hereto signed my hand and set my seal in Beaufet the twelfth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy two.

Thomas his X mark Hann (LS)     Signed sealed and delivered having been first read over in presence of Thos. E. Collett, Richard Collett.

Certified correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar