Will of John Ledingham
from Newfoundland will books volume 6 pages 360-363 probate year 1897

Last will and Testament of
John Ledingham of St. John’s
Engineer deceased

      This is the last will and Testament of me John Ledingham of St. John’s Newfoundland Engineer.
First I hereby revoke cancel and disallow all former and other wills by me at any time made and declare this to be my true last will and Testament.
Second I desire that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses shall be first paid out of my Estate.
Third I appoint my brother Robert Ledingham of St. John New Brunswick, my sister Agnes now residing with me and my friends John Anderson and Robert McIntosh both of St. John’s Newfoundland and the survivor and survivors of them Executor and Executors of this my will
Fourth I desire and direct that my executors shall with all convenient speed sell and realize the business now carried on by me on Water street in St John’s known as the Terra Nova Foundry together in the land and premises upon which the said business is carried on and the stock in trade assets and effects thereof and shall apply and dispose of the proceeds thereof in the manner hereinafter provided.
Fifth I desire and direct that my Executors shall if they think it will be to the advantage of my estate sell and dispose of the pieces of land situate on Duckworth Street in St. John’s purchased by me from Johanna Howley and Catherine St. John and shall apply and dispose of the proceeds thereof in the manner hereinafter provided. If my Executors consider that it will be more to the advantage of my estate to let or lease the said pieces of lands or to erect one or more houses thereupon for the purpose of letting same they shall have the right to do so and to expend such sum as shall be necessary for that purpose.
Sixth I hereby appoint my said sister Agnes Ledingham guardian of the persons of my children and desire and direct that she shall have absolute and entire control and supervision of them and each of them and of all expenditure for their support maintenance and education until the youngest of said children shall have attained the age of twenty one years.
Seventh. I desire and direct that my said sister Agnes and my children shall have the right to occupy the dwelling house and premises in which I now reside situate on Military Road in St. John’s and to use the household goods furniture and effects therein contained so long as she and they shall continue to reside in Newfoundland and I hereby will and direct that in the event of my said sister Agnes and the said children leaving Newfoundland the said dwelling house and premises and the said household goods furniture and effects shall be sold and realized by my Executors to the best advantage and the proceeds thereof applied and disposed of in the manner hereinafter provided I further direct that it shall be left to the discretion of my executors to decide as to whether my said sister Agnes and the said children shall continue to reside in Newfoundland or whether she and they shall leave Newfoundland and reside elsewhere
Eighth. It is my wish and desire and I hereby direct that the proceeds of the sale of my said business and of the stock in trade assets and effects thereof and of the said pieces of land on Duckworth Street (if the same be sold) and of the said dwelling house and premises on Military Road and the said household goods furniture and effects (if the same be sold also all monies and security for money of which I shall die possessed also all moneys arising from all policies of Insurance or other insurance upon my life and the proceeds of all other property of which I shall die possessed not hereinbefore specifically mentioned save and except the piece of land hereinafter bequeathed to my brother Peter Ledingham shall be invested by my said executors and the yearly income thereof shall be applied to the support and maintenance of my said sister Agnes and to the support maintenance and education of my said children until he youngest surviving child shall attain the age of twenty one years.
Ninth. Upon the youngest of said children attaining the age of Twenty one years it is my wish and desire and I hereby will and direct that the said principal fund or so much thereof as shall then remain and all other property belonging to my Estate shall be divided amongst my said sister Agnes and such of my children as shall then be living share and share alike, my said sister Agnes taking the same share as one of my children and the child or children of any of my said children who shall have died taking his her or their deceased parents share. -
Tenth Should my said executors at any time before the final division of my estate contemplated by the last paragraph consider that it would be of advantage to any of my said children to advance to such child or children a portion of his her or their share or shares of my estate I hereby authorize and empower my said executors to advance to such child or children such sum or sums as my said executors shall consider advisable upon such terms as to the payment of interest or otherwise as to my said executors shall appear fair and equitable.
Eleventh I devise and bequeath to my brother Peter Ledingham the piece of land situate in the Parish of Heath in the county of Victoria New Brunswick purchased by me from William Petrie and Ellen Petrie his wife by Bill of Sale dated the eighteenth day of August A.D. 1881 as by reference thereto will fully appear.
Witness my hand at St. John’s this twenty first day of July A.D. Eighteen hundred and ninety seven. (sgd) John Ledingham
Signed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last will and Testament in our presence who in his presence and the presence of each other (all present at the same time) have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses on the day of the date hereof. (Sgd) D. Morrison (sgd) John Anderson. (sgd) R. Macintosh.

      I certify the foregoing to be a correct copy of the last will and Testament of John Ledingham deceased

Registrar

(Listed in the margin next to this will the following)
Fiat
Jos Little
J.
Probate
granted to
Agnes Ledingham
for the Exors.
Dated
Aug 4: 1897
Estate
Sworn under
$57,000.00