Will of Johanna Nowlan from Newfoundland will books volume 5 pages 142-145 probate year 1887

Last will and Testament of
Johanna Nowlan of St.
John's widow.

I Johanna Nowlan of St. John's widow do make publish and declare this as and for my last will and testament.
First I direct that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses shall be paid.
Second I give devise and bequeath to my executors hereinafter named the sum of forty five pounds currency to be by them paid and disposed of as follows. To the Venerable Archdeacon Forristal of St. John's, the Very Rev John Scott; the very Reverend Doctor Michael F. Howley, Reverend Patrick Delaney, Very Reverend Michael A. Fitzgerald, Reverend Daniel O'Brien, Very Reverend John Ryan, Reverend Michael P. Morris and Very Reverend William Dontrey the sum of Five pounds currency each for masses for the repose of the soul of my late husband Michael Nowlan and of my own soul, but should any of the above named priests not be resident in Newfoundland at the time of my decease. I direct that the bequest hereby given to such now resident priest shall be paid to each other one of the priests resident in Newfoundland as my executors may select.
Third. I give devise and bequeath to my said executors the further sum of sixty pounds to be by them used for the purpose of providing a headstone and suitable railing for the graves of my late husband and myself.
Fourth. I give devise and bequeath to the president for the time being of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. John's the sum of ten pounds for the use and purposes of that Society. To the president for the time being of the Ladies St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. John's the sum of ten pounds for the use and purposes of that Society. To the Most Reverend the Bishop of St. John's the sum of Ten pounds for the use and purposes of the Roman Catholic Orphanage at Villa Nova near Topsail and to the Reverend John C. Drumgoode of New York City in the United States of America the sum of ten pounds currency for the use and benefit of St. Joseph's Union.
Fifth I give devise and bequeath to my grand nephew John Joseph Feneton son of my niece Ellen Ann Feneton all that piece of land situate on the LeMarchant Road in St. John's adjoining the property of Captain John Green.
Sixth. I give devise and bequeath to my said niece Ellen Ann Feneton all that piece of land situate on the Monkstown Road in St. John's and now occupied by Mr. LeMessurier as my tenant.
Seventh. In accordance with the directions of the will of my late husband I give devise and bequeath one half of what shall remain of my estate property and effects whatsoever lands houses chattels goods and moneys invested or due to me on any security or account whatsoever after making provision for the foregoing bequests and each of them to my sister Mary Kitchen of St. John's widow, but should she die before me then I give devise and bequeath the same to my aforesaid niece Ellen Ann Feneton the wife of Maurice Feneton of St. John's Bookseller and stationer, but this bequest is in either event made subject to the payment to my niece Eliza Kitchen known in religion as Sister Mary Angela of the sum of one hundred pounds currency and the further sum of ten pounds currency per annum for and during the period of her natural life and to the payment to my nephew John Fitzpatrick of the sum of fifty pounds currency in annual instalments of ten pounds each and to the payment to my niece Mary Fitzpatrick of the sum of fifty pounds currency in annual instalments of ten pounds each.
Eighth. In accordance also with the direction of the said will of my late husband I give devise and bequeath the other half of my estate as follows.

• To Patrick Nowlan of Brigus in Conception Bay nephew of my said husband all that piece of land situate on ??? Rennies Mill road in St. John's and now occupied by Mr. Blatch as my tenant. One half of my shares in the General Water Company of St. John's, my late husbands gold watch and also one half of all moneys due to me under mortgages or as ordinary debts.
• To my said executors one half of my shares in the Union Bank of Newfoundland upon trust to sell and dispose of the same to the best advantage and out of the proceeds of such sale to pay to Kate Scanlan wife of Thomas D. Scanlan of Brigus aforesaid the sum of three hundred pounds currency as separate estate free of the control debts and liabilities of her husband
• to Bridget Saunders wife of Alexander Saunders of St. John's the sum of three hundred pounds currency as separate estate free of the control debts and liabilities of her husband
• to Alice Nowlan of Brigus sister of the said Kate and Bridget the sum of three hundred pounds currency
• to Michael Reddy of St. John's nephew of my late husband the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds currency.
• To Michael Nowlan; John Nowlan and Patrick Nowlan sons of John Nowlan deceased a brother of my said husband the sum of fifty pounds currency each and I direct that of the money arising from the sale of the said half of my shares shall not be sufficient to pay off the said bequests in full then each of the said bequests shall be proportionately lessened in account but if such money should exceed the total amount of the said bequests then such excess shall be added proportionately to each bequest and be therewith paid to the respective legatee.
• To John Long of St. John's brother-in-law of my said late husband one fourth part of the profit rent arising from that house in Water Street now occupied by David Smalwood as tenant the same to be paid to him for his life only.
• To the aforesaid Michael Reddy one fourth part of the said profit rent.
• To the aforesaid Bridget Saunders one half of my shares in the Anglo American Telegraph Company as separate estate free of the control debts and liabilities of her husband.
• To the aforesaid Kate Scanlon that piece of land situate on the Portugal Cove Road near St. John's and now in my possession to be taken and held by her as separate estate free of the control debts and liabilities of her husband.

As regards the piece of farm land and premises situate at the top of the hill near the Kings Bridge in the neighbourhood of St. John's compressing the dwelling house field and garden now in my possession and the land and barn now used and occupied by William Coughlan as my tenant under an agreement which will expire at the end of next October I direct that the same shall be by my said executors divided into two equal portions and of these portions I give devise and bequeath that one on which the dwelling house shall stand to my said sister Mary Kitchen and the other portion in equal shares between the aforesaid Bridget Saunders, Alice Nowlan and Michael Reddy.
Any part or share or interest in this half of my estate which may remain after providing for the bequests above made and given out of it I give devise and bequeath to the above named Patrick Nowlan of Brigus.
Ninth. I do hereby nominate and appoint the said Patrick Nowlan of Brigus and the said Maurice Feneton of St. John's as executors of this my will and lastly I do hereby revoke annul and declare void all former and other wills by me made.
Witness my hand at St. John's this fifteenth day of May Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and eighty six (1886) Johanna Nowlan.
Signed by the said testatrix as and for her last will and Testament in our presence who in her presence and at her request and in the presence of each other have hereto subscribed our names as witnesses on the day and year and at the place above mentioned. Robert I. Kent. Edwin Deverise

I certify that the foregoing is a correct copy.
D. M. Browning
Registrar