Will of William Parsons Senior
from Newfoundland will books volume 2 pages 487-488 probate year 1862

In re
William Parsons deceased.

In the name of God Amen.     Know all men by these presents that I William Parsons Senior of Harbor Grace in the Island of Newfoundland Merchant being at this time weak in body but perfect in mind memory and understanding thanks be unto Almighty God who hath been pleased in his allwise Providence to bless and bestow upon me much worldly goods and possessions, glory be unto his great and holy name and therefore calling unto mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed unto all men once to die I do this day make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be interred in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty power of God And as touching my worldly estates and goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I therefore give and dispose of in manner and form as follows,

First I give and bequeath unto my two beloved sons John and Mark and to the legitamate heirs of their bodies as they the said John and Mark may deem fit and worthy, all the waterside premises now used or may be hereafter used for mercantile or maritime purposes that is to say the whole waterside from east to west with stores wharf and all other appendages thereunto connected, to be held and enjoyed by them jointly and to their legitamate heirs as aforesaid, together with my vessel or vessels and all appertaining to the same as also all my merchandize consisting of goods, chattels and debts and everything else that may be construed or considered as merchandize that may remain at the time of my decease

Secondly, I give unto my beloved son John all the other land lying south of the main street of Harbor Grace consisting of gardens on the eastern part of which there is a dwelling house the whole extent east and west I particularly mean not to encroach on any part of the mercantile premises.

thirdly I give unto my beloved son Mark all my landed property north of the main street of Harbor Grace on which is the dwelling house I now occupy with shop and all other outhouses erected thereon,

and fourthly I give to my beloved daughter Elizabeth Ryan one hundred and fifty pounds currency and a decent support during her lifetime out of my personal estate as also the like sum of one hundred and fifty pounds of the like money unto my beloved daughter Jane as allso a decent support during her lifetime.

Fifthly I give to my beloved granddaughter Mary daughter of my son John the sum of fifteen pounds currency and after paying or arranging the foregoing money legacies I give jointly and severally unto my beloved sons John and Mark the whole of the residue of the money left by me at the time of my decease and I also recommend that the whole of the household furniture belonging to my dwelling house may remain in said dwelling house for the use of the family of my beloved son Mark and for his sisters Elizabeth Ryan and Jane who is to be taken care of and provided for with house room food fuel medicine and medical attendance

and Sixthly and lastly I do nominate and appoint my son John Parsons, my son Mark Parsons and Mr. Henry Trapnell, Schoolmaster, to be the executors of this my last will and testament to transact and perform and fully carry out and execute according to their wisdom consistent with law, all my intentions and wishes as before set down in this my last will and testament and in conclusion I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and fully condemn all and every other former wills testaments codicils and executors by me in any ways before named will’d or appointed ratifying - allowing and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.     In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty either at and in the town of Harbor Grace in the Island of Newfoundland, William Parsons (LS)    Witness, Henry Trapnell, Stewart Munn.

Certified correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar