Will of John Paterson
from Newfoundland will books volume 6 pages 446-448 probate year 1898

Last will and Testament of
John Paterson of Harbor Grace
Merchant deceased

      I John Paterson of Harbor Grace Merchant do make this my last will and Testament. I appoint George Paterson of Harbor Grace Accountant, J. Augustus Clift of St. John’s Barrister and John F. Apsey of Harbor Grace Accountant Trustees and Executors hereof.
I bequeath to my wife Agnes Paterson all my household furniture and plate as used and possessed at the time of my decease for her use and her disposal. I desire and request that my business as now carried on under the name of Paterson & Foster be brought to a close and wound up and realized to best advantage by said trustees. All real and personal estate of whatsoever kind or condition to be to be realized sought after and obtained by said trustees, subject to following conditions and bequests viz:
first. I desire that all my debts and obligations in trade or otherwise be defrayed cancelled and paid. And all expenses attending the winding up of my estate by my said trustees to be paid and settled.

• I bequeath to my son George Paterson the sum of Two thousand dollars,
• to my sister Helen Shearer one thousand dollars.
• To the British Society of Harbor Grace Five hundred dollars.
• To the Masonn Society of Lodge Harbor Grace Five hundred dollars.
• To the Presbyterian Church at Harbor Grace Two thousand dollars to be invested at interest. And the interest hereof to be paid the representative of that church so long as a resident Presbyterian Minister is at Harbor Grace otherwise if no resident minister, then the said interest to be paid to the representative of the Methodist Church at Harbor Grace,
• to John F. Apsey the sum of Four hundred dollars.

All the before mentioned bequests to be paid as soon as practicable for my trustees to do so, then after the realization of my Estate and all obligations and bequests as before mentioned paid, the residue to be divided into sixteen shares and paid as follows,

• to my son George Paterson three shares,
• to my son James Paterson one share
• To my son Lamont Paterson one share,
• to my daughter Agnes Clift one share
• to my daughter Isabella Hayward one share,
• to my daughter Jessie Reid one share,
• to my clerk O. V. Travers one share,

the remaining seven shares I request to be invested at interest and the amount received for such interest after any expenses thereon to be paid my wife Agnes Paterson yearly for her support during her life time. And at her death the principal to be equally divided between my six children as before named - or in case of death to either of them, then the representative of such child deceased.

I further wish and desire that should my son George Paterson wish to carry on business I request my Executors to give him the refusal of any part of the stock at such valuation as may be agreed upon by them, provided ample security is given for the payment, and if so agreed his share of the estate may be allowed as payment toward it. And I hereby exonerate every trustee under my will from losses occurring unless his own wilful default. In witness whereof I have attached my Seal and affixed my hand this the twenty second day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety six. (Sgd) John Paterson (LS) Witnesses to signature of said John Paterson in both our presence the date above mentioned. (Sgd) S. B. Spence J.P. (Sgd) R. S. Parsons.

Codicil

I John Paterson of Harbor Grace declare this to be a codicil to my will dated at Harbor Grace the twenty second of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety six. I give to my son George Paterson in addition to the previous bequest of Two thousand dollars a further and additional sum of Two thousand dollars to be paid out of my Estate. And further I appoint William Duff of Carbonear Merchant an Executor to my will. As witness my hand this the fifteenth day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety seven. (Sgd) John Paterson (LS) Signed by the said John Paterson in presence of us and of each other. (Sgd) O. V. Travers. (Sgd) R. S. Parsons

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

D. M. Browning
Registrar

(Listed in the margin next to this will the following)
Fiat
G. H. Emerson
J.
Probate
granted to
Geo. Paterson
Jno F. Apsey
Wm Duff
J. A. Clift
the Exors.
Dated
Jan 19: 1898
Estate
sworn under
$70,000.00