THE WILL OF CHRISTOPHER COOPER OF ST. JOHN 'S - 1696

THE PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY

ST. JOHN 'S

I CHRISTOPHER COOPER late of the ISLAND OF JAMAICA and now in Newfoundland in the parish aforesaid being sick and weake of body but sound and perfect in mind and memory praised by the ALMIGHTY GOD therefore and calling to mind the certainty of Death and the uncertainty of the time whereof doe make this my last will and testament in manner foll. That is to say. I comitt my Soul to Almighty GOD and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my friend MR. ROBERTY RIGBY. And as touching the disposition of all such temporall estate as it hath pleased GOD Almighty to bestow upon me. I give and dispose thereof as foll. First I will that all such debts as I shall happen to owe be well and truly paid and satisfied. I doe nominate and appoint my ? and well beloved kinsman MR. WILLIAM BARKES, Aberdasher in LONDON to be my full and sole Executor and here to ask and demand all what to me is belonging here or elsewhere. Also I give to WILLIAM DAVIS the sum of tenn pounds. I give also to DOCTR PETER CARMICHAELL for his care and trouble the sume of ffive pounds. I give to MR. ROBERT RIGBY the sume of tenn pounds. I give also to MR. ABRAHAM DA SILVA or his assignes the sume of tenn pounds for his care and trouble. I will that in case of my Death my Indian man by name INDRES(?) to be free of all persons claiming my right title towards him. I will that JENY my Indian woman after my decease to be free from all manner of persons claiming any right title towards herself. I will that LITTLE TONY shall abode and remaine with the above mentioned MR. WILLIAM BARKES to whom my pleasure and will is to fulfill and satisfie all whatsoever herein mentioned and all former Will or Wills at any time heretofore made by me doe hereby revoake disanull and make void. In testimony whereof and in confirmation of this my last Will and Testament I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this nine and twentieth day of September and in the yeare of our LORD one thousand six hundred ninety six.

The marke of CHRISTOPHER COOPER

Signed sealed and published by the said CHRISTOPHER COOPER to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of JOHN GREATOREX(?), THOMAS GREEN, THOM. TYRELL, ABRAHAM DA SILVA.