Prerogative Court of Canterbury

July the 15^th Day 1728.

In the Name of God Amen. I WILLIAM COOPER, Planter in Newfound Land being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men ? to dye do 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 God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buryed in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form Imprio? I give and bequeath to HONOR(?) COOPER my beloved wife the sum of seven pounds sterl. To be paid her annually during her widowhood and if she doth marry to be left to the discretion of my Executors and to have all the furniture belonging to the house. I give to my ELDEST DAUGHTER SARAH COOPER the sum of thirty pounds Sterling 30 part of the same sume to be laid out in Cloth for her two fatherless daughters SARAH AND SUSANA JOHNSON. Item I give to MARY COOPER the sum of fforty pounds to be paid yearly by the discretion of my Executors 40. I give to ELIZABETH COOPER the sume of thirty pounds to be paid her at the discretion of my Executors 30. Item I give and bequeath to my YOUNGEST DAUGHTER MARIA COOPER the sume of one hundred pounds sterling 100. Item I give and bequeath to GEORGE WATKINS my beloved Servant the sume of ten pounds to be paid in Cloathing 10. Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son ANDREW COOPER my whole and sole part of the BRIGG ELIZABETH now riding in TOADES COVE whom I likewise constitute make and ordain my only and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament by him freely to be possessed and enjoyed and I do hereby utterly disallow all and every other former Testaments Wills and Legacies bequest and Executors by me in any ways before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the day and year above written. WILLIAM COOPER his mark signed sealed and published pronounced and declared by the said WILLIAM COOPER as his last will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers witness present THO. ANDREWS adm GEORGE FFOARD his mark.

Note, a final paragraph written in latin, beginning "Probatum" it mentions "January" and a year which I do not understand. It is hard to read, but for those people who know Latin, it is something like "decime quarte die mensie January Anno Dom- millesimo septigentisimo vivosimo octavo"

Also note, the handwriting of William's wife's name is very difficult to read, and the name "Honor" is strictly a guess.