Will of John Morry, Mariner of Dartmouth , Devon
Written 24 April 1798 - Probated 15 June 1807 - Finalized 30 March 1809
Prerogative Court of Canterbury Collection
PROB 11/1463 - Image Reference 147- Page 168
The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, England.

[Although there is no mention of Newfoundland is this will, family research shows that John Morry (1776 - 1807), the eldest son of the Matthew Morry (and the late Mary Graham), was born in Dartmouth, Devon. For several decades in the late 1700s, his father was involved in the seasonal trans-Atlantic West Country/Newfoundland cod fishery, eventually becoming a merchant. Matthew headquartered himself at Caplin Bay (Calvert), Newfoundland where he and another son, Matthew Jr. eventually resettled. John was not part of his father's enterprise, but while living in England, he appears to have lived the life of a privateer captain. It is not known if this adventurous occupation led to his short life span. John and his wife Mary Foale Luke had one son, also named John. John Morry's will was probated on 15 June 1807, but it appears that Mary, his executrix, was unable to settle the administration of his estate before she died less than two years later. Her estate was settled in March 1809 when administration was granted to her father-in-law, Matthew Morry". On March 30, 1809, administration of John's estate was also handed over to Matthew Morry Sr. John Jr. eventually came to Newfoundland and either participated in his grandfather's business or carried on in a similar trade in his own right. He died at Caplin Bay in June 1837, a year after his grandfather died. Both John Jr. and his grandfather Matthew are buried in Forge Hill Anglican Cemetery at Ferryland.]

JOHN MORRY [and in very small writing under his name]
Admon/with Will/
Pass^d March 1809

In the Name of God
Amen. I John Morry of Dartmouth in
the County of Devon Mariner being of sound
and disposing mind memory and understanding
but mindful of my mortality do this twenty
fourth Day of April in the year of our Lord
one thousand seven hundred and ninety
Eight make and publish this my last will
and testament in the manner and form
following (that is to say) I give and bequeath
unto my wife Mary ffoale Morry all my
household Goods and ffurniture linen china
plate and wearing apparel whatsoever to be
for her own use and benefit Also I give and
bequeath unto my said wife Mary ffoale
Morry all my Ready Money Debts Dues wages
and sundries whatsoever that I may be
possessed of at the time of my decease and
I do hereby make ordain constitute and
appoint my said wife whole and sole Executrix
of this my last will and testament hereby
revoking all former and other wills and testaments
by me at any Time heretofore made In
Witness whereof I have hereunto set and
subscribed my hand and seal the Day and
year first above written. John Morry (LS)
Executed in the presence of Hy White Mary
Luke

This Will was proved at London
on the fifteenth Day of June in the year of
our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and seven
before the Right Honourable Sir William Wynne
Knight Doctor of Laws Master Keeper or
Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
lawfully constituted by the oath of Mary
ffoale Morry widow the Relict of the deceased
and the sole Executrix named in the said
will to whom Administration was granted
of all and singular the Goods Chattels and
Credits of the said deceased having been first
sworn by Commission duly to administer.
Exd.

[In the upper right hand corner of the will's second page, overlapping some of the will's details, in very small writing is the following notation]

On the 30^th March 1809
Admon/with the Will annexed
of the Goods Chattels & Credits
of John Morry late of
Dartmouth in the County of
Devon deced left unadmd by
Mary Foale Morry Widow deced
Whilst living the Relict sole Executrix
& Universal legatee named in
the said Will were granted to
Matthew Morry the admon
of the Goods of the said Mary
Foale Morry for the use and
benefit of John Morry a minor
& until he shall attain the age
1 of 21 years hav'g? being first sworn.

Duly Granted ??? [or someone's signature??]

NOTES:

1/ The spelling, use of capitals, symbols, and punctuation (or lack thereof) mimics the original document as much as possible. Transcription notes are in square brackets, e.g. - [xx]. Line length is the same as in the original document. Any undecipherable or questionable words in the transcription are indicated by question marks.

2/ The double f (ff), used at the beginning of a word, was the way a capital F was written in earlier English and Colonial times.

3/ Some words in the original document may contain the 18^th century "long s". The "long s" looks much like a lower case letter f, and is frequently used in older documents. For example, a word such as "witness" looks like it is spelled as "witnefs". Words with this "long s" have been transcribed with a lower case s in this document.

4/ The enclosed letters (LS) denote that a Legal Seal was applied to the original will.

5/ The abbreviation (Exd.) at the end of probate notations appears to be added as an indication that the will has been legally "executed".

6/ The probate term "admon" usually refers to a grant of administration to a person who applies to handle the estate affairs of someone who has died without a will (intestate). However, admon can also be granted for wills that have become encumbered by irregularities or for wills that may have been not successfully administered in a timely fashion.