THE WILL OF JOHN VERGE - TRINITY - 1825

PREROGATIVE COURT OF CANTERBURY

In the Name of God Amen. I JOHN VERGE of TRINITY in the Island of Newfoundland Planter being of sound and disposing mind and understanding but mindful of my mortality do this twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first I desire to be decently buried and that all my just debts and funeral expences be fully paid and satisfied. Secondly I give and bequeath unto my GRANDDAUGHTER SUSANNA LANIGAN COOK one hundred and fifty pounds currency for her sole use and benefit the same to be hers when she arrives at the age of twenty one years together with the interest of the same at the rate of four per cent per annum to be appropriated yearly to her use until she arrives at that age at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named. Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my SON IN LAW GEORGE COOK of Trinity aforesaid Planter one hundred pounds currency unto my SISTER MARY BUGDEN, WIDOW twenty pounds currency and unto my SISTER SUSANNA SPURRELL, WIDOW twenty pounds currency the said three legacies to be paid unto each of the said persons respectively immediately after the expiration of one year after my decease or sooner at the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named. Ffourthly I give and bequeath unto my GRANDSON PHILIP COOK my bed and bedding and half of my wearing apparel and unto my GRANDSON RICHARD COOK half of my wearing apparel and one gun. Ffithly I give and bequeath unto my NEPHEW JOHN VERGE son of my LATE BROTHER THOMAS VERGE a silver watch. Sixthly I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid GRANDDAUGHTER SUSANNA LANIGAN COOK all my household furniture of every kind with the exception of what I have disposed of as above. Seventhly I give and bequeath unto my FRIEND GEORGE SKELTON Senior Magistrate for the District of Trinity all my stock in the public funds(?) now standing in my name or which may be so standing at the time of my death on the books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England in the ? four percent or other ? funds by whatever name it may be denominated with full liberty and power to have the same transferred into his name or in to the name of names of any other person or persons or to sell out the same at his own discretion for the purpose of paying the above mentioned legacies or for any other purpose or purposes hereinafter named in this my last Will and Testament or which may be named at any future period by way of Codicil and as to all other monies due to me at the time of my death in the hands of MR. THOMAS MANNING of POOLE, MR. JOHN ROGERS of LYTCHETT and elsewhere together with the rest residue and remainder of my estate whatsoever and wheresoever and of what kind nature and quality soever together with any part of my aforesaid stock which may be inappropriated I do give and bequeath the same being all personal unto my said friend MR. GEORGE SKELTON his executors administrators and assigns after paying the expences of proving this my last Will and Testament my just debts and funeral expences to be disposed of as he may see fit and particularly that he may be enabled to satisfy himself for all the trouble which he will have in collecting appropriating and disposing of my effects and this he is fully authorized to do without being controlled by any other person whatsoever. And I do hereby ordain nominate constitute and appoint my said FRIEND GEORG SKELTON sole Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament set and subscribed my hand and seal the day and year first above written.

JOHN VERGE (x his mark).

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Testator JOHN VERGE as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

GEO. BUCHANAN JUNR.

WILL GOODFELLOW

Proved at London 11^th October 1828 before the Judge by the oath of GEORGE SKELTON, the sol Executor to whom Admon was granted having been first sworn by Comon duly to Administer.