Will of John Edgar P. Peters
from Newfoundland will books vol 11 pages 410 to 412 probate year 1920

In re J. Edgar P. Peters       deceased

My last Will and Testament. I John Edgar P. Peters of Saint John's Newfoundland with gratitude to God for the health of body and vigor of mind I now enjoy to make this my last and only true and lawful Will and Testament; humbly trusting for divine guidance to do the best for all concerned. My estate may be said to consist of the house in which I reside 173 Gower Street in the city of Saint John's, with all its furniture, fittings and utensils without any encumbrance save the annual ground rent, a sum, now about eighteen thousand dollars in the Bank of Montreal Savings Bank, my interest in the business now carried on by the firm of Peters & Sons, and shares of my late father Joseph Peters in the Harbor Grace Water Company for One hundred dollars. I leave to my eldest son John P. Peters the Silver Service presented to me by the George Street Church Sunday School Committee, with the address that accompanied it, and after his death I wish that the service and address be passed to my son Alfred M. Peters, to be kept as an heirloom in his family. To my youngest son George Peters I leave the Gilt Clock presented to me by the George Street Church Officials, to be kept during his lifetime, and then to be passed to a member of our family, only that attend Gower Street Church. I desire my Executors to offer first and second choice of my books to my son John P. Peters and my son in law Rev. J.J. Blithe respectively, after which any of my other sons may make selections of any books they desire before all are disposed of. As to my furniture, Cutlery, Utensils, Napery etc., I think best not to make special distribution of such but wish all to be sold as my Executors may determine.

Regarding the business now being carried on by my son George and myself under the firm name of Peters & Sons. I desire that my son George take into Co Partnership his brother Wm. H. Peters to carry on the business as at present, as I have the consent of the Central Agency Ltd., Glasgow, that such change could take place after my decease or necessary withdrawal through inability to discharge duties the business may call for. In view of such Co Partnership I deem it necessary that Wm. H. Peters give up all outside business requiring credit or that may in any way compromise the firm of Peters & Sons and this cannot be done in view of the monetary arrangements the firm has with the principals whose goods it carries in stock. As in the Co Partnership above referred to my son George will have the largest Capital, and will also have the more important duties to perform, it is my desire that he be credited with interest at the rate of five per cent per annum on the balance to his credit when the books are closed as on 31^st December, in excess of the balance to the credit of his brother William's account year by year, to commence from the closing of the accounts the second year after the Copartnership commences, said interest to be credited before the division of the profits takes place. The division of profits and losses is matter for arrangement between themselves.

I desire that after my decease the house number 173 Gower Street - if not disposed of before - be sold to the best advantage in the opinion of my Executor together with what furniture, pictures, books, utensils etc. are not bequeathed herein, such bequests being distributed, or held for distribution, before any sales take place. The proceeds of all sales, the monies in the Bank and in hand, the balance to my credit in the books of Peters & Sons, and the shares in the Harbor Grace Water Company, will be my estate when fully realized. From the amount in the Savings Bank I give and bequeath to my seven sons and one daughter, that is to say to John P. Peters, Alfred M. Peters, Joseph Peters, Arthur C. Peters, Charles A. Peters, William H. Peters, George Peters and Kate Peters-Blithe, the sum of fifteen hundred dollars each, which may be the first payment made by my Executors. The first charge on these several bequests is to be the amounts already loaned to some of my sons as they appear in the books of Peters & Sons, to close these accounts. Should either of my sons have died before above bequest is paid, then, and in that case the amount shall be paid to his widow and children should there be any, but if neither widow or children, then the amount remains to be added to the residue of my estate, should my daughter Kate Peters-Blithe have passed away before the bequest to her is paid I desire that her said amount of fifteen hundred dollars be paid to her daughter Marjorie, or to her father Rev. J.J. Blithe as her guardian should she not be of age.

The bequests herein made having been all paid and all lawful debts and demands upon my estate met, I desire that the residue be disposed of as follows:- to each of my two Executors two and one half per cent of said residue, to the Missionary Society of the Methodist Church two hundred dollars p year for five years, to the Supernumerary fund of the Newfoundland Conference, to bring up payments to beneficiaries of Newfoundland only, one hundred dollars p year for five years, to the Augmentation fund of the Nfld Conference one hundred dollars p year for five years, to the Parsonage Aid fund One hundred dollars, to the Methodist Orphanage two hundred and fifty dollars, to the Women's Missionary Society two hundred & fifty dollars, to the Epworth League for tracts etc. for beat work - if carried on - One hundred dollars, to the Nfld Auxiliary of the Bible Society two hundred dollars, to the Sunday School and Epworth league fund for support of their Missionaries in China five hundred dollars, to the poor fund of Gower Street Church One hundred dollars, to the Poor Asylum Mission ten dollars p year for five years for their annual treat to the inmates, to the fund for Tuberculosis work, per Dr. H. Randall, One hundred dollars, and to Gower Street Circuit funds fifty two dollars per year for five years. After all the foregoing bequests are paid I desire that any residue remaining in the hands of my Executors be divided equally between all my grand children that may be then alive, and that the amount falling to each of those residing in Newfoundland be placed to the credit of each by name in the Newfoundland Savings Bank and a pass book in which the deposit is entered given to each, the amounts for those residing outside Newfoundland to be forwarded to their parents, with my wish that the sum for each be deposited at interest in the same manner as the amounts for those here, these pass books becoming the property of each as they come to age. I further make bequest to my grandson Joseph Peters - of Joseph - the shares - once the property of his great grandfather in the Harbor Grace Water Company One hundred dollars bearing interest at four per cent. My pew number 6, aisle c, in Gower Street Church I leave to the trustees, my sons considering it too far forward in the Church for their occupancy. The payment of these bequests shall be made at the convenience of my Executors as far as any amount to be drawn from the business of Peters & Sons on my account is concerned, and I give them discretionary powers to withhold, and add to the residue, any amounts the payment of which changed conditions may have rendered unnecessary.

I appoint my sons William H. Peters and George Peters Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In the name of God, with a grateful heart I trust, I subscribe. J. E. P. Peters. Saint John's, Newfoundland this 3^rd day of June 1918. God save the King.

Correct William F. Lloyd
Registrar of the Supreme Court of Newfoundland.

(Listed in the margin next to this will the following)
Fiat Jan 6/20
Kent J..
Probate granted
to George Peters
William H.
Peters Jan 6/20.
Estate sworn
at $27,400.00

We who have typed these wills, have made every effort to include all the errors that were on the microfilm, in order to avoid destroying the integrity of the originals, where ever they may be.