Will of Richard Reed
from Newfoundland will books volume 1 pages 129 to 132 probate year 1831.

In re
     Richard Reed       deceased.

Barbados. This is the last will and testament of me Richard Reed late of the Colony of Demerara but at present of the Island of Barbadoes Esquire. I direct all my just debts and funeral expenses to be fully paid and satisfied as soon as possible after my decease and I do charge all my estate real and personal with the payment thereof (except my negro man slave named Louis hereinafter by me devised to my relation Edward Brace Terrill). I give and bequeath unto the Orphan Chamber of the Colony of Demerara the sum of Ten Guilders Holland currency thereby excluding them from any interference in my affairs under any circumstances whatever. I give and devise unto my said relation Edward Brace Terrill and his heirs my said negro man slave named Louis. I give and bequeath unto my dear brother Thomas Reed my watch Chain and key, and also my Encyclopaedia Brittannica now in the possession of my brother in law Patrick Huir, and also my two fowling pieces now in the possession of Mr. Beckwith Gunsmith of London. I direct my executors hereinafter named or either of them who are appointed to act in my affairs in the said Colony of Demerara to purchase a Gold watch key chain and seals of the value of Thirty guineas and present the same to my dear sister Jane Reed, and I also direct my said executors to purchase another Gold watch, key, chain and seals of the like value and present the same to my dear niece Eliza Bowcher daughter of my dear sister Elizabeth Fergus who was formerly Elizabeth Bowcher widow.
Whereas I am seized in fee simple and possessed of and in one fourth part of a certain Plantation called Nabaclis situate on the east coast of the said colony of Demerara and also of and in one fourth part of the slaves and appurtenances thereto belonging, Now I do give and devise three fourth parts of the said one fourth part of the said Plantation Slaves and Premises unto my said sister Elizabeth Fergus wife of James Fergus and Mary Ewing wife of James Ewing my said sister Jane Reed and my said brother Thomas Reed and their heirs to be equally divided between and amongst them as tenants in common, and not as joint tenants, and the interest annual produce and profits arising and accruing from the remaining one fourth part of the said one fourth part of the said plantation slaves and premises I direct shall be paid and applied and be for the use and benefit of all the children of my said brother in law Patrick Huir on the body of his wife my sister Sarah Huir begotten or to be begotten during their respective minorities, and when and so soon as all the aforesaid children shall attain their ages of twenty one years then I give and devise the said one fourth part of the said one fourth part of the said plantation slaves and premises unto such children and their heirs to be equally divided between and amongst them as tenants in common and not as joint tenants. And it is my will that the said interest annual produce and profits for the benefit of the said children shall be paid to my executors in Newfoundland or either of them who shall qualify to this my will who shall apply the same for the benefit of the said children in such proportions for their maintenance and education as shall be deemed by them or either of them most fit and proper from time to time I do authorise my executors in Demerara or either of them who shall qualify to this my will whenever they or he shall find it advantageous so to do to sell dispose of and convey my said one fourth part of the said plantation slaves and premises and the monies arising therefrom. I give and bequeath to and direct that the same shall be paid and applied to such persons and in such manner and proportions as I have given and devised the said one fourth part of the said plantation slaves and premises in case the same had not been sold.
All the rest residue and remainder of my estate real personal or mixed whether in possession reversion remainder or expectancy either in Demerares, Newfoundland or elsewhere I give devise and bequeath in the following manner that is to say, three fourth parts thereof unto my said sisters Elizabeth Fergus, Mary Ewing and Jane Reed and my said brother Thomas Reed and their heirs to be equally divided between and amongst them as tenants in common and not as joint tenants; and the remaining one fourth part thereof unto the children of my said sisters Sarah Huir begotten by the said Patrick Huir and their heirs to be equally divided between them share and share alike.
I nominate and appoint my relation John Groscort Reed and my friend Creswell Spencer of the Colony of Demerara, Esquires, executors of this my will to act in my affairs jointly or severally in Demerara aforesaid, and I nominate and appoint my said brother in law James Fergus and my friend Thomas Patten of Newfoundland, Esquires, to be executors of this my will to act in my affairs in Newfoundland. And I authorise my said executors in Demerara or either of them who shall there qualify whenever they or he are about to depart the said Colony of Demerara or are about to depart this life to substitute nominate and appoint some person or persons to act as executor or executors under this my will in regard to my affairs in Demarara aforesaid with the same and the like powers as if they had been nominated and appointed by me in this my will and I do revoke all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four. Rd. Reed (LS)
Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator Richard Reed as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, the words "to purchase" between the twenty third and twenty fourth lines of the first page and the words "jointly or severally" between the second and third lines of this page being first severally interlined in the presence of John C. Eversley.    Benj. M. Alleyne.   A. Yearwood.   Edmund J. Eversley.    Richd Read.   Wm. Hy. Ames.   E. W. Eversley.

Barbados This is a codicil to the last will and testament of me Richard Reed Late of the Colony of Demerara but at present of the Island of Barbados, Esquire, which said will bears date the eleventh day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four and which said will I do hereby ratify and confirm in every respect except as the same may be hereby altered or varied. I do hereby authorise and direct my executors in Demerara or either of them who shall qualify to my said will to act in my affairs there to allow and pay to my brother Thomas Reed the annual sum of two hundred pounds sterling money of Great Britain for the spane of four years to be computed from the date of my said will for the purpose of enabling my said brother to finish his education as a surgeon or Physician and which said annual sum I direct shall be paid out of the nett proceeds of the proportion of the crops to which my said brother will be entitled under my said will out of my proportion of the plantation Nabaclis, but in case my proportion of the said plantation shall be sold before the expiration of the said four years then I direct my said executors to reserve as much principal money in their hands as will pay the said annuity during the said term out of the proportion thereof to which my xxxx brother the said Thomas Reed is entitled under my said will and I wish my said brother clearly to understand that the said annuity is to be deducted from his proportion of the said Crops of the said plantation or the purchase money thereof in case the same shall be sold.
In testimony whereof I the said Richard Reed have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the thirteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four. Rd. Reed (LS)
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Richard Reed as and for a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at this request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto. Henry T. Ward.   A. Yearwood.    Nathan L. Eversley.   J. Tynes.    John Lewis.   Frederick Willis.   Samuel Hood.

Certified Correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar