Will of David Reid
from Newfoundland will books volume 2 pages 423 to 425 probate year 1861
(This name is spelled Reid and Reed in the will, and Reid in the will index)

In re
David Reid deceased.

This is the last will of me David Reid of St. John’s Newfoundland Farmer.    I give and bequeath to my grandson David Reid of St. John’s Accountant the sum of five hundred pounds currency.     I give and bequeath to my grandson James Reid now of St. John’s Tailor the sum of two hundred pounds currency.    I give and bequeath to my executors hereinafter named the sum of five hundred pounds currency upon trust to invest the same at good security and at the best interest that can be had for the same, until Mary Anne Reid Power of St. John’s Spinster, the daughter of Anastatia Power shall have arrived at the age of twenty one years, and then upon trust to settle the said principal sum of five hundred pounds and interest thereon to and for the sole and separate use of the said Mary Anne Reid Power free from the debts liabilities and control of any husband or husbands but in the event of the decease of the said Mary Anne Reid Power before attaining the age of twenty one years unmarried or if married leaving no child or husband the said principal sum and interest to go to her mother but if married leaving a husband or child the same to go to her next of kin.

I give and bequeath to my said executors the further sum of three hundred pounds currency, upon trust to invest the same in manner aforesaid until Alexander Gibson and Marion Gibson children of James Gibson of St. John’s, Farmer, shall respectively attain the age of twenty one years, and upon each of the said Alexander and Marion Gibson attaining that age he and she shall receive one half of the said principal sum of three hundred pounds currency and one half of the interest that shall then have accumulated thereon-    If either the said Alexander or Marion Gibson shall die before attaining such age his or her share of the said principal money and interest is to go to his or her next of kin     I devise and bequeath to my said executors and their heirs for ever, all that parcel of land farm and premises now in my occupation containing about twenty seven acres more or less and called "Reid’s Cottage" and all my household furniture, farming utensils and stock upon trust to hold the same and to appropriate the same and the rents issues and profits thereof to and for the sole and separate use of the said Anastatia Power and her daughter the said Mary Ann Reid Power and their heirs jointly, freed from all debts, liabilities and control whatsoever of the present or any future husband of the said Anastatia Power and of any husband of the said Mary Ann Reid Power and the receipts of the said Anastatia Power and Mary Ann Reid Power to be the only vouchers for the right appropriation of the said trust estate.

I give and bequeath the residue of my estate, real and personal, (after the discharge of my debts and personal liabilities and after satisfaction of the several legacies hereinbefore bequeathed) to my said grandson David Reed.    I will and direct that in the matter of the legacies hereinbefore given to Mary Ann Reid Power, Alexander Gibson and Marion Gibson it shall be competent to my said executors to appropriate the annual interest of the legacies respectively bequeathed to them to their maintenance and education if my said executors shall find it necessary so to do.    I further desire that my said executors shall appropriate a reasonable sum according to their discretion in the erection of a tombstone over my remains, and in other funeral expenses.     I revoke all former wills and codicils by me at any time heretofore made and direct that if any or either of my said legatees shall dispute the validity of this my will they shall lose and forfeit the legacies therein given to them.    I nominate and appoint my friends Alexander Mitchell, Robert Blackwood and John Lister all of St. John’s executors of this my will without however meaning to discharge or release any debt that may be owing to me by either of them but such debts are nevertheless to be paid by them respectively into my estate.     David Reid.    Signed, published and declared by the said testator as his last will in our presence who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto signed our names as witnesses at St. John’s this thirty first day of July A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty six-     Hugh W. Hoyles, Alex. Mitchell, Newman W. Hoyles.

I the within named testator David Reed do make this codicil to my will - my said grandsons David Reed and James Reid being desirous of leaving Newfoundland and of receiving a sum of money each in hand in lieu of the legacies within given to them I hereby revoke all such parts of my will as give them legacies as also the disposition of the residue of my estate in favor of the said David Reed and I give such residue to the within mentioned Anastatia Power and Mary Ann Reid Power -     Given under my hand at St. John’s this tenth day of August A.D. eighteen hundred and sixty.    David Reid.     Signed and published by the said testator in our presence the day above written, Andrew Turner, Hugh W. Hoyles

Certified correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar