Will of Edward Ridout
from Newfoundland will books volume 3 pages 27 to 29 probate year 1866

In re
     Edward Ridout      deceased.

In the name of God Amen The nineteenth day of December one thousand eight hundred and sixty three I Edward Ridout of Long Pond on the South Shore of Conception Bay in the Island of Newfoundland being of sound mind and understanding do make and ordain this my last will and testament and as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with I give demise and dispose of the same in following manner and form- First I give and bequeath among my sons jointly for their use whilst they continue together all my boats and their gear nets seines rodes & tackling &c. my stage room flake room and barking pot and all and every think appertaining to the prosecution of the fishery with the view of keeping my family together and uniting their efforts for their mutual support and for the support of Sarah my wife and of my daughters until my youngest son shall have obtained his majority and then that equal divisions of my half of Richard Forters property according to his will be made among my sons- Also I give and bequeath to my sons jointly all my cultivated land to till and farm the same (with the view of keeping my family together for their mutual support) with the horse & his gear and the cattle and all the implements for cultivation together with the outhouses Provided nevertheless one or more of my sons should break off from the family then a share one fifth of my uncultivated land shall be apportioned to him or them by my executors after having obtained the consent of the Rev. G.W.B. Carter-     Also I give and bequeath jointly among my family to continue in the house all the goods and chattels and furniture which I now or may possess- that they may serve for the use of the whole family wife and sons and daughters during the period of my sons minority- Provided nevertheless that my new suit of clothes and one of my guns shall be for my son Apollos and one gun for my son Edward- my watch left me by my father for my son Abraham- Also I give and bequeath for the joint use of my family whatsoever money is due me by Messrs. James & William Stewart- to continue as a credit balance for my sons in the said form- or if urgent necessity may arise for the use of my family jointly in such small sums as may be approved of by my executors after having obtained the consent of Rev. G. Carter aforesaid-     Also I give and bequeath for the use of my family only upon urgent necessity the interest of the amount funded by me in the Savings Bank of Newfoundland (£169 more or less) to be drawn with the approval of the executors but only with the consent of Rev. G.W.B. Carter and provided also that the interest of said money in such Savings Bank shall be more especially for the support for my wife Sarah as long as she continues in my name -and provided also my wife Sarah should leave my family then after the attainment of their majority by my sons - the four younger- Apollos, Edward, Abraham and Richard shall equally divide principal and interest of said money and in the event of my elder or younger sons death before their marriage or birth of children their equal divisions shall be made among the survivors.     Provided also if children should be born in wedlock to my sons before the division of the same then at the sons death the grandsons shall inherit their fathers share. And I hereby constitute and appoint as my executors of this my last will and testament my brother Richard Ridout and William Porter of Blow-me-down- Provided they shall do nothing without the consent and approval of the Revd G.W.B. Carter- and I hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former testament will or bequest ratifying & confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day & year above written-
Edward his X mark Ridout (LS)
Signed sealed and declared by said Edward Ridout as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers George W.B. Carter,     Sarah Ridout,     William his X mark Porter.

Certified correct,
D. M. Browning
Registrar