Will of John Alexander Robinson from Newfoundland will books volume 14 pages 487-493 probate year 1929

In re     DECEASED.
JOHN ALEXANDER ROBINSON.

THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me John Alexander Robinson, of St. John's, in the Colony of Newfoundland, Journalist.
1. (a) I appoint my brother in law, John Stewart Currie, and his son, Lionel Chancey Currie, to be the executors and trustees of this my will. For their services as such I give and bequeath to each the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) out of the residue of my estate, if any, payable before such residue shall be disposed of as hereinafter provided.
(b) I direct my said executors and trustees to pay or provide for my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses out of my monies in hand or in the Bank, or if such prove, insufficient, from the conversion into money of such of my securities as they shall deem necessary and proper.
2. Subject-to-the-payment-in-each-case-by-the-legatee-to-my-executors of-an-amount-bearing-the-same-relation-to-the-Death-Duties-paid-on-my-estate-as-the-value-of-the-legacy-(estimated-(by-my-executors)-bears-to-the-accepted-value-for-duty-of-my-estate. I give and bequeath the following specific legacies.
(i) To my nephew, Frederick Robinson Bell, of Hull, England, absolutely, the gold watch and chain presented to his grandfather, Reverend Edward J. Robinson, and worn by me, also the framed portraits of his great-great-grandparents, and that of his ancestor, Swainston Harrison, at my residence also the Wesley Centenary medal which belonged to his great-grandfather Robinson, and now in my office safe drawer.
(ii) To my nephew, Lionel Chancey Currie, absolutely, my roller-top desk, swivel chair and study table now in my office at the Daily News Building.
(iii) To Robinson & Co Ltd, absolutely, all my books, scrap paper and M.S.S. in the Daily News Building at the date of my death, also the Encyclopaedia Britannica and Chambers Encyclopaedia in my study at my home.
3. I give, devise and bequeath unto my trustees my residence, No 12 Cathedral Street, with the furniture contained therein, my former residence NO 14 Cathedral Street, and my house AT No 131 Bond Street, upon trust for my dear wife, Flora Louisa Robinson, during her life, and after her death to be disposed of in the following manner by my trustees.
(a) My trustees are to have the option, in the order in Paragraph 1 hereof, to purchase my residence, No 12 Cathedral Street, for the sum of six thousand dollars ($6,000). Should neither avail of the opportunity, my said residence is to be disposed of by my trustees to the best advantage.
(b) My trustees are to have the option, in the order named in paragraph 1 hereof, to purchase my former residence, No 14 Cathedral Street, for the sum of Five thousand dollars ($5,000). Should neither avail of the opportunity, my said former residence is to be disposed of by my trustees to the best advantage.
( c) If my present chauffeur, Harry Bugden, is residing in my house No 131 Bond Street at the death of my wife, I direct that he shall be permitted to further reside there for a period of one year from that date, free of rent, subject to this proviso, I direct that this house be disposed of by my trustees to the best advantage.
4. I give and bequeath unto my trustees the remainder of my library at my residence No 12 Cathedral Street, upon trust for my dear wife, Flora Louisa Robinson, for her life, and after her death to be disposed of in the following manner:
(a) I give and bequeath the Greek Hexapla presented to my father, and all books in my possession written by my father, to my nephew Frederick Robinson Bell, of Hull, England, absolutely. I direct my trustees to pack and forward these books to my said nephew.
(b) I give and bequeath all my books dealing with Newfoundland to my nephew, John Alexander Robinson Peach, at present of Canso, Nova Scotia absolutely, I direct my trustees to pack and forward these books to my said nephew.
( c) I direct my trustees to dispose of the remainder of my library to the best advantage.
5. I give, devise and bequeath my land at the head of Joseph Taylor's road in Victoria, Carbonear, to the Newfoundland Conference of the United Church of Canada, absolutely, for use, preferentially, as a public cemetery, but this expression of desire is not to bind the said devisees from other use or disposition of the land.
6. I give and bequeath unto my dear wife, Flora Louise Robinson for her life, all my shares in Robinson & Co Ltd, she to be registered as holder thereof, and to have all the rights and powers consequent upon ownership. I direct, however, that my said wife shall concur in and be bound by the scheme of division of profits in vogue among shareholders of that Company at the time of my death. After the death of my wife the shares are to be disposed of in the following manner.
(i) I give and bequeath to my brother-in-law, John Stewart Currie, five (5) of the above named shares absolutely.
(ii) I give and bequeath to my nephew, Lionel Chancey Currie, five (5) shares absolutely.
(iii) I give and bequeath to my nephew John Alexander Robinson Peach at present of Canso Nova Scotia, five (5) shares absolutely.
(iv) I give and bequeath to Clayton Puddister, of St. John's if in the employ of Robinson & Co Ltd, at the death of my wife, one share absolutely.
(v) I give and bequeath unto my trustees my remaining shares in the above-named company to be disposed of by sale to the best advantage, provided that they shall, prior to any such sale, give in proper manner an option and opportunity to John Stewart Currie, Lionel Chancey Currie, and John Charles Puddister, in the order named, to purchase the whole or any portion of my said remaining shares at One hundred and twenty dollars ($120.00) per share.
7. I give, devise and bequeath the rest, residue and remainder of my estate of every kind (hereinafter called my "Residuary Estate)) after payment of my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, and the payments to my executors referred to in paragraph 1 hereof, unto my above named trustees. Upon the trusts set forth hereinafter. And I direct my said trustees at their discretion and during the lifetime of my wife, Flora Louise Robinson (always with the consent of my said wife) as follows.
(a) To hold and maintain in the form in which they stand at my death any investments belonging to my estate (notwithstanding anything in the investment provisions of the Trustee Act hereinbefore referred to).
(b) To sell the same or any of them and any other portions of my residuary and convert the same into money.
( c) To invest any monies liable to or requiring to be invested under this my will, and any monies arising from the sale of my residuary estate, in Government, Municipal, Public Utility or high-class Industrial Bonds, (not withstanding anything contained in the investments provisions of the Trustee Act hereinbefore referred to), and to vary any investments in their hands from time to time as they deem necessary.
8. I direct my trustees to stand possessed of the investments from time to time representing my residuary estate, in trust, to pay the income thereof to my dear wife, Flora Louise Robinson, for her life.
9. I hereby declare that notwithstanding the bequests of every kind hereinbefore and hereinafter set forth, to take place upon the death of my wife, and the trusts herein declared, it shall be lawful for my said trustees, upon the written request of my wife, at any time or times to raise any sum or sums out of the capital of my residuary estate, or any other parts of my estate, and to pay such sum or sums to my wife for her absolute use and benefit in addition to the income hereinbefore given to her.
10. At the death of my wife, I direct that the whole of my estate of every kind not otherwise disposed of in this my will, shall be disposed of to the best advantage by my trustees and converted into money, subject always to the options and preferences given in paragraph three (3) and six (6) hereof.
11. From the proceeds of my estate so converted into money at the death of my wife, I direct my trustees to pay the following sums.
(i) To the Permanent Marine Disaster Fund of Newfoundland the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000).
(ii) To the United Church (Girls) Orphanage in St. John's the sum of Five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(iii) To the Church of England (Girls) orphanage in ST. John's the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(iv) To Belvedere Orphanage in St. John's the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(v) To Mount Cashel Orphanage in St. John's the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(vi) To the poor Fund of Gower Street United Church in St. John's the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(vii) To the Masonic Benevolent Fund in St. John's the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
The receipt of the treasurer or other proper officer of a charitable Institution or organization to which a legacy is given hereunder shall be a complete discharge to my trustees.
12. Also from the proceeds of my estate so converted into money at the death of my wife, I direct my trustees to pay the following pecuniary legacies.
(i) To my brother, Edward Colpitts Robinson, of Westcliffe-on-sea, England, the sum of seven hundred and fifty dollars ($750.00).
(ii) To my sister, Elizabeth wife of Fred O. Bell, of Cheltenham, England, the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(iii) To my sister, Annie, wife of Arthur Larke, Upper Testing, London, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(iv) To my sister-in-law, Mrs Rhoda E. Peach, at present, of Canso, Nova Scotia, the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(v) To my sister in law Laura Knight, wife of John Stewart Currie, of St. John's, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00)
(vi) To my sister-in-law, Ida Belle, wife of William G. Currie, at present of Toronto, Ontario, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00)
(vii) To my niece, Catherine Lloyd Elizabeth, wife of Arthur Lambe, of Nauru, Pacific Ocean, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00)
(viii) To my niece, Elizabeth Gwendolyn Edna, wife of J. Grousdwater of Westcliffe-on-Sea, England, the sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(iv) To my nephew, Frederick Robinson Bell, B.A., of Hull, England, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(x) To my niece, Dorothy, wife of Harold Ellis, of Hull, England, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00)
(xi) To my niece Thelma, widow of my nephew, Edward William Bell, now of Skegness, England, the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00)
(xii) To Jean, daughter of my said niece Ethel Bell, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00)
(xiii) To my niece Flora Louisa, wife of Ronald McK, Chafe, of St. John's the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00).
(xiv) To my niece, Elsie Bell, of Cheltenham, England, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00).
(xv) To my niece, Jean Whitworth, daughter of William G. Currie, of Toronto, Ontario, the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(xvi) To my niece Joyce, daughter of William G. Currie, of Toronto, Ontario, the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00)
(xvii) To my nephew Harry, Son of William G. Currie, of Toronto, Ontario, the sum of one hundred dollars, ($100.00).
(xviii) To my grand-niece Majorie Lambe, of Nauru, Pacific Ocean, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(xix) To my grand nephew, Maurice Lambe, of Nauru, now of Sydney, N.S.W. the sum of one hundred dollars. ($100.00).
(xx) To my grand nephew, Robert Lambe, of Nauru, now of Sydney N.S.W. the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(xxi) To my grand Nephew Billy, son of Frederick R. Bell, of Hull, England, the sum of two hundred dollars. ($200.00).
(xxii) To my grand nephew John, son of the said Frederick R. Bell, of Hull, England, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(xxiii) To my grand niece, Barbara, daughter of the said Frederick R. Bell, of Hull, England, the sum of two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(xxiv) To my grand niece, Flora Elizabeth Robinson, daughter of Ronald Mck. Chafe, the sum of five hundred dollars. ($500.00).
(xxv) To the said Ronald McK. Chafe, of St. John's the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(xxvi) To each of William Cullen, John O'Toole, Elizabeth Hutchings, if then living, and to Chesley B. Stevenson, if in the employ of Robinson & Co Ltd, at the death of my wife, the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(xxvii) To my present chauffeur, Harry Bugden, if in the employ of my wife at the date of her death, the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00).
In the event of any of the pecuniary legatees designated in this paragraph predeceasing my said wife, the share of such legatee is to lapse and revert to my estate.
13. I give and bequeath the remaining portion of my estate, if any, after payment, at the death of my said wife, of the sums hereinbefore set forth, in equal shares among the following or the survivors thereof; if any die without such issue as is referred to herein.
(I) To my nephews, Frederick Robinson Bell, of Hull, England, one such share thereof.
(ii) To my nephew, John Alexander Robinson Peach, at present of Canso, Nova Scotia, one such share thereof.
(iii) To my grand niece, Jean Bell, of Skegness, England, one such share thereof.
(iv) To my grand niece Flora Elizabeth Robinson Chafe, of St. John's, one such share thereof.
(v) To my nephew, Lionel Chancey Currie, of St. John's one such share thereof.
(vi) To the trustees of Gower Street United Church, of St. John's one such share thereof (to be applied in the following order of priority).
(a) Towards the liquidation of the debt, if any, on the Gower Street Church Memorial Hall (Building).
(b) Towards any object connected with the said Church as its trustees shall deem fit.
In the event of any of the residuary legatees under the first five subdivisions of this paragraph predeceasing my said wife, leaving no lawful heirs of his or her body, the share of such deceased legatee or legatees shall lapse.
14. I hereby revoke all testamentary disbursements by me heretofore made.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand this 21^st day of April A.D. one thousand nine hundred and twenty eight.
J. ALEX. ROBINSON.
SIGNED by the above named John Alexander Robinson as and for his last will and testament, in the joint presence of himself and at his request and in such joint presence have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses, after the deletion in the first five lines of paragraph 2 and the interlineation in the first line of sec 12 sub section (v) had been made a part thereof.
Claude A. Fraser. Student at law.
Ramond Gushue Barrister at law.

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

(Listed in the margin next to this will the following)
Fiat
W. J. Higgins
May 1/29
Probate granted
John S. Currie
and Lionel
Chancey Currie
on the second
day of May
A.D. 1929.
Value of Estate
$32,647.02.