Will of William Saunders
from Newfoundland will books volume 1 pages 323 to 325 probate year 1840.

In re
      William Saunders       deceased.

This is the last will and testament of me William Saunders of Saint John's in the Island of Newfoundland Planter. I hereby revoke all other wills testaments codicils and writings testamentary and publish this as my last xxxx and only will. I do nominate and appoint Mr. Nicholas Gill Junior of St. John's Merchant and my nephew Mr. John Saunders of same place Carpenter the executors of this my will and testament.
In the first place I give devise and bequeath unto my dear wife Joanna Saunders the dwelling house I now occupy situate on Marshall's Hill in St. John's aforesaid together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same belong, to and for her own use and benefit and to her heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever.
And I do further give devise and bequeath unto my said wife Joanna during the term of her natural life the free full and undisturbed use and occupation of the Pew I possess in the St. John's Episcopal Church (I mean the old Church) she paying the discharging all annual or other rents dues or assessments which may become during her tenure of the same, due and payable thereon, and after the decease of my said wife Joanna I give devise and bequeath the said Pew unto my niece Sarah Saunders and to her heirs executors administrators and assigns for ever.
And I further give and bequeath unto my said wife Joanna for and during the term of her natural life the free full and undisturbed right to use and enjoyment of all the household furniture of every description and kind which at the time of my death may be in my said dwelling house, and from and after the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath the said furniture unto my said niece Sarah Saunders and to her executors administrators and assigns for ever.
I give devise and bequeath unto my said nephew John Saunders and to his heirs executors administrators and assigns all that fishing room situate at the south side of the harbour of St. John's with all and singular its privileges and appurtenances at present held under lease by Peter Woods.

And as to all and singular the rest residue and remainder of my property of which I shall be possessed or entitled to at the time of my death or over which I have or shall have a disposing power whether the same consists or may consist wholly or in part of freehold or leasehold, money, securities for money, debts or of whatever other nature or sort the same may be of, I give and bequeath it unto the aforesaid Nicholas Gill and John Saunders and to the survivor of them and the executors administrators and assigns of such survivor Upon trust that they the said executors and the survivor of them and the executors and administrators of such survivor shall and will with all convenient speed after my death sell realize call in and recover all lands, houses, debts, sums of money and other property of me the said William Saunders and out of the same to satisfy and discharge my funeral and testamentary expenses and to reserve in their hands or in the hands of the survivor of them his executors administrators and assigns the sum of ten pounds Currency (that is to say forty Spanish dollars) to be appropriated to and to be expended upon the burial of my said wife Joanna
And in further trust to pay unto my said wife Joanna over and above and in addition to my other devises and bequests unto her as aforesaid the full sum of thirty pounds of like currency in four yearly payments, that is to say, seven pounds ten shillings currency on the first day of November in each of the said four years and in case my said wife shall die before the said four yearly payments shall have been fully complete and made in manner and form as aforesaid then in trust to pay unto and divide between the said Sarah Saunders and John Saunders in equal parts such portion of the said sum of thirty pounds currency as shall remain at the death of my said wife unpaid to her as aforesaid and in case either the said Sarah or the said John should die before my said wife then the whole of the surplus if any of the said sum of thirty pounds shall be paid absolutely to the survivor.
And in further trust to pay unto my niece Mrs. Eager wife of Mr. William Eager Painter the sum of twenty pounds of like current money.
And in further trust to pay unto my godson John Squires the sum of five pounds of like current money.
And in further trust to pay unto my said niece Sarah Saunders over and above and in addition to my other devises and bequests unto her the sum of twenty five pounds of like current money.
And in further trust to pay unto the Church Wardens for the time being of the before mentioned St. John's Episcopal Church for the use and benefit of the said Church and to be applied under the directions of the Vestry the sum of twenty pounds of like current money
And in further trust to pay unto my said executor Nicholas Gill the sum of two Guineas as a small, the sincere testimonial, of my esteem and respect for him.
And upon this last trust to pay to and divide between my said niece and nephew Sarah Saunders and John Saunders all the rest and residue of my said property.

In witness whereof I the said William Saunders to this my last will and testament have set my hand and seal this fourth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven. Wm. Saunders (LS)
Signed sealed published and declared by the said William Saunders as for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto as we have likewise done to a duplicate of the above written will at the same time. Bryan Robinson.   Frederick Bowker T. Carter.   Samuel Elson.

Certified Correct
D. M. Browning
Registrar