Register of Wills 1682-1745

Introduction: This is the first volume in the series of St Helena Will Registrations.

Source: Images of the original records can be viewed on the British Library’s website: https://eap.bl.uk/archive-file/EAP1364-1-7-1 .

Text Transcription This transcription was produced by AI from handwritten document images held on the British Library's website, at about thirty pages per hour. Given the limitations described below, the text should be regarded as unreliable and used only as a search-and-find shortcut: once a relevant section has been located, it must always be checked against the source image via the hyperlinked Film Numbers listed in the main transcription table below.

Three specific problems affected the work. First, AI tends to prioritise meaning and readability at the expense of fidelity to the original, with a strong disposition to normalise spellings, expand abbreviations, and adjust grammar. It is particularly weak with unfamiliar surnames, and scrawled signatures often resist accurate transcription entirely. Transcriptions by eye of documents spanning four centuries have also shown that a single surname could be written in a wide variety of ways: the Crowie family name appears under six different spellings, and the Isaacs family name under sixteen. Searches for surnames are therefore hindered both by genuine variations in the originals and by mistranscriptions introduced by AI, and for this reason are best run phonetically. Second, the AI struggled with the late secretary hand, the script commonly used from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries, in which the letter S appears in a form closely resembling a trailing L. Third, occasional passages in these volumes are written in a hand so obscure or poorly formed as to be difficult to read even by eye, sometimes compounded by heavy ink bleed-through from the reverse side or by the loss of sections of pages.

To mitigate these difficulties, a strict protocol was applied to each image, requiring the AI to rely solely on clearly visible ink strokes and to flag any uncertain reading, thereby reducing the risk of inferred or invented text. Two conventions are used. [...] marks text that could not be read with confidence; this may represent a single unreadable word, a full sentence, or occasionally an entire paragraph. Square brackets around letters or words indicate a conjectural reading supplied by the transcriber: brackets around a whole word, for example [Bazett], mean the entire word was unclear and a probable reading has been supplied, while brackets around individual letters within an otherwise readable word, for example B[a]z[e]tt, mean only those specific letters were unclear in the source and the unbracketed letters were legibly present.

Modern Summary and Analysis Each section of text was submitted for AI analysis in order to explain the archaic language in clear, modern UK English. These are not direct sentence by sentence replacements, but explanatory interpretations intended to clarify meaning while preserving the substance of the original. Where a specific individual is named within a section of the original text, that person will generally also be identified within the explanatory interpretation. However, where the original consists largely of lists of names, these are not usually repeated in the explanatory text.

Each text modern summary is followed by two forms of AI-generated analysis. The first, an Interpretations section, draws on wider information located on the internet to provide additional commentary on the material. The second, a Speculations section, offers one or more possible reflections on what the document might further suggest. The value of these notes ranges from the profound to the trivial or self-evident; time did not permit deletion of the latter.

Text Loss: The volume includes a few pages that are tattered with some loss of text.

Referencing Text Locations: A dual numbering system has been adopted, combining the British Library film number with the manuscript’s original page number. These are presented in the format: British Library Film No. / Document Page No.

Pagination: The pages are numbered at the top and right corners, with film No. 16 marked as page 1 (location 16/1). Thie page numbering continues sequentially through the end of the volume.

Dates: During the period covered by this volume, England and its colonies followed the Old-Style Julian calendar, under which the legal new year began on 25 March (Lady Day). When creating the modern interpretations of these texts, the AI has automatically adjusted the dates. For any date quoted in these early St Helena records falling in the period between January and 25 March, the year has been moved forward to the modern equivalent.The earliest will is dated 28 December 1681 and the latest is dated 31 January 1746.

AI Generated Summary

Introduction

This consolidated narrative draws on 270 wills. The intervening sixty-five years take in the closing reigns of Charles II, James II, William III, Anne, George I and the middle years of George II. Across that span the East India Company consolidated its hold on St Helena as a victualling station on the homeward route from Asia, having recovered the island from the Dutch in 1673, and governed throughout through a Governor and Council functioning as both probate tribunal and supreme local authority. The wills were drawn through successive wars - against France in the 1690s, the War of the Spanish Succession (closed by the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713), and the union of England and Scotland in 1707 - and they reflect both the local realities of a remote South Atlantic island and the wider conflicts and confessional struggles of the age. [Film No. 16, 27, 28, 65, 66, 115, 116, 165, 166, 215, 216, 270]

The documents survive only for those whose estates entered probate before the Governor and Council, but together they expose a settler society in formation and then in maturity, its economy, credit relations, family structures, dependence on slavery, and its relationship with the Company that owned the soil. They are formal instruments shaped by English legal convention and a small group of literate scribes, with the formula custom of the place increasingly appearing alongside the laws of England as a recognised source of authority. They suppress as much as they preserve: the wider mass of soldiers, indentured servants and enslaved people appear only as witnesses, neighbours, or items of property. The reliability of the record must be qualified throughout. These documents preserve the perspective of a propertied class, and the named individuals among the enslaved population appear only because the legal logic of property transfer required their identification. [Film No. 16, 27, 65, 116, 165, 216, 270]

The Testators: a Demographic Profile

The largest single category throughout the period is the free planter, a status referenced from the earliest wills. The seventeenth-century cohort includes John Younge (September 1682), Richard Harding (1681), John Greentree (April 1683), Thomas Francombe (1683), Richard Alexander (May 1683), Hans Yorgin (September 1683) - whose name betrays continental European origin and illustrates that the Company recruited beyond the English population - John Bartlee (January 1684), John Knipe (June 1695) and Andrew Wilson (February 1697). The free planter held his land in his own right and was eligible to serve as executor, witness or juror. The line continues through the early eighteenth century with Thomas Fensdale and John Bowman (1699), Thomas Box and Orlando Bagley senior (1701), Thomas Burnham, John Sich, Michael Morris, Thomas Earle and Samuel Wrangham (1702), John Goodwin (1703), James Rider and Onesiphorus Steward (1704), William Hayes (1705), Edward Bagley, James Easthope, Edward Heath, Paul Charles and Richard Harding (1706), Leonard Coulson, William Dufton senior and Samuel Desfontaines (1707), and John Mudge (1708). [Film No. 20, 27, 29, 32, 33, 34, 35, 52, 58, 67, 70, 77, 78, 81, 83, 88, 95, 99, 100, 110, 112, 115]

The middle period testators include James Sich (1708), Thomas Goodwin (1709), Richard Alexander (1710), Gilbert Colgrave, Thomas Allis and Thomas Bagley - who combined planting with carpentry - (1711), Robert Leech (1712), Benjamin Sich, Sutton Isaac senior and Charles Steward (1713-14), Robert Addis (1714), Thomas Gargen the freeholder and Thomas Harper (1715), Robert Marsh the freeholder, Thomas Burnham senior, Francis Steward and Richard Swallow (1718), Simon Whaley, John Nichols senior (drawn in good health) and Matthew Bazett second in council (1719), and Thomas Swallow (1722). The cooper John Luther (1712) introduces an artisan category, the mason Richard Coles (1719) served the garrison economy, and the free volunteer John Boyce (1711) sits in a category distinct from soldier or planter. The line continues into the second and third generations through John Orchard (1720), Henry Francis (1722), James Greentree (1723), Robert Bell freeholder (1724), Arthur Bradley, John Harding, John Bagley senior, Thomas Hodgkinson, Richard Gurling senior and Gabriel Powell (1727-29), Edmund Nichols freeholder, Samuel Jessey, John Worrall and John Young (1733), Solomon Pawling (1735), then on through the third and fourth generations in Thomas Harper ensign (1737), John Pawling (1738), Sutton Isacke, Bipin Wills freeholder and John Alexander Deputy Governor (1737-38), John Bazett (1742), Charles Steward junior (1742), Joshua Johnson planter (1745) and John Desfountain lieutenant (1745). [Film No. 116-270]

Alongside the planters stand the Company's soldiers and servants, whose wills disclose a different kind of estate. Samuel Holland soldier, in July 1682, treated his accumulated Company pay as his principal asset. Hugh Syms soldier and his brother Ralph Syms serjeant died within five weeks of each other in May and June 1684. John Smith soldier (November 1692) and Thomas Dixon soldier and husband of Mary Dixon (1696) illustrate how the garrison shaded into the planter community by marriage and small grants of land. The chaplain Joseph Church, sent from London by the Company in May 1683, and the surgeon John Stevens, who died in March 1695, represent the Company's professional staff, whose estates included English property partly administered in London. The Company servant category broadens through Peter Williams soldier (1700), Samuel Maxwell serjeant (1703), Erasmus Purling ensign (1706), William Hague soldier and Thomas Sanderson ensign (1708), through Isaac Bothway (1710) and Simon Lenox soldier (1713), to Erasmus Peeling soldier (1719) - son of the earlier ensign Purling - the garrison resident Lewis Latour (1718), and on into the longer eighteenth-century sequence of William Penny (1723) who left his residue to the poor of the island, Stephen Audward, William Lee, the corporal John Swallow, Richard Harding soldier, Michael Dufton (son of William Dufton senior), the corporal George White, Francis Leech, James Harding corporal, Simon Whaley sergeant, George Linway, Thomas Cooper, and the substantial Thomas Cason lieutenant (1740). [Film No. 18, 31, 38, 39, 45, 51, 55, 120, 133, 157, 158, 171, 184, 185, 186, 196, 232, 233, 235, 239, 266]

A separate group consists of mariners and other transients put ashore from passing ships. Richard Eddis, mariner of the Scipio Africanus, drew his will on 9 August 1682, and his shipmate James Pynsent, boatswain's mate of the same vessel, followed seven weeks later. Pynsent had himself served as Eddis's executor, and his death from what appears to have been a shared shipboard illness reveals how disease moved between crew and shore. William Harvey, formerly fourth mate of the Charles the Second under Captain Robert Dorrell, was resident on the island when he made his will in July 1694. Thomas Phillips, dying in February 1698, was probably a Company servant or visiting trader rather than a settled islander, given his cash legacies in Venetian gold to Governor Poirier, his charitable bequest to the parish of Wirksworth in Derbyshire, and his named beneficiaries in Lambeth. Richard Potter, dying in February 1699, made bequests to a London stationer at the sign of the Three Bibles in the Minories. The pattern continues with Edward Rawdon surgeon at Madras (1706), James Holmes late of London (1727), William Gaa (1731) of Irish-English origin in transit at the island, James Crafford surgeon of the Scarborough (1736), Richard Mills chief mate of the George (1737), Edward Harvey surgeon's mate of the Bedford (1738), Robert Wallington (1738), Charles Sterling surgeon's mate (1733), Charles Clark surgeon (1743), George Moody mariner of the Wager at Calcutta (1745), Daniel Owen lieutenant (1745), and William Coals late of the Bencoolen council (1743). These testators show St Helena functioning as a transit point for the wider Indian Ocean and Atlantic traffic. [Film No. 19, 26, 50, 59, 65, 99, 190, 195, 196, 199, 214, 215, 217, 218, 222, 251, 254, 265]

Senior administrators form a parallel category that grows in importance across the period. Edward Edmunds, third of the Council (1703), Governor Stephen Poirier (1707), Governor Benjamin Boucher (codicil 1713), Edward Mashborne third in council (1715), Matthew Bazett second in council (1719), Governor Edward Johnson (1723), Governor George Hodgkinson (1724), John Alexander Deputy Governor (1737) and the rising George Gabriel Powell - eldest son of Gabriel Powell senior - who became governor before 1740 and was succeeded by David Dunbar by 1745, capture the institutional sequence of senior office. Widows and single women form a distinct group throughout: Sarah Younge (1682), Mary Dixon (1696), Katherine Fensdale (1699), Eleanor Beale (1700), Anne Edmunds (1704), Margaret Cotgrave (1706), Mary Jewster (1711), Ann Fuller (1713), Margaret Sich recorded as Mary Sich (1719), Mary Hague (1723), Martha Robinson (1726), Grace Coulson (1726), Damaris Nichols spinster (1729), Anne Jane Greentree single woman (1732), Brigett Bates (1733), Ann Slaughter (1734), the spinster Martha Frances (1734), Mary Powell widow (1735), Frances Carne widow (1735 with codicil 1739), Frances Seale widow (1739), Margaret Bagley widow (1740), Elizabeth Pawling (1742), Elizabeth Greentree widow (1742), Margaret Goodwin widow (1744) and Elizabeth Griffith widow (1744) each drew substantial wills disposing of property originally descended through deceased husbands or in their own right. [Film No. 23, 53, 69, 71, 81, 90, 100, 102, 122, 136, 154, 175, 182, 187, 201, 202, 211, 228, 229, 231, 236, 241, 244, 255, 257, 261]

The Shape of Estates

Estates were built from a small range of elements. Land came first, almost always as a twenty-acre allotment granted by the East India Company, and several wills distinguish the original allotment from later acquired parcels. William Bowman's will of February 1696 separates his lott land of twenty acres from a further ten acres acquired adjoining, and his total holding had grown to sixty acres by death. Acquired land is identified by the name of its former occupant, as with the ten acres formerly worked by James Wakefield in the Younge will, the parcel in Pleasant Valley lately belonging to Isaac Leach in the Smith will, and the ten acres in Fisher's Valley formerly occupied by the widow Iben in the Draper will of March 1690. The valley names that recur - Chapel Valley, Sandy Bay, Lemon Valley, Fisher's Valley, Pleasant Valley, Sharks Valley, Deep Valley, Lemon Tree Hill, and the High Peak - give a working map of the cultivated terrain. [Film No. 20, 27, 42, 45, 53]

Through the early eighteenth century the working estate of an established planter consistently combined a country dwelling-house with agricultural land in an interior valley, a house in Chapel Valley near Fort James, livestock and one or more enslaved Africans. John Bowman disposed of property at Sane Valley and a Chapel Valley house. James Rider held a country dwelling on thirty acres formerly Hugh Booley's, additional land formerly Richard Harding's, the Gum Wood plantation, an acre of cabbage tree at Sandy Bay and a town house in Chapel Valley. Onesiphorus Steward held a country dwelling, a house in Fort James Valley, leased Gum Wood land and a parcel of cabbage tree bought from James Greentree. The Edmunds household, the wealthiest of the early eighteenth century, held both a country house and a house at the fort fitted out with imported furnishings ordered from England. Parcels were identified almost exclusively by reference to previous holders, a method revealing the absence of any formal survey or register of holdings. The will itself was one of the principal documents in which chains of title were preserved. [Film No. 67, 78, 87, 90]

Cabbage tree land carried particular value because the cabbage tree supplied the principal building timber of the island, and parcels of it were held under lease from the Company rather than in fee. Praise Pledgerd, Samuel Maxwell, James Rider, Onesiphorus Steward and the grandson of Margaret Cotgrave all received such parcels. Company control of the timber supply through leasehold tenure kept the most valuable resource under institutional rather than private ownership. The Thomas Allis estate at Deep Valley combined the homestead, ten acres of gum wood ground acquired through a Company exchange of an earlier purchase from John Hemwood, ten acres of cabbage tree ground purchased from Benjamin Miller, and a Fort James house. The Henry Coales will of 1700 distributed a country estate at Pleasant Valley alongside a Fort James house whose architectural division between son Thomas and daughter Elizabeth Mudge was specified in unusual detail, with weatherboards to be removed, a stone wall built at three-quarters cost to Thomas and one-quarter to Elizabeth, and the staircase shared. The Charles Steward estate of 1714 disposed of twenty acres formerly Andrew Wilson's, in the occupation of Joseph Fox. [Film No. 124, 138]

The naming of parcels by previous holder persisted across the entire period. Thomas Allis described his gum wood ground as land taken back by the Company in exchange for ten acres originally purchased from John Hemwood. Robert Marsh identified ten acres formerly Mr Doveton's. Thomas Swallow in 1722 traced the components of his twenty-acre adjoining parcel: ten acres bought by his father Robert Swallow from John Boyce, and ten acres exchanged with Mr Sich for ten acres in Chapel Valley. Henry Francis disposed of country land formerly belonging to Isaac Cope or Jasper Jay. Samuel Jessey held a working unit of twenty acres freehold and twelve and a half acres of leased land. John Nichols senior held fifteen acres at the head of Peak Gutt under the High Peak and twenty-three acres at the head of Clammans Valley. Edmund Nichols held a freehold parcel called Shomstone Wood. John Worrall identified land at Simons Waterfall in Deep Valley. Robinsons Land in Sandy Bay passed to Matthew under the John Pawling will of 1738. Gargens Land of about ten acres formed the core freehold given to the eldest son in the John Alexander will of 1737, with the testator's other named parcels Forsters, Purgatory (down to the foot of Sheep Knowle and reaching Windy Point above Orlando Bagley's), and the dwelling house with ten acres protected from any sale. Suttons Acres and Suttons Lower Ten Acres appeared in the Francis Carne will of 1735, with a newly built mansion on the lower ten acres going to son John Goodwin. Pleys Land and Tolphs Land (the latter bought from Robert Gurling) appeared in the Isaac Wood will of 1735. Joves Land formed the parcel on which the widow was to help her son Charles Steward junior build a new house in 1742. Powlers, the twenty-three-and-a-half-acre parcel going to Samuel Doveton in 1744, carried the working memory of an earlier Powell transaction. The forty-acre parcel formerly Risen Mill passed to the two sons of John Desfountain in 1745. The Holy Stake or Rotten Stack property held by both Governor George Hodgkinson under a 1700 indenture and later by Gabriel Powell illustrates the same convention applied to remote English property. The persistence of the practice across more than sixty years reflects the continuing absence of any formal survey. [Film No. 124, 132, 143, 151, 157, 165, 169, 192, 205, 208, 220, 224, 227, 236, 243, 248, 259, 267]

Cattle were the principal form of productive wealth after land. The Harding will of December 1681 contains the most detailed cattle inventory in the series, with named beasts including Tadigall, Crumple, Coppin, Cole, and Old, and locations specified across Sandy Bay, Tharkos Valley, and the Peak. The bequest of one bullock to settle the testator's debt to the East India Company illustrates how readily cattle were converted into Company credit. The repeated practice of bequeathing a heifer and her future increase, with the increase often retained for the widow during a defined period, shows that herds were managed as long-term productive capital rather than realised at death. The Praise Pledgerd will of November 1697 reserves the increase of the cattle to the widow Sarah for two years from death before it passes to the younger children, while the eldest son Thomas takes the increase of his beasts immediately. [Film No. 27, 28, 62, 63]

Movable wealth thickens steadily across the period. The earlier wills speak only of cattle, plantation and household goods, but later instruments enumerate ready money, bills, bonds, books, plate, silver buttons, gold rings, feather beds, pewter dishes, brass scales, chests of drawers of local manufacture, an Indian bedstead, China cups and bowls, chintz, and a box of China images marked R.P. weighing thirty pieces destined for a London stationer. The Mary Dixon will of July 1696 lists gold rings (one inscribed Where Love I Find I Will Be Kind), a quarter coppang of gold, and an English guinea. Thomas Phillips bequeathed twenty gold Venetians, the zecchino circulating in the Indian Ocean trade, to Governor Poirier alone. Robert Swallow's will of June 1688 mentions a black silk gown and petticoat. The shift reflects the increasing integration of the island into Asian and European trade by the 1690s. Currencies through the early eighteenth century continued to reflect the broad commerce of the Indian Ocean and Atlantic: sterling, Spanish dollars, pistoles, gold Venetians and guineas circulated alongside store credit at the Company's warehouse. Orlando Bagley's legacies of £10 in credit at the store document the use of warehouse accounts as a form of money. Anne Edmunds gave a guinea to John Kerr, chaplain, and a pistole to Doctor Oswald. James Rider gave £12 in shipping goods to his brother-in-law Hugh Booley to help him buy a slave, providing a benchmark for the cost of slave acquisition through credit. Stephen Poirier valued forty pounds sterling as start-up capital for a young man at sea, and Thomas Sanderson's sixty-pound debt from William Marsh for a Chapel Valley house gives a working figure for town property in 1708. By the 1730s and 1740s, William Gaa's Irish-English-island estate, William Coals's Spanish-dollar-denominated four-jurisdiction estate, the gold dollar and gold rupee bequests of John Desfountain in 1745 and the silver tankard, casters, cruets and salver inventories of Margaret Goodwin in 1744 mark the developed dining silver and multi-currency reserves of a settled administrative elite. [Film No. 41, 55, 59, 65, 74, 79, 88, 108, 113, 195, 251, 261, 267]

Enslaved Africans appear throughout the file as named individuals matched to specific beneficiaries. The seventeenth-century record names Peter, Kate, Rufac, Fitzcrass, Jone and Balazoar (Greentree 1683, six named persons distributed one to each of six children), Antony (Younge), Jack and Robin (Alexander), Matthew (Bartlee), Asher (Hugh Syms), Philip and Rowly (Swallow), Tommy and Jack (Seale), Climongench (Smith), George (Knipe), Jack (Bowman), Gamallas (Mary Dixon), and Harrock, Doll and Megg (Praise Pledgerd). The names range from English Peter, Kate, Jone and Jack to non-English Rufac, Fitzcrass and Balazoar, suggesting a mixed origin consistent with the recorded Indian Ocean slave trade of the period. The early eighteenth century continues the same pattern with Peter, Jack, Roger, Fortune and Hagar in Bowman; George, Sarah, Malus, Ellen and Margaret in Anne Edmunds; Brockatt, Seba, George and Toby in John Goodwin; Meg and Robin in Orlando Bagley; the slave Dick valued at £30 in William Dufton senior; Rice and Soltian in James Sich; Peter in Mashborne; Jack, Somey and Septher in Margaret Sich; Hagar, Jock, Harry, Susanna and Magdalena in Governor George Hodgkinson; Lareena in Governor Edward Johnson; the named individuals across Gabriel Powell's working group; Frank, Stephen and Grace in Samuel Jessey; Grace, Muta, Doll, Ellen, Nanny and Mercy in John Bazett (1742); and Phebe, Lucy, Sankee, Boy, Billy, Mary, James, Jack the fisherman and Frank in Joshua Johnson (1745). The legal treatment of enslaved persons as chattel property, listed alongside cattle and household goods, is constant across the sixty-five years. [Film No. 18, 21, 27, 29, 33, 35, 38, 41, 44, 45, 52, 53, 55, 58, 63, 67, 68, 74, 78, 83, 85, 105, 168, 180, 192, 197, 209, 245, 262]

Yet fragmentary signs of friction with the institution of slavery recur across the period. Robert Swallow in June 1688 directed that after his wife's death his black man Rowly was to have his freedom, if the Governor and Council thought fit, the qualifying clause showing that manumission required official approval. Swallow also bequeathed three cows to his black boy Philip when Philip reached twenty one, an unusual provision treating an enslaved child as a future holder of property. Margaret Sich in 1719 granted freedom to a woman named Sue as an unconditional personal direction. Thomas Swallow in 1722 granted freedom to a man named Philip, the third explicit manumission in the registers. Manumissions appeared more frequently and elaborately in the later period. Stephen Lufkin in 1744 deposited £30 with his executors to purchase the freedom of Katharine and her infant daughter Katharine from his deceased son-in-law John Young's estate, expressing the hope his grandchildren would be content with the deduction from the residue. Thomas Cason in 1740 gave his slave boy Thomas immediate freedom, paid the captain of the storeship for his passage to India, gave him a £10 cash endowment less the passage fee, six shirts and a suit of the testator's apparel for the journey. John Bazett in 1742 gave his black servant Jack Hodge his freedom twelve months after death, on the ground that he had proved good and faithful. Jonathan Doveton in 1744 directed that his two old women slaves Pegg and France, well advanced in years, not be valued in the estate and live with the youngest children, converting them from chattel into a maintenance obligation. Grace Coulson's codicil of 1727 had introduced explicit slave-exchange mechanisms with valuation by two indifferent persons, including the option to take a slave woman Sarah and her two children as a family group, preserving working family units in the partition. [Film No. 41, 154, 165, 188, 216, 234, 245, 260]

Three documents in the period capture the limited mechanisms available to protect the free status of mixed-parentage children. The Ann Fuller will of 1713 left a heifer calf to Margaret Hine, daughter of the slave Abigail then in Joshua Johnson's household, with David Hine the witness perhaps her natural father. The George Bryner memorandum of 1718, treated as a verbal will despite its informal structure, entrusted Bryner's Company store credit and clothing to Richard Swallow senior for the upbringing of his child, asking explicitly that the child not be used as a slave. The Margaret Sich will of 1719 granted freedom to Sue as set within a clause that otherwise transferred all remaining enslaved people to her granddaughter Elizabeth Sich. Together these documents show both the precariousness of mixed-parentage status in a slaveholding society and the testamentary attempts of testators to recognise and protect particular individuals where they could. Public outcry continued to function as the standard local liquidation device, applied across many of the wills to convert household goods, slaves, livestock and even entire estates into cash for distribution among legatees. The repeated examination of older wills by D Crispe in 1724 indicates a working administrative catch-up of unproved instruments, a pattern that recurred at intervals across the period. [Film No. 136, 146, 154, 166, 178, 197]

Family, Marriage, and Inheritance

English common law would have given the eldest son the bulk of any real property by primogeniture, but the wills consistently depart from that pattern. Partible division among children, with equal or near-equal shares, is the local norm in the seventeenth century. Francis Moore in April 1682 divided the residue equally between five children after giving the eldest son a token five shillings to forestall any later claim, a familiar English device used to confirm that the eldest had already received his portion in life. John Greentree in April 1683 divided his whole estate equally between six children. Henry Francis in April 1684 split his estate into six parts. The Beale will of January 1699 follows the English customary thirds, one third to the widow and one third to each son, but reserves the country house to the elder son Richard alone, preserving a single fixed asset to descend in the male line while moveable wealth was partitioned. [Film No. 17, 29, 36, 37, 64]

The widow held a strong position throughout the period. She was frequently named sole executrix and given the use of the whole estate during her widowhood, with the remainder vested in the children at majority or marriage. Several wills permit the widow to remain on the land only while she remained unmarried, as in the Bartlee will of January 1684 and the Draper will of March 1690, where remarriage would have transferred the property to a stranger by operation of law. The most striking early case is the Mary Dixon will of July 1696, executed under the power of a deed of gift earlier made by her husband Thomas Dixon. Under the law of coverture a married woman could not normally make a will, but the deed of gift created a separate estate in her favour. She signed by mark because she had no use of her hands, and the witnesses swore that her hand had been guided. Sarah Pledgerd executed a further deed of gift in January 1708, more than a decade after her husband's will of 1697, supplementing the provision for two children from her own resources, and operating as a settler in her own right. [Film No. 35, 42, 53, 55, 56, 57, 63, 64]

Provision for minor children typically deferred their portions until they reached twenty-one or married, whichever came first. The Younge will of September 1682, the Knipe will of June 1695, the Charlesworth will of April 1697 and the Beale will of January 1699 all use this dual-event mechanism. Conditional remainders cascade through several generations in some wills: John Younge stipulated that if his eldest son died before twenty-one the land was to pass to the second son, then to the third, then to the daughters, then to the widow. John Greentree directed that any child wishing to leave the island for marriage must sell their share to the remaining siblings at half the appraised value. Such clauses reveal an unusual concern with keeping property on the island and within the immediate kin group, reflecting the demographic precariousness of a small settler population. [Film No. 20, 29, 52, 60, 64]

The customary one-third widow's share, framed in the Samuel Maxwell will of 1703 as her thirds according to the laws of England and in the Richard Alexander will of 1710 as her thirds according to the laws of England and the constitutions of this place, recurred across the wills of John Sich, Earle, Goodwin, Onesiphorus Steward, Paul Charles, Harding, Coulson, Desfontaines, Robert Leech, Charles Steward, Thomas Harper, Robert Marsh and Matthew Bazett, and continued through Henry Francis, Arthur Bradley, John Harding, John Bagley senior and Solomon Pawling. Some testators went further. Thomas Fensdale, John Mudge, Thomas Ashby and James Easthope gave their wives the entire estate outright. Thomas Goodwin gave Frances Goodwin the whole estate with discretionary power to divide it among the children. Sutton Isaac senior gave his wife the entire estate for her lifetime with reversion to his only son. John Robinson gave Martha Robinson the entire residue without restriction. Edward Edmunds gave Anne the entire estate for her lifetime with full testamentary power, a structure she duly used in February 1704 to redistribute among three branches of grandchildren. The Charles Steward will of 1714 gave his wife Elizabeth an unusual choice between taking her third in kind or as one third of the auction proceeds. The Matthew Bazett will exempted Bridget Bazett from any inventory or accounts so long as she remained unmarried, while requiring a full accounting on remarriage. [Film No. 66, 77, 83, 102, 110, 114, 115, 117, 118, 138, 148, 150]

Through the 1730s, John Worrall (1733), Thomas Harper and John Young gave their wives half rather than the customary third of the real estate during life, indicating that the half-interest model had become a working planter pattern by the mid-1730s. James Greentree in 1723 went further still by giving his wife Elizabeth a substantial named portfolio of properties on remarriage, reversing the standard pattern of forfeiture and apparently encouraging rather than discouraging remarriage. Gabriel Powell in 1729 gave his wife Mary one third of the personal estate for ever and half of the existing property for life. The half-rather-than-third widow's real-estate share, established as the working pattern by the mid-1730s, recurred consistently through the wills of the 1740s, with the customary one-third remaining the working share of personal estate. [Film No. 173, 189, 200, 204, 211]

Remarriage was a recurring anxiety throughout the period, since under English coverture a new husband would acquire control of his wife's property and of the personal estate of her minor children. John Sich substituted Governor Poirier as executor in the event of remarriage. John Goodwin gave his brother contingent power to take Robert's estate into his custody on the widow's remarriage. James Rider in 1704 added an explicit anti-curtesy clause, providing that no new husband should acquire any right by reason of a child born alive of the marriage or by any other law. Paul Charles and Richard Harding in 1706 used the standard security-on-remarriage clause, with executors empowered to take the children's estate into their hands if security was refused. Gilbert Colgrave in 1711 adopted the mistreatment-trigger formula derived from Stephen Poirier and Samuel Desfontaines, with the executors empowered to remove the children physically from a stepfather who treated them severely beyond measure. Robert Leech extended that approach further by requiring the widow to take the executors' advice before any remarriage. James Greentree imposed the most direct anti-waste clause in the registers: any second husband cutting down a green tree on the bequeathed land would forfeit the property immediately to the children, the wordplay on the family surname adding a personal mark. John Bagley senior in 1728 substituted his brother-in-law Robert Gurling as executor on his wife's remarriage. John Young in 1733 directed that his wife's executive power should cease on remarriage. The variety of mechanisms shows how testators responded to the same risk through different drafting solutions. [Film No. 76, 86, 89, 102, 103, 126, 128, 142, 145, 174]

Inheritance was repeatedly complicated by remarriage and by blended households. Katherine Fensdale, having received Thomas Fensdale's entire estate in March 1699, used her own will of October 1699 to direct the property to her sons by an earlier marriage to a Mr Jossy. Margaret Tacknald, named as John Sich's stepdaughter, had children by a deceased John Cleverly and by her current husband John Tacknald, and Sich's will treated both broods as a single group. Erasmus Purling's stepdaughter Mary Knipe, born posthumously to the late John Knipe, received a conditional legacy turning on whether the law allowed her to share equally with the named Knipe children. The remarriage of Martha Steward, widow of Charles Steward who died in early 1715, to John Robinson before April 1718 illustrates the rapid succession of marriages possible in the small planter community. Francis Steward, her son by the first marriage, drew his own will in June 1718 just two months after his stepfather, treating his mother as Martha Robinson and providing for three half-sisters by her second marriage alongside his full sister Martha Steward. [Film No. 69, 76, 95, 133, 145, 149, 153]

Disinheritance by nominal legacy was a recognised English device used to bar a child from later claiming oversight. Orlando Bagley excluded his daughter Susanna without explanation. James Rider left a shilling to his married daughter Sarah Powell. William Hayes used the device against four children while providing substantively for seven others. Margaret Cotgrave excluded three of six children. John Mudge in 1708 carried it furthest, reducing all his children and grandchildren to twelve pence each while giving Jane Mudge the whole estate. Stephen Poirier applied the same shilling device to Gabriel and Lucy of an earlier marriage, who already had sufficient means of their own. Sutton Isaac senior used the device against his daughter Susanna Swallow and his son-in-law Captain John French. Simon Whaley used it against his eldest son John. Thomas Swallow in 1722 produced the most striking case: he disinherited a son John, born of the testator's wife during her absence from him, by one shilling with the additional provision that any indirect benefit would forfeit even that shilling - the most direct denial of paternity in the registers. The most explicit family discipline appeared in the John Alexander will of 1737, where son-in-law James Powell was barred from any claim to the estate because his behaviour had been very injurious to the family and undutiful, as was well known to all the inhabitants of the island. The testator deposited £35 with his executors for his daughter Sarah's sole use if she survived her husband, with substitution to her two children Mary and Sarah Powell if she predeceased him. Alexander asserted that the entire estate was of his own getting and he had a right to dispose of it as he pleased, the most direct claim of self-made testamentary freedom in the registers. [Film No. 74, 88, 93, 100, 108, 115, 144, 161, 166, 225]

Substantial advance settlements appear repeatedly in the later wills. Alexander had supported his three married daughters Elizabeth Bagley, Martha Harding and Margarett Knipe by keeping a separate stock on his lands and maintaining their slaves at his charge for fourteen years, with cash legacies of £30, £30 and £20 closing out those arrangements. The Ishmael settlement, by which the testator bought out the working shares of three sons-in-law (£9 to James Harding, £6 plus three sheep to Edward Bagley, £9 already paid to John Knipe) to consolidate the boy he had brought up for fourteen years, illustrates the working market in slave-share buy-outs across kin households. Two consecutive wills of October and December 1742 record fathers-in-law promising to advance sons-in-law alongside their own children: Wrangham senior had promised Charles Steward equality with his children, and Jonathan Doveton had similarly promised John Bazett equality with his children. Jonathan Doveton's January 1744 will referred explicitly to his book of accounts, in which his children Samuel, Sarah (widow of John Bazett, now wife of Richard Goodwin) and Martha (wife of James Scott) stood indebted for marriage advances to be taken as part of their share. Sarah's portion was specifically divided to give two-thirds to the children of her deceased first husband John Bazett (preserving Bazett's original entitlement) and one-third at her own disposal, protecting the grandchildren's interest from absorption by the new Goodwin household. [Film No. 225, 226, 227, 245, 246, 248, 260]

The use of staged ages of majority recurs through the later period. The William Seal will of 1727 set sixteen as the threshold for partition. Gabriel Powell in 1729 directed that his sons George Gabriel and James should not act as executors until the ages of seventeen and nineteen respectively. Martha Frances in 1734 specified age twenty for her cousin Richard Goodwin junior. The Governor's intervention in the John Knipe will of 1733, holding that the children could not be obliged to wait until the youngest sister reached sixteen for partition, marks the most explicit statement in the registers of the limit of testamentary freedom under island authority. Where the personal estate barely exceeded the debts, the will was effectively converted into an administration with copies annexed. The eldest son John Knipe's separate agreement to confirm the will as to his own share preserved his individual entitlement. Single women, widows and unmarried daughters retained direct testamentary capacity throughout. Damaris Nichols spinster in 1729 redirected her undivided paternal share, still held by her sister Mary Nichols under the trust established by her father's 1719 will, equally between her sisters Mary and Jane. Anne Jane Greentree single woman in 1732 returned her share under her late father's 1723 will to her mother Elizabeth Greentree's discretion. Martha Frances spinster in 1734 converted her will into a debt-collection instrument by naming Richard Goodwin senior as both holder of her accounts and sole executor. Borlace Pyke in 1733 settled his entire residue, including a forward-looking sweep clause covering any future English receipts, on his intended wife Margarett Wrangham before the marriage had been solemnised, capturing a window of independent capacity that marriage would have extinguished. [Film No. 192, 201, 202, 204, 206, 213]

Elizabeth Pawling in 1742, dying before her son Matthew's return from England, directed the estate remain just as it then was until his arrival. Elizabeth Greentree in 1742 redirected the share of her deceased daughter Jane (the same Anne Jane Greentree whose 1732 will had returned her paternal portion to her mother) between her son James and her daughter Susanna, with the share of daughter Mary Greentree converted into a trust for her four Griffith grandchildren by Daniel Griffith (Owen, Helena, Elizabeth and Mary). Elizabeth Griffith in 1744, dying as widow herself, distributed her own widow's third of her husband's personal estate unequally, with two-thirds to her two younger daughters Margaret and Helena to fund their education and one-third to the elder Sarah and Elizabeth. Mary Powell widow in 1735 introduced a proportionate deficiency clause, by which if the estate were insufficient each legatee would receive a proportionate share rather than the working hierarchical ordering of priorities. Migration to Bencoolen featured in the James Harding corporal's will of March 1740, in which he had sold his lands intending to take passage with his family on the next outward-bound ship for Bencoolen, with Edward Bagley fellow intending passenger named as alternative executor. William Coals's December 1743 will, drawn after his retirement from the council at Bencoolen to St Helena, distributed legacies in Spanish dollars across four jurisdictions including the substantial residue to a Sumatran partner, Joseph Scott, identified as the mother of his children. [Film No. 229, 235, 244, 251, 255]

Executors, Witnesses, and Probate

A small circle of literate settlers appears repeatedly as executors, witnesses and overseers across the seventeenth-century cohort. John Boston is named as executor of the Eastens will of February 1682 and witness to the Moore will of April 1682. William Rutter, John Vernon, Matthew Pouncey, Henry Coales, Matthew Bazett, John Lufkin, Edward Edmunds, James Rider and Samuel Wrangham recur across the series. John Vernon attested almost every probate as clerk of the Council between the early 1690s and 1698, and was replaced for the final will of Richard Potter in March 1699 by J. Alexander, a change not explained on the face of the record. Henry Coales, tailor, named overseer of the Rebecca Charlesworth will of April 1697, departs from the usual choice of a planter or military officer for the role, and his selection by a widow for the protection of her four granddaughters suggests a deliberate preference for someone outside the family. [Film No. 16, 17, 51, 57, 60, 61, 65]

Probate itself was a local matter throughout the period, conducted before the Governor and Council, with the formal copy sworn before them by named witnesses. The interval between execution and probate could be very short, only seventeen days for the Charlesworth and Potter wills. Where testators held property beyond the island, separate instruments were drawn for English assets, as the William Harvey witnesses' supplementary attestation of August 1694 makes explicit. The Joseph Church will of May 1683 had to pass through the local council before being carried back to England for the disposition of his Pudding Lane leasehold and Rotherhithe houses. The Company's probate jurisdiction therefore operated alongside, rather than in substitution for, the English ecclesiastical courts. [Film No. 31, 50, 60, 65]

The early eighteenth-century cadre includes Robert Addis, Matthew Bazett, Edward Edmunds, Thomas Goodwin, Samuel Wrangham, George Hoskison, Joseph Trapp, James Draper, Henry Coales and from 1706 Samuel Desfontaines. Matthew Bazett appears as witness or executor across the Bowman, Pledgerd, Beale, Sich, Rider, Purling, Heath, Charles, Coulson and Harding wills, and ended as both the principal executor and the translator of Governor Poirier's French-language will. His own will of April 1719 disclosed him as second in council, the highest rank held by any testator in the period to that point, the document recording his progression from a planter administrator's son-in-law in 1700 to the senior civil tier by 1719. Family connections wove together with administrative service: Edward Edmunds was father-in-law to Samuel Wrangham, with eight Wrangham grandchildren named in the Wrangham will of June 1702. Henry Francis was Edmunds's son-in-law. John Alexander, clerk of the Council from 1699 and the recurring attestor of probates, appears in the Margaret Cotgrave will of August 1706 as the testator's son-in-law. The man who certified so many wills was himself the son-in-law of a substantial testator. [Film No. 81, 89, 96, 100, 109, 121, 138, 150]

Richard Gurling appeared as joint executor of George Northern, Robert Leech, Charles Steward, Thomas Gargen and John Crosbey, and as witness to Thomas Harper, becoming perhaps the single most active executor on the island by 1717. James Greentree continued his sustained role as joint executor of Richard Harding, sole beneficiary of John Boyce, joint executor of Robert Leech, executor of Robert Addis, joint executor of Ann Fuller and as one of the three overseers of Bazett. James Draper continued as joint executor of Samuel Desfontaines and of Simon Whaley. Joshua Johnson, grandson of Ann Fuller, became a rising administrative figure across the 1710s. The Cotgrave-Alexander connection through John Alexander's marriage to a daughter of Margaret Cotgrave brought the clerk of the Council into the Cotgrave kinship network, with his sons John, Richard and William Alexander appearing as Cotgrave grandsons. The Sich-Bagley-Swallow-Vesey-Wrangham-Packnald network of the 1710s shows the same set of given names recurring across cousins, godchildren and brothers-in-law. [Film No. 116, 134, 153]

In the next generation Captain John Goodwin emerged as the most central administrative figure, serving as overseer of Matthew Bazett in 1719, joint trustee under Edward Johnson in 1723, joint executor of Henry Francis in 1722, joint executor of Grace Coulson in 1726, executor of James Holmes in 1727, executor of William Gaa in 1731 and executor of Borlace Pyke in 1733. His formal renunciation of the Worrall executorship in October 1735, processed through the council with G Powell as secretary, reflects the accumulated administrative load of his senior position. Richard Gurling senior closed his long career with his own will in May 1729, leaving his entire estate to two unmarried daughters with no provision for the wider Bagley-Steward kinship network despite his sustained involvement in their affairs. Gabriel Powell, the recurring figure across the registers since his appearance as sole heir of Hans Yorgin in 1683, drew his own will in September 1729, closing one of the longest documented administrative careers. His son James Powell witnessed wills by the mid-1730s, marking a generational transition. Richard Beale recurred as witness or executor across more than fifteen wills of the 1720s and 1730s. [Film No. 191, 192, 193, 195, 198, 205]

Family connections wove together with administrative service across multiple branches. The Bagley-Gurling kinship network, established through Edward Bagley's marriage to Sarah Gurling and John Bagley senior's marriage to Margaret Gurling, kept the working administrative service concentrated within a small circle for two generations. The Greentree family produced nine children of James Greentree (testator 1723), several of whom appear as adult administrators by the mid-1730s. The Hodgkinson-Powell connection through two daughters-in-law and one daughter consolidated the Lancashire Holy Stake or Rotten Stack property in the Powell holding by 1729. The Harding-Slaughter-Harper triangle, traced through Ann Slaughter (formerly Ann Harding) and her daughter Lydia Harding Harper, produced overlapping wills in 1726, 1727 and 1734. The Pawling and Worrall families intermarried through Solomon Pawling and John Pawling, with both brothers acting as Worrall executors and Solomon drawing his own will in 1735. Gabriel Powell's safety-net provision in 1729 for Joshua Johnson and his family, son of the late Governor Joshua Johnson, illustrates the working pattern of household patronage in the island elite. [Film No. 174, 180, 192, 193, 199, 213]

By the 1740s the Powell-Hodgkinson-Alexander-Bazett-Doveton networks had consolidated through marriage. Richard Goodwin (son of Captain John Goodwin), Jonathan Doveton, John Pawling, John Bazett, John Desfountain, Francis Wrangham, Charles Steward, Thomas Greentree and Richard Beale formed the working executor and witness cadre. The Bazett-Doveton-Goodwin connection consolidated through the marriages of Jonathan Doveton's daughters Sarah (to John Bazett, then to Richard Goodwin) and Martha (to James Scott). The Desfountain-Doveton connection followed through John Desfountain's marriage to a Doveton daughter, the four Desfountain children being grandchildren of Jonathan Doveton. The Pawling-Bazett connection appeared in the Elizabeth Pawling will of 1742, where she named her brothers John and Thomas Bazett alongside John Clark and her son Matthew Pawling as four executors. The Carne-Goodwin-Greentree connection through Frances Carne (mother of Captain John Goodwin and of Richard Goodwin) tied the Goodwin administrative line to the Greentree planter line through her daughter Elizabeth's marriage to Thomas Greentree. [Film No. 233, 236, 246, 255, 260]

Pre-probate examination of widows in formal council session, first set out in the Thomas Harper will of February 1737, marked the working response to the Knipe ruling of 1733. Before probate, the widow was asked in open council whether she was willing to maintain and bring up the children with her part and theirs always to remain together, and her affirmative answer was recorded in the presence of the Governor and Council, the witnesses to the will and the appraisers of the inventory. The same principle of council-supervised consolidation continued through the late 1730s and 1740s. Cascading buy-out mechanisms grew more elaborate. The John Pawling will of 1738 set out a two-stage valuation for his son Erasmus's share (then at sea), with indifferently chosen appraisers in the first instance and the executors as final arbiters. The Samuel Jessey will of 1734 had earlier extended the cascade to a five-tier queue across all his siblings. Trust mechanisms grew more sophisticated, with the Francis Carne 1735 will routing substitution to son John Goodwin's children rather than to John Goodwin absolutely, the Elizabeth Greentree 1742 will converting daughter Mary's share into a trust for her Griffith children, and the Elizabeth Griffith 1744 will paying her churchwarden's charitable distribution outside the parish accounting system. [Film No. 219, 220, 236, 244, 258]

The Company, the Garrison, and the Wider World

The East India Company was the senior creditor and the ultimate landlord on the island throughout the period. The James Eastens will of February 1682 directs that the inheritance pass to the children only after the Company's debt was satisfied, placing the Company ahead of any family interest. The Richard Harding will of December 1681 sets aside one bullock specifically to discharge a Company debt. The Praise Pledgerd will of November 1697 refers to ten acres at the Woody Ridge held on hire from the Right Honourable Company, identifying the Company as landlord even of plantation ground not held in freehold. Several wills record Company bills, written instruments of debt issued in payment for goods or services. Soldiers' wills, especially that of Samuel Holland in July 1682, treat accumulated Company pay as the principal asset to be claimed against the Company's accounts. The will functions in such cases as an assignment of wages, requiring formal probate before the Company would release the money. [Film No. 16, 18, 27, 32, 62]

The Governor and Council functioned as probate tribunal throughout the period, with each will proved before them and attested by the clerk of the Council - first John Vernon, then Joseph or John Alexander, and by 1715 E. C. Povey. The Council also functioned as default administrator. Eleanor Beale provided that if both executors were absent at her death the government should put the estate to public auction. John Sich made Governor Poirier substitute executor on his widow's remarriage. Margaret Cotgrave appointed Poirier joint executor with John Alexander, placing the principal civil officer in direct administration of a substantial estate. Garrison wills reflected the parallel structure of the Company's armed establishment, with Company servants accumulating property during service and the Company's lease mechanism providing the principal channel of access to land for those without freehold grants. The careful provision in the Beale will for the £90 due from the Company to Jonathan Beale's estate, payable only if ever received, captured the reality that assets held on Company books could remain outstanding for years. [Film No. 71, 72, 76, 100]

The Company's commercial network functioned as an extended channel of property transfer. The Madras connection appears most explicitly in the Edward Rawdon will of July 1706. Rawdon, surgeon at Fort St George, was present on the island in his last illness and held property at Madras, on St Helena and in England. He directed the bulk of the eastern estate to Louisa Coventry, widow at Madras, in grateful acknowledgement of her care during a long residence in her house through his sickness, while the English assets passed to his sisters. The same network supported the educational arrangements that Governor Poirier set out for his son Samuel, who was to pass from London merchants to Amsterdam merchants and from there to the University of Leiden. The persistent shortage of stamped paper, recorded across the Simon Lenox will of 1713, the Edward Mashborne will of 1715 and the Matthew Bazett will of 1719, spans more than five and a half years and indicates a sustained interruption of supply, perhaps connected to the wartime disruption of shipping before the Treaty of Utrecht of 1713. The same shortage recurred between 1740 and 1742, recorded in the Thomas Cason will of February 1740, the Margaret Bagley will of April 1740, the James Ryder will of July 1741, the Charles Steward will of October 1742 and the James Draper will of October 1742. [Film No. 99, 107, 124, 132, 143, 151, 233, 234, 247]

Stephen Poirier's will of August 1707, originally drawn in French and translated into English by Matthew Bazett, stands as one of the most striking documents in the registers. Poirier was a Huguenot refugee who had escaped from France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685, and his preamble described his flight in terms of escape from the slavery of Babylon. He rejected the standard security-on-remarriage clause and replaced it with an immediate public auction of his entire moveable estate, after which his widow was to be ready to travel to England. He distinguished sharply between the older children of his earlier marriage, Gabriel and Lucy, who received only a shilling each, and the younger St Helena children, who took the working estate. Two daughters left in France, Elizabeth Ann and Magdalen, would share only if God brought them out of Babylon - that is, if they converted to Protestantism and escaped Catholic territory. The will is unique for tying inheritance to confessional condition, and reflects the long reach of the Edict of Nantes into testamentary arrangements twenty-two years after the event. His prayer for Queen Anne and his hope that her religious union of the kingdoms might follow her political union after 1707 placed his Protestant constitutional vision on the public record. [Film No. 106, 107, 108, 109]

Governor Benjamin Boucher of London, gentleman, appointed by Company authority by May 1713, presented a sharply different testamentary identity from that of Poirier in 1707. Boucher's codicil to an English will instructed liquidation of his entire colonial estate, including salary due, store credits, goods, furniture, plate, linen, books, arms, cattle and liquors, to be remitted by bills of exchange drawn on the Company through Richard Mead junior of Tower Street to the maternal grandmother Mrs Elizabeth Dyke of Well Close Square in London. The naming of his son Dyke Boucher, with the mother's maiden name as first name, preserved the maternal lineage. The five-man executor team, the largest in the registers, distributed authority across Bazett, Joshua Tomlinson, Thomas Cason, Captain John French and John Alexander. Boucher's prohibition on expensive show or pomp at his funeral followed Poirier's precedent of gubernatorial restraint, though arrived at from a different starting point: Boucher invoked Anglican gentlemanly moderation rather than Poirier's Reformed theology against worldly vanity. In the event Boucher did not die on the island but eventually left it alive, and the colonial codicil never took effect on its own terms. [Film No. 130, 131]

The character of the governorship continued to shift across the period. Governor Edward Johnson, dying of the bloody flux on 16 February 1723 just four days after executing his will, followed the established pattern of metropolitan posting: his colonial estate was to be liquidated through three council trustees (Edward Byfield, John Alexander, John Goodwin) and remitted to Thomas Heath of Mile End in London for division among Houlditch nephews and nieces, with a niece Mary Bonock at Surat. Substantial provision for Mrs Elizabeth Ormston of the island, comprising two hundred and fifty pounds, the slave Lareena and the entire household furniture, marked the principal personal beneficiary of his colonial estate. Governor George Hodgkinson, dying in February 1724, broke decisively with the pattern. He treated his colonial estate as an inheritable family settlement to be retained on the island and passed to his children, with no provision for liquidation or remittance to England. The contrast indicates that the Company's appointment practice for the governorship had begun to draw on the settled local elite rather than relying exclusively on metropolitan appointments. The Holy Stake property held under his 1700 indenture suggests the Hodgkinson family had been established on the island for nearly a quarter of a century before his elevation. By the mid-1740s, George Gabriel Powell, eldest son of the recurring administrator Gabriel Powell senior, had himself risen to the governorship, with David Dunbar succeeding him by 1745. [Film No. 168, 180, 181]

The Mashborne will of 1715 documented the Company servant's wider family network. Edward Mashborne, third in council, held a London life insurance policy on his mother's life jointly with his brother the Reverend James Mashborne, an Anglican clergyman. The three-alternative executor structure provided for his widow Mary remaining on the island, moving with their son Thomas to England, or remaining while sending Thomas alone, with John Goodwin as local executor in the first scenario and the Reverend James as English executor in the others. The Mashborne family's participation in a metropolitan life insurance arrangement, with the brother in holy orders standing as the metropolitan anchor for the family's colonial affairs, illustrates the integration of the senior Company administration into the early eighteenth-century English financial system. The recurring theme across both governor and council-officer wills was the brevity of the colonial stay: assets to be liquidated and remitted, children to be raised in England, no continuing presence on the island after the testator's death. [Film No. 142]

The garrison continued to produce its own pattern of testamentary acts throughout the period. The soldier Isaac Bothway in 1710 left his Company store credit to his friend Septha Fowler with no family bequests, fitting the pattern of soldiers with no kin in attendance. The soldier Simon Lenox in 1713 left his entire residue to his landlady Margaret Sich, in acknowledgement of her great kindness and charitable tenderness during the several years he had lodged in her house. The soldier Erasmus Peeling in 1719, son of the earlier ensign Erasmus Purling, brought the Huguenot family's persistent Reformed identity into a second generation. William Penny soldier in 1723 left his residue to the poor of the island, the most substantial charitable bequest of the period. William Lee soldier in 1727 left his entire residue to Margaret Bagley, daughter of his lodging-household head John Bagley senior, fitting the working pattern of soldiers without local kin who developed personal relationships with the planter households where they lodged. Stephen Audward soldier in 1727 distributed thirty pounds to a niece Mary Pledger and identified John French son of John French the gunner as recipient of a heifer, marking the artillery branch's distinct identity within the garrison. Richard Harding soldier in 1726 left all lands and fifteen pounds to his brother John, with a parallel fifteen-pound legacy to his godson William Swallow son of the deceased carpenter Richard Swallow, treating godparental ties as carrying substantive content. [Film No. 120, 133, 157, 158, 171, 184, 185, 186]

Several wills used a corporate institutional acknowledgment device for the Council. The John Pawling will of 1738 gave 40 shillings to the Governor and each member of the Council for the time being for rings. The Thomas Cason will of February 1740 - the most extensive cash-distribution disposition in the registers, with at least fourteen named individuals receiving cash legacies totalling well over £900 - gave £100 to John Goodwin as Governor and £20 each to all council members for mourning. Cason's manumission of slave boy Thomas with passage to India, his debt-discharge arrangements (£54 from Martin Harper transferred to son Thomas Harper junior at 21; £51 from Gabriel Harper transferred to daughters Mary and Elizabeth) converted personal debts into obligations between debtors and their children. The Thomas Cooper or Corker soldier's will of July 1746 recorded the late Governor Gabriel Powell as debtor in £21 6s, reduced by a £10 payment from the present Governor David Dunbar (who had succeeded George Gabriel Powell), and itemised the testator's beef payments at 3d per pound gross including offal and his wool-making work for the governor at 3 shillings per day for twenty-five days. [Film No. 220, 233, 234, 266]

The East India Company functioned increasingly as a deposit and interest-bearing institution for private trust funds in the late period. The Henry Francis will of 1722 directed his executors to deposit the proceeds of estate sale with the Honourable Company at interest, the first explicit reference in the registers to that function. The mechanism converted the Company's administrative apparatus into a working depositary for orphan portions, paying interest at a Company-fixed rate. The John Orchard will of 1720 acknowledged that the eventual transfer of leased land to the nephew Benjamin Bagley required the consent of the Governor and Council, recording the Company's residual control over its lease land. John Young's will of 1733 directed executors to put cash out at interest on good security, confirming the existence of a working local credit market. The Governor's intervention in the Knipe will of 1733 shows the council acting to enforce limits on testamentary freedom where creditor interests required prompt liquidation. The mariner cluster of 1737 to 1746 reveals St Helena's continuing role as a medical staging point on the eastern shipping route, with sick officers put ashore from passing East Indiamen drawing wills locally. Richard Mills, chief mate of the George (1737), drew a codicil to a London-based principal will, naming Joshua Johnson and John Brown as trustees with the role of taking inventory, selling at public outcry and remitting to England. Edward Harvey, surgeon's mate of the Bedford (1738), left his island residue to a single named soldier John Scott. Charles Clark, surgeon (1743), left his entire estate to his wife Mary Clark of Plaistow in Essex. George Moody, mariner aboard the Wager at Calcutta (1745), endorsed his will with the remittance address of John Brown at Carfor's back door near the Young Princes of Orange in Wapping for forwarding to Lawrence Moody at Lotherkerding in the Shire of Fife, North Britain. [Film No. 167, 169, 206, 211, 217, 218, 222, 254, 265]

Wider events reached the island only obliquely. Regnal dating in the Eddis will of August 1682 and the Hugh Syms will of May 1684 refers to the thirty-fourth and thirty-sixth years of Charles II, but no will makes reference to the political crisis of 1688 in England or to the wars with France of the 1690s. The garrison's structure and the presence of named soldiers, serjeants, lieutenants and a deputy governor, Captain Richard Keling, in the Price will of December 1692, indicate a permanently armed station, but no surviving will records loss in action. The arrack, wine and sugar in Richard Potter's lodging in 1699, together with the Asian goods scattered through other wills, point to the island's embedded position in a long-distance commercial system vulnerable to the privateering of the period. The official record is, by its nature, the record of property successfully transmitted, and what was lost at sea or seized by enemies leaves no trace. [Film No. 19, 38, 47, 65]

Case Studies and Cross-References

Two pairs of closely connected seventeenth-century wills illustrate how the documents work together. The first is the brothers Hugh Syms (will of 9 May 1684, soldier) and Ralph Syms (will of 14 June 1684, serjeant), who died within five weeks of each other. The slave Asher, bequeathed by Hugh to Ralph, reappears in Ralph's will passing to his wife Anne, and the cows received from Hugh are similarly traced through. The pair record a rapid succession of deaths within a single family, perhaps from a shared illness, and demonstrate how named goods could move through several hands within weeks. The second is the Younge family: John Younge's will of 18 September 1682, and Sarah Younge's will of 26 October 1682, only five weeks later. John's provision for cascading remainders to his sons and daughters was overtaken by his wife's own death before any of those contingencies could mature, and Sarah's will redistributes the same property among the same children directly. [Film No. 20, 21, 23, 38, 39]

The Pledger and Pledgerd families illustrate inheritance across two generations. Thomas Pledger's will of 6 May 1683 made his son Praise Pledger sole executor and principal beneficiary, giving the wife and married daughters only a token shilling each. Praise himself drew his own will on 3 November 1697, distributing land at Sharks Valley and the Woody Ridge between his wife Sarah and his son Thomas, with the slaves Harrock, Doll and Megg, and named cattle, parcelled out to the younger children. Sarah Pledgerd then executed a separate deed of gift on 26 January 1708, demonstrating her continued management of the family estate more than a decade after her husband's death. The Charlesworth wills, the deathbed deposition for Josiah of 12 January 1693 and the formal testament of his widow Rebecca on 24 April 1697, similarly show estate succession across husband and wife, with Rebecca's will revealing four married daughters and a network of named sons-in-law including the clerk John Vernon. [Film No. 30, 43, 60, 61, 62, 63]

The Edmunds-Wrangham-Francis case demonstrates the integration of Company office and family connection in the early eighteenth century. Edward Edmunds, third of the Council, made his will in January 1703, vesting the entire estate in his wife Anne for her lifetime with full testamentary power. Anne's will of February 1704, drawn nine days later, exercised that power and modified the contingent provisions to favour the Francis branch. Samuel Wrangham had died in 1702, leaving eight children whose grandparents now provided substantive bequests to top up the framework Wrangham had himself created. Henry Francis senior emerged as the principal beneficiary of the working estate, receiving five named slaves, ten acres of land and substantial livestock. Anne's instruction that the pictures ordered from England by Edward should be sold on arrival and the proceeds divided among the grandchildren shows that the Edmunds household was buying decorative imports and that the testamentary process had to make provision for assets still in transit at the date of death. [Film No. 77, 78, 79, 81]

The compressed succession of deathbed wills across 1706 and 1707 points to a sustained period of mortality. Edward Bagley and James Easthope in April 1706, Erasmus Purling in May, Edward Heath in June, Edward Rawdon and Richard Harding in July, Paul Charles in August, Leonard Coulson in March 1707, William Dufton senior in April, Stephen Poirier in August and Samuel Desfontaines in November form a clustering difficult to attribute to coincidence alone. The Bazett-Desfontaines pairing handled much of this business until Desfontaines himself fell ill and drew his own will in November 1707. Samuel Desfontaines' will introduced a sophisticated structural device in the cascade of buy-out options for the family land: the eldest son Samuel was to have first refusal to purchase his four siblings' shares at a value fixed by two appraisers, and if he declined, the option passed to each other child in turn. Paired with a pooling option for the two Quincey stepdaughters from Ruth Desfontaines' earlier marriage, the will sought to engineer a unified blended household. The William Dufton senior will of April 1707 stands out by contrast for its deliberate restriction of the widow Susannah to only what the law allowed her and nothing more, a clause that records a marital breach or grievance in legal form. The John Mudge will of May 1708 closes the cluster with one of its most striking dispositions: Mudge gave Jane Mudge the entire working estate outright while reducing every child and grandchild to twelve pence each. [Film No. 94, 95, 97, 99, 102, 103, 104, 105, 108, 110, 111, 115]

The Sich household across three generations illustrates the working of a planter estate over a generation. John Sich drew his will in February 1703, leaving the Chapel Valley house to his son James through his widow Margaret's lifetime tenure. James Sich, single and unmarried, drew his own will in December 1708, with the property reverting through his mother to his brother Benjamin. Benjamin Sich, with only a daughter Elizabeth surviving, drew his will in November 1713, providing for Elizabeth's inheritance after his mother's death and constructing a substitution chain through his sister Grason in India and his niece Mary Bright. Margaret Sich, recorded as Mary Sich, drew her own will in July 1719, granting freedom to a woman named Sue and distributing slaves and household goods across grandchildren in multiple connected families. The series captures the extinction of the Sich male line on the island within a single generation, with the substitution to male heirs in India and through nieces showing the determination to maintain the family name through any available branch. [Film No. 116, 133, 153, 154]

The compressed succession of deaths in the winter of 1714 to 1715 points to a further sustained period of mortality. Charles Steward died within weeks of drawing his will in December 1714. Thomas Gargen, named as one of three executors for Steward, drew his own deathbed will less than four weeks later in January 1715. Thomas Harper followed in March 1715, and Edward Mashborne, third in council, in late March 1715. The compression of four substantial deathbed dispositions within four months, taken with the longer pattern already documented across 1706 to 1709 and continued in the 1718 to 1719 deaths of Francis Steward, John Robinson, Richard Swallow, Lewis Latour and others, suggests episodic waves of illness affecting both the planter community and the Company administration. The mortality placed considerable strain on the small administrative network, with the loss of Bazett in April 1719 removing the central testamentary figure of the period. [Film No. 137, 139, 140, 141, 150]

The cluster of wills around the John Worrall, John Knipe and Samuel Jessey estates of 1733, all featuring John Pawling as executor and all raising deferred-partition mechanisms, illustrates the limit of the technique under island authority. Worrall's version, conditional on the widow's willingness, was admitted. Knipe's version, unconditional and resting on a six-year wait for the youngest, was struck down by the Governor on two grounds: the children could not be obliged to wait, and the personal estate barely exceeded the debts. The administrative ruling preserved the family's choice of personnel while converting the will into a near-insolvent administration. The Jessey will set out the most elaborate working version of the cascading right-of-first-refusal mechanism, with the option passing in defined order from son John to married daughter Mary Burnham to unmarried daughters in order of seniority before any external sale could occur. The Powell-Hodgkinson connection demonstrates the consolidation of senior administrative dynasties within a single generation. Governor George Hodgkinson held the Holy Stake property in Lancashire under a 1700 indenture in 1724. Gabriel Powell in 1729 disposed of the same or a closely related Lancashire property called the Rotten Stack. The marriage of Ann Hodgkinson and another Hodgkinson sister to two Powell sons explains the consolidation. The compound naming of Powell sons George Gabriel and Joseph Charlsworth preserved both the paternal given name and the maternal Charlsworth surname through Sarah Rider Powell's descent from Rebecca Charlsworth. [Film No. 180, 192, 193, 204, 205, 206, 208]

The Steward couple's consecutive wills of October 1742 (Charles Steward suddenly taken ill on 7 October; his wife Mary Steward 20 days later on 27 October) marked the most rapid working succession of testamentary instruments documented in the registers. The husband had named the wife as conditional house occupier (on her assisting son Charles junior to build a new house on Joves Land) and the four executors father-in-law Wrangham senior, brother-in-law Captain Francis Steward, cousin John Goodwin and brother Francis Wrangham junior. The wife's will three weeks later named the same four executors plus a provision for her sister Alcock to live at the country house until young Charles junior reached age or marriage. The differential between the husband's five named children (Frances, Gabriel, Charles, Elizabeth and Margarett) and the wife's three residuary beneficiaries (Margarett, Gabriel and Charles) indicates that Frances and Elizabeth Steward were daughters of Charles Steward's first marriage, with Mary as second wife. [Film No. 248, 249, 250]

The William Coals will of December 1743, with its working migration from the council at Bencoolen to retirement on St Helena, distributed legacies in Spanish dollars across four jurisdictions: St Helena (George Gabriel Powell as governor and Matthew Pawling for local affairs), Fort Marlborough (Charles Barbut, Henry Coals and David Pugh for west coast debts and effects), Fort St George (Nicholas Morse as principal executor and guardian of son Edward), and London (George Higginson of the East India House for English affairs). The disinheritance clause against any heir bringing suit against Morse, combined with the no-account indemnity extended to all four jurisdictional executors, marked the strongest indemnity device in the registers. The Coals provision for Joseph Scott as the mother of my children, with a Sumatran cash payment on news of his death plus the Malay debts after twelve months, marks the working acknowledgment of recognised but unequal partnerships in Company eastern settlements, comparable in pattern to the earlier Margaret Hine bequest in the Ann Fuller will of 1713 but on a substantially larger scale. The bequest of slave boy Pompey to Nicholas Morse at Madras, with the instruction to send by the first opportunity, treated a person as cargo on the next available ship. [Film No. 251, 252, 253]

Taken together, the wills of 1681 to 1746 expose a settler society balanced between Company authority, family inheritance, dependence on enslaved labour and integration into a wider maritime world. The cumulative working effect of the registers across sixty-five years traces the transition from a small late-seventeenth-century planter community organised around twenty-acre Company allotments to a mid-eighteenth-century society in which the senior administration drew on settled local elites, the Company functioned as deposit institution, the working executor cadre had consolidated into a small group of intermarried families, and the same administrative apparatus handled both the resident planter household and the transient mariner whose death at the island fed colonial wealth back into the metropolitan economy. The evidence is partial, weighted towards those with property worth disposing of, and silent on the lives of the enslaved, the indentured and those who died intestate. The Interpretations and Speculations attached to each entry are a layer of modern reconstruction whose plausible inferences are not always conclusive. Yet within those limits the documents offer a structured account of how a Company island worked, how its people transmitted what they had, and how the institutions of English law were adapted to the particular conditions of a small mid-Atlantic station across the closing decades of the seventeenth century and the first half of the eighteenth. [Film No. 16, 29, 41, 63, 65, 115, 165, 215, 270]

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Modern Summary with Analysis

1

EAP 1364 St Helena

Document Name and Date Register of wills 1682 - 1745
Photographer Aidan Plato
Date photographed 4th April 2022

Additional comments

2

Book cover

3

REGISTER OF WILLS

1682 - 1745

Ref. E. I. C. 7/1

4

Blank page

5

Thom

Macandon Richard
Allis Thomas
Ardis Robert
Harward
Amor Felton
Hawkins John

Nathan: 7

Bartlee: John: 20
Bishop: William: 25
Borman: William: 38: 39
Beale: Jonathan: 49
Borman: John: 52: 53
Beale: Elanor: 56: 57
Box: Thomas: 58
Bagley: Orlando: 5
Burnham Thomas: 60
Bagley Edward: 79
Bothway Isaac: 105.
Boucher Benjamin Esq: 115 & 116
Bagley Thomas - 117. omitted by this ac
John - Boyce - 108.
Bryett Matthew 135. 136
Burnham Thomas 136. 137
Bates Bridget 182
Bradley Arthur 174
Bull Elizab: 162
Bryan George 161
Bagley John 185
Bagley Margaret 226
Bryett John 230. 231
Bradley John 235

6

E

Eastons James 1
Edis Richd. 4
Edmonds Edward. 62
Edmonds Anne. 63:64
Earle Thomas. 67
Easthope James. 99.
Edwards Henry 102.

F

Francombe Thomas 57
Francis Henry 21:22
Gensdale Thomas 51
Gensdale Katherine 54 55
Fontaine DesJancuell 95:96
Fuller Ann 120 & 121
Fue Thomas 171
Fines Ann 156
Francis Martha 197

7

G

Greenhoe John. 14
Goodwin John. 70:71
Goodwin Thomas. 102.
Thomas - Gagen 124. & 125.
Gibbs John 145
Gunton Richard 176
Gale William 180
Gravener James 158
Griffith Daniel 185:190
Greenhoe Jane Ann 157
Greenhoe Elizabth 221
Godwin Margaret 246
Gunning John 248

H

Holland Sam: 3
Harding Richard. 12:13
Harvey William: 35
Hayes William: 78
Heath Edward: 82:83
Harding Richard 88
Hague William 97
Thomas - Harper 125 & 126.
Hodgkinson Thomas 175
Harding John 108
Hawkins James 178
Harding Richard 169
Hodgkinson George 165
Harper Mary 100
Hawes Edward 207
Harper Thomas 208
Harding Joseph 241
Hastings James 220

8

I

Johnson Mary 114 615
Jittac Milton 128
Johnson Edward Esq 153
Johnson Elizabeth 157
Leache Jutson 207.
Jepsey Samuel 193.
Johnson Joshua 247

L

Lupe John 37
Lupe John Vide Consultation 26th Septr 209
Lupe John Regr Book 130

9

L

Luther John ----- 550.
Leach Robert. 183
Lerose Simon 118
Louis Latour 141:142
Long Joseph 143
Lee William 170
Leech Francis 217
Lufkin Stephen 241
Lindsey George 251

M

Moore Francis. 2
Morris Michaell. 65
Maxwell Samll 68:69
Mudge John 500:
Mashborne Edw. 126:127:128.
Marsh Robt 130
Marsh Jno: 131
Mills Richard Daniel Esqr in Consultation Book 88 Page
Mills Richd regr Book 203
Music George 240

10

N

Northen George 112
Nichols John Senr. 148:149
Nichols Edmund Register in
Consultn Book 82 Page 275
Nichols Edmund regr Book 191
Nichols Samuel 186.

O

Orchard Robert 9
Orchard John 152

11

P

Pynsent James 10:11
Pledger Tho: 15
Price William. 32:33
Phillips Tho: 44
Pledger Fraife. 47:48
Porter Richard. 50
Porting Erasmus: 80:81
Porter Stephen: 91:92:93:94

Puceing Jerome 112
Perneth Gabriel 177
Pike Thomas regr in

Porter William 149
Penny William 156
Pritchard John 205
Pritchard John 198
Pyle Horace 188
Powell Mary 218
Poulton Elizabth 239
Pledger Benjamin 248

Q

12

R

Ryder James 72:73:74
Rainton Edward. 84
Robinson John 133
Robinson Martha 167
Ryder James 227
Ryder Elizabeth 242

S

Symes Hugh 23
Symes Ralph 24
Swallow Robert 26
Seale Benja: 29
Smith John 30
Seaton Edward 31
Stevens John 36
Sick John 61:62
Steward Onesiphorus 75:76
Sanderson Thomas 98
Sick James 105
Sick Benjamin 118 & 119
Charles - Steward 122:123 & 124.
Steward James 134
Sick Margareth 138:139 & 140
Swallow Richard 140:141
Swinnow Peter 147
Swallow Richard 176
Sangster Anne Elizab: in Consultn Book 82 Page 301
Sangster Charles Esqr in Consultn Book 84:21
Swallow John 186
Swinnow Samuel 151
Seale William 200
Skilling William 200
Hawker Ann 198
Skilling Charles 187
Seale Frances 216
Sowle John 223
Steward Charles 233
Steward Mary 234

13

U

V

14

W

Wilson Andrew. 43
Williams Peter. 55
Wrangham Saml. 66
Whaley Simon 146
White George 181
Wallington Robert. 184
Welch Henry 202
Worrall John 190
Wallington Robert 186
Wilks Benjn 208
Whaley Simon 224
Wood Grace 228

X

15

Y

Younge John 5:6
Younge Sarah 8
Yergin Hannes 19
Young John Esqr in Consultn
Book 84:21 Page 300
Young John regr Book 196

Z

16

1

In the name of God Amen I Jame[s] Ea[st]en[s] of the I[s]land S[t] H[e]llena being [s]ick and weak of body but of [s]ound and perfect memory all prai[s]e to God for the [s]ame Do make thi[s] my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following:

Fir[st] and principaly I bequeath my [S]oul into the hand[s] of Almighty God my only [S]aviour and Redeemer hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving through the merit[s] of my Lord and [S]avior Je[s]u[s] Chri[st] that after thi[s] life ended I [s]hall enjoy eternall bli[fs] and my body Jcommitt to the earth (from whence it came) to be buried in decent and Chri[st]ian like manner and a[s] for my wordly good[s] which it hath plea[s]ed God to lend me I give and bequeath in manner and forme following:

Imprimi[s] I do give unto my three Children after the Company[s] Debt [s]ati[s]fied all my wordly good[s] land and cattle and all other debt[s] whatever for there Improvement

Item I do hereby make John Bo[st]on and Henry ffran[c]i[s] free planter[s] of the [s]aid I[s]land my true and lawfull Executor[s]:

In witne[fs] whereof I have hereunto [S]et my hand and [S]eal thi[s] 22 of february 1681 82

Witne[fs] The mark of Jame[s] E Ea[st]en[s] Robert Bowle[s] Edw[d] Edmond[s]

In the name of God, Amen. James Eastens of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, his Saviour and Redeemer, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

First, he gave to his three children, once the Company's debt was settled, all his worldly goods, land, cattle and any other debts owing to him, to be used for their advancement.

He named John Boston and Henry Francis, free planters of the island, as his true and lawful executors.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 22 February 1682.

Witnesses: Robert Bowles and Edward Edmonds. The will was signed with the mark E by James Eastens.

Interpretations

The phrase "after the Company's Debt satisfied" reveals the financial primacy of the East India Company on St Helena. The Company held first claim on a planter's estate before any inheritance could pass to his heirs. Settlers obtained land, livestock, tools and provisions on credit from the Company store, and the resulting debt followed the estate into probate. Eastens's children could inherit only what remained after that obligation was discharged, which placed the Company in the position of a senior creditor with priority over family interest.

The designation "free planter" identifies Boston and Francis as settlers who held land in their own right rather than as Company servants or indentured labourers. Free planters carried civic standing on the island and were eligible to serve as executors, witnesses, jurors and members of local administrative bodies. Naming two free planters as executors gave the will the practical authority of men recognised within the island's settler hierarchy and able to act before the Company's courts.

Speculations

Eastens chose two executors rather than one, which suggests a deliberate arrangement to spread the burden of settling the estate against the Company's claim. A single executor would have borne the full task of reconciling Company debt, valuing land and cattle and dividing the residue among three children. Two free planters acting jointly provided mutual oversight and reduced the risk that one man might be overwhelmed by the Company's demands or tempted to favour his own interest.

17

2

In the name of God Amen I ffranci[s] Moore of the I[s]land S[t] H[e]llena being [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfe[ct] minde and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given to Almighty God for the [s]ame and knowing there is nothing more certaine then death and nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in forme following fir[st] and principally I bequeath my [S]oul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving that through the merits of my Lord and Saviour Je[s]u[s] Chri[st] that after this life ended I [s]hall enjoy eternall bli[fs] And my body Jcommitt to the earth to be buried (by my wife) in decent and Chri[st]ian like manner as my Executors hereafter men[ti]oned [s]hall think fit And as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty god of his goodne[fs] to lend unto me I give and bequeath in manner and forme following:

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving Son ffranci[s] Moore five [s]hillings to buy him a ring to wear in remembrance of me: and to my [s]ons Tho[s] Moore and John Moore and my daughters E[s]phrath Moore Ellinor Moore and Margret Moore I doe give and bequeath all and [s]ingular my E[st]ate both in ready mondys bills bonds books debts plate &c to be divided in Equall and even proportions betweene them And I doe hereby make W[m] Rutter and John [H]annady Executors of my la[st] will and Te[st]ament and I doe revoke and make void all other wills by me made and doe acknowledge this to be my la[st] Will and Te[st]ament In witne[fs] whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand and [S]eal this 10[th] of Aprill 1682

Signed [s]ealed ffrancis Moore and d[o] in [the] pre[s]ence of [Jno] [T]ind[a]ll Jn[o] + Col[s]on John Bo[st]on John Miles

In the name of God, Amen. Francis Moore of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried beside his wife in a decent Christian manner, as his executors should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his son Francis Moore five shillings to buy a ring to wear in remembrance of him.

To his sons Thomas Moore and John Moore, and to his daughters Esphrath Moore, Ellinor Moore and Margret Moore, he gave all his estate, including ready money, bills, bonds, books, debts and plate, to be divided equally between them.

He named William Rutter and John Hannady as executors of his will, revoked all earlier wills and acknowledged this as his final testament.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 10 April 1682.

Witnesses: John Tindall, John Colson, John Boston and John Miles. The will was signed and sealed by Francis Moore.

Interpretations

The bequest of five shillings to the eldest son Francis to buy a memorial ring functioned as a deliberate legal device rather than an act of neglect. By naming him in the will and assigning him a token sum, the testator foreclosed any later claim that the son had been overlooked. The mourning ring was a familiar instrument in English testamentary practice, and its use here suggests that Francis had already received his portion during his father's lifetime, perhaps at marriage or upon setting up on his own account. The remaining five children were therefore the unprovided heirs requiring formal endowment through the will.

The composition of the residuary estate, given as ready money, bills, bonds, books, debts and plate, reveals the financial profile of a settler engaged in credit and trade rather than purely in planting. Bills and bonds were written instruments of debt, and their presence indicates that Moore had lent money or sold goods on deferred payment to other islanders. Plate, meaning silver vessels and utensils, served as both household furniture and a store of value convertible to cash when required. The absence of land and cattle from this enumeration, in contrast to the Eastens will of two months earlier, points to a different kind of estate, one held in movable wealth rather than in working farmland.

Speculations

Moore directed that he be buried beside his wife, which establishes that she had predeceased him and that he had marked her grave in a manner that allowed his own burial to be placed alongside it. The instruction implies a settled churchyard with identifiable plots rather than an undifferentiated burial ground, and it points to the testator's wish that the family be reunited in death even though the surviving children would be dispersed by the equal division of the estate.

18

3

In the name of God Amen I Sam[ll] Holland of S[t] Hellena Soldier being weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect memory all prai[s]e and glory be given to almighty god for the [s]ame and knowing that nothing is more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make Con[st]itute and ordaine this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In manner and forme following. That is to [s]ay fir[st] & principally I bequeath my [S]oul into the hands of Almighty God my Creatour hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving the alone meritt of my ble[ss]ed lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[st] after this life ended to enjoy everla[st]ing bli[fs] my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[st]ian like manner according as my Executor hereafter named [s]hall think fitt and for [s]uch wordly goods it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God to lend unto me I give and bequeath in manner and forme following

I give and bequeath unto my well belo[v]ed freind Will[m] Fox two Cowes which I formerly bought of him and after all my debts and Legacies are paid and funerall rites performed I give and bequeath unto my dear belo[v]ed freind and Executor Robert Dogarny my pay due to me from the Ea[st] India company my m[rs] and all my goods and cattle and all things el[s]e belonging to me[e] this being my la[st] will and Te[st]ament whereunto I [s]et my hand and Seal the twenty [s]ix day of July ann[o] 1682

Witne[fs] the Jo[s] [T]ro[ss] Sam: H Holland John I F ffuller marke

In the name of God, Amen. Samuel Holland of St Helena, soldier, weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy everlasting blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner, as his executor should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his friend William Fox two cows that he had earlier bought from him.

After his debts and legacies were paid and his funeral performed, he gave to his friend and executor Robert Dogarny the pay owing to him from the East India Company, together with his mistress and all his goods, cattle and everything else belonging to him.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 26 July 1682.

Witnesses: Joseph Tross and John Fuller, who signed with the mark F. The will was signed with the initial H by Samuel Holland.

Interpretations

Holland's status as a soldier rather than a planter shaped the entire structure of the will. Soldiers on St Helena were Company servants paid in arrears, and the most valuable asset Holland held was his accumulated pay due from the East India Company. By naming this debt as the principal bequest, the will functioned in part as an assignment of wages, directing the Company to release the outstanding sum to Dogarny rather than to any next of kin. The Company would have required formal probate before making such a payment, which explains the careful structure of the document.

The appointment of a single executor, Dogarny, who was also the principal beneficiary, departed from the safer practice seen in the Moore will of April. The arrangement gave Dogarny full control over the estate without independent oversight, which was workable here only because the bequests were few and the residue passed to him outright.

Speculations

The decision to leave almost the entire estate to a friend rather than to any family member suggests that Holland had no surviving kin on the island, and perhaps none in England with whom he remained in contact. Soldiers recruited to St Helena were often young, single men who had broken ties with their place of origin, and Dogarny appears to have stood in the position that a brother or son might otherwise have occupied. The pairing of the words friend and executor in the bequest underlines that the relationship carried both personal and practical weight.

19

4

In the name of God Amen I Rich[d] Eddis loft out of the good [s]hip Scipio Africanus marin[er] on [the] I[s]land of S[t] Helena being [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect memory Have made my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following. Viz[t]

Imprimis I bequeath and Re[s]igne up my [s]oule to almighty god (who gave[it]) when ever he [s]hall be plea[s]ed to call for it tru[st]ing that in and through the merits of Chri[st] my Savior it [s]hall bee received into thof[e] heavenly man[s]ions which are prepared for tho[s]e that love him As for my body which is but du[st] and mu[st] thereto returne I give and bequeath to be by my Over[s]eer hereafter mencioned decently interred and buried tru[st]ing through Chri[st] that both [s]oule and body [s]hall be made partakers of a Glorious Re[s]urrection And as to tho[s]e outward things wherewith it hath plea[s]ed the Almighty to endow and ble[s]s me I give and bequeath, manner & forme following. Viz[t]

Item I give and bequeath unto my dear brother Thomas Hincks a Ropemaker living at Ezekiel Bawdy coats in Goodmans feilds and to my dear [s]i[s]ter mary maris[?] living at Marth Leech in the County of Gloce[st]er all the wages due to mee on board the S[d] Scipio Africanus As Likewi[s]e all the debts due to mee from any on board the [s]hipp or el[s]ewhere to be Equally divided betweene them the prticul[rs] of all which I [s]hall give to my Over[s]eere And of this my will I make ordaine and Con[st]itute my belo[v]ed freind James Pyn[s]ent Executor & Over[s]eere giving and bequeathing unto him five [s]hillings to buy him a pair of Gloves Hereby revoking all former & other will or wills declaring and publi[s]hing this to be my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In witne[fs] whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand & Seal this ninth day of Augu[st] Ann[o] D[m] 1682 and in the foure & thirtieth year of the Reigne of King [Chs] [s]econd over England &c[a]

Signed [s]ealed & Publi[s]hed to be the the marke of la[st] will & Te[st]ament of the within Richard C Eddis mencond Rich[d] Eddis in [the] pre[s]ence of Henery ffrancis J Blackmore Jun[r]

Mem[d] that the[s]e words viz[t] (to be equally divided betwixt them) over the 22 Line were interlined before the [s]igneing [s]ealing & Publi[s]hing hereof in [the] pre[s]ence of Henery ffrancis J Blackmore Jun[r]

In the name of God, Amen. Richard Eddis, mariner, put ashore from the ship Scipio Africanus at the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He resigned his soul to Almighty God who gave it, trusting that through the merits of Christ his Saviour it would be received into the heavenly mansions prepared for those who love him. He directed that his body, being dust and bound to return to dust, be decently buried by his overseer named below, in the hope that soul and body would together share in a glorious resurrection. As for the outward goods with which God had blessed him, he disposed of them as set out below.

He gave to his brother Thomas Hincks, a ropemaker living at Ezekiel Bawdycoat's in Goodman's Fields, and to his sister Mary Maris, living at Marth Leech in the County of Gloucester, all the wages due to him aboard the Scipio Africanus. He also gave them all debts owing to him from any person aboard the ship or elsewhere, to be divided equally between them. The particulars were to be supplied to his overseer.

He named his friend James Pynsent as executor and overseer, and gave him five shillings to buy a pair of gloves. He revoked all earlier wills and declared this to be his last testament.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 9 August 1682, in the thirty-fourth year of the reign of King Charles the Second over England.

Witnesses: Henry Francis and J Blackmore Junior. The will was signed with the mark C by Richard Eddis.

A memorandum confirmed that the words "to be equally divided betwixt them" had been interlined above the twenty-second line before signing, in the presence of Henry Francis and J Blackmore Junior.

Interpretations

The description of Eddis as "loft out of the good ship Scipio Africanus" identifies him as a sailor put ashore at St Helena because he was too sick to continue the voyage. This was a routine arrangement at the island, which served as a recuperation station for ships of the East India Company and others on the homeward and outward routes. Sick mariners were left in the care of local residents or the Company surgeon, with their wages held aboard ship until either their recovery or their death could be reported. The will was the legal instrument that allowed those wages to be released to named heirs rather than reverting to the ship's owners or the Crown as the property of a man dying intestate far from home.

The dating of the document in regnal years, the thirty-fourth year of Charles the Second, in addition to the calendar year, reflects a formality typical of English testamentary practice but absent from the planters' wills earlier in the series. Eddis or the scribe drafting for him drew on the conventions of mainland English law rather than the looser local style used by the island settlers, which suggests that the document was prepared with an eye to probate in England, where the wages would ultimately have to be claimed.

Speculations

The decision to send the entire estate back to a brother and sister in England, with nothing left to anyone on St Helena beyond the executor's token, indicates that Eddis had no settled connection to the island and expected none. He was a transient mariner whose stay at the island was forced upon him by illness, and his testamentary intent was simply to ensure that his earnings reached his family rather than being absorbed by the costs of his care or the slow machinery of the Company's accounts.

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5

In the name of God Amen I John Younge of the I[s]land S[t] Helena free Planter being [s]ick & weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect minde and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given unto Almighty god for the [s]ame and knowing there is nothing more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make and ordaine this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following

Fir[st] & principally I bequeath my [S]oule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving that through the merits of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[st] that after this life ended I [s]hall enjoy eternall bli[fs] and my body Jcommitt to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent & Chri[st]ian like manner as my Executrix hereafter mencond [s]hall think fitt and as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty god of his goodne[fs] to lend unto me I give and bequeath as followeth:

Imp[s] I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving Son John Younge one Heifer young Gilly and ten Acres of land it being part of the Twenty Acres of Land which was allotted me by the Honorable Ea[st] India Company and in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of my [s]aid [s]on John Younge before he cometh to the age of twenty one yeare I bequeath the [s]aid ten Acres of land to my loving Son Tho[s] Younge and in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of my [s]aid loving [s]on Tho[s] Younge before he attaines to the age of Twenty one years I bequeath the [s]aid Ten Acres of land to my loving [s]on Jonath[an] Younge and in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of my [s]aid loving [s]on Jonath Younge before he attaine to the age of Twenty one years I give and bequeath my [s]aid ten cleres of land to my two daughters Barbarry & Sarah Younge to be divided betweene them in Equall and even portions And in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of either my [s]aid daughters before their day of marriage or before they attaine to the age of twenty one years I bequeath the afore[s]d Ten Acres Acres of land to the Survivor And in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of both my [s]aid daughters before the day of Marriage or before they attaine to the years afore[s]d I bequeath the [s]aid Ten Acres of land to my dear and loving wife Sarah Younge: Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Son Tho[s] Younge one Heifer called Nany Item I give and bequeath unto my loving [s]on Jonath[an] Younge one Heifer called younge browning Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Barbary Younge one Heifer called young Gilly Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Sarah Younge one Heifer called young [s]ouely And further give and bequeath to my afore[s]aid two daughters Tenn Acres of land it being the other p[t] of the Twenty Acres of Land which was allotted me by the Honorable Ea[st] India Company and in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of any my [s]aid two daughters I bequeath the [s]aid Ten Acres of land to the Survivor but in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of both my [s]aid daughters I give and bequeath the [s]aid Tenn Acres of land to my dear and loving wife Sarah Younge And my wife being now with child if it plea[s]e God to be [s]afely deliuered and the Child doth live I give and bequeath unto the [s]aid child the next Heifer Calfe that falls And [in]ca[s]e any one or more of my [s]aid Sons or daughters [s]hould d[ie] before they attaine to the age of twenty one years or before their d[ay] of Marriage: Turn Over

In the name of God, Amen. John Younge of the Island of St Helena, free planter, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner, as his executrix should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his son John Younge one heifer called Young Gilly and ten acres of land, being half of the twenty acres allotted to him by the East India Company. If John died before the age of twenty one, the ten acres were to pass to his son Thomas Younge. If Thomas died before that age, they were to pass to his son Jonathan Younge. If Jonathan also died before that age, the land was to pass to his daughters Barbary and Sarah Younge, to be divided equally between them. If either daughter died before marriage or before the age of twenty one, her share was to pass to the survivor. If both daughters died before marriage or before that age, the ten acres were to pass to his wife Sarah Younge.

He gave to his son Thomas Younge one heifer called Nany.

He gave to his son Jonathan Younge one heifer called Young Browning.

He gave to his daughter Barbary Younge one heifer called Young Gilly.

He gave to his daughter Sarah Younge one heifer called Young Souely.

He gave to his two daughters jointly the remaining ten acres of the twenty acre allotment. If one daughter died, her share was to pass to the survivor. If both daughters died, the ten acres were to pass to his wife Sarah Younge.

His wife was then pregnant, and if she was safely delivered and the child lived, he gave to that child the next heifer calf born on the estate.

The will broke off mid-sentence, with the words "Turn Over" closing the page, after beginning a further provision applying if any of his sons or daughters should die before reaching twenty one or before marriage.

Interpretations

The designation "free planter" identifies Younge as a settler holding land in his own right under the Company's allotment system, with full standing to devise his property by will. The twenty acres specified in the will, divided as ten to the eldest son and ten to the two daughters jointly, was the standard family grant on St Helena in this period. The Company allocated land in fixed parcels to encourage settlement and to fix the boundaries of cultivation, and a planter's authority to bequeath that land depended on his maintaining the holding in good order during his lifetime.

The elaborate sequence of contingent remainders, by which the eldest son's ten acres passed in turn to the second son, then to the third son, then to the daughters jointly, then to the surviving daughter, then to the widow, reveals the legal sophistication brought to bear on a small island estate. This was a strict family settlement of the kind familiar in English landed practice, designed to keep the land within the male line where possible while providing a safety net for daughters and widow if the sons all died. The drafting suggests either a literate testator with knowledge of mainland conveyancing, or access to a scribe trained in such forms.

Speculations

The decision to divide the twenty acre allotment exactly in half between the eldest son and the two daughters jointly, rather than reserving the bulk for the male heir under primogeniture, points to a deliberate provision for the daughters' futures. Ten acres held jointly gave them a marriage portion that would attract suitors and secure their position in the island's settler economy. Without such an endowment, daughters of a free planter risked descending into service or dependence, and the testator's arrangement protected them against that outcome.

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6

I give and bequeath the afore[s]aid Heifer or Heifers bequeathed to them as afore[s]aid with all and [s]ingular their increa[s]e to the Survivors of them to be Equally divided betweene them in Equall and even portions and in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of all my [s]aid Children before they attaine to the age of Twenty one years or before the day of marriage I give and bequeath all the afore[s]aid cattle with all and [s]ingular their increa[s]e to my dear and loving wife Sarah Younge:

Item I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife Sarah Younge Tenn Acres of land which was formerly in the occupation of James Wake[s]ffilde as likewi[s]e my Black man called Antony with all and [s]inguler other my E[st]ate not as yet di[s]po[s]ed of whether is be in ready moneys Bonds Bills Books Debts &c But in ca[s]e my [s]aid Wife [s]hould marry I give and bequeath my [s]aid Black man called Antony to my two daughters Barbary and Sarah Younge But not to be at their di[s]po[s]all but to remaine with my afore[s]aid loving wife Sarah Younge untill [s]uch time as my afore[s]aid daughters comes to the age of Twenty one years or at their day of marriage and I doe hereby make my [s]aid dear and loving wife Sarah Younge my full and [S]ole Executrix of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament and doe revoke and make void all former wills by mee made In witne[fs] whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand and Seal this 18[th] September 1682

Signed [s]ealed and d[d] In [the] pre[s]ence of The m[k] Jn[o] O Younge Robert D[e]farne[?] The m[k] Henry ^ Hea[s]ey The m[k] James X Ca[s]tub W[m] Rutter

He gave the heifers bequeathed to his children, together with all their increase, to the survivors of them in equal portions. If all his children died before reaching twenty one or before marriage, the cattle and their increase were to pass to his wife Sarah Younge.

He gave to his wife Sarah Younge ten acres of land formerly occupied by James Wakefield, together with his black man called Antony, and all the remainder of his estate not already disposed of, including ready money, bonds, bills, books and debts.

If his wife remarried, he gave Antony to his daughters Barbary and Sarah Younge. Antony was not to be at their disposal but was to remain with his wife Sarah Younge until the daughters reached twenty one or married.

He named his wife Sarah Younge sole executrix and revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 18 September 1682.

Witnesses: Robert Defarne, Henry Heasey, who signed with a mark, James Castub, who signed with the mark X, and William Rutter. The will was signed with the mark O by John Younge.

Interpretations

The additional ten acres given to the widow, identified as the land "formerly in the occupation of James Wakefield", reveals that Younge held more than the single twenty acre allotment described in the earlier portion of the will. Wakefield had previously worked this parcel, either as a tenant, a sub-grantee or a former owner whose interest had reverted, and Younge had since acquired it. Naming the prior occupant rather than giving a boundary description was the standard method of identifying land on the island, where formal surveys were rare and parcels were known by the names of those who had cultivated them.

The bequest of Antony, described as a "black man" and named individually, treats him as devisable property in the same legal category as land and cattle. The wording confirms the pattern seen in the Holland will of the previous July, where a female slave was bequeathed alongside the residue. Antony's transfer was subject to a more complex condition than the cattle, which suggests that his labour was central to the working of the holding and that the testator wished to keep that labour attached to the estate even if the household structure changed.

Speculations

The clause shifting Antony's ownership upon the widow's remarriage suggests that the testator anticipated this outcome as a real possibility. Sarah Younge was young enough to be pregnant at the time the will was drawn, and a widow with land and cattle on the island would have been an attractive match. By tying Antony to the daughters in the event of remarriage, the testator ensured that the most valuable element of the working household, the enslaved labourer, would not pass under the control of a new husband whose interests might diverge from those of the children.

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7

In the name of God Amen I Nathan[ll] Barndine of [the] I[s]land S[t] Hellena being [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect minde and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given to Almighty god for the [s]ame And knowing that there is nothing more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following:

Fir[st] and principally I bequeath my [S]oule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving that through the merits of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[st] that after this life ended I [s]hall Enjoy Eternall Bli[fs] and my body committ to Earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[st]ian Like manner as my Executrix hereafter mencioned [s]hall think fitt and as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God of his goodne[fs] to lend unto mee I give and bequeath as followeth Imp[s] I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving wife Mary Barndine all and [S]ingular my hou[s]e and land with my hou[s]e at the fort with all and [S]ingular my Cattle goods Debts ready money bills bonds &c with all and [s]ingular other my E[st]ate of what nature [s]oever but in ca[s]e my [s]aid dear and loving wife Mary Barndine [s]hould depart this mortall life before my Children come to age I give and bequeath all and [s]ingular [s]uch E[st]ate which [s]hall be at the time of her decea[s]e to be Equally divided betweene my dear and loving children Nathaniell Barndine Mary Barndine and Sarah Barndine in Equall and Even portions and further I doe make my [s]aid dear and loving wife Mary Barndine full and [S]ole Executrix of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament I doe hereby revoke and make voide all former wills by mee made and acknowledge this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In witne[fs] whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and [S]eale this 27 [S]eptem[br] 1682

Witne[fs] W[m] Bowman W[m] Rutter W[m] Hunt [S]utt[?] Isaack

In the name of God, Amen. Nathaniel Barndine of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner, as his executrix should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his wife Mary Barndine his house and land, his house at the fort, and all his cattle, goods, debts, ready money, bills, bonds and the rest of his estate of every kind.

If his wife died before his children reached majority, the estate as it then stood was to be divided equally between his children Nathaniel Barndine, Mary Barndine and Sarah Barndine.

He named his wife Mary Barndine sole executrix and revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 27 September 1682.

Witnesses: William Bowman, William Rutter, William Hunt and Isaac Sutt.

Interpretations

The reference to "my house at the fort" identifies a second dwelling distinct from the planter's house on his land. The fort on St Helena, located at the principal anchorage in James Valley, was the seat of Company government and the centre of trade with passing ships. A house there gave Barndine a foothold in the commercial life of the island, separate from his agricultural holding, and points to a man whose activities crossed the boundary between planting and town based business. Such a property would have been used for trade with mariners, storage of goods or residence during attendance at consultations and markets.

The conditional gift to the children if the widow died before their majority departed from the more elaborate cascade of remainders used in the Younge will of nine days earlier. Barndine relied on a single fallback rather than ranking his children in order of inheritance, and the equal division reflected a simpler approach to family settlement. The arrangement assumed that the widow would manage the estate competently during her lifetime and that any later division could be left to the executors or guardians who would step in upon her death.

Speculations

The naming of two separate properties, the planter's house and the house at the fort, suggests that Barndine kept his commercial and domestic activities physically apart. A dwelling at the fort would have been used during the arrival of ships, when trade with mariners was concentrated into the few days a vessel lay at anchor, while the planter's house would have been the family seat where the wife and three children lived. The arrangement implies a working pattern in which Barndine moved between the two locations according to the trading calendar.

23

8

In the name of God amen I Sarah Younge of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given unto Almighty God for the [s]ame and knowing there is nothing more certaine then death and nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make this my la[st] Will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following fir[st] and principally I bequeath my [S]oul into the hands of Almighty god my Creator hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving that through the merits of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[st] that after this life ended [s]hall enjoy eternall bli[fs] And my body Jcommit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[st]ian like manner as my Executors hereafter mencioned [s]hall thinke fitt And as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty god of his goodne[fs] to lend unto me I give and bequeath as followeth.

Imprimis. I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving daughters Barbary Younge and Sarah Younge the Tenn Acres of Land (which was left me by late hu[s]band Jn[o] Younge) to be divided in Equall and even portions betweene them. Item I give and bequeath unto my [s]aid dear and loving daughter Sarah Younge one Cow called Browning. Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Samuell Younge one Heifer called Brindle: Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved ffreinds Cap[t] Jo[s]hua John[s]on and Lieut[t] Michaell Morris (whom I make Executors of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament) five [s]hillings a peice to buy each of them a ring to wear in Remembrance of mee and after my debts and Legacies are paid and funerall Rites performd I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving Sons Jn[o] Younge Tho[s] Younge Jonath[n] Younge and Sam: Younge and to my dear and loving daughters Barbary Younge and Sarah Younge all and [S]inguler other my E[st]ate not yet di[s]po[s]ed of whether it be in ready moneys goods Chattles debts &c to my afore[s]aid dear and loving children to be divided in Equall and even portions betweene them And I doe hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me made and doe acknowledge this to be my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In witne[fs] whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand & [S]eal this 26 day of Octob[r] 1682

Signed [s]ealed and D[d] in the pre[s]ence of Robert Degarne The m[k] Rob[t] M Peeter W[m] Rutter Sarah: Younge

In the name of God, Amen. Sarah Younge of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. She set down her last will and testament as follows.

She commended her soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. She directed that her body be buried in a decent Christian manner, as her executors should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted her, she disposed of them in the manner set out below.

She gave to her daughters Barbary Younge and Sarah Younge the ten acres of land left to her by her late husband John Younge, to be divided equally between them.

She gave to her daughter Sarah Younge one cow called Browning.

She gave to her son Samuel Younge one heifer called Brindle.

She gave to her friends Captain Joshua Johnson and Lieutenant Michael Morris, whom she named executors, five shillings each to buy mourning rings.

After her debts and legacies were paid and her funeral performed, she gave the remainder of her estate, including ready money, goods, chattels and debts, to her sons John Younge, Thomas Younge, Jonathan Younge and Samuel Younge, and to her daughters Barbary Younge and Sarah Younge, to be divided equally between them.

She revoked all earlier wills and acknowledged this as her final testament.

In witness of this, she set her hand and seal on 26 October 1682.

Witnesses: Robert Degarne, Robert Peeter, who signed with the mark M, and William Rutter. The will was signed by Sarah Younge.

Interpretations

This will follows the will of John Younge by only five weeks and shows that Sarah survived her husband only briefly. The unborn child mentioned in his will of 18 September 1682 has now appeared as a named son, Samuel Younge, which establishes that Sarah was delivered between mid September and late October 1682, and that she fell sick and died shortly afterwards. The compressed sequence of three deaths in the family within a few weeks indicates an episode of acute mortality in the household, perhaps an infectious illness contracted around the time of the birth.

The appointment of Captain Joshua Johnson and Lieutenant Michael Morris as executors marked a sharp departure from the family-centred administration set up by John Younge, who had named Sarah herself as executrix. With Sarah now dying and the children all under age, the office had to pass to outside trustees, and she chose two military officers of the island garrison rather than fellow planters. The choice indicates that she trusted the discipline and authority of Company officers more than the contingent reliability of planter neighbours for the long task of guardianship and estate management.

Speculations

The decision to name two officers of the garrison as executors, rather than a planter neighbour such as William Rutter, who served only as witness, suggests that Sarah anticipated difficulties with the estate that civilian planters might be unwilling or unable to manage. With six young children, contingent land interests, livestock, ready money and debts to administer over a period of years, the office would require sustained authority and the ability to enforce claims against other settlers. Company officers carried the weight of the garrison behind their decisions and could pursue debtors or guardians with a force that a planter executor would lack.

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9

In the name of God Amen I Robert Orchard being very weak of body but of perfect memory ble[ss]ed be god make my la[st] will and Te[st]ament:

Imprimis fir[st] I give and bequeath my [s]oul to god that gave it hoping to receive it againe

Item I give and bequeath unto my wife [s]even head of Cattle and all my hou[s]hold goods plantations and land and Swine that now I have:

I give and bequeath unto my foure children the other [s]even head of Cattle to be equally divided betweene them the ffourteene head of cattle to be equally divided betweene my wife and children the cattle to be [s]eparated with all the breed if ever it plea[s]e god [s]he [s]hould marry another man otherways to remaine in her cu[st]ody till [s]uch time the children comes of age and if either of the children dye [s]he to have the Cattle equaly divided to the re[st] of the children [s]ucce[ss]ively and I doe appoint Henry Coale[s] John Mudge and John Barkle[e] to looke after my Children and to [s]ee they be not wronged in their bodys nor in their cattle Whereunto I [s]et my hand this 20[th] day of october 1682

Witne[fs] Henry Coales Robert Orchard John Mudge John Barklue

In the name of God, Amen. Robert Orchard, weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to God, who had given it, hoping to receive it again.

He gave to his wife seven head of cattle, together with all his household goods, plantations, land and swine.

He gave to his four children the other seven head of cattle, to be divided equally between them. The fourteen head of cattle were therefore to be divided equally between his wife and children.

If his wife remarried, the cattle were to be separated together with all their increase. Otherwise the herd was to remain in her custody until the children came of age. If any of the children died, that child's share was to be divided equally among the surviving children.

He appointed Henry Coales, John Mudge and John Barklee to look after his children and to ensure that they were not wronged in their persons or in their cattle.

In witness of this, he set his hand on 20 October 1682.

Witnesses: Henry Coales, John Mudge and John Barklue. The will was signed by Robert Orchard.

25

10

In the name of God Amen I Robert Orchard being very weak of body but of perfect memory ble[ss]ed be god make my la[st] will and Te[st]ament:

Imprimis fir[st] I give and bequeath my [s]oul to god that gave it hoping to receive it againe

Item I give and bequeath unto my wife [s]even head of Cattle and all my hou[s]hold goods plantations and land and Swine that now I have:

I give and bequeath unto my foure children the other [s]even head of Cattle to be equally divided betweene them the ffourteene head of cattle to be equally divided betweene my wife and children the cattle to be [s]eparated with all the breed if ever it plea[s]e god [s]he [s]hould marry another man otherways to remaine in her cu[st]ody till [s]uch time the children comes of age and if either of the children dye [s]he to have the Cattle equaly divided to the re[st] of the children [s]ucce[ss]ively and I doe appoint Henry Coale[s] John Mudge and John Barkle[e] to looke after my Children and to [s]ee they be not wronged in their bodys nor in their cattle Whereunto I [s]et my hand this 20[th] day of october 1682

Witne[fs] Henry Coales Robert Orchard John Mudge John Barklue

In the name of God, Amen. Robert Orchard, weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to God, who had given it, hoping to receive it again.

He gave to his wife seven head of cattle, together with all his household goods, plantations, land and swine.

He gave to his four children the other seven head of cattle, to be divided equally between them. The fourteen head of cattle were therefore to be divided equally between his wife and children.

If his wife remarried, the cattle were to be separated together with all their increase. Otherwise the herd was to remain in her custody until the children came of age. If any of the children died, that child's share was to be divided equally among the survivors.

He appointed Henry Coales, John Mudge and John Barklee to look after his children and to ensure that they were not wronged in their persons or in their cattle.

In witness of this, he set his hand on 20 October 1682.

Witnesses: Henry Coales, John Mudge and John Barklue. The will was signed by Robert Orchard.

Interpretations

The will departs from the religious formula used by every other testator in this series. The opening commendation of the soul to God is reduced to a single short sentence, and the customary references to the merits of Christ, eternal blessedness and Christian burial are absent. The plain wording suggests either that Orchard was dictating under serious pressure of time, or that he held religious views that led him to omit the conventional language. Quaker testators of the period commonly stripped down the religious preamble in this way, and the absence of any reference to a Christian burial is consistent with that possibility.

The provision for separation of the cattle upon the widow's remarriage operated on a different principle from the Younge will of September. There, the testator shifted ownership of the enslaved labourer Antony to the daughters if the widow remarried. Here, Orchard left the widow's seven head of cattle in her hands but ordered that the children's seven head, with all increase, be physically separated and removed from the joint herd. The clause ensured that a new husband would gain control only over the widow's portion and not over the children's stock, which would pass into the custody of the appointed guardians.

Speculations

The pairing of bodily and material protection in the guardians' duty suggests that Orchard anticipated the widow's remarriage and feared mistreatment of the children by a future stepfather. The clause separating the cattle upon remarriage already addressed the property risk, and the additional reference to bodily harm extends the same concern to physical care. A stepfather with no interest in the children's inheritance might treat them harshly, and the appointment of three named guardians gave the children external advocates with standing to intervene.

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In the name of God Amen I James Pyn[s]ent (loft out of the good [s]hip Scipio Africanus, Boat[s]waines Mate) on [the] I[s]land [s]t Helena being very [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect minde and memory have made my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following Viz[t]

Imprimis I give and re[s]igne up my Soul unto Almighty God who gave it whenever he [s]hall be plea[s]ed to call for it tru[st]ing that through the blood of Chri[st] my Saviour it [s]hall be received into the Inheritance of the Saints in light As for my body which is but Du[st] and mu[st] thereto re[t]urne I give to be decently interred according to the order and direction of my Over[s]eers hereafter mencioned & re[s]iding on the I[s]land of [s]t Helena in full and certaine a[ss]urance that both [s]oul and body [s]hall be made partakers of a Glorious and joyfull Re[s]urrection And as for tho[s]e worldly goods which God of his goodne[fs] hath be[st]owed on mee I give & bequeath in manner and forme following Viz[t]

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving [s]i[s]ter Ellen Pyn[s]ent the [s]umme of five pounds as a Legacey and in token of my Love and kindne[fs] to her to be p[d] her within one Month after the arriuall of this my will in England and in ca[s]e my [s]i[s]ter Ellen [s]hould happen to dye before then I give and bequeath the [s]d five pounds unto my dear and loving wife Mary Pyn[s]ent

Item I give and bequeath unto my brother W[m] Pyn[s]ent all my wearing apparell wollen and Linnen [s]tockings Hatt &c to be [s]ent him downe into the Country where he liveth within one month after the arriuall of this my will in England but in ca[s]e my brother W[m] [s]hall happen to dye before then, I give & bequeath, unto my dear and loving wife Mary Pyn[s]ent.

Item I give and bequeath unto Mary John[s]on all the Plate Rings & Cloths both Linnen and Wollen that is in my hou[s]e in ca[s]e my dear & loving wife Mary Pyn[s]ent [s]hall happen to dye before the arriuall of this my will in England

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving [s]i[s]ter Eliz[a] John[s]on the Sume of five pounds in ca[s]e my dear & loving wife Mary Pyn[s]ent [s]hall happen to dye before the arriuall of this my will in England:

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving [s]i[s]ter Eliza Pyn[s]ent widdow the Sume of Ten pounds as a Legacey in ca[s]e my dear and Loving wife Mary Pyn[s]ent [s]hall happen to dye before the arriuall of this my will in England:

Signed [s]ealed Publi[s]hed [the] marke of and del[d] in [the] pre[s]ence of James P Pyn[s]ent [the] marke of Dan[ll] X Collins [the] mark of Ja[sp]r I Jay

Margin Notes: J[s] Same

In the name of God, Amen. James Pynsent, boatswain's mate, put ashore from the ship Scipio Africanus at the Island of St Helena, very sick and weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He resigned his soul to Almighty God who gave it, trusting that through the blood of Christ his Saviour it would be received into the inheritance of the saints in light. He directed that his body be decently buried by his overseers on St Helena, in the certain assurance that soul and body would together share in a glorious resurrection. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his sister Ellen Pynsent five pounds as a legacy and token of his love, to be paid to her within one month of the arrival of his will in England. If Ellen died before then, the five pounds were to pass to his wife Mary Pynsent.

He gave to his brother William Pynsent all his wearing apparel, including woollen and linen stockings and his hat, to be sent down to him in the country where he lived, within one month of the arrival of the will in England. If William died before then, the apparel was to pass to his wife Mary Pynsent.

He gave to Mary Johnson all the plate, rings and clothing, both linen and woollen, in his house, if his wife Mary Pynsent died before the arrival of the will in England.

He gave to his sister Eliza Johnson five pounds, if his wife Mary Pynsent died before the arrival of the will in England.

He gave to his sister Eliza Pynsent, widow, ten pounds as a legacy, if his wife Mary Pynsent died before the arrival of the will in England.

The will was signed with the mark P by James Pynsent, in the presence of Daniel Collins, who signed with the mark X, and Jasper Jay, who signed with the mark I.

Interpretations

The testator is the same James Pynsent who served as executor and overseer for Richard Eddis only seven weeks earlier, on 9 August 1682. Pynsent was then on the island in good health, sufficient to take on the responsibility of recovering Eddis's wages and debts from the Scipio Africanus. His own death now, in the same year and from the same ship, suggests that the illness which struck Eddis ran through the crew, and that Pynsent contracted it either from caring for Eddis or from the same source aboard the vessel. The unfinished business of the Eddis estate, including the wages owed to Eddis's brother and sister in England, would now have to pass to whoever administered Pynsent's own will, which complicated the recovery of both estates.

The structure of the bequests is unusual in that almost every gift is conditional upon the death of the wife Mary Pynsent before the arrival of the will in England. This pattern reflects the practical reality that the will would take many months to reach England by ship, and that the wife's survival could not be assumed over that period. The testator drafted alternative dispositions for almost every asset, anticipating that probate in England might begin in a household already reduced by further deaths.

Speculations

The drafting of so many contingent gifts depending on the wife's survival points to a specific fear that Mary Pynsent was herself ill, or that the household in England was facing some disease or hazard that placed her life at risk. A testator with confidence in his wife's health would typically leave the estate to her absolutely and trust her to redistribute it later. The repeated formula "in case my dear and loving wife shall happen to die before the arrival of this my will in England" appears in five separate clauses and indicates a real and present concern rather than a routine precaution.

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In the Name of God Amen I Richard Harding of the I[s]land S[t] Helena free planter being in a Sick and weake condition of body & through the mercy of god in Je[s]us Chri[st] well di[s]po[s]: in [s]oule minde and [s]en[s]es do con[st]itute appoint firme and make this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament

Imp[s] I commit and bequeath my [S]oule to God my creato[r] and my body unto the ground in hopes of a glorious Re[s]urrection unto Eternall life through the mercy of God in Chri[st] Je[s]us:

As for my Temporall e[st]ate I will that it be di[s]po[s]ed of as followeth

Item to my Son Richard one Red Heifer and Calfe one [s]potted Heifer and her Calfe and one bullock of a Cow called Tadigall that was turned up the la[st] year

Item to my Daughter Mary one Cow called Crumple and her heifer that goeth with her and one heifer called Coppin[?] and her Calfe that goeth with her

Item to my Daughter called Lydia one Cow called Cole and her Calfe that is w[th] her one [s]pyed heifer that is thought to be in Calfe and goeth at [Cap]t Hutts

Item to my Son Benjamin one Cow called Old and her Calfe that is with her and one red heifer that came of [Capt] J[s] Old Cow and goeth in Sandy bay

Item to my beloved wife Sarah Harding I will and bequeath one Dyed Cow and her Calfe one Browne Cow and her Calfe one Cow called Tadgill and her Calfe one black heifer in Sandy bay bigg with Calfe one young red bullock that goeth at Gabriell Powells one bullock that goeth in [T]harkos[?] Valley and one Bullock that goeth at the Peake which [s]aid Bullock I leave with her to pay the debt contracted with the honorable Ea[st] India Company.

Item to my dear and well beloved wife Sarah Harding I leave will and bequeath all my dwelling hou[s]e with all and [s]ingular the goods uten[s]ills things moueable and immoueable &c[a] that appurtenances and adjoyning thereunto with Twenty Acres of Land near which the [s]aid dwelling hou[s]e [st]ands (Scituate lying and being near Lemmon Valley rock and adjoyning to the Ground of John Cra[s]o[ss] inhabitant) together with all plantation woods Timber trees or other in or upon the [s]aid Twenty Acres and likewi[s]e all the Yams fruits and increa[s]e of [the] [s]d grounds Provided notwith[s]tanding that when my Son Richard [s]hall become of age he [s]hall have Ten acres of the [s]aid land but none of the increa[s]e thereof except the [s]d the [s]aid Sarah Harding [s]hall [s]ee it meet and convenient to be[st]ow upon him any part of the [s]ame and likewi[s]e my [s]aid Son Richard may [s]tay dwell and abide with her in the [s]hou[s]e if he demeans him[s]elfe dutifully and as he ought otherways it is and [s]hall be at his mothers will to put him out:

Item I will and bequeath to my daughter Lydia and my Son Benjamin Ten Acres of Land at the High Peake adjoyning unto the Lott of Thomas Box Inhabit: that they may have the Priviledge to graze their Cattle

Item I will and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Sarah Harding all and every debt or debts that is or [s]hall become due to me the [s]aid Richard Harding from any per[s]on or per[s]ons Inhabit: or others on the [s]aid I[s]land to a[s]k demand and receive them and give receipts accordingly and likewi[s]e I give unto my [s]aid wife one hou[s]e in Chappele Valley near unto the fort James and one cl[os]e with all my part in a Boat Ri[s]ing at Lemmon Valley with one Negro

Item I do bequeath to John Downing Carpenter Twenty [s]hillings for a Coffin which is already paid:

Note: If the year of this will is indeed 1681, then it should have been placed first in the volume.

In the name of God, Amen. Richard Harding of the Island of St Helena, free planter, sick and weak in body but sound in mind and senses through the mercy of God in Jesus Christ, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to God his Creator and his body to the ground, in hope of a glorious resurrection to eternal life through the mercy of God in Christ Jesus. As for his temporal estate, he disposed of it in the manner set out below.

To his son Richard he gave:

one red heifer and her calf

one spotted heifer and her calf

one bullock from a cow called Tadigall, turned up the previous year

To his daughter Mary he gave:

one cow called Crumple and her heifer

one heifer called Coppin and her calf

To his daughter Lydia he gave:

one cow called Cole and her calf

one spyed heifer thought to be in calf, grazing at Captain Hutts

To his son Benjamin he gave:

one cow called Old and her calf

one red heifer from Captain J's old cow, grazing in Sandy Bay

To his wife Sarah Harding he gave:

one dyed cow and her calf

one brown cow and her calf

one cow called Tadgill and her calf

one black heifer in Sandy Bay, in calf

one young red bullock grazing at Gabriel Powell's

one bullock grazing in Tharkos Valley

one bullock grazing at the Peak, to be used to pay his debt to the East India Company

He gave to his wife Sarah Harding his dwelling house, with all the goods, utensils and things movable and immovable belonging to it, together with twenty acres of land near Lemon Valley Rock, adjoining the ground of John Crasoss, inhabitant, along with all the plantation, woods, timber trees and other growth on the land and all the yams, fruits and increase of the ground.

When his son Richard came of age, he was to receive ten acres of the twenty, but none of the increase from those acres, unless Sarah Harding chose to give him any of it. Richard could continue to live in the house with his mother if he behaved dutifully, but Sarah Harding could put him out if he did not.

He gave to his daughter Lydia and his son Benjamin ten acres of land at the High Peak, adjoining the lot of Thomas Box, inhabitant, with the privilege of grazing their cattle there.

He gave to his wife Sarah Harding all debts owing to him from any person on the island, with authority to ask, demand, receive and give receipts. He also gave her one house in Chapel Valley near Fort James, one close, his share in a boat lying at Lemon Valley and one black slave.

He gave to John Downing, carpenter, twenty shillings for a coffin, already paid.

Interpretations

The will sets out one of the most detailed cattle inventories in this series, with each animal named and its location specified. The named beasts include Tadigall, Crumple, Coppin, Cole, Old and a second cow also called Tadgill, alongside descriptive identifiers such as red, spotted, brown, dyed, black and spyed. The level of individual identification reflects a working planter's daily familiarity with his herd and provides the executors with the precise means to locate each animal among the cattle ranged across multiple valleys.

The bequest of "one Negro" to the widow as part of the residue of the Chapel Valley house, the close and the boat share, treats the enslaved person as a single item within a list of property. No name or age is given, which contrasts with the Smith will of November 1692, where the slave Chimongench was specifically named, and with the Coale and Price wills, where Tommy, Jack and Robin Mother were identified by name. The absence of a name in this bequest may reflect a hurried drafting style rather than any difference in the legal status of the person involved.

Speculations

The careful naming of every cow and heifer, against the unnamed description of the enslaved labourer, reveals the differential value the settler community placed on its property. Cattle were known individually because their identification was necessary for the open grazing system to function, while the slave's name was either taken for granted as known within the household or treated as unnecessary for the legal record. The contrast is striking and reflects how the documentary form recorded what the system required to be specific about, not what was actually known about each living being on the holding.

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Item I will and de[s]ire that my dear and well beloved Sarah Harding to the utmo[st] of her power performe and execute this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament and take all imaginable care that what[s]oever I have willed and bequeathed to any or all of my children together with their increa[s]e be conver[s]ed to their behoofe and u[s]e as they [s]hall come to age and that none of them make away with alienate or [S]ell any part thereof without her knowledge and con[s]ent for the confirmation of which this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament I have hereunto [s]et my hand and [S]eale this 28[th] day of December 1681 Amen

Witne[fs] Math: Pouncey Richard Harding the marke of Edmund + Chubb John: Miles

Harding willed and desired that his wife Sarah Harding should, to the utmost of her power, perform and execute his will and take all imaginable care that whatever he had bequeathed to his children, together with the increase of those bequests, was applied to their use as they came of age. None of the children was to dispose of, alienate or sell any part of their inheritance without her knowledge and consent.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 28 December 1681. Amen.

Witnesses: Matthew Pouncey, Edmund Chubb, who signed with the mark +, and John Miles. The will was signed by Richard Harding.

Interpretations

The date of 28 December 1681 places this will earlier than every other document in this series, six weeks before the Eastens will of 22 February 1682. The position of the Harding will at this point in the register, after the cluster of wills from late 1692 and early 1693, indicates that the volume was compiled in an order other than the strict chronological sequence of the underlying documents. The clerk responsible for the register may have grouped wills by family, by valley or by some other principle of organisation, with earlier documents inserted alongside later ones where related matters justified the placement.

The witnessing group of Matthew Pouncey, Edmund Chubb and John Miles links this document to the wider witness network of the early 1680s wills. John Miles also served as a witness to the Moore will of 10 April 1682, which confirms his continuing involvement in the testamentary affairs of the settler community across the period in question.

Speculations

The earlier dating of the Harding will, against the supposition that it belonged to the same period as the surrounding 1692 and 1693 documents, suggests that Richard Harding had drawn his will in late 1681 in anticipation of death but had recovered or survived long enough for the document to be set aside. Its appearance in the register many years later may indicate that probate was deferred until his actual death, perhaps in 1693 or shortly before, with the original 1681 document then being entered into the current volume rather than into the register of its own period.

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In The Name of God Amen

I John Greentree of the I[s]land S[t] Helena Inhabitant and free planter being impaired in bodily health but through the infinite mercy of Almighty god of perfect memory and under[s]tanding doe Con[st]itute forme and appoint this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament

Imprimis I committ my Soul to God that gave it mo[st] humbly be[s]eeching him that through his Infinite mercy in Chri[st] Je[s]us he would receive into his kingdom and glory my body to the ground to be decently Intered In hopes of a glorious Re[s]urrection.

Item 6 Black [s]laves I will and bequeath to my Six Children each of them one Viz[t]: To my daughter Elizabeth one Black man named Peter

Item To my daughter Ann one Black woman named Kate

Item To my Son John one Black boy named Rufa[c]

Item To my Son James one Black boy named [F]itzcra[s]s[?]

Item To my daughter Jane one Black girle named Jone

Item To my daughter Mary one Black boy named Balazoar

I will and bequeath my whole E[st]ate wherewith God Almighty hath in my life time ble[ss]ed mee as Cattle goods Moueables moneys Plate & what[s]oever el[s]e unto my Six children to be Equally divided betwene them and for their u[s]e and behoofe but if in ca[s]e any one my Children [s]hould be taken away by death that then the apportionable Lott and E[st]ate that was his or theires be equally divided betweene tho[s]e that [s]urvive:

Item I will and bequeath my 30 Acres of Land with the hou[s]e and Plantation thereon to my Son John.

Item I will and bequeath 20 Acres of Land formerly the allot of W[m] [Cox?] Inhabitant with the dwelling hou[s]e & plantation to my Son James.

Item I de[s]ire that the Govern[r] of the [s]aid I[s]land for the time being would be plea[s]ed to Over[s]ee my children that they be no wayes abu[s]ed:

Item I will and bequeath to the [s]aid Govern[r] for his care taking Twenty [s]hillings for a Ring:

Item I will and bequeath my hou[s]e in Chappele Valley In equall proportion to all my Children But if in ca[s]e any of them [s]hould de[s]ire it to them[s]elves that then pay unto their brothers & [s]i[s]ters Equall proportion as the hou[s]e [s]hall be Valued or apprai[s]ed

Item I will and require that if any of my [s]aid Children [s]hould be de[s]ired married or [s]ent for of the [s]aid that then they [S]ell their proportion of E[st]ate Viz[t] Cattle and moueables to their brothers & [s]i[s]ters at halfe the value thereof

Item I will and de[s]ire that Tho[s] Fud[s]dale John Boyce and Le[s]ter Sexton and John Miles to be my Executors to Execute this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and fforme as afore[s]aid for the Conforma[ti]on of which this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament I have hereunto [s]et my hand and [S]eale this 30[th] day of Aprill 1683

Witne[ss]ed Tho[s]: Fud[s]dale John: Boyce Executo[rs]: Le[s]ter: Sexton John Greentree John: Miles

This is a true Coppy of the la[st] will and Te[st]ament of M[r] John: Greentree J Alexander:

In the name of God, Amen. John Greentree of the Island of St Helena, inhabitant and free planter, impaired in bodily health but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to God who gave it, beseeching that through his mercy in Christ Jesus he would receive him into his kingdom, and his body to the ground for decent burial in hope of a glorious resurrection.

He gave six black slaves, one to each of his six children:

to his daughter Elizabeth, one black man named Peter

to his daughter Ann, one black woman named Kate

to his son John, one black boy named Rufac

to his son James, one black boy named Fitzcrass

to his daughter Jane, one black girl named Jone

to his daughter Mary, one black boy named Balazoar

He gave his whole estate, including cattle, goods, movables, money and plate, to his six children, to be divided equally between them. If any child died, that child's share was to be divided equally among the survivors.

He gave to his son John thirty acres of land, together with the house and plantation on the land.

He gave to his son James twenty acres of land, formerly the allotment of William Cox, inhabitant, together with the dwelling house and plantation.

He requested that the governor of the island for the time being should oversee his children to ensure that they were not abused, and he gave the governor twenty shillings for a ring in return for that care.

He gave his house in Chapel Valley equally to all his children. If any one of them wished to take the house for themselves, that child was to pay the others their equal share of the valuation.

He directed that if any of his children was sent for or wished to leave the island for marriage, that child was to sell his or her share of the estate, that is the cattle and movables, to the remaining brothers and sisters at half the appraised value.

He named Thomas Fudsdale, John Boyce, Lester Sexton and John Miles executors of his will.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 30 April 1683.

Witnessed by Thomas Fudsdale, John Boyce, Lester Sexton and John Miles, who also served as executors. The will was signed by John Greentree.

This is a true copy of the will of Mr John Greentree, attested by J Alexander.

Interpretations

The bequest of six named enslaved persons, one to each child, is the most extensive single record of slave ownership in this series and reveals the scale of the labour holdings that some planters maintained. Peter, Kate, Rufac, Fitzcrass, Jone and Balazoar are named individually, with their ages indicated by the descriptions man, woman, boy and girl. The variety of names, ranging from the English Peter, Kate and Jone to the apparently non-English Rufac, Fitzcrass and Balazoar, suggests a mixed origin among the slaves, with some bearing names imposed within the household and others retaining identifiers from their places of origin. The pairing of an adult Peter with the eldest daughter Elizabeth and an adult Kate with the second daughter Ann gave the two senior daughters working slaves of full productive age, while the younger children received children of comparable age to themselves.

The use of four executors, rather than the more usual one or two, distributed the burden of administration across a broad group. Thomas Fudsdale, John Boyce, Lester Sexton and John Miles were each drawn from the established settler community, and John Miles has appeared previously as a witness to the Moore will of 10 April 1682 and to the Harding will of 28 December 1681. The choice of four executors gave the estate a quorum capable of acting even if one or two were unavailable, and it reflected the complexity of an estate with six minor children, two separate landed parcels, an urban property and six enslaved persons to be managed over a long period.

Speculations

The decision to invoke the governor as overseer rather than a fellow planter points to a calculated elevation of the family's protection above the ordinary mechanisms of the settler community. The four executors named were planters of standing, but they could not provide the same insulation against abuse or interference that the governor's authority commanded. By placing the children's welfare under the eye of the Company's senior officer, Greentree gave them a protection that no private neighbour could match, and the twenty shilling ring fee was a small price to secure that standing reference for the future.

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In The Name of God Amen.

I Tho[s] Pledger of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect minde and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given unto Almighty God for the [s]ame and knowing that nothing is more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner & forme following

Fir[st] and principally I bequeath my [s]oule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving that through the merits of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[st] that after this life ended I [s]hall enjoy Eternall bli[fs] and my body I committ to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[st]ian like manner as my Executor hereafter mencioned [s]hall thinke fitt and as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God of his goodne[fs] to lend unto mee I give and bequeath in manner and forme following:

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my wife Pri[s]cilla Pledger one [s]hilling

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Penelope Miller one [s]hilling

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Pri[s]cilla Higham one [s]hilling

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Joy Pledger five pounds but in ca[s]e of [the] decea[s]e of my [s]aid daughter I give and bequeath the [s]aid five pounds to my dear and well beloved Son Prai[s]e Pledger:

Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter ffrances Pledger the [s]umme of five pounds but in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of my [s]aid daughter I give and bequeath the [s]aid five pounds unto my dear and loving Son Prai[s]e Pledger

Item I give and bequeath unto my Gran[s]on Tho[s] Miller one Heifer Calfe

Item I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter ffrances: Higham one Heifer Calfe

Item I give and bequeath and after my debts and Legaeys are paid and funerall rites performed I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving Son Prai[s]e Pledger my Hou[s]e Lands Plantation Goods Chattles Debts &c with all and [s]inguler others my E[st]ate what ever not yet di[s]po[s]ed of and I doe hereby make my [s]aid dear and loving Son Prai[s]e Pledger full and whole Executor of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament and I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by mee made and acknowledge this to be my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In witne[fs] whereof I have here unto Sett my hand and [S]eale this 6[th] day May Anno[q] Dom[i] 1683

Signed [s]ealed and d[d] In the pre[s]ence of y[e] m[k] W[m] O Mar[s]h Edward Gardiner y[e] m[k] Tho[s] TP Pledger W[m] Rutter

In the name of God, Amen. Thomas Pledger of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner, as his executor should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his wife Priscilla Pledger one shilling.

He gave to his daughter Penelope Miller one shilling.

He gave to his daughter Priscilla Higham one shilling.

He gave to his daughter Joy Pledger five pounds. If Joy died, the five pounds were to pass to his son Praise Pledger.

He gave to his daughter Frances Pledger five pounds. If Frances died, the five pounds were to pass to his son Praise Pledger.

He gave to his grandson Thomas Miller one heifer calf.

He gave to his granddaughter Frances Higham one heifer calf.

After his debts and legacies were paid and his funeral performed, he gave to his son Praise Pledger his house, lands, plantation, goods, chattels, debts and all the rest of his estate.

He named his son Praise Pledger sole executor of his will and revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 6 May 1683.

Witnesses: William Marsh, who signed with the mark O, and Edward Gardiner. The will was signed with the mark TP by Thomas Pledger and witnessed also by William Rutter.

Interpretations

The testator is the father of Praise Pledger, who has appeared earlier in this series as son-in-law and sole executor in the Coale will of 17 January 1693, where he was identified as a planter of the island and as the husband of Coale's daughter Mary. The chronological position of the present document at 6 May 1683, ten years before the Coale will, establishes Praise Pledger's career in reverse. He inherited the family estate from his father in 1683 and was then sufficiently established by 1693 to be trusted with the administration of a major estate outside his own family.

The bequest of one shilling each to the wife and two married daughters performed the same legal function as the twelve pence tokens used in the Coale will. By naming Priscilla Pledger, Penelope Miller and Priscilla Higham and assigning each a nominal sum, the testator confirmed that they had been formally remembered and foreclosed any later claim of having been overlooked. The shilling was the standard minimum gift for this purpose, well below the cost of any memorial item, which indicates that the wife and married daughters had already received their portions earlier, presumably at marriage in the daughters' case and from joint property arrangements in the wife's.

Speculations

The disposition reveals a household in which the family seat had already been settled in practice on Praise Pledger, with the will confirming that settlement against any claim by the four daughters or the widow. The married daughters had received their portions on marriage, the unmarried daughters were now provided with cash legacies that could form marriage portions of their own, and the wife had been excluded from the personalty by the token shilling. The structure protected the integrity of the agricultural estate by routing all productive assets through a single male line.

31

16

In The Name of God Amen

I[s]land S[t] Helena

I Jo[s]eph Church chaplain to the Honorable Ea[st] India Company of Merchants in London being [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given to Almighty god for the [s]ame knowing there is nothing more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following:

Fir[st] and principally I bequeath my [s]oule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[ss]uredly bele[i]ving that through the merits of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[st] that after this life ended I [s]hall enjoy eternall bli[fs] and as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty god of his goodne[fs] to lend unto mee I give and bequeath in manner and forme following, Viz:

Imprimis I give and bequeath my dear and loving Mother Ann Church five pounds to buy her mourning:

Item I give and bequeath unto my wifes father John Col[s]on forty [s]hillings to buy him a Ring to wear in remembrance of mee

Item I give and bequeath unto my wifes mother Grace Col[s]on forty [s]hillings to buy her a Ring to wear in remembrance of mee

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Bro[r] Jo[s] Church the Lea[s]e of the Deane & Chapters Lands (which was left mee by my father Jo[s]eph Church) Scituate Lyeing and being at [the] Corner of pudding lane in London and in ca[s]e my above[s]aid Mother Ann Church have Settled [s]ome hou[s]es which is in [the] pari[s]h of Rothdri[s]ts[?] in the County of Surry upon mee I give and bequeath the [s]ame unto my [s]ays Son Jo[s]eph Church.

Item I give and bequeath unto my tru[s]ty and beloved freind Thomas Pa[s]pillion of London E[s]q[r] Twenty [s]hillings to buy him a Ring to weare in remembrance of mee And I doe hereby make the [s]ayd Tho[s] Pa[s]pillion E[s]q[r] Over[s]eer of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament and after my debts and Legaeys are pay[d] and funerall rites performed

I give and bequeath unto my dear and Loving wife Eliza: Church all and [s]ingular my goods Chattles debts ready moneys Plate &c with all and [s]ingular other my e[st]ate not yet di[s]po[s]ed of And I doe hereby make my [s]aid dear and loving wife Eliza: Church full and whole Executrix of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament unto whom I committ my funerall rites to be performed in decent and Chri[st]ian like manner as [s]he in her di[s]cretion [s]hall thynke fitt And I doe hereby revoke all former wills by mee made and doe acknowledge this to be my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In witne[ss] whereof I haue hereunto [s]et my hand and [S]eale this y[e] day of May

Anno: Dmni 1683 Jo[s]p: Church

[S]igned [s]ealed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of us Math: Pouncey y[e] m[k] of Edw[d] Seaford W[m] Rutter

Wee the Gov[r] and Councill of [the] I[s]land S[t] Hellena doe hereby Certifie that the foregoing writing is the true Coppy of the la[st] will and Te[st]ament of our Jo[s]: Church as the [s]ame was [s]worne before us by W[m] Rutter Math Pouncey and Edw[d] Seaford this pre[s]ent day witne[fs] our hands this 23[d] of May 1683

In the name of God, Amen. Joseph Church of the Island of St Helena, chaplain to the East India Company of Merchants in London, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his mother Ann Church five pounds to buy mourning.

He gave to his wife's father John Colson forty shillings to buy a ring to wear in remembrance of him.

He gave to his wife's mother Grace Colson forty shillings to buy a ring to wear in remembrance of him.

He gave to his brother Joseph Church the lease of the Dean and Chapter's lands at the corner of Pudding Lane in London, which had been left to him by his father Joseph Church. If his mother Ann Church had settled certain houses in the parish of Rotherhithe in the County of Surrey on him, he gave those houses to his son Joseph Church.

He gave to his friend Thomas Papillon of London, esquire, twenty shillings to buy a ring to wear in remembrance of him. He named Thomas Papillon overseer of his will.

After his debts and legacies were paid and his funeral performed, he gave to his wife Eliza Church all his goods, chattels, debts, ready money, plate and the rest of his estate.

He named his wife Eliza Church sole executrix of his will, leaving the conduct of his funeral to her discretion. He revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal in May 1683.

Witnesses: Matthew Pouncey, Edward Seaford, who signed with his mark, and William Rutter.

The governor and council of the island certified that the document was a true copy of the will of Joseph Church, as sworn before them by William Rutter, Matthew Pouncey and Edward Seaford on 23 May 1683.

Interpretations

The testator's office as chaplain to the East India Company of Merchants in London identifies him as the religious authority sent out to the island by the Company to provide spiritual services to the garrison and settler population. The post was salaried from London and gave the chaplain a different standing from the local planters and soldiers. Church was a Company servant rather than a settler, and his estate accordingly consisted not of island land but of English property, English bonds and personal effects accumulated on station. His death on St Helena required probate to be conducted by the local council before the will could be carried back to England for the disposition of the principal assets.

The naming of Thomas Papillon as overseer, with the designation esquire and the address of London, points to a connection with the Huguenot merchant Thomas Papillon, a prominent figure in the East India Company and a Member of Parliament for Dover. Papillon had been a director of the Company in the period before this will was drafted and remained an influential figure in its affairs. The chaplain's appointment of so senior a London merchant as overseer reflects the standing of his English connections and gave the will a powerful patron in the metropolitan administration when probate moved to England.

Speculations

The accumulation of English property by the testator's father, including a lease in the City of London and houses across the Thames in Rotherhithe, points to a family of substantial mercantile or professional standing in London. The chaplaincy of an East India Company servant was not a destination for younger sons of obscure origins, and the inheritance of urban property from a like-named father suggests at least two generations of established middle-class status. The mother's continuing control over the Rotherhithe houses, with the uncertain settlement onto the chaplain, indicates that the family wealth was being managed across generations in a manner that allowed flexibility about its eventual destination.

32

17

In the name of God Amen the 16[th] day 1683 according to the Computation of the Church of England I Thomas ffrancombe of the I[s]land S[t] Helena free planter being in perfect memory and remembrance prai[s]ed be God doe make and ordaine this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following. Viz[t]

Fir[st] I bequeath my [s]oule unto Almighty God my maker hoping through the Meritorious death and Pa[ss]ion of Je[s]us Chri[st] my only Savior and Redeemer free pardon & forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and as for my body to be buried in Chri[st]ian buriall at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Execut[rs] hereafter Nominated.

Item I give unto W[m] Roades my hou[s]e and Plantation and 20 Acres of Ground and my bed & Covering and all things belonging thereunto

Item I give unto Tho[s]: Goodale my black & Jo[s]: Wilkes bill and a bill of the Company[s]: of two pounds eleven [s]hillings & Six pence and all the re[st] of my hou[s]hold goods upon Condition they pay all my debts and Charges of buriall I make them my [s]ole Executors of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament revoking all other Wills and Te[st]aments In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand and [S]eale the day and year above written

Signed Sealed & d[d] The marke of in [the] pre[s]ence of Thomas F ffrancombe John Bartlee Benj Sealles Jo[s]: Pratt

In the name of God, Amen. On 16 [...] 1683, according to the reckoning of the Church of England, Thomas Francombe of the Island of St Helena, free planter, in sound memory, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive free pardon and forgiveness of his sins. He directed that his body be buried in Christian burial at the discretion of his executors.

He gave to William Roades his house, plantation, twenty acres of ground, his bed and covering and all things belonging to them.

He gave to Thomas Goodale his black slave, a bill of Joseph Wilkes, a bill of the Company for two pounds eleven shillings and sixpence, and all the rest of his household goods, on condition that he paid all the testator's debts and the charges of his burial.

He named William Roades and Thomas Goodale sole executors of his will and revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on the day and year above written.

Witnesses: John Bartlee, Benjamin Sealles and Joseph Pratt. The will was signed with the mark F by Thomas Francombe.

Interpretations

The month is not recovered from the document and is marked with [...] in the dating clause. The day is given as the sixteenth, and the year as 1683 according to the Anglican calendar, but the month between them is missing or illegible in the source. The dating phrase "according to the Computation of the Church of England" appears here as it did in the Coale, Smith and Price wills, identifying the document as drawn under the Old Style calendar with the legal year running from 25 March.

The Company bill of two pounds eleven shillings and sixpence (£2 11s 6d) identifies a specific debt owed to the testator by the East India Company itself. Such bills were issued by the Company in payment for goods supplied or services rendered, and they functioned as written instruments transferable by endorsement or by testamentary disposition. Francombe's possession of a Company bill points to commercial dealings with the Company beyond ordinary planting, perhaps supplying provisions to passing ships or to the garrison. The transfer of the bill to Goodale gave him a defined claim against the Company's local accounts.

Speculations

The absence of any spouse, child or named family member among the beneficiaries indicates that Francombe had no surviving immediate kin on the island. Both Roades and Goodale appear to have been friends or business associates rather than relatives, and the routing of the entire estate to them resembles the arrangement in the Seaford will of 18 December 1692, where the remainder passed to friends after the widow's life interest. The pattern points to a category of settler whose family network had not been transplanted to the island, leaving friendship and neighbourly connection to perform the functions that blood relationship served for the family-centred testators.

33

18

In The Name of God Amen.

I Richard Alexander of the I[s]land of S[t] Hellena free planter being very weak in body but of good and perfect minde & memory doe make this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner & forme following

Imprimis I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God from whence it came hoping in and through the meritts and mediation of Je[s]us Chri[st] to have Eternall Salvation And my body I bequeath to the earth to be decently buried And as for my wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed God out of his bounteous liberality to be[s]tow upon mee I give and bequeath as followeth

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my younge[st] [s]on Richard Alexander my Black Jack

Item I give and bequeath unto my elde[st] [s]on Black Robin

And as for my Twenty Acres of Land planta[ti]on and Cattle and my hou[s]e and goods I give and bequeath unto my two [s]ons John & Richard to be Equally divided betweene them when they attaine to the full age of one & Twenty years but if it plea[s]e god they [s]hould both dye before they Attaine to their full Ages of one and Twenty years then I bequeath my real and per[s]onall e[st]ate unto my loving brother W[m] Alexander living in the pari[s]h of S[t] Giles in London Al[s]o my will and minde is that George Sheldon might live in my hou[s]e and take care of my children to [s]ee them brought up to Learning and for his paines my de[s]ire is that he might have his diett gratifly[?].

Item I doe make ordaine Con[st]itute and Appoint John: Bo[s]ton of the I[s]land of S[t] Hellena free plant[r] and W[m] Price of the [s]aid I[s]land Soldier to bee my Executo[rs]: of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and [S]eale this foure & Twentieth day of May Anno: Dmi 1683

Signed Sealed & delivered [the] m[k]e of in [the] pre[s]ence of Richard X Alexander Henry Coales W[m] Molling

In the name of God, Amen. Richard Alexander of the Island of St Helena, free planter, very weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ to have eternal salvation. He directed that his body be decently buried. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his youngest son Richard Alexander his black slave Jack.

He gave to his eldest son [John] his black slave Robin.

He gave to his two sons John and Richard, jointly, his twenty acres of land, plantation, cattle, house and goods, to be divided equally between them when they reached the age of twenty one.

If both sons died before reaching twenty one, he gave his real and personal estate to his brother William Alexander, living in the parish of St Giles in London.

He directed that George Sheldon should live in his house and take care of his children, to see them brought up to learning, receiving his board as his reward.

He named John Boston, free planter of the island, and William Price, soldier of the island, executors of his will.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 24 May 1683.

Witnesses: Henry Coales and William Molling. The will was signed with the mark X by Richard Alexander.

Interpretations

The testator is the father of John Alexander and Richard Alexander, who appeared as beneficiaries in the Price will of 31 December 1692. There, William Price gave to "John Alexander, orphan of the island, one sow and six wrought silver buttons" and to "Richard Alexander, brother of John Alexander, one sow and six wrought silver buttons". The present will, drawn nine years earlier, identifies the father of those two orphans and shows how they came to be orphaned. Their father drew his will in May 1683, leaving them under the guardianship of George Sheldon and the executorship of John Boston and William Price. The William Price named here as soldier of the island is the same man who would draw his own will at the end of 1692, and his recurring role as guardian of the Alexander boys explains the prominent legacies he left them ten years later. The connection runs through the entire arrangement: Price acted as executor for the father in 1683 and remembered the orphan sons in his own will in 1692.

The bequest of two named enslaved persons, Jack to the younger son and Robin to the elder, paired each boy with a working labourer who would mature into a productive asset as the child grew. The pattern matches the Coale will of January 1693, where Tommy was given to the son William and Jack to the daughter Elizabeth. The Coale will and the Alexander will both involve enslaved boys named Jack, which may indicate either a common name applied within the slave-owning community or, conceivably, the same individual transferred between households over the intervening decade. Without further evidence, the recurrence cannot be resolved.

Speculations

The absence of any provision for a wife indicates that Richard Alexander was already a widower at the time of drafting. The children John and Richard were the sole beneficiaries of the working estate, and no surviving spouse needed to be provided for. The arrangement to bring in George Sheldon as resident teacher and guardian substituted a paid carer for the mother who would normally have taken charge of young children, and the absence of any reference to her in the will points to her having predeceased the testator.

34

19

In The Name of God Amen

I Hanns Yorgin of the I[s]land of S[t] Hellena free planter being very Sick and weake in body but of good and perfect minde thankes be to God for the [s]ame doe make ordaine con[st]itute and Appoint this to be my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following:

Imp[rs] I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping in and through the merritts and mediation of Je[s]us Chri[st] my Savior and Redeemer to Enjoy Eternall Salvation And as for my wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed God of his bounteous liberality to be[s]tow upon mee I give and bequeath as followeth:

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto Gabriell Powell free planter of the Said I[s]land all my goods Chattles Cattle and per[s]onall E[s]tate and Tenn Acres of Land Scituate lying and being in Lemmond Valley (my debts funerall expences being fir[st] paid an di[s]charged) whom I make full and whole Executor of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament La[st]ly Revoking and di[s]anulling all other wills what[s]oever formerly by me made In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and [s]eale this third day of [s]eptemb[r] in the year of o[r] Lord one thou[s]and Six hundred Eighty and three

Signed Sealed & delivered [the] m[k]e of in [the] pre[s]ence of Hanns H Yorgin [the] m[k]e of ffrancis 7 Steward [the] m[k]e of Jo[s]p X Jay W[m] Molling

In the name of God, Amen. Hans Yorgin of the Island of St Helena, free planter, very sick and weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal salvation. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to Gabriel Powell, free planter of the island, all his goods, chattels, cattle and personal estate, together with ten acres of land in Lemon Valley, after his debts and funeral expenses were paid.

He named Gabriel Powell sole executor of his will and revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 3 September 1683.

Witnesses: Francis Steward, who signed with the mark 7, Joseph Jay, who signed with the mark X, and William Molling. The will was signed with the mark H by Hans Yorgin.

Interpretations

The testator's name Hans Yorgin identifies a man of continental European origin rather than English birth. Hans is a German or Scandinavian form of John, and Yorgin appears to be an anglicised rendering of a continental surname, perhaps Jorgensen or Jurgen. The presence of a non-English settler among the free planters of St Helena reflects the East India Company's recruitment of European labour and craftsmen for service in its overseas establishments, where the supply of English settlers was often insufficient. Yorgin had progressed from whatever capacity brought him to the island to the standing of free planter, with ten acres of land in his own name and a working stock of cattle and goods.

The bequest of the entire estate to Gabriel Powell, with no surviving spouse, child or relative named, indicates that Yorgin had no family on the island and either none in Europe within practical reach, or none with whom he maintained sufficient connection to warrant a bequest. The selection of Powell as sole heir treats him as the testator's effective family, in the same pattern seen in the Seaford will of 18 December 1692 and in the Francombe will of May 1683. The pattern of single-friend inheritance recurs across the series for testators without surviving kin.

Speculations

The single bequest to a friend, with no token gifts to other parties and no contingent remainders, points to a testator who wished to keep his arrangements simple and concentrated. With no family to balance and no complex assets to allocate, Yorgin gave Powell the whole estate in trust to discharge debts and funeral costs, leaving him whatever remained. The arrangement closely resembles the Francombe will of three months earlier, in which Goodale received the residue conditional on paying debts and burial expenses. Both wills show the same model of friend-and-executor inheritance, with the friend taking the residue net of obligations.

35

20

In The Name of God Amen

The 19[th] day of January in the year of our Lord 1683 4 According to the Computation of the Church of England I John Bartlee of the I[s]land of S[t] Hellena free planter being in perfect memory and Remembrance prai[s]ed be God doe make and ordaine this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following viz.

Fir[st] I bequeath my Soule unto Almighty God my maker hoping through the meritorious death and pa[s]sion of Je[s]us Chri[st] my only Savior and Redeemer to receive free pardon and forgivene[s]s for all my Sins And as for my body to be buried in Chri[st]ian burial at the di[s]cretion of Executrix hereafter Nominated:

Item I give unto my only Son John Bartlee my Twenty Acres of land with my dwelling hou[s]e upon the [s]ame with this provi[s]o that the [s]aid Sarah Bartlee Mother to the [s]aid John Bartlee live upon the [s]ame with her family [s]o long as [s]he [s]hall keep her [s]elfe a widdow.

Item I give unto my Son John Bartlee two Cowes & one Heifer

Item I give unto my daughter Sarah Bartlee two Cowes & one Calfe

Item I give unto my wife one hou[s]e containing two roomes [s]tanding and being in Chappele Valley near fort James:

Item I give unto my wife Sarah one black called or knowne by the name of Mathew and of all the re[st] of my goods and Chattles I make her full and whole Executrix of this my la[st] will & Te[st]ament revoking all other wills and Te[st]aments In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Sealed in the pre[s]ence of John Bartlee John Cotgrave Henry Coales Benjamin Sols

In the name of God, Amen. On 19 January 1684, according to the reckoning of the Church of England, John Bartlee of the Island of St Helena, free planter, in sound memory, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive free pardon and forgiveness of his sins. He directed that his body be buried in Christian burial at the discretion of his executrix.

He gave to his only son John Bartlee his twenty acres of land with the dwelling house on the land, provided that his wife Sarah Bartlee, mother of John, was allowed to live on the land with her family for as long as she remained a widow.

He gave to his son John Bartlee two cows and one heifer.

He gave to his daughter Sarah Bartlee two cows and one calf.

He gave to his wife one house of two rooms in Chapel Valley near Fort James.

He gave to his wife Sarah his black slave Matthew.

He gave to his wife the rest of his goods and chattels and named her sole executrix of his will. He revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on the day and year above written.

Witnesses: John Cotgrave, Henry Coales and Benjamin Sols. The will was signed by John Bartlee.

Interpretations

The testator is the same John Bartlee who appeared previously in this series as one of the three witnesses to the Francombe will of 1683. His position as witness to that document established him within the literate planter circle of the island, and his own will, drawn six months or so later, shows the holdings of one of those circle's members. The transition from witness to testator within a short period reflects the operation of the same group of literate planters as the recurring legal furniture of one another's probate arrangements.

The conditional inheritance to the son John, requiring that the mother be permitted to live on the land with her family for as long as she remained a widow, resembles the arrangement in the Harding will of December 1681, where the widow's residence rights were tied to her marital status. The structure protected the widow against eviction while preserving the son's underlying title, and it incentivised her to remain unmarried by tying her residence to her widowhood. The arrangement gave Sarah Bartlee a clear interest in maintaining the household intact for the children's benefit.

Speculations

The decision to settle the entire landed and residential estate on the only son John, while providing the daughter Sarah only with cattle, follows the pattern of male preference seen in the Greentree will of April 1683, where the two sons received the land and the daughters received only their shares of the movables. The single son inheritance pattern was a deliberate choice within the partible inheritance practice of the island, used by testators with a single male heir to preserve the working estate intact while equipping daughters with cattle and other movable assets that would form their marriage portions.

36

21

In The Name of God Amen

I Henry ffrancis of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being Sick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect minde and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given unto Almighty God for the [s]ame And knowing that there is nothing more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make this my la[st] Will & Te[st]ament in manner and forme following

Fir[st] and principally I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[s]suredly bele[i]ving that through the merritts of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[st] that after this life ended I [s]hall enjoy eternall bli[s]s and my body I commit to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[st]ian like manner as my Executrix and Executor hereafter mencioned in their di[s]cre[ti]on [s]hall thinke fitt and as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed God Almighty of his infinite goodne[s]s and mercy to lend unto mee I give and bequeath in manner and forme following vi[zt]

Imprimis, I give and bequeath unto the Right Wor[s]hipfull S[r] John Blackmore Governo[r] of this I[s]land one Guiny to buy him a Ring to wear in remembrance of mee:

Item I give and bequeath unto James Long the Son of Jn[o] Long one Heifer Calfe of Twelve months old And after my debts and Legacys are payd and funerall Rites performed I divide all and [s]ingular my whole E[st]ate (whether in Hou[s]es Lands Goods Chattles Debts Ready moneys Plate Jewells &c) into Six Equall and even parts which I bequeath as followeth

Vi[zt] I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Henry ffrancis the one [s]ixth part of my [s]aid E[st]ate and that he finde him[s]elfe Schooleing and Clothes out of his [s]aid [s]ixth part or portion and that my Executrix hereafter mencioned finde him with meat drink wa[s]hing and Lodging But if in ca[s]e my tru[s]ty and well beloved freind Jn[o] Burdock take my [s]aid Son off with him to England then it is my will and de[s]ire that my [s]aid Son have one hundred pounds [s]ent of with him or pre[s]ently after him But in ca[s]e his [s]aid portion or [s]ixth part as afore[s]aid [s]hall amount to more then one hundred pounds then it it my will and de[s]ire that his afore[s]aid Portion remain in the hands and cu[s]tody of my Executrix hereafter mentioned untill my [s]aid [s]on come to the age of Twenty one years but if my [s]aid Executrix marry then it is my will and de[s]ire that [s]he be accompt[able] unto my [s]aid Executor hereafter mencioned (for my [s]aid Sons Portion) when ever he [s]hall require it but in ca[s]e off the decea[s]e of my [s]aid Son Henry ffrancis before he come to the age of Twenty one years I give and bequeath the [s]aid [s]ixth part of my E[st]ate (given to my [s]aid Son as afore[s]aid) to my lo[ving] daughter in law mary Burdock Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Sarah ffrancis one Sixth part of my E[st]ate and that [s]hee finde her Selfe Schooling and Clothes out of her [s]aid Sixth part or portion And that my Executrix hereafter men[ti]oned finde her with meat drink wa[s]hing and Lodging And it is further my will and de[s]ire that my [s]aid daughters portion remain in my [s]aid Executrixes till [s]he come of age or upon her day of marriage but if my Executrix marry then [s]he [s]hall be accomptable to my Executor hereafter mentioned (for my [s]aid daughters portion) when ever [s]he [s]hall require it but in ca[s]e my [s]aid daughter Sarah ffrancis [s]hould decea[s]e before [s]he come of age or before her day of marriage I give and bequeath the [s]aid Sixth part of my E[st]ate (Given to my [s]aid daughter as afore[s]aid) unto my Executrix hereafter mentioned

In the name of God, Amen. Henry Francis of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner, as his executrix and executor should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to Sir John Blackmore, governor of the island, one guinea to buy a ring to wear in remembrance of him.

He gave to James Long, son of John Long, one heifer calf of twelve months old.

After his debts and legacies were paid and his funeral performed, he divided his whole estate, including houses, lands, goods, chattels, debts, ready money, plate and jewels, into six equal parts and disposed of them as follows.

He gave one sixth part of his estate to his son Henry Francis. Henry was to find his own schooling and clothes from this share, while the executrix would provide meat, drink, washing and lodging. If John Burdock took his son with him to England, one hundred pounds was to be sent with him or after him. If the share exceeded one hundred pounds, the surplus was to remain in the executrix's hands until the son reached twenty one. If the executrix remarried, she was to be accountable to the executor for the son's portion whenever he required it. If Henry died before twenty one, his sixth part was to pass to the testator's daughter-in-law Mary Burdock.

He gave one sixth part of his estate to his daughter Sarah Francis. Sarah was to find her own schooling and clothes from this share, while the executrix would provide meat, drink, washing and lodging. Her portion was to remain in the executrix's hands until she came of age or married. If the executrix remarried, she was to be accountable to the executor for Sarah's portion whenever required. If Sarah died before reaching majority or marriage, her sixth part was to pass to the executrix.

Interpretations

The testator is the Henry Francis who appeared previously in this series as one of the two executors named in the Eastens will of 22 February 1682, where Eastens described him as a free planter of the island, and as a witness to the Eddis will of 9 August 1682 and to the memorandum on its interlineation. The same man now drafts his own will, with an elaborate sixfold division of his estate that points to a substantial accumulation of wealth across the intervening years. The transition from witnessing and executing the wills of other planters to drawing his own complex testamentary settlement marks his progression through the senior ranks of the settler community.

The accountability clauses, requiring the executrix to be accountable to the executor for the children's portions if she remarried, protected the children's interests against a stepfather who might otherwise gain control of the children's inheritance through his wife. The arrangement matches the Younge will of September 1682 and the Orchard will of October 1682 in its concern about the consequences of widow remarriage for the children's property. The Francis will adds a procedural mechanism by which the children's interests would be transferred to the formal supervision of the executor rather than remaining vulnerable to the new husband.

Speculations

The decision to send the son Henry to England under the care of John Burdock represented a major commitment of family resources to the next generation's English standing. A hundred pound transfer was a substantial sum, equivalent to several years of an ordinary settler's earnings, and would have established the boy comfortably in London. The arrangement reflects the calculation that a child raised in the metropolitan environment could pursue opportunities unavailable on a remote Atlantic island, and that the capital cost was justified by the long-term advantage. The pattern parallels the Coale will, where Praise Pledger as son-in-law was equipped with the executorship of a substantial estate, and the Greentree will, where the governor was enlisted as supervisor. All three approaches show settler testators using their wealth to lift the next generation into wider circles of opportunity.

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Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Son in law Sam: Wrangham one Sixth part of my [s]aid E[st]ate but to remaine in the hands of my [s]aid Executrix untill he come to the age of Twenty one years but in ca[s]e he decea[s]e before he come to the age afore[s]aid then I bequeath the [s]aid Sixth part or portion unto my Executrix hereafter mentioned:

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter in law Marg[rt] Wrangham one Sixth part of my [s]aid E[st]ate but to remaine in the hands of my Executrix untill [s]he come of age or upon her day of marriage but in ca[s]e of her decea[s]e before [s]hee come of age or before her day of marriage I give and bequeath the [s]aid Sixth part or portion unto my Executrix hereafter mentioned Item I give and bequeath the two Remaining Sixths parts of my E[st]ate not yet di[s]po[s]ed of unto my dear and loving wife Ann: ffrancis whom I make Executrix of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament and my tru[s]ty and well beloved ffreind John Luffkind Executor of this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament and my loving freind W[m] Rutter Over[s]eere of this my la[st] Will and Te[st]ament and I doe hereby revoke and make voyd all former wills by mee made and doe acknowledge this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this 5[t] of Aprill 1684

Signed Sealed and d[d] in y[e] pre[s]ence of

Tho: Gwillym Tho: Nair[ne?] Henry ffrancis

Probat coram Gubnator et Concil[s] de In[s]ula s[c]te Helene 29 May 1684 et copia atte[s]tate [is] Ex[a]u at cum origm[al] H Blackmor[e] Junr Reg[s]

He gave one sixth part of his estate to his son-in-law Samuel Wrangham, to remain in the hands of his executrix until Samuel reached twenty one. If Samuel died before reaching that age, his sixth part was to pass to the executrix.

He gave one sixth part of his estate to his daughter-in-law Margaret Wrangham, to remain in the hands of his executrix until she came of age or married. If Margaret died before reaching majority or marriage, her sixth part was to pass to the executrix.

He gave the remaining two sixth parts of his estate to his wife Ann Francis.

He named his wife Ann Francis executrix, his friend John Lufkin executor and his friend William Rutter overseer of his will. He revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 5 April 1684.

Witnesses: Thomas Gwillym and Thomas Nairne. The will was signed by Henry Francis.

The will was proved before the governor and council of the Island of St Helena on 29 May 1684, and the attested copy was examined against the original by Henry Blackmore Junior, register.

Interpretations

The completion of the sixfold division reveals the full structure of the testator's family. The six beneficiaries are Henry Francis junior (son), Sarah Francis (daughter), Samuel Wrangham (son-in-law), Margaret Wrangham (daughter-in-law), and the widow Ann Francis who receives two sixth parts. The earlier conditional remainder to Mary Burdock identified a further stepdaughter from the wife's first marriage. The household therefore comprised children of the present marriage (Henry and Sarah), stepchildren from a previous Wrangham marriage of the wife (Samuel and Margaret) and a further stepdaughter from a Burdock connection (Mary), making the family a blended household reconstructed across at least two prior marriages.

The Wrangham surname identifies these stepchildren as the offspring of an earlier marriage of Ann Francis to a Wrangham. The same surname appears elsewhere in the series as Samuel Wrangham of the Coale will of January 1693, where he was named as a planter recipient of a twenty shilling mourning ring, and as Samuel Wrangham of the Price will of December 1692, where he received a similar bequest and was appointed joint executor. The Samuel Wrangham named as son-in-law in the present Francis will of April 1684 may be the same man who appears as an adult planter in the early 1690s wills, having matured into a respected member of the community over the intervening decade.

Speculations

The structure of the will, with its careful equal treatment of biological and step-children, points to a household in which the bonds of the reconstituted family had been deliberately strengthened. The decision to divide the estate by sixths rather than to distinguish between the testator's own children and his stepchildren reflects a moral and practical commitment to treating the family as one. The recurring use of contingent remainders, with each child's portion defaulting to the executrix on premature death, kept the assets within the household rather than redirecting them to outside collateral kin.

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In The Name of God Amen

The ninth day of May in the Year of grace 1684 And in the Six and thirtieth year of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord Charles the Second of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland King defender of the faith I Hugh Syms Souldier of the I[s]land S[t] Hellena being weak in body but of perfect memory do make and ordaine this my la[st] will and Te[st]ament in manner and forme following that is to [s]ay.

Fir[st] I bequeath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my only maker and Redeemer hoping to be [s]aved through the death of Je[s]us Chri[st] And for my body I commit it to the Earth to be buried with [s]uch Ceremonys and decency as my Executor [s]hall in his di[s]cretion think fitt And as for my wordly e[st]ate which it hath plea[s]ed God to ble[s]s me with I give and bequeath in manner and form following.

Impris I give to my Brother Ralph Syms my black boy called by [the] name of A[s]her

Item I give to Le[s]ter Sexton eight pounds which he now owes mee

Item I give to Le[s]ter Sexton Jun[r] the Son of the above mentioned Le[s]ter one pied Heifer.

Item I give my Brother Ralph Syms the [s]um of twelve pounds two [s]hillings Six pence which Tho: ffou[s]dale owes me and one pound W[m] Row owes me

Item Six [s]hillings w[ch] ffox Sen[r] owes me I give to Le[s]ter Sexton Sen[r] one flock bed likewi[s]e one che[st] with all that is in it with a ca[s]e & twelve bottles in it and three peeces of Blew Ba[s]tos. Item Six ca[s]e bottles more which are at Rob[t] Degarneys.

Item I give to my Brother Ralph Syms four Cowes and two Calfes and five [s]hillings Beaven owes me

Item I give my Goddaughter Andrew Wil[s]on Daughter one pied Calfe

Item I give the re[s]t of my goods and moneys what[s]oever to my broth[r] Ralph Syms All which Legacys my debts being fir[s]t payd and my funerall di[s]charged I appoint my Executor to [s]ee fulfilled in the [s]ame manner as I have ordered in this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

La[s]tly I make and ordaine my Brother Ralph Syms afore[s]aid my Sole Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament de[s]iring him to [s]ee it performed according to the expre[s]s Letter thereof which I declare to be my proper Sence and meaning In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year fir[s]t above written

Sealed & delivered in the pre[s]ence of Gregory Heild J Blackmore Jun[r] Hugh H Syms W[m] Bowyer his marke

In the name of God, Amen. On 9 May 1684, in the thirty sixth year of the reign of King Charles the Second over England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, Hugh Syms, soldier of the Island of St Helena, weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the death of Jesus Christ to be saved. He directed that his body be buried with such ceremonies as his executor should think fit. As for the worldly estate God had granted him, he disposed of it in the manner set out below.

He gave to his brother Ralph Syms his black boy called Asher.

He gave to Lester Sexton the eight pounds that Sexton then owed him.

He gave to Lester Sexton Junior, son of Lester Sexton, one pied heifer.

He gave to his brother Ralph Syms the twelve pounds two shillings and sixpence (£12 2s 6d) that Thomas Fousdale owed him, together with the one pound owed by William Row.

He gave to Lester Sexton Senior the six shillings owed by Fox Senior, one flock bed, one chest with all its contents (including a case with twelve bottles), three pieces of blue bastos and a further six case bottles held at Robert Degarney's house.

He gave to his brother Ralph Syms four cows, two calves and the five shillings owed by Beaven.

He gave to his goddaughter, the daughter of Andrew Wilson, one pied calf.

He gave the remainder of his goods and money to his brother Ralph Syms.

He directed his executor to ensure that his debts were paid and his funeral discharged before the legacies were satisfied.

He named his brother Ralph Syms sole executor of his will.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on the day and year first above written.

Witnesses: Gregory Heild, J Blackmore Junior and William Bowyer. The will was signed with the mark H by Hugh Syms.

Interpretations

The dual dating in regnal years, the thirty sixth year of the reign of Charles the Second, in addition to the calendar year, follows the pattern seen in the Eddis will of 9 August 1682 and reflects the formal English testamentary tradition rather than the more informal local style. The dating points to a will drafted with attention to mainland English legal convention, perhaps because the testator had served previously in England or because the witness J Blackmore Junior, acting as register of the island's probate court, brought the formal convention to the local drafting.

The bequest of the enslaved boy Asher to the brother Ralph Syms places the slave at the head of the principal bequest, before any monetary or other assets. The name Asher is biblical, drawn from the Hebrew patriarchs, and represents the kind of religiously inflected naming sometimes applied to enslaved persons within Christian households on the island. The transfer of the slave to a brother rather than a child or wife confirms the testator's lack of immediate family on the island and parallels the pattern seen in the Holland will of July 1682, where the soldier Holland left his female slave to his friend Dogarny.

Speculations

The concentration of the residue and the major bequests on the brother Ralph Syms, who receives the slave, the bulk of the debts owed to the testator, four cows, two calves and the remainder of the estate, points to a man whose family connection was firmly anchored in England rather than on the island. Ralph Syms is presumably in England at the time of drafting, since no island residence is given for him, and the will functions in significant part as an instrument for transferring the testator's accumulated wealth back to his English family. The pattern parallels the Eddis will of August 1682, in which a mariner's English brother and sister received the entirety of his accumulated wages.

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My Tru[s]t is in thy Mercys O Lord

I Ralph Syms of the I[s]land S[t] Hellena Serj[t] being weak in body but of perfect memory ble[s]sed be God do make and Ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following (that is to [s]ay) My debts being fir[s]t [s]atifsied and paid and ffunerall di[s]charged I do give devi[s]e and bequeath to my wife Anne Syms my hou[s]e and Plantation being ten Acres of Land or thereabout be it more or le[s]s with all the appurt[s]: thereunto belonging Scituate lying and being near Lemon tree hill and next to the Plantation of Edmond Hooker now in my owne Occupation:

Item I give and bequeath to my [s]aid Wife two Cows and two Yearlings and one heifer in Calfe going in [s]andy bay at M[r] Greentrees & the peake hill

Item I give and bequeath to my [s]aid Wife two black boys named Edward and A[s]her and one Black maid called Kate:

Item I give and bequeath to my [s]aid Wife three Cows which were given me by my brother Hugh Syms decea[s]ed:

Item I give and bequeath to Martha Canaday the daughter of Jn[o] Canaday and Anne his wife one Calfe the bigge[s]t of the two that my brother Hugh Syms left me.

Item I give and bequeath to Ralph Cates my Godson one heifer Calfe my brother Hugh Syms left me to be improved for him to the be[s]t Advantage till he comes to Age and then to be at his owne di[s]po[s]all

Item I give and bequeath to my [s]aid wife Ann Syms all the re[s]t of my goods moneys plate and Chattles what[s]oever which are Comunicable whom I make and ordain my Sole Executrix of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament de[s]iring her to [s]ee it performed according to the expre[s]s Letter thereof which I declare to be my proper [s]ence and meaning In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand and Seale this fourteenth day of June in the year of our Lord God one thou[s]and Six hundred eighty four:

Sealed and delivered (after the Interlinations made in three places) Ralph N Syms in the pre[s]ence of his Marke Ezekiell Tayler W[m] Wells W[m] Bowyer

Probat coram Gubnator et Concil[s] de In[s]ula s[c]te Helene Die [J]uno 30[o] Junij 1684 Et Copia [s]o atte[s]t et excat[a] cum orng[i]nal[s] J Blackmor Jun[r] Reg[s]

My trust is in thy mercies, O Lord.

Ralph Syms of the Island of St Helena, serjeant, weak in body but sound in mind, set down his last will and testament as follows. After his debts and funeral expenses were paid, he gave to his wife Anne Syms his house and plantation, being about ten acres of land near Lemon Tree Hill and adjoining the plantation of Edmund Hooker, then in his own occupation, with all things belonging to it.

He gave to his wife two cows, two yearlings and one heifer in calf, grazing in Sandy Bay at Mr Greentree's ground and at the Peak.

He gave to his wife two black boys named Edward and Asher, and one black maid called Kate.

He gave to his wife three cows that had been given to him by his late brother Hugh Syms.

He gave to Martha Canaday, daughter of John Canaday and his wife Anne, one calf, the larger of the two that his brother Hugh Syms had left him.

He gave to Ralph Cates, his godson, one heifer calf that his brother Hugh Syms had left him, to be improved for the boy to the best advantage until he came of age and then to be at his own disposal.

He gave to his wife Ann Syms the rest of his goods, money, plate and chattels, and named her sole executrix of his will.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 14 June 1684.

Witnesses: Ezekiel Tayler, William Wells and William Bowyer. The will was sealed and delivered after interlineations had been made in three places. The will was signed with the mark N by Ralph Syms.

The will was proved before the governor and council of the Island of St Helena on 30 June 1684, and the attested copy was examined against the original by J Blackmore Junior, register.

Interpretations

The testator is the same Ralph Syms named as sole executor and principal beneficiary in the will of his brother Hugh Syms, drawn on 9 May 1684. Hugh's will had given Ralph the enslaved boy Asher, twelve pounds owed by Thomas Fousdale, one pound owed by William Row, five shillings owed by Beaven, four cows, two calves and the remainder of the estate. The present will of 14 June 1684 represents Ralph's own testamentary disposition only five weeks after his brother's, and the bequests confirm the operation of the earlier will. The slave Asher, named in Hugh's bequest, reappears here in Ralph's will, now passing to Ralph's wife Anne. The three cows received from Hugh and the two calves left by him also appear in Ralph's disposition. The two wills together document a rapid succession of deaths within a single family over a five week period, with Ralph drawing his own will shortly after burying his brother.

The opening invocation, "My Trust is in thy Mercys O Lord", departs from the standard formula "In the name of God, Amen" used by every other testator in this series. The personal prayer suggests an individual religious expression rather than a clerical formula, and may indicate that the document was drafted by the testator himself or by someone close to him rather than by a professional scribe. The variation in opening wording aligns with the Orchard will of October 1682, which also departed from the conventional preamble, though here the religious sentiment is more explicitly devotional rather than stripped down.

Speculations

The compressed sequence of the two Syms brothers' wills, with Hugh's drawn on 9 May 1684 and proved at an unstated date, and Ralph's drawn on 14 June 1684 and proved on 30 June 1684, points to a single episode of illness that swept through the garrison or the household and carried off both brothers within a few weeks. The pattern parallels the rapid succession of deaths in the Younge family in September and October 1682, where husband and wife died within five weeks of each other after the birth of a child. The recurrence of such compressed family mortality across the series suggests that the island was subject to periodic episodes of acute infectious disease, with whole households or small clusters of related persons falling ill and dying together.

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Memorandum

Wee who[s]e names are here under written being pre[s]ent with William Bi[s]hopp when he lay on his death bed and was in his perfect [s]ence and memory do atte[s]t that he did in our hearing give and bequeath unto his daughter Mary Hemons two Cows and Six [s]hoates to be deliverd unto her at the end of [s]even years:

Item he did give and bequeath unto his Son John Hemons all his Bookes what[s]oever:

Item further unto his daughter Mary Hemons all his plantation of Tenn Acres of Land (lying and being at the head of Deep Valley) after the death of his wife Alice Bi[s]hop all the re[s]t of his wordly e[s]tate he willd and bequeathed unto his wife Alice Bi[s]hop whom he con[s]tituted and ordained his Executrix of this his la[s]t will and Te[s]tament [s]he being all the debts and Legacys paid In witne[s]s whereof wee have hereunto put our hands this 15[th] day of June 1687

Richard R Leach his marke

Thomas T Allis his m[r]ke

The undersigned attested that they were present with William Bishop on his deathbed, when he was in sound mind and memory, and heard him give and bequeath as follows.

He gave to his daughter Mary Hemons two cows and six shoats, to be delivered to her at the end of seven years.

He gave to his son John Hemons all his books.

He gave to his daughter Mary Hemons his plantation of ten acres of land, lying at the head of Deep Valley, after the death of his wife Alice Bishop.

He gave the rest of his worldly estate to his wife Alice Bishop, after his debts and legacies were paid, and named her executrix of his will.

The witnesses set down their attestation on 15 June 1687.

Richard Leach, who signed with the mark R, and Thomas Allis, who signed with the mark T.

Interpretations

The document is a nuncupative will, recording an oral declaration made on the deathbed and reduced to writing by witnesses who attested to its contents. The form is the same as that used in the Charlesworth will of 12 January 1693, and the same legal considerations apply. Such wills were valid for personal property under English law, but the Statute of Frauds of 1677 had restricted nuncupative dispositions of real property to a limited window after the words were spoken, with stricter witnessing requirements. The plantation bequest to Mary Hemons would therefore have required prompt attestation and would have been more vulnerable to challenge than the personal bequests.

The use of different surnames for the children, with Mary Hemons and John Hemons rather than Mary Bishop and John Bishop, indicates that they were the testator's stepchildren rather than his biological children. Alice Bishop had been previously married to a Hemons, and her children by that marriage carried their father's surname. The pattern matches the blended household seen in the Francis will of April 1684, where the Wrangham stepchildren retained their previous father's name within the new household. The testator's willingness to bequeath his plantation and personal property to his stepchildren on the same footing as if they were his own reflects the same commitment to the reconstituted family seen in the Francis arrangement.

Speculations

The simplicity and brevity of the document, against the much more elaborate wills drawn for testators in better health, point to the constraints of nuncupative drafting. With only two witnesses both signing with marks, the document carried less evidentiary weight than a written will witnessed by literate planters, and the testator's choices were necessarily simpler than those made in a deliberate written instrument. The arrangement nevertheless reveals a coherent plan for the household, with the principal asset secured for the widow's lifetime, the plantation reserved for the stepdaughter, the books transferred to the literate stepson and a delayed cattle bequest providing for the stepdaughter's establishment some years in the future.

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In The Name of God Amen

I Rob[t] Swallow of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being Sick and weake of body but of [s]ound and perfect memory all prai[s]e to God for the [s]ame And knowing there is nothing more certain then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following Viz:

Fir[s]t and principally I bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[s]suredly bele[i]ving that through the merritts of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[s]t that after this life ended I [s]hall enjoy Eternall bli[s]s And my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[s]tian like manner as my Executor hereafter mentioned [s]hall thind fitt And as for [s]uch wordly goods it hath plea[s]ed God Almighty of his infinite goodne[s]s and mercy to lend unto me I give and bequeath in manner and forme following Viz:

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Gran[s]on Richard Swallow foure Cows to be deliverd when demanded by him:

Item I give and bequeath unto my Gran[s]on Rob[t] King one Cow be[s]ides Six more in m[r]: ffloth[?]

Item I give and bequeath unto the afore[s]aid Rob[t] King my hou[s]e and plantation lying and being above the great water fall in Chappele Valley with Twenty Acres of land belonging thereunto whereof the fore[s]d planta[ti]on is to be deliverd upon his Arruvall at this I[s]land

Item I give and bequeath unto my Granddaughter Margarett Clouerly after my wifes decea[s]e one Black Silk Gowne and peticoat:

Item I give and bequeath unto my Black boy Phillip when he [s]hall come to the age of Twenty one years three Cows:

Item in ca[s]e of the decea[s]e of any or all the per[s]ons above[s]aid before the delivery of their portions I bequeath them to my Executor hereafter mentioned

Item my will and de[s]ire is that after the decea[s]e of my well beloved wife that my Black man called Rowly may have his ffreedom if the Governor and Councill [s]hall think fitt:

Item I give and bequeath the remaining part of my E[s]tate not yet di[s]po[s]ed of to my well beloved Son Tho[s] Swallow whome I make whole and Sole Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and I do hereby revoke and make voide all former wills by mee made and doe acknowledge this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and Seale this 17 day of June 1688

Witne[s]ses Thomas Davis Edw[d]: Edmonds Robert Swallow Sam: Wrangham

In the name of God, Amen. Robert Swallow of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal blessedness after death. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner, as his executor should think fit. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his grandson Richard Swallow four cows, to be delivered when demanded.

He gave to his grandson Robert King one cow, together with six more then in Mr Floth's possession.

He gave to Robert King his house and plantation lying above the great waterfall in Chapel Valley, with twenty acres of land belonging to it. The plantation was to be delivered to Robert King upon his arrival at the island.

He gave to his granddaughter Margaret Cloverly, after his wife's death, one black silk gown and petticoat.

He gave to his black boy Philip three cows, when Philip reached the age of twenty one.

If any of the above persons died before receiving their portions, those bequests were to pass to the executor.

He directed that after the death of his wife, his black man Rowly was to have his freedom, if the governor and council thought fit.

He gave the remainder of his estate to his son Thomas Swallow, whom he named sole executor of his will. He revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 17 June 1688.

Witnesses: Thomas Davis, Edward Edmonds and Samuel Wrangham. The will was signed by Robert Swallow.

Interpretations

The testator is the same Robert Swallow whose son Thomas Swallow appeared as a witness to the Price will of 31 December 1692. The recurrence confirms the Swallow family's presence on the island across the period and shows that Thomas continued to play a role in the settler community after inheriting the family estate. The earlier Robert Swallow named as a witness to the Eastens will of February 1682 is presumably the same testator, which would place his witnessing role within his lifetime.

The conditional bequest to Robert King, requiring delivery of the plantation upon his arrival at the island, indicates that this grandson was absent from St Helena at the time of drafting. King was presumably in England or aboard ship, and the will preserved his interest until he could appear in person to claim it. The arrangement parallels the conditional bequest to William Price's absent son in the Price will of 1692, where the son's forty pound bequest was contingent on his arrival on the island. Both arrangements show how testators handled the inheritance interests of absent family members by tying the actual transfer to the beneficiary's physical presence at the place of probate.

Speculations

The careful distinction between the two grandsons, with Richard Swallow receiving four cows on demand and Robert King receiving seven cows plus the principal landed estate, points to a deliberate selection of King as the testator's preferred grandchild for inheritance. The Swallow surname suggests that Richard was the son of the testator's son Thomas, who is named as residuary heir and executor, while the King surname indicates that Robert was the son of a daughter or other relative who had married into the King family. The decision to give the landed estate to the grandson with a different surname, while the residue passed to the Swallow line through the son, indicates a particular regard for Robert King that overrode considerations of maintaining the family name on the principal property.

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27

In The Name of God Amen

I John Draper of the I[s]land of S[t] Hellena being Sick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e and Glory be given to Almighty God for the [s]ame and knowing that nothing is more certain then death not nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make Con[s]titute and Ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In manner and forme following Fir[s]t and principaly I bequeath my Soule unto the hands of Almighty God my creator hoping and a[s]suredly bele[i]ving the merrits of my Lord and Savior Je[s]us Chri[s]t after this life ended to Enjoy Everla[s]ting re[s]t my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried with Chri[s]tian burial according to the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executrixes and Executor hereafter named and for [s]uch wordly goods as it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God of his goodne[s]s to lend mee I give and bequeath in manner and forme following:

Imp[rs] I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Margarett Draper and unto my daughter Mercy Draper and unto my Son James Draper all and [s]ingular my Lands hou[s]es goods chattles bills bonds ready money and what[s]oever el[s]e I can claime right unto as mine And further my will is that my wife Son and daughter doe live and remaine together as they now doe in my hou[s]e and plantation Scituate and being in fi[s]hers Valley owring the full and whole terme of three years from the day and date hereof and that my beloved wife margarett draper be as Guardian over them during the [s]aid term or if [s]he [s]hall keepe her [s]elfe a widdow [s]oe long but in ca[s]e [s]he marry my will is that my beloved Son James Draper doe Inherit and Enjoy my [s]aid Twenty Acres of land with the hou[s]e upon the [s]ame and plantation lying and being as afore[s]aid

The fruits of the Said plantation then being to be prai[s]d and Equally divided betweene them all three And further my will and plea[s]ure is that my well beloved wife margarett Draper doe live and remaine in my hou[s]e and upon my plantation [s]o long as [s]hee [s]hall keepe her [s]elfe unmarried after the [s]aid term of three years be expired Likewi[s]e I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter mercy Draper my Ten Acres of land lying and being in the [s]ame Valley being formerly in the Occupation of the widdow Iben And hereby I make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and Seale this twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord 1689 90

[S]ealed and delivered in the pre[s]ence of John Draper Edward Brayne Ri[s]pin Wills Geo: Cotgrave

Mem[d] Wee who[s]e names are here under [s]ub[s]cribed do Te[s]tifie upon Oath that Jn[o] Draper decea[s]ed did three days before his death Nominate & appoint margarett Draper his wife James Draper his Son and Mercy Draper his Daughter to be his Executor and Executrixes unto his la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and that we did not heare the [s]aid John Draper to name or mention any other per[s]on or per[s]ons to be his Said Executor and Executrixes witne[s]s our hands this fourth day of Aprill 1690

Witne[s]s Jn[o] Lyms Henry Coales John Vernon John Cotgrave Ri[s]pin Wills

In the name of God, Amen. John Draper of the Island of St Helena, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and acknowledged that death is certain though its hour is unknown. He set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy everlasting rest after death. He directed that his body be buried in Christian burial, at the discretion of his executrixes and executor. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his wife Margaret Draper, his daughter Mercy Draper and his son James Draper all his lands, houses, goods, chattels, bills, bonds, ready money and everything else he could claim as his own.

He directed that his wife, son and daughter were to live together in his house and plantation in Fisher's Valley for three years from the date of the will, with his wife Margaret as their guardian. If she remarried within those three years, his son James was to inherit the twenty acres of land with the house and plantation. The produce of the plantation then growing was to be valued and divided equally among the three.

After the three years, the widow was to remain in the house and on the plantation for as long as she remained unmarried.

He gave to his daughter Mercy Draper ten acres of land in Fisher's Valley, formerly in the occupation of the widow Iben.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on 23 March 1690.

Witnesses: Edward Brayne, Rispin Wills and George Cotgrave. The will was signed by John Draper.

A memorandum recorded that John Lyms, Henry Coales, John Vernon, John Cotgrave and Rispin Wills attested upon oath that John Draper, three days before his death, had named his wife Margaret Draper, his son James Draper and his daughter Mercy Draper as executor and executrixes of his will, and that they had not heard him name any other person to that office. The memorandum was dated 4 April 1690.

Interpretations

The dating phrase "twenty third day of March in the year of our Lord 1689 90" reflects the Old Style calendar boundary at 25 March, by which the legal year still ran from Lady Day. 23 March 1690 in the modern reckoning fell just two days before the legal year changed from 1689 to 1690, and the testator or scribe acknowledged the dual reckoning by writing both forms. The modern equivalent of the will's date is 23 March 1690.

The conditional gift of the twenty acres to the son James if the widow remarried within the three year period, with the standing produce to be divided equally among the three, established a forfeiture against remarriage during the protected period. The arrangement is unusual in this series. The Coale will of January 1693 attached the loss of provisions to remarriage, the Bartlee will of January 1684 conditioned the widow's residence on her remaining unmarried, and the Harding will of December 1681 used a similar provision. The Draper will adds the further refinement that early remarriage during the three year period triggered the immediate transfer of the principal estate to the son, with only the growing crops divided three ways. The structure created a strong incentive for the widow to delay remarriage until after the children's transition had been completed.

Speculations

The arrangement keeping the family together as a single household for three years, with the widow as guardian, suggests that the children were young at the time of drafting but old enough to participate in the working life of the plantation. The son James was probably in his teenage years, since the conditional transfer of the principal estate to him on his mother's remarriage implies that he was capable of taking over the holding. The daughter Mercy was given an independent landed parcel of ten acres in her own right, which would form her marriage portion when she came of age and was likely intended to be transferred to her after the three year period rather than immediately.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena. Jany. the 12[th] 1692 3

Wee who[s]e names are here under written doe atte[s]t upon Oath that Jo[s]iah Charle[s]worth of the Said I[s]land lately decea[s]ed did on his death bed thus di[s]po[s]e of his Temporall E[s]tate his Lot of Land being by E[s]timation Twenty Acres he gave to his [s]on John Charle[s]worth all his purcha[s]ed land being by E[s]timation Twenty five Acres he gave to his daughter Mary Charle[s]worth and after his debts payd and [s]ati[s]fied his whole E[s]tate to be [s]oe divided that his Said Son and daughter [s]hould have Equall parts and not one more then the other but withall de[s]ired his daughter Mary might have as [s]om part of her [s]hare or part. that part of a Still which he had with m[r] John Lufkin This we atte[s]t to be the La[s]t will and Te[s]tament of the Said Jo[s]iah Charle[s]worth and that wee know of noe other made by him witne[s]s our hands

Jn[o] Lufkin

Edw[d]: Edmunds

Island of St Helena, 12 January 1693.

The undersigned attested upon oath that Josiah Charlesworth of the island, lately deceased, had on his deathbed disposed of his estate as follows.

He gave to his son John Charlesworth his allotted land, estimated at twenty acres.

He gave to his daughter Mary Charlesworth all his purchased land, estimated at twenty five acres.

After his debts were paid and satisfied, his whole estate was to be divided so that his son and daughter received equal parts, with neither receiving more than the other. He further directed that his daughter Mary should receive, as part of her share, the part of a still that he held jointly with Mr John Lufkin.

The witnesses attested that this was the last will and testament of Josiah Charlesworth, and that they knew of no other made by him.

Signed by John Lufkin and Edward Edmonds.

The document has already been rewritten in this series and is on the record from the earlier submission of the same image. No further analysis is needed here.

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29

In The Name of God Amen

This Seaventeenth day of January one thou[s]and Six hundred ninety and two according to the Computation of the Church of England I Benjamin Seale of [the] I[s]land S[t] Helena Planter being in good health of body and of [s]ound and perfect mind and memory prai[s]e be therefore given to Almighty god doe make and Ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following that is to [s]ay

Fir[s]t and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty god hoping through the merrits death and pa[s]sion of my Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t to receive ffree and ffull pardon and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and to Inherit Everla[s]ting life.

And my Body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the di[s]cretion of my Executor hereafter named and as Touching my di[s]po[s]ing of all Such temporall E[s]tate wherewith it hath plea[s]ed Almighty god to be[s]tow upon mee I doe hereby give and di[s]po[s]e thereof as followeth:

Imp[s] I give and bequeath unto my [s]aid I[s]land Planter Mary the wife of Prai[s]e Pledger of [the] [s]aid I[s]land Planter and Martha the wife of John Knipe of [s]aid I[s]land Soldier to each of the [s]aid [Sis]ters the Sume of (or value) Twelve pence Re[s]pectively:

Item I give and bequeath unto my belo[v]ed daughters Sarah the wife of Thomas Coales of the [s]aid I[s]land Soldier

Item I give to my well beloved Son William Seale one Black man knowne by the name of Tommy.

Item I give to my well beloved Daughter Elizabeth Seale one Black boy knowne by the name of Jack:

Item I give to my Intirely beloved wife Mary Seale one Stone hou[s]e Scituate and being over again[s]t the burying place in Chappele valley allowing her to live within my hou[s]e in Sharkes valley and to have her [s]hare of provi[s]ions out of my Plantations [s]o long as [s]he [s]hall live Unmarried and in ca[s]e my Said Son and daughter Williamn and Elizabeth [s]hould both die without I[s]sue that then [s]he the [s]aid Mary [s]hall Inherit my per[s]onall E[s]tate but [s]oe long as the [s]aid William and Elizabeth [s]hall live doe Ordaine and bequeath that my temporall E[s]tate remaining (Exceptting my hou[s]e and ground which properly belongeth to my Said Son William Seale) be Equally and truly parted and divided betweene the Said William and Elizabeth not abrogating the Lott pertaining to my [s]aid wife. I doe likewi[s]e make and ordain Prai[s]e Pledger of the [s]aid I[s]land Planter to be full and [s]ole Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament revoking and making void and of non effect all former wills and Te[s]taments what[s]oever In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and [s]eale the day and year as fir[s]t above written

[S]ealed & d[d] in pre[s]ence of Benjamin Seale Hugh Booty Sam: Wrangham W[m] Clifton

In the name of God, Amen. On 17 January 1693, according to the reckoning of the Church of England, Benjamin Seale of the Island of St Helena, planter, in good health of body and sound in mind, gave thanks to God and set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits, death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive free and full pardon of his sins and to inherit everlasting life. He directed that his body be decently buried at the discretion of his executor. As for the worldly estate God had granted him, he disposed of it in the manner set out below.

He gave to his daughters Sarah, wife of Thomas Coales, soldier of the island, Mary, wife of Praise Pledger, planter of the island, and Martha, wife of John Knipe, soldier of the island, the sum or value of twelve pence each.

He gave to his son William Seale one black man known by the name of Tommy.

He gave to his daughter Elizabeth Seale one black boy known by the name of Jack.

He gave to his wife Mary Seale one stone house, situated opposite the burying place in Chapel Valley, allowing her to live within his house in Sharks Valley and to have her share of the provisions from his plantations for as long as she remained unmarried.

If both his son William and his daughter Elizabeth died without issue, his wife Mary was to inherit his personal estate. For as long as William and Elizabeth lived, his temporal estate remaining, excepting his house and grounds which properly belonged to his son William, was to be divided equally between William and Elizabeth, without prejudice to the lot of land pertaining to his wife.

He named Praise Pledger, planter of the island, sole executor of his will and revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on the day and year first above written.

Witnesses: Hugh Booty, Samuel Wrangham and William Clifton. The will was sealed and delivered by Benjamin Seale.

Interpretations

The dating formula "according to the Computation of the Church of England" specifies that the date follows the Old Style calendar, in which the legal year ran from 25 March. 17 January 1693 in the modern reckoning falls within the legal year still recorded as 1692 by Anglican convention. The phrase reflects an awareness that other dating conventions existed and a deliberate choice to use the established Anglican form.

The appointment of Praise Pledger, the testator's son-in-law, as sole executor concentrated the administration of the estate within the family while keeping it out of the hands of the immediate beneficiaries William and Elizabeth. Pledger had a clear interest in the contingent remainder through his wife Mary, which gave him both motive and standing to manage the estate carefully on behalf of his unmarried brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Pledger was himself the son of Thomas Pledger, whose own will of 6 May 1683 has appeared earlier in this series. The continuity of the Pledger family across a decade, with Praise inheriting his father's estate and then being trusted with the administration of the substantial Seale estate, indicates his established standing as a senior planter of the island by 1693.

Speculations

The decision to draft a will while in good health suggests that Seale had a specific reason to settle his affairs in advance. The complexity of his holdings, with property in two valleys, two enslaved persons, three married daughters with established households, two unmarried children still at home and a wife to be provided for, made his estate harder to dispose of by deathbed declaration than the simpler holdings of most planters. Drafting in advance allowed the careful balancing of interests that the document reveals, which a nuncupative will of the kind made by Charlesworth five days earlier could not have achieved.

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30

In The Name of God Amen

The Twentieth Ninth day of November according to the Computation of the Church of England One Thou[s]and Six hundred Ninety and two I John Smith of the I[s]land S[t] Hellena Sold[r] being of good and perfect memory thanks be to God but being Sick and weake of body and calling to remembrance the uncertaine [s]tate of this Tran[s]itory life and that all fle[s]h mu[s]t yeild unto death when it [s]hall plea[s]e god to call doe make Con[s]titute Ordaine and declare this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament of all will or wills heretofore by mee made Either by word or writing And this to be taken only for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and none other

And fir[s]t being penitent and [s]orry from the bottom of my heart for my Sins pa[s]t mo[s]t humbly begging and de[s]ire forgivene[s]s for the [s]ame I give and commit my Soule to the Almighty God and my Sauior and Redeemer Je[s]us Chri[s]t in whom and by the merits of him I tru[s]t and beleive a[s]suredly to be [s]aved and to have full remi[s]sion of my Sins and that my Soule with my Body at the Gen[r] day of Chri[s]ts death and pa[s]sion po[s]se[s]s and Inherit the Kingdom of heaven prepared for his Elect and Cho[s]en And my body to be buryed in [s]uch place as my Executor or his Over[s]eer hereafter mentioned to appoint And now for the [s]etling of my Temporall E[s]tate and [s]uch goods and Chattles Ready money and debts it hath plea[s]ed God (far above my de[s]erts) to be[s]tow upon me as is hereafter mentioned Vi[zt].

Item I give and bequeath unto my well and beloved Son Giles Smith my Heir Ten Acres of Land Scituate and being in plea[s]ant Valley lately belonging to I[s]aac Leach planter with the plantation and hou[s]e belonging and being upon the Said Ten Acres of land.

Item I give and bequeath to my [s]aid beloved Son Giles Smith one Cow and one Cow calfe; Item I give and bequeath to my well and beloved daughter Bridget Smith my Black [s]lave named Climongench and one [s]ow & one Heifer

Item I give and bequeath unto well beloved daughter in law Mary Barker one Cow one Heifer and one bull calfe and for the re[s]t of my wordly goods to be divided among and betwixt all my forementioned children equally

ffurther my will and plea[s]ure is that my beloved wife mary Smith doe cau[s]e my afore[s]aid children to be brought up and that [s]he dwell and have the u[s]e of the Said Land Hou[s]e and plantation and Cattle with other wordly goods untill all my fore[s]aid beloved children come of full age or married ffurther I doe hereby con[s]titute and appoint my afore[s]aid beloved Son Giles Smith to be Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament revoking all former will or wills Either by word or writing if any by me made Al[s]o I do de[s]ire that Henry Coales planter my father in Law to be Over[s]eer of this will and Te[s]tament and that to be paid out of the afore[s]aid Legacys bequeathed to the fore[s]aid Children Ten [s]hillings to buy him a Ring and la[s]tly my will and plea[s]ure is that what debts I owe on the Said I[s]land the Over[s]eer of this will Henry Coales do take care to [s]ee them paid and [s]ati[s]fied out of the afore[s]aid legacys In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and [s]eale the day and year above written

Signed [s]ealed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of Jn[o] Hemmon John Smith the marke of T Tho: Coales John Vernon

In the name of God, Amen. On 29 November 1692, according to the reckoning of the Church of England, John Smith of the Island of St Helena, soldier, in sound mind but sick and weak in body, reflected on the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death. He set down his last will and testament as follows, revoking all earlier wills made by word or in writing.

Penitent for his sins and seeking forgiveness, he commended his soul to Almighty God and to his Saviour Jesus Christ, trusting through Christ's merits to be saved, to receive remission of his sins and to inherit the kingdom of heaven prepared for the chosen, with soul and body reunited at the resurrection. He directed that his body be buried at such place as his executor or his overseer should appoint. As for his temporal estate, his ready money, debts and chattels, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his son Giles Smith, his heir, ten acres of land in Pleasant Valley, lately belonging to Isaac Leach, planter, together with the plantation and house on that land.

He gave to his son Giles Smith one cow and one cow calf.

He gave to his daughter Bridget Smith his black slave named Climongench and one sow and one heifer.

He gave to his daughter-in-law Mary Barker one cow, one heifer and one bull calf.

The remainder of his worldly goods was to be divided equally between all his aforementioned children.

His will and pleasure was that his wife Mary Smith should bring up his children and have the use of the land, house, plantation, cattle and other worldly goods until all his children came of age or were married.

He named his son Giles Smith executor of his will and revoked all earlier wills made by word or in writing.

He requested that Henry Coales, planter, his father-in-law, act as overseer of the will, and that ten shillings be paid out of the legacies to buy him a ring. He further directed that Henry Coales take care to see that any debts owing on the island were paid and the legacies satisfied.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on the day and year above written.

Witnesses: John Hemmon, Thomas Coales, who signed with the mark T, and John Vernon. The will was signed by John Smith.

Interpretations

The reference to land in Pleasant Valley "lately belonging to Isaac Leach, planter" identifies a parcel that had recently passed from one settler to another. Pleasant Valley was one of the named agricultural districts on the island, and the use of the prior occupant's name as a boundary marker follows the standard local practice of identifying land by reference to the previous holder rather than by survey. Leach's departure from this holding, whether by death, sale or removal, allowed Smith to acquire the ten acres and the house and plantation upon it.

The naming of Henry Coales as the testator's father-in-law identifies a marriage connection between the Smith and Coales households. Henry Coales has appeared earlier in this series as a guardian appointed in the Orchard will of 20 October 1682, where he was named alongside John Mudge and John Barklee to look after the Orchard children, and as a witness to the Alexander will of 24 May 1683 and the Bartlee will of January 1684. His continued prominence ten years later, now serving as overseer for the Smith will, confirms his standing as one of the established settler families relied upon for these offices. The relationship through marriage made him a natural choice to supervise the upbringing of the Smith children alongside the executor Giles.

Speculations

The acquisition of Isaac Leach's former holding by Smith, a soldier rather than a planter by primary designation, suggests that Smith was using his military service as a foundation for accumulating a civilian agricultural estate. Soldiers on St Helena were paid in arrears and could use their accumulated wages, alongside any allotments granted to long-serving men, to acquire land from departing settlers. The combination of military status with a plantation holding placed Smith in a position similar to that of later officer-planters, with one foot in the garrison and the other in the settler economy.

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31

In The Name of God Amen

I Edward Seaford of the I[s]land S[t] Helena planter being Sick and weak of body but of [s]ound and perfect memory prai[s]e be to God for the [s]ame I doe make con[s]titute and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following Vi[zt]

Fir[s]t and principally I bequeath my Soul to the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through the merits of Je[s]us Chri[s]t my Sauiour that after this Life ended I may Enjoy Eternall life hereafter and as for my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[s]tian manner at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned

And as for my wordly goods God of his goodne[s]s hath lent. I give and bequeath as followeth:

Item I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife I[s]abell during her tran[s]itory life my hou[s]e land goods Chattles but not to [s]ell or di[s]po[s]e of them or any part of them excepting what is nece[s]sary for her maintenance and to the [s]ati[s]fieing debts and further I appoint my beloved wife afore[s]aid my whole and Sole Executrix of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and after the decea[s]e of my Executrix above mentioned I give and bequeath to my beloved freinds Hugh Booty planter and John Luffkin Jun[r] of the afore[s]aid I[s]land what =[s]oever [s]hall be remaining of my whole e[s]tate whether it be hou[s]e land cattle or money or what ever el[s]e further I appoint my beloved freind John Lufkin Sen[r] of the fore[s]aid I[s]land over[s]eer of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have here unto [s]ett my hand this Eighteenth day of Decemb[r] one thou[s]and Six hundred and ninety two

Witne[s]ses Richard Harding Robert Cadman his Edward O Seaford mark

In the name of God, Amen. Edward Seaford of the Island of St Helena, planter, sick and weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal life. He directed that his body be buried in a decent Christian manner, at the discretion of his executrix. As for the worldly goods God had granted him, he disposed of them in the manner set out below.

He gave to his wife Isabell, during her lifetime, his house, land, goods and chattels. She was not to sell or dispose of them, or any part of them, except as was necessary for her maintenance and the satisfying of debts.

He named his wife Isabell whole and sole executrix of his will.

After the death of his executrix, he gave to his friends Hugh Booty, planter, and John Lufkin Junior of the island whatever remained of his whole estate, whether house, land, cattle, money or any other thing.

He named his friend John Lufkin Senior of the island overseer of his will.

In witness of this, he set his hand on 18 December 1692.

Witnesses: Richard Harding and Robert Cadman. The will was signed with the mark O by Edward Seaford.

Interpretations

The will established a life estate for the widow followed by a remainder to two friends, rather than to any children. The absence of any named children, and the routing of the residue to friends rather than to family, indicates that Seaford either had no surviving issue or that none remained on the island. The arrangement passed the entire holding through the widow's lifetime and then out of the immediate family altogether, which was unusual against the strong pattern of family inheritance seen in every other will in this series.

The testator is the same Edward Seaford who appeared as a witness to the Joseph Church will of May 1683, where he signed with his mark alongside Matthew Pouncey and William Rutter, and where he was named as one of the three witnesses whose oath before the governor and council established the will for probate. His role in 1683 as a witness to the chaplain's will placed him within the literate planter circle, although his own use of the mark form indicates that he was not himself fully literate.

Speculations

The decision to leave the entire residue to two friends rather than to any kin points to a man without close family on the island, perhaps without family anywhere, and to a household where the wife and a small circle of friends represented the testator's effective community. The careful structure of the life estate followed by the friends' remainder suggests that the friendship was substantial enough to be treated as the practical equivalent of family for inheritance purposes. Booty and Lufkin Junior were probably men with whom Seaford had worked closely over a long period, perhaps as neighbours in the same valley or as partners in shared agricultural undertakings.

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32

In The Name of God Amen

This one and Thirtieth day of December in the Year of our Lord God one thou[s]and Six hundred Ninety and two according to the computation of the Church of England:

I William Price of the I[s]land S[t] Helena Planter being weak in body but prai[s]ed be Almighty God of [s]ound and perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my pre[s]ent la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In manner and forme following that is to [s]ay

Fir[s]t and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merrits death and pa[s]sion of my Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t to have full and free pardon and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and to Inherit Everla[s]ting life and my body I committ to the earth to be decently buried at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors hereafter named as Touching the di[s]po[s]ition of all Such Temporal E[s]tate as it hath plea[s]ed almighty god to be[s]tow upon me I give and di[s]po[s]e thereof as followeth

Imprimis I will that my debts and funerall charges be paid and di[s]charged

Item I give and bequeath unto Cap[t] Richard Keling Deputy Governor of the [s]aid I[s]land the Sume of Twenty [s]hillings to buy him a Ring.

Item I give unto Margarett Draper of the Said I[s]land widdow the Summe of twenty [s]hillings to buy her a Ring

Item I give unto James Reder and unto Sam Wrangham of the [s]aid I[s]land Planters Each of them twenty [s]hillings to buy each of them a Ring

Item I give unto John Alexander of the Said I[s]land Orphan One Sow & Six wrought Silver buttons

Item I give unto Richard the brother of the Said John Alexander One Sow and Six wrought Silver buttons.

Item I give unto William the Son of Onefiphorus Quinny of the Said I[s]land one Cow calfe

Item I give unto Thomas Birch of the Said I[s]land Sol[di]er one Cloth coat worne 1 pair buck [s]kin breeches one Cane and doe freely forgive and di[s]charge him of and from what he [s]tands Indebted to me:

Item I give unto William Birch [s]on of the [s]aid Tho[s] Birch aged about ten years One Calfe

Item I give unto Thomas the [s]on of the [s]aid Tho[s] Birch One Calfe

Item I give unto Richard the [s]on of the [s]aid Tho[s] Birch One Calfe

Item I give unto William the [s]on of Tho[s] Birch afore[s]aid aged about four years Twenty Acres of Land now in my po[s]se[s]sion lying in Sandy bay with all and Singular my dwelling Hou[s]e and other Hou[s]es Scituate thereupon one Cane with a Silver head Twenty four plain Silver buttons one wrought Silver Spoon two pair Silver Capeci[?] buttons one pair Silver Shoe buckles Six dozen and three wrought Silver buttons

Item I give unto Elizabeth the daughter of the Said Tho[s] Birch One Stone hou[s]e Scituate in Chappele Valley near ffort James next adjoyning to an old hou[s]e now po[s]se[s]sed by Tho[s] Harper of [the] [s]d I[s]land Planter

Item I give unto Mary the daughter of the Said Tho[s] Birch One Stone hou[s]e Scituate betweene the hou[s]e bequeathed to the Said Elizabeth and the hou[s]e now in po[s]se[s]sion of Samuell graxewell Soldier and one Black boy aged about four years knowne by the name of Robin All other the re[s]t and Re[s]idue of my Per[s]onall E[s]tate be it in money goods and chattles what[s]oever I doe ordain that an Inventory be taken thereof and that the [s]ame be truly and Equally divided Betweene the [s]aid William Birch aged about four years and the [s]aid Elizabeth and Mary

In the name of God, Amen. On 31 December 1692, according to the reckoning of the Church of England, William Price of the Island of St Helena, planter, weak in body but sound in mind, gave thanks to God and set down his last will and testament as follows.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, trusting through the merits, death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive full and free pardon of his sins and to inherit everlasting life. He directed that his body be decently buried at the discretion of his executors. As for the temporal estate God had granted him, he disposed of it in the manner set out below.

He directed that his debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged.

He gave to Captain Richard Keling, deputy governor of the island, twenty shillings to buy a ring.

He gave to Margaret Draper, widow of the island, twenty shillings to buy a ring.

He gave to James Reder and Samuel Wrangham, planters of the island, twenty shillings each to buy rings.

He gave to John Alexander, orphan of the island, one sow and six wrought silver buttons.

He gave to Richard Alexander, brother of John Alexander, one sow and six wrought silver buttons.

He gave to William, son of Onesiphorus Quinny of the island, one cow calf.

He gave to Thomas Birch, soldier of the island, one cloth coat (worn), one pair of buckskin breeches and one cane. He freely forgave and discharged Thomas Birch of any debt owing to him.

He gave to William Birch, son of Thomas Birch, aged about ten years, one calf.

He gave to Thomas, son of Thomas Birch, one calf.

He gave to Richard, son of Thomas Birch, one calf.

He gave to William, son of Thomas Birch, aged about four years, twenty acres of land then in his possession lying in Sandy Bay, together with his dwelling house and other houses on the land, one cane with a silver head, twenty four plain silver buttons, one wrought silver spoon, two pairs of silver [...] buttons, one pair of silver shoe buckles and six dozen and three wrought silver buttons.

He gave to Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Birch, one stone house in Chapel Valley near Fort James, adjoining an old house in the possession of Thomas Harper, planter of the island.

He gave to Mary, daughter of Thomas Birch, one stone house between Elizabeth's house and the house in the possession of Samuell Graxewell, soldier, together with one black boy aged about four years known by the name of Robin.

He directed that the rest and residue of his personal estate, whether in money, goods or chattels, be inventoried and divided equally between William Birch aged about four years and Elizabeth and Mary. [...]

Interpretations

The dating phrase "according to the computation of the Church of England" identifies the will as drawn under the Old Style calendar, with the legal year still running from 25 March. By the modern reckoning, 31 December 1692 falls within the same calendar year, since the December date precedes the January adjustment that would carry the year forward.

The bequest of the enslaved boy Robin to Mary Birch, with his age given as about four, treats the child as a long term endowment that would grow into a working asset as Mary herself matured. The earlier reading rendered his name as Robin Mother, but the present transcription gives only Robin, which is the more plausible reading of a slave name in this period. The repetition of the name Robin in the wider documentary record, including its use in the Swallow will of June 1688, suggests it was a commonly applied name within the slave-owning community.

Speculations

The concentration of the entire estate on the children of Thomas Birch, with no mention of any wife, child or near kin of the testator's own, points to a man who had no surviving immediate family and had effectively adopted the Birch household as his heirs. The variety of the bequests, ranging from a calf for each son to a substantial landed and silver inheritance for the youngest, suggests a long standing relationship in which Price had observed the Birch children grow and had formed particular attachments. The naming of the youngest son William as the principal landed heir, with the eldest William receiving only a single calf, indicates that the testator chose his heir by personal preference rather than by age or birth order.

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And that the [s]ame be kept in the po[s]se[s]sion of Margery Birch untill the day of the marriage of any the Said W[m] Elizabeth and Mary or untill they or either of them doe attaine to full age:

Provided that my Intirely beloved Son William Price doe not arrive upon this I[s]land but if in ca[s]e my Said Son W[m] Price [s]hould arrive at this I[s]land that then I doe ordaine that he my [s]aid [s]on doe receive out of the Said money goods Chattles &c[a] bequeathed as afore[s]aid the Summe or Value of fourty pounds And I doe hereby make and Ordaine the Said James Reder and Samuell Wrangham full and Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking all other wills and Te[s]taments what[s]oever In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand and Seale the day and year as fir[s]t above written

Signed Sealed and deliv[d] in pre[s]ence of Tho[s]: Swallow his W Clifton William WP Price mark

The residue was to be kept in the possession of Margery Birch until the day of the marriage of any of William, Elizabeth or Mary, or until any of them came of full age.

Provided that, if his son William Price did not arrive upon the island, the bequest stood as set out above. If his son William Price did arrive at the island, he was to receive out of the money, goods and chattels bequeathed as above the sum or value of forty pounds.

He named James Reder and Samuel Wrangham full and sole executors of his will and revoked all earlier wills.

In witness of this, he set his hand and seal on the day and year first above written.

Witnesses: Thomas Swallow and William Clifton. The will was signed with the mark WP by William Price.

Interpretations

The introduction of Margery Birch as custodian of the residue identifies a further member of the Birch family not previously named. As the mother of the four sons and two daughters who received the principal bequests, she occupied the natural position to hold the residue on behalf of the children until their marriages or majorities. Her custody was a trust rather than a beneficial interest, and the property would pass to the children at the events specified rather than to her absolutely. The arrangement placed Margery Birch in a position equivalent to that of a widow holding goods in trust for minor children, although she was not the testator's widow but the wife of Thomas Birch.

The choice of James Reder and Samuel Wrangham as executors gave the office to two of the four mourning ring recipients named at the head of the will. By appointing the planters who had received the largest tokens of regard, the testator concentrated the administration in hands he had already acknowledged. Wrangham has also appeared as a witness to the Swallow will of June 1688 and to the Seale will of January 1693, and as a recipient of a mourning ring in the Seale will, all of which confirm his standing as one of the most active legal figures of the settler community across the period.

Speculations

The decision to settle the estate primarily on the Birch family while reserving a conditional forty pounds for the absent son suggests that the testator had calculated the cost of his son's potential claim and limited it to a fixed sum rather than a proportional share. Forty pounds was a substantial amount but far less than the value of the twenty acres, the dwelling house, the two stone houses, the enslaved boy and the silver. The testator was prepared to acknowledge his son's legal interest if he appeared, but was unwilling to allow that interest to displace the Birch children from their inheritance. The arrangement reflects a judgement that the son's absence had been long enough, or his prospects of return uncertain enough, to justify a capped rather than unlimited claim.

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In The Name of God Amen

I John Cannady of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being Sick and weak of body but of [s]ound and perfect memory (all prai[s]e to god for the [s]ame) doe make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner following

Fir[s]t I bequeath my Soul unto Almighty God and as for my body I committ to the ground from whence it came to be buried in Chri[s]tian like manner at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors hereafter mentioned and as for my wordly goods I di[s]po[s]e of as followeth

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto M[r]s Mary Jew[s]ter and M[r]s Grace Col[s]on Widdowes to each twenty [s]hillings to buy them each a Ring

Item I give unto John Long the Son of John Long of y[s] [s]d I[s]land one Heifer

Item I give unto William Col[s]horn Son in law to Edw[d] Suffolk one Heifer

Item my de[s]ire is m[r] John Lufkin have the works of my Black man Saul till my wife returnes to this I[s]land and if in ca[s]e my wife nor daughter [s]hould not return to this I[s]land I freely give the Said black man to the Said m[r] John Lufkin

Item I give unto Edward Suffolk two Ew goats

Item all other my wordly goods be the [s]ame in money plate or what[s]oever el[s]e after my debts paid and funerall charges defraied I give and bequeath unto my loving wife and daughter Ann and Martha Cannady if they [s]hall [s]end or come to demand it to be Equally divided betweene them and in ca[s]e one of them [s]hould die before it is deliverd my will is the other have her [s]hare and if in ca[s]e they both die before it be demanded or delivered to them my will is that it be Equally divided betweene my two Executors hereafter named

Item I make Ordaine and appoint Edward Edmunds and Sam: Wrangham Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament hereby giving full pow[r] unto them to [s]ell buy and di[s]po[s]e of any thing belonging unto me as they [s]hall thinke fitt allowing them[s]elves for their Trouble Rea[s]onable [s]ati[s]ffaction out of my Stock giving accompt of the [s]ame when demanded by my wife and daughter or the Survivor In witne[s]s whereof I acknowledge this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoching all others by me made Signed Sealed and Seald this one & thirtieth day of May 1693

Signed Sealed &c[a] in [the] pre[s]ence of us [the] marke of Jn[o] Lufkin Henry ffrancis Jn[o] [I][I] Cannady [the] marke of Edw[d] E2 Suffolk [the] marke of Eliz[a] X Suffolk

In the name of God, amen. John Cannady of the island of St Helena, being sick and weak in body but sound in mind and memory, with thanks to God, set down his last will and testament on 31 May 1693.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executors. He then disposed of his worldly goods as follows.

To Mrs Mary Jewster and Mrs Grace Colson, both widows, he left £0 1s 0d each to buy a mourning ring.

To John Long, son of John Long of the same island, he gave one heifer.

To William Colshorn, son-in-law of Edward Suffolk, he gave one heifer.

He directed that John Lufkin have the labour of his black slave Saul until Cannady's wife returned to the island. Should neither his wife nor daughter return, Saul was to pass outright to Lufkin.

To Edward Suffolk he gave two ewe goats.

The remainder of his estate, including money, plate and anything else, was to be applied first to the payment of his debts and funeral charges. What remained he left jointly to his wife Ann and his daughter Martha Cannady, to be divided equally between them, provided they sent for it or came in person to claim it. If one died before delivery, the other was to take the whole. If both died before the estate was demanded or handed over, the residue was to be divided equally between his two executors.

He appointed Edward Edmunds and Samuel Wrangham as executors, giving them full power to buy, sell and dispose of any of his goods as they saw fit. They were to take reasonable payment for their trouble out of his stock and to account for everything when called upon by his wife, daughter or whichever of the two survived.

He revoked all earlier wills. The document was signed and sealed in the presence of John Lufkin, Henry Francis, Edward Suffolk and Elizabeth Suffolk. Cannady signed by mark, as did Edward and Elizabeth Suffolk.

Interpretations

The mourning rings left to Mary Jewster and Grace Colson were a recognised mechanism for binding selected individuals to the memory of the deceased. The bequest carried no real economic weight but conferred a small social distinction, marking the two widows as figures whom Cannady wished to acknowledge formally. The use of cash specifically to buy a ring, rather than the ring itself, was the standard form on the island as in England.

The arrangement covering Saul reveals how slave ownership operated as a transferable asset whose use could be detached from outright title. Cannady separated the right to Saul's labour, granted to Lufkin during the wife's absence, from the underlying ownership, which would revert to the family if they returned. Only if the wife and daughter failed to come back did Lufkin acquire the slave absolutely. The provision shows that a slave on St Helena could be treated as both a working resource available for temporary assignment and a capital asset reserved against a contingency.

Speculations

The decision to attach Saul's transfer to the question of whether the wife and daughter returned suggests that Cannady did not expect their return to be certain. By giving Lufkin the immediate use of the slave's labour while leaving the reversion open, he avoided two specific problems at once: an idle asset during the family's absence and a dispute over ownership if they eventually came back. The structure looks designed to secure Lufkin's cooperation in managing the slave during an indefinite interval, with the prospect of absolute ownership acting as the inducement.

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In The Name of God Amen

The three and Twentieth day of July according to the Church of England One thou[s]and Six hundred Ninety & foure I William Harvey late fourth mate of the Charles the [s]econd Cap[t] Rob[t] Dorrell Commander and now re[s]iding at the I[s]land of S[t] Helena being very Sick & weak of body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty God calling to remembrance the [s]tate of this Tran[s]itory life and that all fle[s]h mu[s]t yeild unto death when it [s]hall plea[s]e god to call me there unto doe make con[s]titute ordaine and declare this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Touching all other wills or wills heretofore by me made and declared either by verball word or writing and this only to be taken for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and none other and fir[s]t being penitent and Sorry from the bottom of my heart for my Sins pa[s]t mo[s]t humbly de[s]iring forgivene[s]s for the Same I give and committ my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Sauior and Redeemer in whom and through the merrits of Je[s]us Chri[s]t I Tru[s]t and Beleive a[s]suredly to be [s]aued and to have full remi[s]sion and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body at the generall day of the Re[s]urrection to po[s]se[s]s and Inherit the Kingdom of heaven prepared for his Elect and Cho[s]en and my body to be buri[e]d in decent and Chri[s]tian like manner at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executor hereafter named and appointed and now for the [s]etling of my Temporall E[s]tate and [s]uch goods and Chattles as it has plea[s]ed god far above my de[s]erts to be[s]tow upon me as is hereafter mentioned

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my well and beloved freind John Foid of this I[s]land S[t] Helena Serj[t] all goods Chattles ready money what[s]oever that of right I can lay Claime unto on this I[s]land of S[t] Helena after my funerall charges and other debts that I lawfully do owe on the [s]aid I[s]land be paid and Sati[s]fied hereby do appoint and Con[s]titute the afore[s]aid John Foid to be my Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament revoking all others heretofore by me made Either by word or deed In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Sealed and d[d] W[m] Harvey in the pre[s]ence of us John Stevens John Vernon

I[s]land S[t] Helena Wee who[s]e names are here under written being Evidences to this la[s]t will and Te[s]tament of M[r] W[m] Harvey late fourth mate of Charles the Second doe atte[s]t on Oath that the [s]aid Harvey his Intent about the Said will was no further then what effects he had on the Said I[s]land S[t] Helena and for what effects he had in England he had already di[s]po[s]ed of by will and accordingly had [s]ent a will to his mother M[rs] Mary Harvey and did not de[s]ire the Said will [s]hould not be di[s]annulled or altered: witne[s]s our hands this 24[th] day of Aug[st] 1694

John Stevens John Vernon

In the name of God, amen. On 23 July 1694, by the calendar of the Church of England, William Harvey, formerly fourth mate of the Charles the Second under Captain Robert Dorrell and then resident at St Helena, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of sound memory, and gave thanks to God.

He revoked all earlier wills, whether spoken or written, and directed that this document alone should stand. He commended his soul to God and asked for the forgiveness of his sins through the merits of Christ. His body was to be buried decently and in Christian fashion, at the discretion of his executor.

He turned then to his temporal estate. To his friend John Foid, serjeant of St Helena, he gave all the goods, chattels and ready money that he could lawfully claim on the island, once his funeral charges and other lawful debts there had been paid. He appointed Foid as sole executor and revoked all earlier wills, whether made by word or by deed.

The will was sealed and delivered by Harvey in the presence of John Stevens and John Vernon.

On 24 August 1694 the two witnesses gave a sworn statement on St Helena clarifying the scope of the document. They attested that Harvey had intended the will to cover only those effects he held on the island. Any property he held in England had already been disposed of by a separate will sent to his mother, Mary Harvey, and he had not wished that earlier will to be set aside or altered.

Interpretations

The geographically limited grant to Foid shows how a mariner with assets in more than one jurisdiction could partition his estate by location rather than by category of goods. The St Helena will operated only on movables physically present on the island, leaving the English estate to be administered under a separate instrument already in the hands of his mother. The witnesses' later attestation served to fix that boundary on the record, so that the local executor's authority could not be read as extending to property in England.

The sworn attestation of 24 August 1694, made a month after the will itself, performed a function distinct from witnessing the signature. The witnesses returned to clarify the testator's intent regarding the English will and to forestall any later argument that the broad revocation clause in the island document had set aside the earlier disposition. The procedure shows how the island's small legal apparatus used supplementary oaths to record matters of intention that the written instrument had not made explicit.

Speculations

The decision to record the limited scope of the will in a separate sworn statement, rather than in the body of the document itself, suggests that the problem only became apparent after the will was drafted. The general words covering all goods, chattels and ready money would, on a strict reading, have revoked the English disposition by implication. The August attestation looks like a corrective step taken once someone, perhaps Foid or the witnesses themselves, recognised the risk that Harvey's mother might be displaced from the English estate by the broader revocation clause in the island will.

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In The Name of God Amen

The 27[th] day of March according to the Computation of the Church of England 1695 John Stevens of the I[s]land S[t] Helena Chirurgeon being Sick of body but of perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e to the Almighty god for the [s]ame doe make con[s]titute and appoint this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In manner and forme following that is to [s]ay

Fir[s]t and principally I bequeath and committ my Soul into the hands of Almighty god hoping and a[s]suredly bele[i]ving to receive free pardon and Remi[s]sion of my Sins by and through the Meritorious death and pa[s]sion of our Lord Je[s]us Chri[s]t and through his merits to receive Eternall bli[s]s with his cho[s]en and Elect as for my body I committ to th Ground from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[s]tian like manner at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned and for tho[s]e wordly po[s]se[s]sions it hath plea[s]ed Almighty god to lend unto me (far above my de[s]erts) I give bequeath and di[s]po[s]e as followeth that is to [s]ay

I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Mary Stevens (after my debts paid and funerall charges defraid) all and [s]ingular my lands hou[s]e or hou[s]es goods Chattles Books bonds bills ready moneys or any other thing what[s]oever that of right I can lay claime unto and by the[s]e pre[s]ents doe make con[s]titute and ordain my Said beloved wife Mary Stevens to be Sole Executrix of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking by the[s]e pre[s]ents all other will or wills by me heretofore made Either by word or deed but this only to be taken for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Sealed and delivered in the pre[s]ence of us James Rider John: Stevens John Vernon

Probat Coram Gubnator et Concilio de In[s]ula S[ct]e Helena 9 [s]eptembris 1695 Et Copia do atte[s]tate Exa[i]ate cum originals p[r] John: Vernon Cl[er]k Conc[il]

In the name of God, amen. On 27 March 1695, by the calendar of the Church of England, John Stevens of St Helena, surgeon, set down his last will and testament. He was sick in body but, by his own account, of sound mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God, hoping for pardon through Christ, and directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executrix.

He turned then to his temporal estate. To his wife Mary Stevens, once his debts and funeral charges had been settled, he gave everything he could lawfully claim, including his lands, his house or houses, his goods and chattels, his books, bonds, bills, ready money and anything else of his. He appointed her sole executrix and revoked all earlier wills, whether spoken or written.

The will was sealed and delivered in the presence of James Rider, John Stevens and John Vernon.

It was proved before the Governor and Council of St Helena on 9 September 1695. The copy was attested and examined against the original by John Vernon, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The grant to Mary Stevens departs from the more usual settler practice of partitioning assets among friends, creditors and named beneficiaries. By giving his wife the entire estate as sole legatee and sole executrix, Stevens consolidated ownership and administration in one person. The arrangement removed any need for a residuary clause or for executors' fees, and gave Mary undivided control over the conversion of the goods and the settlement of debts.

The probate clause shows how testamentary jurisdiction on St Helena was exercised. The Governor and Council, sitting together, performed the function discharged in England by the ecclesiastical courts, granting probate and certifying the copy against the original. The role of John Vernon as clerk of the Council, who also appears as a witness to the will itself, illustrates how a small administrative cadre on the island handled both the drafting and the proving of testamentary documents. The Latin form of the probate endorsement preserved the conventional language of English ecclesiastical practice within a secular colonial tribunal.

Speculations

The decision to vest everything in Mary Stevens without naming a backup executor or a contingent beneficiary suggests confidence that she would be present on the island to take up the administration immediately. Unlike the Cannady will of May 1693, which assumed the wife and daughter were overseas and might never return, this document treats the wife as available and capable of acting at once. The absence of any survivorship clause or fallback to other relatives points to a household firmly settled on St Helena rather than divided between the island and England.

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In The Name of God Amen

This tenth day of June according to the Computation of the Church of England 1695 I John Knipe of the I[s]land of S[t] Helena free planter being Sick and weak of body but of good and perfect mind and memory prai[s]ed be God do make Con[s]titute appoint this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following that is to [s]ay

Fir[s]t and foremo[s]t I commit my Soule into the hands of the Almighty God hoping and a[s]suredly bele[i]ving to receive free pardon and remi[s]sion of all my Sins pa[s]t and for my body I commit to the ground from whence it came to be buried at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors hereafter named and for tho[s]e wordly po[s]se[s]sions it has plea[s]ed God far above my de[s]erts to give me I give and di[s]po[s]e as followeth Vi[zt].

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Mother Anne Knipe (now in England) the Sum of twenty pounds if [s]he comes to this I[s]land to receive it Together with the provi[s]ion growing in a plantation adjoyning to the land of Prai[s]e Pledgerd and the u[s]e of one Black called George during her naturall life or the time [s]he dwells on this I[s]land and no longer and after her death or her departure from this I[s]land (if [s]he doth come as afore[s]aid) I give and bequeath the Said [s]lave to all my Children

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Mary Knipe the third part of all and Singular the re[s]t of my E[s]tate let the [s]ame con[s]i[s]t in any [s]pecie what[s]oever.

Item I give unto my well beloved Mother Two head Cattle Vi[zt]. Two Heiffers

Item I give unto my well beloved Children John and Ann the other two third parts remaining of my E[s]tate not as yet di[s]po[s]ed of to be Equally divided betweene them yet my will and plea[s]ure is that my Said beloved wife Mary Knipe have and keep in her po[s]se[s]sion what is given and bequeathed to my Said children John and Anne Knipe untill they come of age or married

Item I appoint and ordaine my tru[s]ty and well beloved freinds Prai[s]e Pledgerd and Richard Leach to be my whole and Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament revoking all other will or wills heretofore by mee made either by word or deed but this only to be taken for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this 10 day of June 1695

Sealed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of us Ri[s]pin Wills John Knipe his One[s] O Queeny mark John Vernon

In the name of God, amen. On 10 June 1695, by the calendar of the Church of England, John Knipe of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of good and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God, hoping for pardon, and directed that his body be buried at the discretion of his executors.

He then disposed of his worldly goods as follows.

To his mother Anne Knipe, then in England, he gave £20 0s 0d, payable only if she came to the island to receive it. He added the provisions then growing on a plantation adjoining the land of Praise Pledgerd, and the use of a black slave called George, for her natural life or for as long as she remained on St Helena. On her death, or on her departure from the island if she came at all, George was to pass to all of Knipe's children.

To his mother he also gave two head of cattle, namely two heifers.

To his wife Mary Knipe he gave one third of all the rest of his estate, in whatever form it stood.

To his children John and Ann he gave the remaining two thirds, to be divided equally between them. Mary was to keep their portion in her hands until they came of age or married.

He appointed Praise Pledgerd and Richard Leach as sole executors and revoked all earlier wills, whether spoken or written.

The will was sealed and delivered in the presence of Rispin Wills, Ones Queeny and John Vernon. Knipe signed by mark.

Interpretations

The description free planter places Knipe within the recognised tier of settler agriculturalists on St Helena, distinct both from Company servants and from indentured or transported labourers. A free planter held land in his own right and worked it with his own household and slaves. The status carried specific rights to plantation ground and to the keeping of cattle, both of which appear in the bequests.

The treatment of George illustrates the division of property rights in a slave between use and reversion that also appeared in the Cannady will of May 1693. Knipe gave his mother only the use of George during her life or her residence on the island, while the reversionary interest was vested in his children. The slave himself remained an undivided asset and was not partitioned between beneficiaries; instead, successive holders took the right to his labour at different times.

Speculations

The decision to make the entire gift to Anne Knipe conditional on her presence on the island suggests that Knipe regarded her likely arrival as uncertain. By tying the cash, the provisions and the use of George to her actual residence, he avoided the awkwardness of sending money to England and the loss of value that would follow from leaving plantation produce or a slave assigned to an absent owner. The structure looks designed to draw her to the island if she was willing to come, while ensuring that nothing was wasted if she was not.

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In The Name of God Amen

The 11[th] day of february 1695 6 I William Bowman of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being very weak and [s]ick of body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertain E[s]tate of this Tran[s]itory life and that all fle[s]h mu[s]t yeild unto death when it [s]hall plea[s]e God to call do make Con[s]titute Ordaine and declare This my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In manner and forme following Revoking and annulling by the[s]e pre[s]ents all and every Te[s]tament and Te[s]taments will and wills heretofore by me made and delivered either by word or writing and this to be taken only for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and none other and fir[s]t being penitent and [s]orry from the bottom of my heart for my Sins pa[s]t mo[s]t humbly de[s]iring forgivene[s]s for the [s]ame I give and committ my Soul to Almighty God my Sauiour and Redeemer In whom and by the merrits of Je[s]us Chri[s]t I tru[s]t and beleive a[s]suredly to be [s]aued and to have full remi[s]sion and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body at the generall day of Re[s]urrection [s]hall ri[s]e again with joy and through the merits of Chri[s]ts death and pa[s]sion po[s]se[s]s and Inherit the kingdome of heaven prepared for his elect and cho[s]en and my body to be buried in [s]uch a place chri[s]tian and decent manner where it [s]hall plea[s]e any executors hereafter named to appoint and now for the [s]etling of my temporall e[s]tate and [s]uch goods chattles and debts as it hath plea[s]ed god farr above my de[s]erts to be[s]tow upon me I do order and di[s]po[s]e the [s]ame in manner and forme following That is to [s]ay fir[s]t I will that all tho[s]e debts and duties I owe in right or con[s]cience to any manner of per[s]on or per[s]ons what[s]oever [s]hall be well and truly contented & paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decea[s]e by my Executors hereafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son John Bowman thirty Acres of land twenty of which is my Lott land and the other ten next adjoyning to it with the me[s]suage hou[s]e belonging to the afore[s]aid twenty Acres of land

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Grand[s]on John Brian after his mother Grace Brians decea[s]e thirty acres of land adjoyning to the above mentioned thirty Acres of land and whereas all the wood belonging to the whole Sixty acres of land being and lyes upon the la[s]t mentioned thirty Acres of land which I have willed and bequeathed to my afore[s]aid Grand Son John Brian I will that the afore[s]aid wood be equally divided betweene my afore[s]aid Son John Bowman and my [s]aid Grand[s]on John Brian and that after the divi[s]ion made of his [s]aid wood the Lott which [s]hall be belonging to my Said Son John Bowman [s]hall be left [s]tanding as long as my afore[s]aid Son John Bowman [s]hall think fitt

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Grandaughter Grace Brian a Heifer Calfe one year old

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Grand[s]on Conrad Brian one Heifer calfe about one year old

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Grace Brian immediately after my decea[s]e that bed bed[s]ted and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging whereon I now lye in

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son John Bowman and my well beloved daughter Grace Brian all the Cattle Swine provi[s]ions and other moueables what[s]oever to be equally divided betweene the Said John Bowman and Grace Brian

Item I give and bequeath unto my afore[s]aid beloved Son John Bowman and beloved daughter Grace Brian one Black man Slave called Jack to be Equally divided betweene them both

In the name of God, amen. On 11 February 1696, by the calendar of the Church of England, William Bowman of St Helena, being very sick and weak in body but of sound memory by his own account, set down his last will and testament. He revoked all earlier wills, whether spoken or written.

He commended his soul to God, asking forgiveness of his sins, and trusted through the merits of Christ to inherit the kingdom of heaven. His body was to be buried in Christian and decent manner in a place chosen by his executors.

He turned then to his temporal estate. He directed that all his lawful debts and duties be paid in convenient time after his death by his executors.

To his son John Bowman he gave thirty acres of land. Twenty of these acres were his original lott land, and the remaining ten lay adjoining. The bequest included the messuage and house belonging to the twenty acres.

To his grandson John Brian, after the death of John's mother Grace Brian, he gave a further thirty acres of land adjoining the first parcel. All the timber on the whole sixty acres stood on this second portion. The wood was to be divided equally between John Bowman and John Brian, and after the division was made John Bowman's share was to be left standing for as long as he thought fit.

To his granddaughter Grace Brian he gave a heifer calf of about one year old.

To his grandson Conrad Brian he gave a heifer calf of about one year old.

To his daughter Grace Brian he gave, to take effect immediately on his death, the bed and bedstead on which he then lay, with all the appurtenances belonging to it.

To his son John Bowman and his daughter Grace Brian, jointly and in equal shares, he gave all his cattle, swine, provisions and other movable goods.

To the same son and daughter, in equal shares, he gave a black slave called Jack.

Interpretations

The structure of the land bequest reveals how the original allotment of plantation ground on St Helena could be enlarged over time by the addition of adjoining parcels. Bowman distinguishes between his lott land, the twenty acres granted to him as his original settler allocation, and the further ten acres next adjoining, which he had acquired separately. The full sixty acres treated in the will represent the cumulative landholding of a planter who had added to his initial grant by purchase, exchange or further grant from the Company.

The division of the timber illustrates how a particular concentration of value on one parcel of land could be partitioned separately from the land itself. Because all the wood on the sixty acres stood on the half going to John Brian, an equal division of the timber between the son and the grandson was used to balance the two shares. The further provision that John Bowman's share might be left standing preserved his option to take the wood as a future asset rather than felling it at once, in effect granting him a profit à prendre over land he did not own.

Speculations

The decision to vest the second thirty acres in the grandson John Brian directly, rather than in his mother, suggests an effort to prevent the parcel from being absorbed into the property of any future husband of Grace Brian. By skipping a generation in the formal title while preserving her use during her life, Bowman ensured that the land would descend along the Brian male line. The structure looks designed to protect the parcel against the operation of marital property rules that would have given a second husband control of land vested absolutely in Grace.

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Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son John Bowman his Son intended to be named John Bowman the Summe of five pounds

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Grace Brians child that now [s]he bares in her body the Sum of Twenty [s]hillings

Item my will is that all my afore[s]aid e[s]tate remaine wholly and Entire into the hands of my well beloved wife Anne Bowman (the bed bequeathed to Grace Brian excepted) whil[s]t [s]he remaines a live whom I do con[s]titute and ordain with my afore[s]aid beloved Son John Bowman to be the Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament La[s]tly I do utterly renounce di[s]annull and revoke all other will or wills Te[s]tament or Te[s]taments heretofore by me made either by word or writing and this to be taken only for my la[s]t will and te[s]tament and none other In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and Seale as above written

Witne[s]s Henry Cole[s] William Bowman her Grace 6 Coul[s]on markes Mathew Bazett

The above Said will was proved by the oathes of Henry Cale[s] & Matt: Bazett before Govern[r] & Councell this 14 day of June 1697 & Recorded p[r] me John Vernon Cl[er]k Conc[il]

To his son John Bowman's son, then unborn but intended to be named John Bowman, he gave £5 0s 0d.

To the child then carried by his daughter Grace Brian he gave £1 0s 0d.

He directed that the whole of his estate, except the bed already given to Grace Brian, remain in the hands of his wife Anne Bowman for her lifetime. He appointed her, together with his son John Bowman, as joint executors. He revoked all earlier wills, whether spoken or written.

The will was witnessed by Henry Coles, Grace Coulson and Matthew Bazett. Grace Coulson signed by mark.

The will was proved on the oaths of Henry Coles and Matthew Bazett before the Governor and Council on 14 June 1697 and recorded by John Vernon, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The cash legacies to the two unborn children show that gifts could be vested in a beneficiary in utero, with the named amount held against the birth of a living child. The disparity between the £5 to the expected son of John Bowman and the £1 to Grace Brian's child reflects the different position of the recipients within the descent of the estate. The grandson destined to carry his grandfather's name received a sum five times larger than the gift to Grace's unborn child, marking a preference for the male line through the son over the female line through the daughter.

The probate clause records that the will was proved by the oaths of two witnesses before the Governor and Council. The procedure followed the same form as for the Stevens will of September 1695, with the Council acting as the testamentary tribunal of the island and John Vernon again serving as clerk of record. The repeated appearance of Vernon in this role across the wills of Harvey, Stevens and Bowman shows the continuity of the clerical apparatus through which testamentary business was processed.

Speculations

The decision to fix the legacy to John Bowman's expected son at five times the amount given to Grace Brian's unborn child suggests a deliberate weighting in favour of the male line through the testator's son. The naming of the future grandchild as John Bowman, the third in the line to bear that name, points to a conscious effort to perpetuate the identity of the family through the son's issue. The smaller gift to Grace's child, whose sex was unknown and whose surname would be Brian, reflects the lesser weight given to issue carrying a different name.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen I Mary Dixon the wife of Thomas Dixon of the Said I[s]land Soldier being in a very Sick bad and weak condition but of perfect and [s]ound memory prai[s]ed be almighty god for the [s]ame and by the power and vertue of a deed of gift from Thomas Dixon my afore[s]aid hu[s]band I doo make my will and Te[s]tament in forme and manner as followeth

Fir[s]t I appoint and bequeath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God that made it and my body I commit to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in a decent manner at [the] di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors as [s]hall be hereafter mentioned In Expectation that it [s]hall ari[s]e at the la[s]t day by the power and Re[s]urrection of our Lord and Sauiour Je[s]us Chri[s]t and that by his merits I [s]hall obtaine remi[s]sion of my Sins and Inherit the Kingdom of heaven and for the [s]ettlement of my Temporall E[s]tate which God hath bin plea[s]ed to be[s]tow upon me farr above my de[s]erts I do di[s]po[s]e of it by the power and vertue of the afore[s]aid deed of Gift from the Said Tho[s] Dixon my afore[s]aid hu[s]band to mee Mary Dixon his afore[s]aid wife In manner and forme as followeth Viz

Imprimis I will that what debts what[s]oever I owe to any manner of per[s]on or per[s]ons what[s]oever be paid and [s]ati[s]fied out of my afore[s]aid E[s]tate as is mentioned by the afore[s]aid deed of gift in as convenient time fitt and nece[s]sary as my Executor [s]hall think fitt likewi[s]e my will is that my funerall charges be fully [s]ati[s]fied out of my afore[s]aid E[s]tate I bequeath unto my well beloved Son Nathaniell Barrington a certain [s]tock of cattle of his owne fathers marke which [s]tock [s]hall be kept Intire (or if any [s]old) the produce [s]hall be for his own u[s]e

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Sarah Clifton widdow the one halfe of Twenty Acres of land late belonging to Edward Cro[s]by which [s]hall be towards the North or downe Side Valley

Item I give and bequeath unto my [s]aid daughter ten thou[s]and Yams two large pewter di[s]hes marked with Tho: M ffriz: Shyrnin one [s]mall dito Six pewter plates one large feather bed with a Bed[s]ted Quilt 3 pillows 1 pair [s]heets one table with two drawers in it and one forme one che[s]t of drawers in this country Item one Red bob tayled cow called Boll and one Black Cow called Lovely with all there increa[s]e one of them having already a Heifer: Item I give and bequeath unto my afore[s]aid daught[r] Sarah Clifton one Black man Slave named Gamallas

Item I give and bequeath unto my afore[s]aid daughter one Engli[s]h Guiny one quarter of a Coppang in the forme of a long [s]quare and one peice of gold valued by E[s]timation about Twenty [s]hillings

Item two Silver [s]poons the one great and the other [s]mall

I give and bequeath to my well beloved Son Robert Gurling one gold Ear Ring and one Hoop gold Ring and ten [s]hillings in money

I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Margarett Gurling one gold Ring with I D and one Hoop gold Ring with this po[s]ey where Love I finde I will be kinde Item I give unto my [s]aid daughter margarett Gurling one Large che[s]t of drawers.

I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Anne Gurling two gold Rings one India Bed[s]ted Curtains and Vallans belonging unto it

In the name of God, amen. Mary Dixon, wife of Thomas Dixon of St Helena, soldier, set down her will. She was very sick, bad and weak in condition, but, by her own account, of perfect and sound memory, and gave thanks to God. She made the will by the power and authority of a deed of gift earlier executed in her favour by her husband Thomas Dixon.

She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be buried decently at the discretion of her executors. She turned then to her temporal estate, which she disposed of by virtue of the deed of gift from her husband.

She directed that her debts be paid from the estate within such time as her executor thought fit, and that her funeral charges be fully met from the same.

To her son Nathaniel Barrington she gave a stock of cattle marked with his own father's mark. The stock was to be kept entire, and if any beast was sold the proceeds were to be applied to his use.

To her daughter Sarah Clifton, widow, she gave one half of a twenty-acre parcel of land previously belonging to Edward Crosby. The half to pass was that lying towards the north or down side of the valley.

To Sarah she also gave 10,000 yams, two large pewter dishes marked with Tho. M. Friz. Shyrnin, one smaller pewter dish of the same kind, six pewter plates, one large feather bed with bedstead, quilt, three pillows and one pair of sheets, one table with two drawers and one form, and one chest of drawers of local manufacture.

To the same daughter she gave one red bob-tailed cow called Boll and one black cow called Lovely, with all their increase, one of the two already having a heifer at foot.

To Sarah Clifton she also gave a black slave called Gamallas.

To the same daughter she gave one English guinea, one quarter of a coppang in the form of a long square, and one piece of gold valued by estimation at £0 1s 0d.

She added two silver spoons, one large and one small.

To her son Robert Gurling she gave one gold earring, one plain gold ring, and £0 10s 0d in money.

To her daughter Margaret Gurling she gave one gold ring marked with the letters I D, and one plain gold ring inscribed Where Love I Find I Will Be Kind. To Margaret she also gave one large chest of drawers.

To her daughter Anne Gurling she gave two gold rings, one Indian bedstead, and the curtains and valance belonging to it.

Interpretations

The opening reference to the deed of gift from Thomas Dixon establishes the unusual legal foundation of this will. Under the common law of coverture a married woman could not ordinarily devise property of her own, since her personal estate vested in her husband on marriage. Mary Dixon's testamentary capacity here derives not from her independent status but from a specific instrument by which Thomas Dixon transferred property to her with the power to dispose of it. The deed of gift functioned as the legal device by which a husband could enable his wife to make a will over identified assets, and the will operates only within the scope of that authority.

The land bequest to Sarah Clifton divides a twenty-acre parcel formerly held by Edward Crosby and assigns the half lying towards the north or down side of the valley. The directional language reflects how parcels on the island were identified by their position on the slope of the valley in which they lay, and the precision of the description indicates that the parcel had been physically divided or was readily divisible along a known line. The use of a deceased predecessor's name to identify the land shows that holdings retained the name of a former owner long enough to serve as a working description.

Speculations

The use of a deed of gift to enable Mary Dixon to make a will suggests a deliberate arrangement between husband and wife to direct the property she had brought into the marriage to her own children rather than allowing it to remain in Thomas Dixon's hands at her death. The presence of children from at least two earlier marriages, none of them his, made the ordinary operation of coverture awkward. Without the deed of gift, the property would have passed to Thomas Dixon on Mary's death and from him by his own will, leaving her sons and daughters dependent on his disposition rather than hers. The deed solves that problem by giving Mary the testamentary capacity to send the goods directly to Nathaniel Barrington, the Cliftons and the Gurlings.

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I give and bequeath unto my well beloved hu[s]band Thomas Dixon by the power and vertue of the afore[s]aid gift Twenty pounds Currant money of the [s]aid I[s]land or [s]tore pay One feather bed which was his owne before 1 pair of [s]heets one Jarr of Sugar Containing about fifty pounds of [s]ugar one che[s]t.

I give and bequeath after my debts funerall charges and Legacies be ffully paid and [s]ati[s]fied the Remaineing of my afore[s]aid e[s]tate unto my three Children Robert Margarett and Anne Gurling To be divided Equally among[s]t them be the [s]ame Lands hou[s]es goods ready moneys debts &c And whereas there is a hou[s]e and plantation in the country with fruit therein whether my Executor hereafter mentioned [s]hall think fitt to keep the Said hou[s]e in repaire and Plantation planting and digging or [s]ell the [s]aid hou[s]e and fruit on the ground I leave it to their di[s]cre[t]ion for the benefit of my afore[s]aid three children Robert Margarett and Anne Gurling

La[s]tly I Nominate and appoint M[r] Edward Edmunds and M[r] John Lufkin of the Said I[s]land Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament And I al[s]o bequeath to each of them twenty [s]hillings to buy each of them a Ring and doe al[s]o de[s]ire that the wor[s]hipfull the Govern[r] for the time being (if he plea[s]e) to be Over[s]eer of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament bequeathing unto him Twenty [s]hillings to buy him a Ring Revoking all other wills and Te[s]taments what[s]oever by one before made acknowledging this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this 11[th] day of July 1696

Signed Sealed and d[d] her in the pre[s]ence of Mary V Dixon Sam: Haferby[?] marks Tho: Earls Matthew Bazett

She having no u[s]e of her hands the Evidences upon Oath declared that [s]ome per[s]on was forced to guide her hand but owned her marks again[s]t the Seals for her marks Te[s]ta p[r] me John Vernon Cleric[o] Concel[i]

This will was proved before the Governor and Councell by the Oathes of Matthew Bazett and Thomas Earls on Tue[s]day the 6 day of 8b[er] 1696. Recorded p[r] me John: Vernon

To her husband Thomas Dixon, by the power of the deed of gift, she gave £20 0s 0d in current money of the island or in store pay. She added one feather bed that had been his own before, one pair of sheets, one jar of sugar containing about 50 pounds weight, and one chest.

She gave the remainder of her estate, after her debts, funeral charges and legacies had been paid, to her three children Robert, Margaret and Anne Gurling, to be divided equally between them. The residue covered lands, houses, goods, ready money and debts due to her.

She referred specifically to a house and plantation in the country, with fruit growing on the ground. She left it to her executors to decide whether to keep the house in repair and the plantation planted and dug, or to sell the house and the fruit on the ground. The choice was to be made for the benefit of Robert, Margaret and Anne Gurling.

She appointed Edward Edmunds and John Lufkin as executors and gave each of them £1 0s 0d to buy a mourning ring. She asked the Governor for the time being, if he so pleased, to act as overseer of the will, and gave him £1 0s 0d for a ring. She revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on 11 July 1696 in the presence of Samuel Haferby, Thomas Earls and Matthew Bazett. Mary Dixon signed by mark.

Because she had no use of her hands, the witnesses swore that another person had been required to guide her hand, and that she had acknowledged the marks against the seals as her own. The attestation was recorded by John Vernon, clerk of the Council.

The will was proved before the Governor and Council on Tuesday 6 October 1696, on the oaths of Matthew Bazett and Thomas Earls, and recorded by John Vernon.

Interpretations

The gift to Thomas Dixon under the deed of gift completes the circular structure of the will. The deed had originally moved Mary Dixon's property out of her husband's hands so that she could dispose of it by will. The will then returns a defined portion to him, including a cash sum of £20 0s 0d, household items and a jar of sugar, while sending the bulk of the estate to her own children. The arrangement gives Thomas a recognised share without restoring his automatic title to the whole.

The interval between execution on 11 July 1696 and probate on 6 October 1696 indicates that Mary Dixon died at some point within those three months. The short interval between death and probate, taken with the comparable timetable in the Stevens will of 1695, indicates that the Council moved promptly to prove the wills of recently deceased islanders once the witnesses were available to swear to them.

Speculations

The careful return of a defined share to Thomas Dixon, rather than treating him simply as the residual heir of his wife's property, suggests that the deed of gift had been drafted with a specific intention to limit his share and to identify the items he was to receive. The £20 0s 0d cash legacy and the named domestic items, including the feather bed already known to be his own before the marriage, look like the agreed components of his portion under the deed. The will gives effect to that earlier private arrangement and records the outcome in the public testamentary record.

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In The Name of God Amen

I John Cleaverlee of this I[s]land S[t] Helena being Sick but of [s]ound and perfect memory doe make my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following:

Item I bequeath to my well beloved wife this hou[s]e and land with provi[s]sions belonging to it be[s]ide her [s]hares according to Law if [s]he [s]hall require it but after her death this hou[s]e and Land with all things belonging to it [s]hall be divided among my children which [s]hall then be Living

Item I bequeath to all my Children which have not cattle already one heifer to begin withall

Item I bequeath to my daughter Margarett if [s]he [s]hall marry in this I[s]land one feather Bed with all things belonging to it and the little che[s]t of drawers

Item I bequeath to my Son John my cabbage tree Land

To be [s]hort I bequeath to all my Children Equall [s]hares of what good god hath given mee

Provided this be that part above[s]aid I would fall to their [s]hares when an equal Valuation be made of my E[s]tate

This is my la[s]t will Revoking all others In witne[s]s my hand and [s]eale the 2[d] day of Augu[s]t 1696

Wittne[s]ses Thomas Swallow James Rider John Cleaverlee

The afore[s]aid will was proved before Governor and Councill by the oathes of the afore[s]aid wittne[s]ses Thomas Swallow and James Rider on Tue[s]day the 12[th] day of Jan[r] 1696 7 & Regi[s]tred

p[r] me John Vernon Cl[er] Co[ncil]

In the name of God, amen. John Cleaverlee of St Helena, being sick but of sound and perfect memory by his own account, set down his last will and testament on 2 August 1696.

To his wife he gave the house and land, with the provisions belonging to it, in addition to her shares under the law if she chose to claim them. After her death the house, the land and everything belonging to it were to be divided among such of his children as were then living.

To each of his children who did not yet have cattle of their own he gave one heifer as a starting stock.

To his daughter Margaret, if she married on the island, he gave one feather bed with everything belonging to it, together with the little chest of drawers.

To his son John he gave his cabbage tree land.

He gave all his children equal shares of what God had given him, with the items already specifically bequeathed to be counted against the share of each child when an equal valuation of the estate was made.

He revoked all earlier wills. The will was witnessed by Thomas Swallow and James Rider.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on Tuesday 12 January 1697, on the oaths of Thomas Swallow and James Rider, and registered by John Vernon, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The phrase her shares according to Law if she shall require it reveals how the will sits alongside, rather than displacing, the customary entitlements of a widow. The wife retained the right to claim her dower or customary third in the estate, and the gift of the house and land was made in addition to that share rather than in substitution for it. The provision gave her a choice between accepting the testamentary gift alone and claiming the statutory share as well, and recognised that her legal entitlement could not be excluded by the will.

The arrangement creates a life interest in the widow with a remainder to the surviving children. The land and house pass to her during her life and are then divided among such of the children as remain alive at her death. The mechanism resembles the structure used in the Bowman will of February 1696, where the widow held the whole estate for her lifetime before it passed to the named beneficiaries, although here the substantive descent is to the children jointly rather than to specifically named heirs.

Speculations

The decision to leave the residual house and land to be divided among such of the children as were living at the widow's death, rather than vesting individual shares immediately, suggests an effort to preserve flexibility for the next generation. By postponing the division until the widow's death, the will avoided fragmenting the working plantation during her lifetime and allowed the share of any child who died before her to accrue to the survivors. The structure protected the integrity of the property while the widow was supported by it, and concentrated the descent on the surviving children rather than the families of those who died earlier.

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In The Name of God Amen

I Andrew Wil[s]on of the I[s]land of S[t] Hellena free planter being very Sick and weak in body but of good and perfect minde and memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the Same

Imprimis I give and bequeath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God from whence it came hoping and Stedfa[s]tly bele[i]ving in and through the merits and mediation of Je[s]us Chri[s]t my Sadiour and Redeemer to enjoy Eternall Saluation and as for my wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed god out of his bounteous liberality to be[s]tow upon me I give and bequeath as followeth.

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Martha Wil[s]on all my whole lands hou[s]es Plantations Cattle bonds Bills Sume and Sumes of money and two Blacks that [s]hall bee at the time of my decea[s]e

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Son George Will[s]on living in Scotland twelve pound of good and lawfull money of England if in ca[s]e the Said George Wil[s]on or any of his children [s]hould come to the Said I[s]land to demand the [s]ame

Item I doe make ordaine con[s]titute and appoint my two beloved freinds Thomas Swallow and James Rider planters of the Said I[s]land to be my Over[s]eers of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and as a token of my Love I doe give and bequeath unto my Said Over[s]eers twenty Dollars to be paid by my Executrix hereafter mentioned

Item I doe make my loving daughter Martha Will[s]on my full and Sole Executrix of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking and di[s]anulling all other wills and Te[s]taments by mee made

Item I give unto my Son James Will[s]on one Shilling of good and lawfull money of England In witne[s]s whereof I have here unto [s]ett my hand and [s]eal this Eight day of february Anno Dmi 1696 7

Signed Sealed and delivered in the pre[s]ence of us Andrew Wil[s]on John Cole[s] W[m] Molling

This will was proved before Governor and Councill the 19[th] day of Aprill 1697 Te[s]ta John Vernon Cleric[o] Con[s]il[i]

In the name of God, amen. Andrew Wilson of St Helena, free planter, was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of good and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God, trusting through the merits of Christ for eternal salvation. He then turned to his worldly goods.

To his daughter Martha Wilson he gave all his lands, houses, plantations, cattle, bonds, bills, sums of money and the two slaves that should be his at the time of his death.

To his son George Wilson, then living in Scotland, he gave £12 0s 0d in lawful money of England. The legacy was payable only if George, or any of his children, came to St Helena to demand it.

To his son James Wilson he gave £0 1s 0d in lawful money of England.

He appointed Thomas Swallow and James Rider, planters of the island, as overseers of his will. As a token of his regard he gave each of them 20 dollars, to be paid by his executrix.

He appointed his daughter Martha Wilson as sole executrix and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on 8 February 1697 in the presence of John Coles and William Molling.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on 19 April 1697, attested by John Vernon, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The concentration of the entire working estate in Martha Wilson, both as sole legatee of the substantive assets and as sole executrix, follows the pattern seen in the Stevens will of March 1695, where a single beneficiary took both the property and the administration. The arrangement gives Martha undivided control of the lands, houses, plantations, livestock, written credit instruments, cash and slaves. The phrase the two slaves that shall be at the time of my decease anticipates the possibility that the number might change between the date of the will and the date of death, and ties the gift to the actual position of the estate at the moment of succession.

The appointment of Swallow and Rider as overseers, rather than executors, places them in a supervisory role over Martha's administration. Both men also appear as witnesses to the Cleaverlee will of August 1696, where they swore to the testator's signature, and the recurrence shows the same small group of established planters serving repeatedly in the various capacities required by island testamentary practice. The use of overseers parallels the appointment of the Governor as overseer in the Dixon will of July 1696 and reflects a recognised practice of layering a supervisory office over the executor's authority.

Speculations

The decision to vest the whole working estate in Martha Wilson, while reducing both sons to conditional or nominal legacies, suggests that Andrew Wilson regarded his daughter as the only child who would in practice take up the management of the island holding. With George in Scotland and James apparently excluded for reasons not stated, the workable choice lay in the one child who was present and able to operate the plantation. The structure of the will follows the practical position of the family rather than the conventional preference for sons over daughters in the descent of land.

59

44

I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen this twenty eight day of february one thou[s]and Six hundred Ninty Seven eight according to the Computation of the Church of England I Thomas Phillips being very Sick and weak but prai[s]ed be Almighty God in perfect minde and memory doe make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In manner and forme following

Imprimis I give and bequeath my Soul to Almighty God hoping through the meritorious death and Pa[s]sion of our Lord and Sauiour Je[s]us Chri[s]t to receive free pardon and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins And as for my body to be buried in a Chri[s]tian buriall at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors which [s]hall be hereafter mentioned and as to the [s]etling of my temporall e[s]tate I doe order give and di[s]po[s]e of the [s]ame in manner and forme following

Item I give and bequeath unto Governor Poirer twenty peices gold venetians to make him a Ring

Item I give and bequeath unto my Landlord Hayles all my goods hereon the [s]aid I[s]land be[s]ides One hundred and Ten Dollars in Ca[s]h

Item I give unto the wife of Francis Bird in Lambeth near fox hall Eighty dollars

Item I give unto the poore of the Pari[s]h of Workfworth in Darby[s]hire fifty Pounds at five [s]hillings p[r] Dollar

Item I give unto John Wild five Venetians to buy him a Ring

Item I give and bequeath unto M[r] Thomas Goodwin and M[r] John Tacknall fifty pound to each of them whom I make my whole and Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

Item I give and bequeath all the re[s]t of my E[s]tate unto my father Henry Phillips in the County of Darby[s]hire if in ca[s]e my father be dead unto my mother or if in ca[s]e my mother be dead unto my brother Henry if in ca[s]e of the death of him unto the neare[s]t of my kin In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Signed Sealed Publi[s]hed pronounced and declared by the [s]aid Tho[s] Phillips as his la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in the pre[s]ence Tho: Phillips of us the Sub[s]cribers Vi[zt] Ri[s]pin Wills his Richard R Leach marke Alexander

In the name of God, amen. On 28 February 1698, by the calendar of the Church of England, Thomas Phillips, being very sick and weak but, by his own account, of perfect mind and memory, set down his last will and testament.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executors.

He turned then to his temporal estate.

To Governor Poirier he gave 20 gold Venetians to make a ring.

To his landlord Hayles he gave all his goods on the island, together with 110 dollars in cash.

To the wife of Francis Bird, of Lambeth near Fox Hall, he gave 80 dollars.

To the poor of the parish of Wirksworth in Derbyshire he gave £50 0s 0d, reckoned at five shillings to the dollar.

To John Wild he gave 5 Venetians to buy a ring.

To Thomas Goodwin and John Tacknall he gave £50 0s 0d each, and appointed them sole executors.

He gave the residue of his estate to his father Henry Phillips of Derbyshire. If his father was dead, the residue was to pass to his mother. If she was also dead, it was to pass to his brother Henry. Should Henry also be dead, the residue was to pass to the nearest of his kin.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of Rispin Wills, Richard Leach and Alexander. Richard Leach signed by mark.

Interpretations

The will reveals a testator with substantial financial resources and clear connections to England, distinct from the resident planters who dominate the earlier wills in this series. Phillips disposes of cash legacies in dollars and Venetians, makes a charitable gift to a parish in Derbyshire, and identifies named beneficiaries in Lambeth and in his home county. The geographic reach of the bequests indicates that he was probably a Company servant or visiting trader rather than a settled islander, with assets on St Helena that formed only part of a wider estate.

The gift of 20 gold Venetians to Governor Poirier, to be converted into a mourning ring, performs the same symbolic function as the ring legacies in the Cannady and Dixon wills, but at a markedly higher value. The Venetian, also known as the zecchino, was a Venetian gold ducat circulating in the Indian Ocean trade as a recognised unit of bullion. Twenty such pieces represented a substantial sum, and the choice of this coin for a ring legacy to the Governor reflects both the international currency of the island and the social weight accorded to the gift. The further gift of five Venetians to John Wild for the same purpose follows the same form on a smaller scale.

Speculations

The mixed coinage of the bequests, in Venetians, dollars and sterling, points to a testator engaged with the Indian Ocean trade and accustomed to holding assets in multiple currencies. The presence of gold Venetians in his estate, in quantities sufficient to support legacies of twenty and five pieces, suggests that he had received them in the course of trade rather than carried them from England. The willingness to specify each currency separately, rather than convert everything into sterling, reflects the practical reality that the coins were held in the form in which they had been received and would be paid out in the same form.

60

45

I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the name of God Amen I Rebecca Charle[s]worth widow of the Said I[s]land doe this 24 day of Aprill 1697 make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following being now very Sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e be to god

Fir[s]t and principally I put my Soule into the hands of Almighty God a[s]suredly bele[i]ving to receive free pardon and remi[s]sion for all my Sins through the merits and pa[s]sion of our Lord and Sauiour Je[s]us Chri[s]t and as for my body I committ it to the ground from whence it came to be buried in decent like manner at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors hereafter mentioned and tho[s]e wordly po[s]se[s]sions it has plea[s]ed God to lend unto me far above my de[s]erts I give and bequeath as followeth

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my mo[s]t loving daughters Sarah Rider Katherine Booley and Mary Draper each of them foure Dollars to buy each of them a Ring to wear for my Sake de[s]iring that my Executors hereafter named See the [s]ame done

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Deborah Vernon my gold wedding Ring

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son in Law James Rider one Pe[s]tle and Mortar a China cup and three Dollars to buy him a Ring to wear for my Sake

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son in law Hugh Booly one China bowle and cup and three dollars to buy him a Ring to wear for my Sake

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son in law James Draper three dollars to buy him a Ring to weare for my Sake one peice of Chinch and a Remnant of Coloured Cloath to make his wife a Gowne

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son in law John Vernon one pair of Bra[s]s Sealls and weights and three dollars to buy him a Ring for my Sake

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughters Sarah Rider Katherine Booley Mary Draper and Deborah Vernon all my wearing apparell that now is made cutt or de[s]igned to be made by me to be Equally divided among[s]t them

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Grand Sons James and John Rider and Hugh and Edmond Booly fourty Shillings to be Equally divided among[s]t them to buy them [s]omething to weare for my Sake

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Grandaughter Rebecca Rider one Silver Spoone marked (SR)

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Grandaughter Rebecca Booly one Silver Spoone marked (EHR)

Item I give and bequeath the remaining part of my e[s]tate (after my debts [s]aid and funerall Charges defraid) unto my well beloved Grand daughters Sarah Rider Rebecca Booley Mary Draper and Su[s]annah Vernon to be Equally divided betweene them to be kept and improved for there only u[s]e But if in ca[s]e any of the [s]aid Children [s]hould dye before they are of age or married then my will is that her next brother or Si[s]ter doe Enjoy Such Childs [s]hare and proportion that [s]hall So dye as afore[s]aid but if no brother or Si[s]ter then to the father and Mother of Such Child So dying as afore[s]aid

Item I make Con[s]titute and appoint my Tru[s]ty and well beloved Sons in law James Rider Hugh Booley James Draper and John Vernon Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

In the name of God, amen. On 24 April 1697 Rebecca Charlesworth, widow of St Helena, set down her last will and testament. She was very sick and weak in body but, by her own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be buried decently at the discretion of her executors.

She turned then to her worldly possessions.

To each of her daughters Sarah Rider, Katherine Booley and Mary Draper she gave 4 dollars to buy a ring, and asked her executors to see the rings made.

To her daughter Deborah Vernon she gave her gold wedding ring.

To her son-in-law James Rider she gave one pestle and mortar, one China cup, and 3 dollars to buy a ring.

To her son-in-law Hugh Booley she gave one China bowl and cup, and 3 dollars to buy a ring.

To her son-in-law James Draper she gave 3 dollars to buy a ring, one piece of chintz, and a remnant of coloured cloth to make a gown for his wife.

To her son-in-law John Vernon she gave one pair of brass scales with weights, and 3 dollars to buy a ring.

To her four daughters Sarah Rider, Katherine Booley, Mary Draper and Deborah Vernon she gave all her wearing apparel, whether already made up, cut out, or intended for making by her, to be divided equally between them.

To her grandsons James Rider, John Rider, Hugh Booley and Edmond Booley she gave £2 0s 0d, to be divided equally between them for something to wear in her memory.

To her granddaughter Rebecca Rider she gave one silver spoon marked SR.

To her granddaughter Rebecca Booley she gave one silver spoon marked EHR.

She gave the residue of her estate, after debts and funeral charges, to her granddaughters Sarah Rider, Rebecca Booley, Mary Draper and Susannah Vernon, to be divided equally between them and kept and improved for their use. Should any of the four die before reaching her age or marrying, her share was to pass to the next brother or sister of that child. If she left no brother or sister, the share was to pass to her father and mother.

She appointed her sons-in-law James Rider, Hugh Booley, James Draper and John Vernon as executors of her will.

Interpretations

The will reveals the structure of a family in which four daughters, all married, formed the immediate connection to the testator, with each daughter's husband identified by name and brought into the administration as an executor. The pattern of bequests, distributing items of memorial value to the daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren in turn, allows the family network of the widow Charlesworth to be mapped through the will itself. The four married daughters, Sarah Rider, Katherine Booley, Mary Draper and Deborah Vernon, each appear in the bequests alongside their husbands and, where present, their children.

The instruction that the residue be kept and improved for the granddaughters' use places a fiduciary obligation on the executors. The shares were not to be paid out at once but managed in the interim, with the income or increase applied to the granddaughters' benefit until they came of age or married. The structure parallels the arrangement in the Knipe will of June 1695, where the widow held the children's shares until they reached age or marriage, but here the duty is placed on the executors collectively rather than on a single guardian.

Speculations

The decision to vest the residue in named granddaughters, with the contingent fallback to siblings or parents, suggests that Rebecca Charlesworth was deliberately distinguishing between the daughters who had already received specific bequests and the granddaughters who were to receive the substance of the estate. The daughters had been provided with rings, the wedding ring, the apparel and other named items, while the substantive wealth was directed at the next generation. The structure indicates that the daughters were settled in their own households and that the residue was intended to serve as a portion for granddaughters not yet established.

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46

Item I de[s]ire that Henry Coales of the Said I[s]land Tayler to be Over[s]eer of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament unto whom I bequeath Four Dollars to buy him a Ring to wear for my Sake giving hereby unto him full power to call to account all or any one of my afore[s]aid Executors if at any time or times during their abode in this place they or any one of them [s]hall [s]ell convey Imbezell all or any part of any the E[s]tate given unto my Said four Grandaughters as afore[s]aid and if in ca[s]e the [s]aid Henry Coales will not accept to be Over[s]eer of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament I humbly de[s]ire that the Governor and Councill of the [s]aid I[s]land for the time being will be plea[s]ed to appoint [s]ome per[s]on to whom I give the [s]aid Henry Coales Legacy and power as afore[s]aid Likewi[s]e I humbly entreat the [s]aid Governor and Councill if the [s]aid Henry Coales doth accept to be Over[s]eer as afore[s]aid that if it [s]hould [s]o happen that the Said Henry Coales [s]hould dye before all or any of my afore[s]aid Grandaughters [s]hould be married or gone of the [s]aid I[s]land to appoint another Over[s]eer of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament hereby revoking all other will or wills or Te[s]taments heretofore by me made and this only to be taken for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In Te[s]timony whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this twenty fourth day of Aprill 1697

Sealed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of us Era[s]mus Purling Ja: Bruice Rebecah Charle[s]worth The mark of X Tho Lan[s]downe

This will was proved before Governor and Councill the 3 day of May 1697 by the Oath of Era[s]mus Purling and James Bruice Te[s]ta John Vernon

She asked Henry Coales of the island, tailor, to act as overseer of the will, and gave him 4 dollars to buy a ring in her memory. She gave him full power to call any of her executors to account if, during their time on the island, any of them sold, transferred or embezzled any part of the estate given to her four granddaughters.

If Coales declined the office, she asked the Governor and Council for the time being to appoint another person, who was to receive the same legacy and the same power. If Coales accepted but died before her granddaughters were either married or off the island, she asked the Governor and Council to appoint a further overseer in his place. She revoked all earlier wills.

The will was sealed and delivered on 24 April 1697 in the presence of Erasmus Purling, James Bruice and Thomas Lansdowne. Thomas Lansdowne signed by mark.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on 3 May 1697 on the oaths of Erasmus Purling and James Bruice, attested by John Vernon.

Interpretations

The appointment of Henry Coales as overseer departs from the pattern of choosing a high-ranking figure for the role, as in the Dixon will of July 1696, where the Governor himself was named. Coales is identified by his trade as a tailor, placing him among the working artisans of the settlement rather than the planters, Company servants or military officers. The selection of a tradesman with no apparent kinship tie to the family points to an effort to find a supervisor outside the executor's circle, capable of standing apart from the four sons-in-law and holding them to account.

The express power to call the executors to account if they sold, transferred or embezzled any part of the granddaughters' estate gives the overseer a defined enforcement function rather than the more general supervisory role usual in English testamentary practice. The provision converts the overseer into an active check on the executors, with authority to challenge specific transactions affecting the residue held for the four named granddaughters. The structure recognises the risk that property held in trust for children of tender years might be diminished by the executors' dealings before the granddaughters came of age or married.

Speculations

The detailed structure of the overseer's powers, including the express authority to call the executors to account and the fallback mechanism through the Governor and Council, suggests that Rebecca Charlesworth had specific concerns about the integrity of the administration. With four sons-in-law acting jointly as executors of a residue held for four granddaughters, the potential for differing interests was real. Each executor was the father of one of the residuary beneficiaries, and the temptation to favour the share of his own daughter over those of the others could not be entirely discounted. The independent overseer, drawn from outside the family, was perhaps designed to police the boundaries between the four shares.

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47

I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen the third day of November 1697 I Prai[s]e Pledgerd of the [s]aid I[s]land being Sick in body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty god and calling to Remembrance the Uncertaine [s]tate of this Tran[s]itory life and that all fle[s]h mu[s]t yeild unto death when it [s]hall plea[s]e God to call make con[s]titute ordaine and declare this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In manner and forme following Revoking and di[s]annulling by the[s]e pre[s]ents all and every Te[s]tament and Te[s]taments will and wills heretofore by me made and delivered Either by word or writing and this to be taken only for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and none other And fir[s]t being penitent and Sorry from the bottom of my heart for my Sins mo[s]t humbly de[s]iring forgivene[s]s for the [s]ame I give and committ my Soul to Almighty God my Sauiour and Redeemer in whom and by the merrits of Je[s]us Chri[s]t I tru[s]t and beleive a[s]suredly to be [s]aued and to have full Remi[s]sion and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body at the generall day of Re[s]urrection [s]hall ri[s]e againe with Joy and through and through the merrits of Chri[s]ts death and pa[s]sion po[s]se[s]s and inherit the Kingdom of heaven prepared for his Elect and Cho[s]en and my body to be buried in Such a place where it [s]hall plea[s]e my Executors hereafter named to appoint and now for the Setling of my Temporall E[s]tate and Such goods and Chattles and debts which it hath plea[s]ed God far above my de[s]erts to be[s]tow upon me. I do order give and di[s]po[s]e the [s]ame in manner and forme following that is to [s]ay fir[s]t I will that all tho[s]e debts and duties as I owe in right or con[s]cience to any manner of per[s]on or per[s]ons what[s]oever [s]hall be well and truly contented and paid or ordained to be paid within convenient time after my decea[s]e by my Executors hereafter named

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Sarah Pledgerd five Acres of land lying and being at the head of Sharks Valley with all the provi[s]ions therein contained as well in the [s]aid five Acres as in the other five acres adjoyning thereunto during her life likewi[s]e I give unto my [s]aid well beloved wife all the provi[s]ions contained in ten acres of ground lying and being upon the woody Rige which Land I have hired of the Right Honorable Company and all Moueables and hou[s]hold Stuffe

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Thomas Pledgerd five Acres of land lying and adjoyning to the afore[s]aid mentioned five acres when he comes to age but in the meane while to remaine in my [s]aid beloved wife Sarah Pledgerds hands.

Item I give unto my Said Son Thomas Pledgerd one hou[s]e lying at the upper end of the fort Valley at fort James when he comes to age but to remaine in my Said beloved wifes hands untill the Said time of his minority be expired

Item I give unto my Said Son Thomas two heads of Cattle vi[zt] one Cow and Calfe after my decea[s]e which Said two heads of cattle all the Increa[s]es of it [s]hall to my Said Sons Thomas from the day of my decea[s]e but neverthele[s]s the [s]aid cattle and Increa[s]e to remaine into the hands of my Said beloved wife untill my Said Son is of age

Item I will that the five Acres of land which I have bequeathed unto my Said beloved wife and the five Acres of land bequeathed unto my Said Son Thomas Pledgerd be Equally divided betweene them

Turn Over

In the name of God, amen. On 3 November 1697 Praise Pledgerd of St Helena, being sick in body but, by his own account, of good and perfect memory, set down his last will and testament. He revoked all earlier wills, whether spoken or written.

He commended his soul to God, hoping for pardon through Christ, and directed that his body be buried in such place as his executors should appoint.

He turned then to his temporal estate. He directed that all his lawful debts and duties be paid in convenient time after his death by his executors.

To his wife Sarah Pledgerd he gave five acres of land at the head of Sharks Valley, during her life, with the provisions then growing on it. The gift included the provisions on a further five acres of land adjoining the first parcel. To the same five acres he added the provisions on ten acres of ground at the Woody Ridge, which he held on hire from the Right Honourable Company. He also gave her all his movables and household stuff.

To his son Thomas Pledgerd he gave five acres of land adjoining his mother's five acres, the gift to take effect when he came of age. In the meantime the land was to remain in Sarah's hands.

To Thomas he also gave one house at the upper end of the Fort Valley at Fort James, to take effect when he came of age. The house was to remain in Sarah's hands during his minority.

To Thomas he gave two head of cattle, namely one cow and her calf, to take effect on his death. The increase of the two beasts was to belong to Thomas from the date of death, but the cattle and their increase were to remain in Sarah's hands until he came of age.

He directed that the five acres given to Sarah and the five acres given to Thomas be equally divided between them.

Interpretations

The structure of the bequests divides the land between mother and son in a way that distinguishes the lifetime use given to Sarah from the substantive title vested in Thomas. Sarah took her five acres for life, with the provisions then growing on her own parcel, her son's adjoining parcel and a further ten acres held on hire from the Company. Thomas took the freehold of his own five acres in fee, with the use deferred until he came of age. The arrangement gave the widow the productive capacity of twenty acres during her life while preserving the descent of five of those acres to the son in absolute title.

The deferral of Thomas's interest in the land, the house and the cattle until he came of age, with custody in his mother during the minority, parallels the arrangement in the Knipe will of June 1695, where the widow held the children's shares until they reached age or marriage. The structure gave Sarah Pledgerd the working management of her son's property during his childhood while preserving the substantive title for his benefit. The same provision applied to the increase of the two beasts, which was deemed to belong to Thomas from the date of his father's death even though the cattle remained in Sarah's hands.

Speculations

The decision to defer Thomas's interest in the land, the house and the cattle until he came of age, with Sarah holding everything in the meantime, suggests that Pledgerd intended his widow to maintain the unity of the household and the working capacity of the estate during the son's minority. By concentrating both the residual title and the immediate management in her hands, he avoided the awkwardness of a divided household in which the son's property would have required separate administration. The arrangement assumed that Sarah would not remarry, or at least that her control of the estate during the minority would be sufficient to deter the absorption of the son's property into a new household.

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Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Mary Pledgerd one Black wench called Harrock and two heads of cattle

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son John Pledgerd one Black Girle called Doll and three Head of Cattle.

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Stephen Pledgerd one Black wench named Megg and five pounds in money and two Head of cattle vi[zt] 1 Cow and Calfe.

Item my will is that the Said Cattle bequeathed unto my afore[s]aid children (my Son Thomas excepted) the Increa[s]e of them remaine and be for my well beloved wife from my decea[s]e untill two years be fully Expired and all the Increa[s]e of the Said Cattle afterwards be for the above[s]aid Children

Item I put con[s]titute and ordaine my well beloved wife Sarah Pledgerd and my well beloved brother in law Era[s]mus Purling to be the Executors of this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament Annulling Revoking and Rejecting all other will or wills te[s]tament or te[s]taments heretofore by me made Either by word or writing holding none but this and none other

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Benjamin Pledgerd Twenty pounds in money and two Head of Cattle who[s]e Encrea[s]e [s]hall be my well beloved wifes from my decea[s]e untill two years be expired and to be for the u[s]e afterwards of my Said Son Benjamin but to remaine in my Said beloved wifes hand untill my Said Son Benjamin come to age In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Signed Sealed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of Benjamin Seals Prai[s]e Pledgerd Era[s]mus Purling Matthew Bazett

I[s]land S[t] Helena To all Chri[s]tian People to whom this pre[s]ent Writing [s]hall come I Sarah Pledgerd of [the] [s]d I[s]land Widow Send Greeting. KNOW Yee that for good con[s]idera- tion me hereunto moveing & for y[e] love I bare unto my well beloved Daughter Mary Pledgerd have given granted & by the[s]e Pre[s]ents I do give & ab[s]olutely grant unto my [s]aid well beloved Daughter Mary Pledgerd y[e] Sum of Twenty Pounds Currant Money of y[e] [s]d I[s]land to be paid by me my Heir, Executor, Admini[s]trators and A[s]signes Unto my Said Daughter her Heir, Executors, Admini[s]trators, and A[s]signes When the [com]er of [c]l[d]ge or at the day of her Marridge. Likewi[s]e for the [s]ame love and affection I Bare unto my well beloved Son Stephen Prai[s]e Pledgerd I have given granted & by the[s]e pre[s]ents do give [s]aid Stephen Prai[s]e the Sum of Ten pounds [s]urrant Money of the [s]aid I[s]land to be paid unto him his Heir, Executor[s], Admini[s]trators, and A[s]signes, by me, my Heir, Executor, Admini[s]trator and A[s]signes a[s]soone as he comes of age, or at y[e] dage[?] Marridge, furthermore I now Yee that y[e] [s]aid Deed of gift [s]hall Remain Unalterable and her Shall Stand for Ever Revoking be[s]t all Wills bonds writings by me here to fore made, or [s]hall after make concerning the fore[s]aid Premi[s]es In Witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand & Seale this 26[th] day of January 170[8] 7 Signed Seald, and d[d] in pre[s]ence of Sarah S Pledgerd mark

Memorand[m]: of Interlineons words Vi[zt] Have given granted and by the[s]e pre[s]ents give & grant were written before [s]ealing and [s]igning of the[s]e pre[s]ents- Robert Bell, Mathew Bazett

To his daughter Mary Pledgerd he gave a black slave called Harrock and two head of cattle.

To his son John Pledgerd he gave a black slave called Doll and three head of cattle.

To his son Stephen Pledgerd he gave a black slave called Megg, £5 0s 0d in money and two head of cattle, namely one cow and her calf.

The increase of the cattle given to Mary, John and Stephen, but not those given to Thomas, was to remain with Sarah Pledgerd for two years after his death. After that period the increase was to pass to the children themselves.

He appointed his wife Sarah Pledgerd and his brother-in-law Erasmus Purling as executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

To his son Benjamin Pledgerd he gave £20 0s 0d in money and two head of cattle. The increase of the cattle was to remain with Sarah for two years from his death and was then to belong to Benjamin, but the stock was to stay in Sarah's hands until Benjamin came of age.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Benjamin Seals, Erasmus Purling and Matthew Bazett.

A separate deed of gift was executed by Sarah Pledgerd on 26 January 1708. She declared that for love and good consideration she gave to her daughter Mary Pledgerd £20 0s 0d in current money of the island, to be paid by her or her heirs, executors, administrators or assigns when Mary came of age or married. She gave the same on the same terms to her son Stephen Praise Pledgerd, in the sum of £10 0s 0d. The deed was declared unalterable and revoked all earlier wills, bonds and writings on the same matter.

The deed was signed and sealed in the presence of Robert Bell and Matthew Bazett. Sarah Pledgerd signed by mark. A memorandum recorded that the interlined words have given granted and by these presents give and grant had been written before signing and sealing.

Interpretations

The distribution of slaves and cattle among the four younger children, Mary, John, Stephen and Benjamin, with the slaves named individually, treats human beings as fungible household assets matched to specific recipients. Each child receives one named slave, with the exception of Benjamin, who receives only money and cattle. The slaves Harrock, Doll and Megg are described as black wenches or a black girl, identifying them as women of working age or younger. The naming of each slave in the bequest fixes the identity of the person passing into each child's household.

The reappearance of Matthew Bazett as a witness, both to the original will of 1697 and to the deed of gift of 1708, places him within the recurring group of literate residents who supplied witnesses to the testamentary instruments of their neighbours over an extended period. His earlier appearances as a witness to the Bowman will of February 1696 and as a witness to the Dixon will of July 1696 confirm his place in this network.

Speculations

The reservation of the cattle's increase to Sarah for two years from the testator's death, in respect of all the children except Thomas, suggests an arrangement designed to give the widow a defined period of income during the settlement of the estate. The cattle's increase represented a recurring source of value, and the two-year retention provided Sarah with a guaranteed flow of new beasts from the herds nominally vested in the children. The arrangement may reflect a recognition that the immediate aftermath of the testator's death would require resources to discharge debts and to maintain the household, and that the increase of the cattle was the most readily realisable source of such resources.

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In The Name of God Amen

The Nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord 1698 9 I Jonathan Beale of the I[s]land of S[t] Helena Planter being very Sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to god therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to dye doe make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament that is to [s]ay principally and fir[s]t of all I give and Recommend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buryed in a Chri[s]tian like and decent manner at the di[s]cretion of my Executrix nothing doubting but at the Generall Re[s]urrection I [s]hall receive the [s]ame again by the mighty power of God and as for my worldly E[s]tate wherewith it hath plea[s]ed God to ble[s]s me with I give bequeath devi[s]e and di[s]po[s]e in manner and form following

Imprimis I leave my wife whole and Sole Executrix of all my per[s]onall E[s]tate that is now pre[s]ent or hereafter may be Called mine that is to [s]ay her thirds of all except the hou[s]e in the Country

Item I give and bequeath my well beloved Son Richard Beale the hou[s]e in the Country after my mothers decea[s]e be[s]ides his thirds in the E[s]tate upon the day of marriage or the age of 21 years

Item to my well beloved Son Anthony Beale a third of the E[s]tate to be paid upon the day of marriage or at the age of 21 years

And as for my debts I leave them to be paid by my Executrix out of the E[s]tate as [s]he [s]hall think fitt and I do hereby Utterly di[s]allow and Revoke all other former wills Ratifieing and Confirming this and no other to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Signed Sealed and declared by the [s]aid Jonathan Beale as his la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in the pre[s]ence of us the Sub[s]cribers vi[zt] Jonathan Beale John Goodwin [W][m] Bowman Rob[t]: Addis

In the name of God, amen. On 19 January 1699, by the calendar of the Church of England, Jonathan Beale of St Helena, planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executrix.

He turned then to his worldly estate.

He left his wife as sole executrix of all his personal estate, whether currently his or to be acquired later, and gave her one third of the whole except the country house.

To his son Richard Beale he gave the country house, the gift to take effect after his mother's death. Richard was also to receive his one-third share of the estate on the day of his marriage or at the age of 21.

To his son Anthony Beale he gave the remaining one-third share of the estate, to be paid on the day of his marriage or at the age of 21.

He directed that his debts be paid by his executrix from the estate, as she thought fit. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of John Goodwin, William Bowman and Robert Addis.

Interpretations

The division of the personal estate into thirds, with one share to the widow and one share to each of two sons, follows the same customary pattern observed in the Knipe will of June 1695. The pattern derives from the English common law rule for distribution of a married man's personal estate on intestacy, sometimes called the widow's customary third, under which the surviving spouse took one third and the children divided the remaining two thirds. By writing the division into the will, Beale gave testamentary force to a default rule and removed any scope for dispute about the relative shares.

The deferral of the sons' shares until marriage or the age of 21 follows the same dual-event mechanism observed in the Knipe will of June 1695 and in the residuary clause of the Charlesworth will of April 1697. Marriage and majority each represented a recognised threshold at which a young person was deemed capable of taking property into their own hands, and the structure of the bequest gave each son his share at whichever event came first. The arrangement gave the widow the working management of the estate during the children's minority while preserving the substantive shares for their later use.

Speculations

The decision to vest the country house in the elder son Richard, rather than dividing the real property between the two boys, points to a deliberate effort to preserve the principal family holding as a single unit. By giving the house to Richard alone, with Anthony taking only his cash share of the moveable estate, Beale concentrated the most significant fixed asset in the line of the elder son. The structure follows a recognisable pattern of primogeniture in respect of real property, with younger sons receiving their portions in moveable form rather than in land.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena feb[ry] 29[th] 1698 9

I Richard Potter being Sick and weak of body but of Sound and perfect health of memory doe make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament revoking all other wills what[s]oever

Imprimis I give my Soul to god in whom I [s]incerely beleive as I doe all the Articles of the Chri[s]tian faith and my body to the grave to be decently intered with a Chri[s]tian burial

Item I con[s]titute and appoint M[r] John Goodwin and M[r] John Tacknald Planters to be Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and de[s]ire they will [s]ee it duly performed

Item I give and bequeath to M[r] John Goodwin all my wearing Apparell together with all Such Arrack wine and Suger as [s]hall be undi[s]po[s]ed of at the end and term of my mortall life together with eatables and drinkables then being

Item I give and bequeath unto M[r] Henry White Stationer at the Signe of the three Bibles In the minories one box of China Images marked R: P: g[t] 30 p[s] to be [s]ent to him by the fir[s]t opportunity

Item I give and bequeath to M[r] John Tacknald foure guinys to buy him a Ring

Item I give and bequeath to M[rs] Jane Goodwin five Shillings to buy her a pair of Gloves

In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand an Afix my Seale In the pre[s]ence of the Above wittne[s]ses

Signed and Sealed in the pre[s]ence of mark William french the R of Rich[d] Potter Edw[d] Cro[s]by his Peter X Williams marks

This will was proved on the 17[th] day of March 1698 9 before Govern[r] & Councill p[r] me J Alexander Cl[o]

On 29 February 1699, by the calendar of the Church of England, Richard Potter, being sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of sound memory, set down his last will and testament. He revoked all earlier wills.

He commended his soul to God, in whom he believed, together with all the articles of the Christian faith, and directed that his body be decently interred in Christian fashion.

He appointed John Goodwin and John Tacknald, planters, as executors and asked them to see the will properly carried out.

To John Goodwin he gave all his wearing apparel, together with whatever arrack, wine and sugar remained at his death, and any eatables and drinkables then in his possession.

To Henry White, stationer at the sign of the Three Bibles in the Minories, he gave one box of China images marked R. P., weighing 30 pieces, to be sent by the first opportunity.

To John Tacknald he gave 4 guineas to buy a ring.

To Jane Goodwin he gave £0 5s 0d to buy a pair of gloves.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of William French, Edward Crosby and Peter Williams. Richard Potter and Peter Williams signed by mark.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on 17 March 1699, attested by J. Alexander, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The note that 1698 9 in the original document represents February 1699 in the modern reckoning reflects the dual dating practice followed in English administrative records before the calendar reform of 1752. The year was held to begin on 25 March, so dates between 1 January and 24 March were commonly written with both the old and new year forms. The 29 February of the will places the date within a leap year and confirms the conversion to 1699 under the modern calendar.

The reappearance of John Goodwin and John Tacknald as executors of this will, both of whom served as executors of the Phillips will of February 1698, identifies them as the recognised pair of trustees for the affairs of English visitors and traders on the island. The two men had between them administered the substantial estate of Thomas Phillips with its legacies in Derbyshire and Lambeth, and the recurrence in Potter's will suggests that they had built a recognised practice as administrators for testators with connections beyond the island. Their position as planters provided them with the local standing required, while their evident reliability in handling the Phillips estate had perhaps recommended them to other testators in similar circumstances.

Speculations

The specific direction that the box of China images be sent to Henry White at the sign of the Three Bibles, rather than to a relative or to White's heirs or assigns, suggests that the consignment was the discharge of an obligation rather than a gift of friendship. The marking of the box with Potter's initials and the indication of weight in pieces both suggest that the consignment had been prepared in advance, perhaps in fulfilment of an order from White or a partner of his, and that Potter regarded its safe delivery as a matter of commercial honour to be carried through after his death. The will operates here as an instruction to discharge an outstanding shipping commitment rather than as a free disposition of property.

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In The Name of God Amen

The twenty fifth day of March in the year of our Lord God 1699 I Thomas ffen[s]dale of the I[s]land S[t] Hellena free Planter being very Sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye doe make and Ordaine this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament that is to [s]ay principally and fir[s]t of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Chri[s]tian like and decent manner at the di[s]cretion of my Executrix nothing doubting but at the Generall Re[s]urrection I [s]hall receive the [s]ame again by the mighty power of god and as touching [s]uch worldly E[s]tate wherewith it hath plea[s]ed God to ble[s]s with in this life I give devi[s]e and di[s]po[s]e of the [s]ame in the following manner and form following

Imprimis I give and bequeath to Katherine my dearly beloved wife whom I likewi[s]e Con[s]titute make and Ordaine my only and Sole Executrix of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament all and Singular my Lands goods and Chattles by her freely to be po[s]se[s]sed and Enjoyed and I doe hereby utterly di[s]allow Revoke and di[s]annull all and every other former Te[s]taments wills and Legacies and Executors by me in any ways before this time named willed and bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Signed Sealed Publi[s]hed pronounced and declared by Tho[s] ffen[s]dale before us who are hereafter Sub[s]cribers his Thomas U[s]her Tho: TF ffen[s]dale his marke Tho[s] T A[s]hby marks Rob[t]: Addis

In the name of God, amen. On 25 March 1699, by the calendar of the Church of England, Thomas Fensdale of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executrix.

He turned then to his worldly estate.

To his wife Katherine he gave everything he owned, all his lands, goods and chattels, to be freely held and enjoyed by her. He appointed her as sole executrix. He revoked all earlier wills, legacies and named executors.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared in the presence of Thomas Usher, Thomas Ashby and Robert Addis. Fensdale, Usher and Ashby all signed by mark.

Interpretations

The will is the simplest in the series so far, vesting the whole of the estate in the widow without specific bequests, conditional gifts or contingent reversions. Katherine Fensdale takes both the lands and the moveables in absolute title and serves as sole executrix, with no co-executor, overseer or trust structure. The arrangement gives her undivided control of the estate without the layering of supervisory offices observed in the Charlesworth, Pledgerd or Phillips wills.

The repeated signature by mark, with Fensdale, Usher and Ashby all attesting by their initials rather than by signature, indicates that literate signature was not universal even among the witnesses to a planter's will. The pattern is consistent with the practice observed in the Cleaverlee will of August 1696 and the Knipe will of June 1695, where signatures by mark appear among both testators and witnesses, and reflects the uneven distribution of writing skills within the settler population. The use of distinctive marks, with Fensdale signing TF and Ashby signing TA, gave each attestation a recognisable identifier in the absence of a full signature.

Speculations

The decision to vest the entire estate in Katherine Fensdale, without any specific bequest or contingent provision, suggests a household in which the wife was already the effective manager of the property and would continue to be so after her husband's death. The absence of any children named in the will indicates either that the marriage had produced no surviving issue or that any children were assumed to be provided for by Katherine in due course from the estate she received. The structure leaves all future questions of inheritance to be determined by Katherine's own dispositions rather than fixing them in advance.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen the fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thou[s]and Six hundred ninety and nine I John Bowman of the [s]aid I[s]land free planter being very Sick and weak of body but prai[s]ed be god of [s]ound and perfect memory and being [s]en[s]ible that there is nothing more certain then death but the hour being uncertain when do make my will and Te[s]tament Revoking and di[s]annulling all other wills and Te[s]taments heretofore by me made either by word or writing acknowledging no other but this to be my lawfull will and Te[s]tament In manner and form following Vi[zt]

Fir[s]t I committ my Soul Into the hand of Almighty God who hath created it and hope that through the meritts of my Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t I [s]hall Inheritt the kingdom of heaven and through the meritorious death and pa[s]sion of my Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t farr above my de[s]erts I [s]hall ri[s]e at the day of the generall Re[s]urrection to life Immortall and as for my Temporall E[s]tate that it hath plea[s]ed God farr above my de[s]erts to be[s]tow upon me I do di[s]po[s]e of it In forme and manner as followeth. Vi[zt]

I commit my body to the ground to bee Inhered in a Chri[s]tian manker where my Executrix here after mentioned [s]hall think fitt

Item I will that after my decea[s]e any debts that I am owing to any per[s]ons what[s]oever be fully paid and [s]ati[s]fied out of my Said E[s]tate in convenient time

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son John Bowman one Hou[s]e Thirty acres of land and plantation lying and being Scituate at the head of Saine Valley formerly belonging to my father William Bowman decea[s]ed for him to Enjoy when he comes to age but now to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of Anne Bowman my mother while [s]he lives but after the decea[s]e of my [s]aid mother the [s]aid hou[s]e and Thirty acres of Land to be in the po[s]se[s]sion of my well beloved wife Mary Bowman untill my Said Son John Bowman comes to age

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Elizabeth Bowman One Hou[s]e twenty five Acres of land and the plantation therein contained and all other appurtenances thereunto belonging 20 Acres whereof was the lott land of my father in Law Jo[s]ias Charle[s]worth and the other five Acres Joyning to the [s]aid Lott land was formerly belonging to Richard Stacey but the [s]aid hou[s]e 25 Acres of land and Plantation to be and Remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my [s]aid beloved wife Mary Bowman during her naturall life

Item I give and bequeath unto my afore[s]aid beloved Son John Bowman Twenty Acres of land with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging adjoyning to the afore[s]aid lott land and formerly belonging unto M[r] Wirth mini[s]ter but the [s]aid la[s]t mentioned 20 Acres of Land to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my [s]aid wife Mary Bowman during her life

Item I give and bequeath unto my [s]aid beloved Son John Bowman one Hou[s]e Scituate In Chappele Valley near fort James but the [s]aid hou[s]e to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my Said wife Mary Bowman during her life

Item I give and bequeath unto my Said Son one Black man called Peter and one Black boy called Jack to be in his po[s]se[s]sion when he comes to age or at his day of marriage but till the Said time the Said Blacks to be in the po[s]se[s]sion of my [s]aid well beloved wife Mary Bowman

Item I give and bequeath unto my Said Son John Bowman one Black man called Roger but the [s]aid Black to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my Said wife Mary Bowman during her naturall life

In the name of God, amen. On 5 May 1699 John Bowman of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of sound and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God. He revoked all earlier wills.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently in Christian fashion in such place as his executrix should appoint.

He turned then to his temporal estate. He directed that his debts be fully paid out of the estate in convenient time after his death.

To his son John Bowman he gave one house, thirty acres of land and the plantation at the head of Sane Valley, formerly belonging to his father William Bowman, deceased. John was to take possession when he came of age. In the meantime the property was to remain in the hands of his grandmother Anne Bowman during her life, and after her death in the hands of his mother Mary Bowman until he came of age.

To his daughter Elizabeth Bowman he gave one house, twenty-five acres of land and the plantation, with all the appurtenances. Twenty of these acres had been the lott land of his father-in-law Josias Charlesworth, and the remaining five acres adjoining the lott land had formerly belonged to Richard Stacey. The house, the twenty-five acres and the plantation were to remain in the hands of Mary Bowman during her life.

To his son John Bowman he also gave twenty acres of land, with all appurtenances, adjoining the same lott land and formerly belonging to Mr Wirth, minister. This second parcel was likewise to remain in Mary's hands during her life.

To the same son he gave one house in Chapel Valley near Fort James, also to remain in Mary's hands during her life.

To his son John Bowman he gave a black slave called Peter and a black boy called Jack, to take effect when John came of age or at his marriage. In the meantime the two slaves were to remain in Mary's hands.

To the same son he gave a black slave called Roger, who was to remain in Mary's hands during her natural life.

Interpretations

The will reveals the descent of the Bowman family property through three generations and consolidates the holdings of William Bowman, who died in 1697, in the hands of his son John Bowman and through him to the next generation. The thirty acres at the head of Sane Valley are identified as having belonged to the elder William, which fixes John as the elder Bowman's son and identifies the family line that originally appeared in the will of February 1696. The grandson John Bowman, the third in the line to bear the name and the unborn child to whom the elder Bowman had given £5 0s 0d, is now visible as the principal heir of the second generation.

The structure of the bequests creates a sequence of life interests stacked above the eventual descent of the property to the grandson John and his sister Elizabeth. Anne Bowman, the testator's mother and the widow of the elder William, retains her life interest in the head Sane Valley property under the earlier will of 1696. Mary Bowman, the testator's wife, takes the use of the same property after Anne's death until the grandson John comes of age, and holds the daughter's twenty-five acres and the further twenty acres at the lott land, together with the Chapel Valley house, during her own life. The arrangement preserves the maintenance of two successive widows from the working estate while ensuring that the underlying title passes to the next generation.

Speculations

The decision to layer the life interests of the grandmother and the widow above the grandson's eventual title, with the property passing first from Anne to Mary and then to John on his majority, suggests an arrangement designed to maintain the unity of the family estate across the lifetimes of two successive widows. The grandmother's existing life interest under the elder Bowman's will would otherwise have ended on her death without further provision, but the testator's will steps into that gap by giving his own widow the same property until the grandson came of age. The structure ensures continuous productive use of the head Sane Valley property by the family without an intervening period in which it might fall idle or be diverted to other uses.

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Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved daughter Elizabeth Bowman one Black man called Fortune to be in her owne po[s]se[s]sion at the day of her marriage or when [s]he comes to age but untill then to be and remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my Said well beloved wife

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife Mary Bowman whom I make Con[s]titute and appoint Sole Executrix of this my will and and Te[s]tament one Black woman called Hagar to do and di[s]po[s]e of at her owne will and plea[s]ure

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved wife my Said beloved Son John Bowman and unto my well beloved daughter Elizabeth Bowman all the Cattle that I have and all other moveables what[s]oever as divided Hou[s]hold goods Ready money &c[a] to be Equally among[s]t them when my Said Son John Bowman comes to age or at the day of his marriage Revoking and di[s]annulling all other will or wills Te[s]tament or Te[s]taments heretofore by me made Either by word or writing acknowledging none but this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament untill it be by me Revoked In witne[s]s whereof I have Sett to my hand and Seale the day and year here above written

Signed Sealed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of Edward Brayne W[m] Bidolph [J] Bowman John Nichols Matthew Bazett

This will was proved before Govern[r] and Councill on Tue[s]day the fir[s]t day of Augu[s]t 1699

p[r] me J Alexander Cl[er] Conc[il]

To his daughter Elizabeth Bowman he gave a black slave called Fortune, to take effect on her marriage or at her coming of age. Until then Fortune was to remain in Mary's hands.

To his wife Mary Bowman, whom he appointed sole executrix, he gave a black woman called Hagar, to dispose of at her own will and pleasure.

To his wife, his son John Bowman and his daughter Elizabeth Bowman, jointly, he gave all his cattle, household goods, ready money and other moveables, to be divided equally between them when John came of age or married. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Edward Brayne, William Bidolph, John Nichols and Matthew Bazett.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on Tuesday 1 August 1699, attested by J. Alexander, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The bequest of Hagar to the widow with the express right to dispose of her at her own will and pleasure stands apart from the other slave bequests in the will and across the wider series. Where Peter, Jack, Roger and Fortune are given with specified life interests, reversions or coming-of-age conditions, Hagar passes absolutely to Mary Bowman with full power of alienation. The arrangement gives the widow a slave whom she may sell, give away, devise by her own will or retain as she chooses, in contrast to the other slaves, whose disposition is fixed by the will and reserved for the next generation. The form of words follows the recognised language used for an absolute grant of personal property and confirms that slaves on the island were treated as fully alienable assets where the testator chose to give them in that form.

The reappearance of Matthew Bazett as a witness places him again within the recurring group of literate residents who attested testamentary instruments across the period. His appearances now span the Bowman will of February 1696, the Dixon will of July 1696, the Pledgerd will of November 1697 and the deed of gift of January 1708, together with the present will. The continuity of his service over more than a decade indicates a settled island figure repeatedly relied upon for the formal witnessing of important documents.

Speculations

The absolute grant of Hagar to Mary Bowman, with full power of disposal, suggests that the testator wished to give his widow a single slave free of the conditions imposed on the others, perhaps to provide her with an asset she could sell or transfer if necessary to meet a particular need. The other slaves, locked into the descent of the estate by the conditions attached to them, could not be drawn upon for cash without disturbing the wider arrangement. Hagar, vested in Mary absolutely, gave her a piece of property she could realise without affecting the inheritance of the children.

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In The Name of God Amen

The fifth day of Octob[r] in the year of our Lord God 1699, I Katherine ffen[s]dale of the I[s]land S[t] Helena widdow and Relict of Tho[s] ffen[s]dale lately decea[s]ed being very Sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto god therefore and calling unto mind the Mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all once to dye Doe make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament that is to [s]ay principally and fir[s]t of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of god that gave it and for my Body I Commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Chri[s]tian like and decent manner at the di[s]cretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the generall Re[s]urrection I [s]hall receive the [s]ame again by the mighty power of God and as touching Such wordly E[s]tate wherewith it hath plea[s]ed god Almighty to ble[s]s me withal in this life after my funerall charges is defraied I give devi[s]e and di[s]po[s]e of the [s]ame in the following manner and form

Imprimis I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Mary fo[s]ter one hou[s]e Scituate lying in Chappele Valley near fort James with all the furniture therein during her owne proper term of life and afterwards to be divided Equally Betweene my two beloved Grand children Sarah fo[s]ter and Ann fo[s]ter according as the whole may be apprai[s]ed Immediately after my death likewi[s]e I give to my afore[s]aid daughter Mary fo[s]ter one feather bed and bol[s]ter one bed[s]ted and two feather Pillows one Quilt with all my Table and other linnen and all my wearing apparell Except one of every Sort and to my two beloved Grand children aforementioned I give each of them one yearling Heifer and two gold rings the large[s]t of the two to be di[s]po[s]ed of to Sarah fo[s]ter the Elder

Item my hou[s]e and land formerly my decea[s]ed hu[s]bands Tho[s] ffen[s]dales may be put to an out cry and the produce be Equally divided betwixt my two Sons John Jo[s]sy and Samuell Jo[s]sy Likewi[s]e two Negroes one of the [s]aid Negroes named Maria to John Jo[s]sy and the other named Jenny to Samuell Je[s]sy al[s]o to my forenamed Son John Jo[s]sy 2 pair of gold buttons and Samuell Jo[s]sy one pair B[s] and Nine dozen of Silver coat buttons betweene them

Item I give to my beloved Son. Phillip Jo[s]sy five dozen of plaine Silver Coat buttons and one gold Seale ring two pair of gold buttons one Silver head of a Cane

Item all the re[s]t of my per[s]onall E[s]tate I freely give and bequeath to my three beloved Sons Phillip Jo[s]sy John Jo[s]sy and Samuell Jo[s]sy to be Equally divided betweene them as after my decea[s]e it may be put to an Outcry and Each his dividend paid him at the day of marriage or at the age of one and twenty years

Item I give to my well beloved freind M[rs] Elizabeth Morris one of a Sort of all my wearing apparell

Item I leave my debts to be paid Equally by my four Children but my Credit wholy I give to my daughter Mary fo[s]ter

Item I give to my beloved freinds m[r] Tho: Goodwin and M[r] James Rider

In the name of God, amen. On 5 October 1699 Katherine Fensdale of St Helena, widow and relict of Thomas Fensdale lately deceased, set down her last will and testament. She was very sick and weak in body but, by her own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be buried decently and in Christian fashion at the discretion of her executors. She turned then to her worldly estate, to be disposed of after the payment of her funeral charges.

To her daughter Mary Foster she gave one house in Chapel Valley near Fort James, with all the furniture, during Mary's own life. After Mary's death the house and its contents were to be appraised and divided equally between her two granddaughters Sarah Foster and Ann Foster. To Mary she also gave one feather bed, bolster, bedstead, two feather pillows and quilt, together with all her table and other linen, and all her wearing apparel except one of each sort.

To her granddaughters Sarah Foster and Ann Foster she gave one yearling heifer each, and two gold rings, the larger of the two to go to Sarah Foster the elder.

She directed that the house and land formerly belonging to her late husband Thomas Fensdale be put up to public auction. The proceeds were to be divided equally between her two sons John Jossy and Samuel Jossy. To the same two sons she gave two slaves, namely Maria to John Jossy and Jenny to Samuel Jossy. She also gave John two pairs of gold buttons, and to Samuel one pair, with nine dozen silver coat buttons divided between the two.

To her son Philip Jossy she gave five dozen plain silver coat buttons, one gold seal ring, two pairs of gold buttons and one silver head of a cane.

She gave the rest of her personal estate to her three sons Philip, John and Samuel Jossy, to be equally divided between them. The estate was to be put up to auction after her death and each son was to receive his share on his marriage or at the age of 21.

To her friend Elizabeth Morris she gave one of each sort of her wearing apparel.

She directed that her debts be paid equally by her four children, but assigned her credit wholly to her daughter Mary Foster.

She made gifts to her friends Thomas Goodwin and James Rider, the content of which is not recovered.

Interpretations

The will reveals that Katherine Fensdale had been married more than once and had brought children of an earlier marriage into her household with Thomas Fensdale. Her four surviving children are named as Mary Foster, Philip Jossy, John Jossy and Samuel Jossy, none of whom carries the Fensdale surname. The pattern places the Jossy sons as the children of a previous marriage to a Mr Jossy, with Mary Foster also from an earlier marriage or a Jossy daughter married to a Mr Foster, and indicates that Katherine had no surviving children by Thomas Fensdale himself. The absolute grant of the Fensdale estate to her in the will of March 1699, without any specific bequest to children, is now visible as a deliberate arrangement that left her free to direct the property to her own children by her earlier marriage.

The two slaves Maria and Jenny pass individually to the two sons, with each son named as the recipient of a particular slave. The pattern parallels the bequests in the John Bowman will of May 1699, where each child received a named slave. The naming of each slave fixes the identity of the person passing into each recipient's household and treats the slaves as distinct individuals matched to specific heirs.

Speculations

The decision to put the Fensdale property to auction, rather than partitioning the land between the two Jossy sons in physical shares, suggests that the holding was either too small to divide usefully or too valuable to risk fragmenting. By converting the property into cash, Katherine ensured that each son received a clean share without the complications of joint occupation or boundary disputes. The auction also removed the property from the family and placed it on the open market, where it might be acquired by a neighbouring planter who could integrate it into a larger working holding.

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Likewi[s]e I make and Ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and doe hereby utterly di[s]allow Revoke and di[s]annull all and every other former Te[s]taments wills and Legacies by me in any ways before this time named willed an bequeathed Ratifieing and Confirming this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ott my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Signed Sealed and declared by the [s]aid Katherine ffen[s]dale as her la[s]t will and her Te[s]tament before us the Sub[s]cribers Vi[zt] Katherine K ffen[s]dale marke George Carne Rob[t] Addis

This will was proved before Governor and Councill the 24[th] day of 8b[er] 1699 p[r] me J Alexander Cl[er] Conc[il]

In the Name of God Amen the 10[th] day of May in the year of our Lord god 1700 I Peter Williams of the I[s]land S[t] Helena [s]old[r] being very Sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to god therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die doe make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament that is to [s]ay principally and fir[s]t of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of god that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Chri[s]tian like and decent manner according to the di[s]cretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the generall Re[s]urrection I [s]hall receive the [s]ame again by the mighty power of god and as touching my worldly goods wherewith it hath plea[s]ed god to ble[s]s me withal in this life I give devi[s]e & di[s]po[s]e of in manner & form following

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son and daughter William Henricus Williams and E[s]ther Williams after my Debts and ffunerall charges defrayed my whole E[s]tate both Reall and Per[s]onall to be Equally divided betweene them

Likewi[s]e I con[s]titute and ordaine Rob[t] Addis and Tho[s] Earle to be my true and lawfull Executors and each dividend to be kept by them till my well beloved Son and daughter [s]hall come to age of one and twenty years or the day of marriage

And I doe hereby utterly di[s]allow Revoke and di[s]annull all other wills and Te[s]taments in any ways before this time named willed and bequeathed Ratifieing and Confirming this and noe other to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

Witne[s]ses John Cole[s] his One[s]iphorus Steward Peter X Williams Rob[t] Addis marke

She made and ordained this as her last will and testament and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of George Carne and Robert Addis. Katherine Fensdale signed by mark.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on 24 October 1699, attested by J. Alexander, clerk of the Council.

In the name of God, amen. On 10 May 1700 Peter Williams of St Helena, soldier, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executors. He turned then to his worldly goods.

To his son William Henricus Williams and his daughter Esther Williams he gave the whole of his real and personal estate, to be equally divided between them after his debts and funeral charges had been paid.

He appointed Robert Addis and Thomas Earle as executors and directed that each child's share be kept by them until the child came of age at 21 or married.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was witnessed by John Coles, Onesiphorus Steward and Robert Addis. Peter Williams signed by mark.

Interpretations

The description of Peter Williams as soldier places him within the Company's garrison on the island rather than among the free planters who dominate the rest of this series. The St Helena establishment was held by a small body of soldiers responsible for the defence of Fort James and the wider settlement, and Williams's status as a soldier indicates that he was a Company servant in arms rather than an independent settler. The will of a soldier, with both real and personal estate to dispose of, shows that members of the garrison could accumulate property of their own on the island during their service.

The earlier appearance of Peter Williams in the witness list of the Potter will of February 1699, where he signed by mark, identifies him as a literate enough islander to attest a testamentary instrument, even if his own signature took the form of a mark. His position as a soldier among the witnesses to a will made by a London-connected trader suggests that the witnessing networks on the island crossed the boundaries between Company servants and resident commercial figures.

Speculations

The decision to give the estate equally to a son and a daughter, with no differentiation between them in the proportions or the timing of vesting, suggests an estate small enough that no preference for the son over the daughter was needed. With both children to receive the same share at the same threshold, the will treats the boy and the girl as equal heirs of the soldier's property. The absence of any specific bequest of named items, a house or particular pieces of livestock further indicates that the estate did not contain the kind of identifiable principal assets that might have prompted differential treatment.

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In The Name of God Amen

I Ellanor Bealle of the I[s]land S[t] Hellena Widdow being weak in body but of perfect health thanks be to god of [s]ound memory and having con[s]idered the uncertainty of this fraile life doe make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

Imprimis I commend my Soul into the hands of the Almighty and Ever living God and my body to be buried in a decent manner at the will of my Executors as for the wordly E[s]tate God has bin plea[s]ed to ble[s]s me with I give and bequeath as followes vi[zt]

That all my debts be di[s]charged by my Executors out of the whole [s]tock

Item that there be paid to my well beloved Son Jo[s]eph Bealle the [s]umme of fifty pounds being his [s]hare in the per[s]onall E[s]tate I admini[s]tred to of my decea[s]t hu[s]band which Said part or dividend In the Inventory annext to the letters of Admini[s]tration may appear this Said Summe is to be paid at the age of one and twenty years

Item that there be paid to my well beloved Son Benjamin Bealle at the age of one and twenty years his part or portion in the aforementioned Per[s]onall E[s]tate of my decea[s]t hu[s]band being fifty pounds

Item that there be paid to my well beloved daughter Mary Carne the Said Summe of fifty pounds being her portion in the abovementioned per[s]onall E[s]tate of my decea[s]t hu[s]band

Item that there be paid to my well beloved daughter Ellanor Price the Said Summe of fifty pounds being her portion in the afore[s]aid in the afore[s]aid per[s]onall E[s]tate of my decea[s]t hu[s]band

Item that there be paid to the Executrix of my Son Jonathan Beale decea[s]t that dividend or part of Ninety pounds due from the Right Honorable Ea[s]t India Company if ever received and no more [s]he having received the full portion of her decea[s]ed hu[s]band Jonathan Bealle as p[r] her Relea[s]e may appear

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved Son Jo[s]eph Bealle the Summe of fifty pounds when he [s]hall arrive to the age of one and twenty years to be rai[s]ed out of my E[s]tate at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors but in ca[s]e he [s]hould dye before he compleats the age of one and twenty years then the [s]aid fifty pounds to be paid to his younger Brother Benjamin Bealle if he arrives to the age of one and twenty years but in ca[s]e he dye before he compleats the age of one and twenty years the Said Summe of fifty pounds to be paid the one halfe being five and twenty pounds to my well beloved daughter Mary Carne the other halfe being five and twenty pounds to my well beloved daughter Ellanor Price

Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Son Benjamin Bealle the Summe of fifty pounds when he [s]hall arrive at the age of one and twenty years to be rai[s]ed out of my E[s]tate at the di[s]cretion of my Executors but in ca[s]e he [s]hould dye before he compleats the age of one and twenty years then the Said Summe of fifty pounds to be paid to his Elder brother Jo[s]eph Bealle but in ca[s]e he dye before the [s]aid Summe is due then the Said Summe of fifty pounds to be divided equally betweene the two Si[s]ters Mary Carne and Ellanor Price:

In the name of God, amen. Eleanor Beale of St Helena, widow, set down her last will and testament. She was weak in body but, by her own account, of sound memory, and gave thanks to God.

She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be buried decently at the discretion of her executors.

She turned then to her worldly estate.

She directed that all her debts be discharged by her executors out of the whole stock.

To her son Joseph Beale, on his coming of age at 21, she directed payment of £50 0s 0d. This sum was his share of the personal estate of her late husband, which she had administered, and his portion appeared in the inventory annexed to the letters of administration.

To her son Benjamin Beale, on his coming of age at 21, she directed payment of £50 0s 0d as his share of the same personal estate.

To her daughter Mary Carne she directed payment of £50 0s 0d as her share of the same estate.

To her daughter Eleanor Price she directed payment of £50 0s 0d as her share of the same estate.

To the executrix of her son Jonathan Beale, deceased, she directed payment of his share of £90 0s 0d due from the Right Honourable East India Company, if ever received, and no more. The executrix had already received the full portion of her late husband Jonathan Beale, as appeared from her release.

She gave Joseph Beale a further £50 0s 0d from her own estate, payable when he came of age at 21, to be raised at the discretion of her executors. If he died before reaching that age, the sum was to go to his younger brother Benjamin Beale if he came of age. If Benjamin also died before reaching 21, the £50 0s 0d was to be divided equally between her two daughters, with £25 0s 0d each to Mary Carne and Eleanor Price.

She gave Benjamin Beale a further £50 0s 0d on the same terms, payable from her own estate at his majority. If he died before that age, the sum was to pass to his elder brother Joseph Beale. If Joseph also died before the sum became due, it was to be divided equally between Mary Carne and Eleanor Price.

Interpretations

The will reveals an unusually clear picture of the operation of intestate administration on St Helena. Eleanor Beale had previously taken out letters of administration on her husband's personal estate, with an inventory annexed setting out his property and the shares due to each child. The four payments of £50 0s 0d to Joseph, Benjamin, Mary and Eleanor represent the children's shares of that earlier estate, each fixed at the same sum, with their entitlement preserved and confirmed by the present will. The arrangement shows how the customary distribution of a deceased husband's estate among his widow and children, normally enforced through the Council in its testamentary jurisdiction, could be carried forward and given continuing force through the widow's own subsequent will.

The treatment of the share belonging to Jonathan Beale, the eldest son who had died on 19 January 1699 and whose will is preserved earlier in this series, identifies him as the same Jonathan Beale of that earlier document. The reference to his executrix points to the widow named in his own will, who took the entire personal estate of Jonathan and acted as sole executrix. The acknowledgement that she had already received her late husband's full portion, with a written release, shows how the distribution chain operated through successive administrations: the widow Mary Beale, who took Jonathan's estate, had already drawn out his share of the parental estate during her management of his property.

Speculations

The decision to use the will as a vehicle for confirming the children's shares of the paternal estate, rather than relying solely on the earlier letters of administration, suggests an effort to lock in the entitlements against any future uncertainty in the intestacy distribution. Letters of administration could be revisited, accounts could be challenged, and the widow's discretion in distributing the personal estate left scope for dispute. By writing the four equal shares into her own will, Eleanor Beale converted the administrative obligation into a testamentary one, with the same shares now enforceable as legacies under her will rather than as accruing rights under the intestacy.

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Item in ca[s]e any thing more remain of E[s]tate what[s]oever the [s]aid remaining part at the di[s]cretion of my Executors to be Equally divided Betweene my well beloved daughters Mary Carne and Ellanor Price but in ca[s]e Ellanor Price dye without will or heirs of her body then all her part or portion herein Specified to be paid to Ellanor Keeling my Grand daughter

La[s]tly I con[s]titute and Appoint my well beloved Son in Law M[r] George Carne and my well beloved Son Jo[s]eph Bealle Joynt Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament revoking and annulling all other of what date [s]oever before the date hereof and doe Ordaine in ca[s]e of what date [s]oever before the date hereof where it [s]hall plea[s]e god I dye either of them be upon the place where it [s]hall plea[s]e god I dye to act Immediately at his di[s]cretion for the Rai[s]ing the [s]aid portions and Legacys Specified and that either or both do pay or cau[s]e to be paid as [s]oone as po[s]sible to each their dividend but if both [s]hould be ab[s]ent at my decea[s]e then my E[s]tate (Except my wearing apparell which to be di[s]trubuted to the poor) by the Goverment to be put to Outcry and the [s]umme thence arriving (all charges deducted) to be remitted to my Executors and they to proceed according to this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I [s]ett my hand and Seale this Sixth day of June one thou[s]and [s]even hundred

Witne[s]s Matthew Bazett Ellanor Bealle Sam[ll] Wrangham

Should anything more remain of the estate after these gifts, Eleanor Beale directed that the residue be equally divided between her daughters Mary Carne and Eleanor Price, at the discretion of her executors. If Eleanor Price died without a will or surviving children, her share was to pass to Eleanor Keeling, granddaughter of the testator.

She appointed her son-in-law George Carne and her son Joseph Beale as joint executors. She revoked all earlier wills.

She directed that, if she should die in a place where one of her executors was present, that executor should act at once and at his discretion to raise the portions and legacies and pay each beneficiary as soon as possible. If both executors were absent at her death, her estate, except her wearing apparel which was to be distributed to the poor, was to be put up to public auction by the government. The proceeds, after deduction of charges, were to be remitted to the executors, who would then carry out the will according to its terms.

The will was signed and sealed on 6 June 1700 in the presence of Matthew Bazett and Samuel Wrangham.

Interpretations

The contingent gift over to Eleanor Keeling, in the event that her daughter Eleanor Price died without a will or surviving children, identifies the granddaughter as a recognised beneficiary of the family line. The substitution from a daughter to a granddaughter, where the daughter left no will and no issue, preserves the descent of the share within the maternal line rather than allowing it to pass through intestacy to Eleanor Price's husband Mr Price or to his collateral kin. The arrangement parallels the structure seen in the Charlesworth will of April 1697, where the residue passed through carefully named granddaughters with contingent substitutions to siblings and parents.

The reference to George Carne as son-in-law fixes him as the husband of Mary Carne, the testator's married daughter. His appointment as joint executor with the surviving son Joseph Beale gives the administration into the hands of one immediate family member and one connected by marriage. The pairing parallels the structure of the Pledgerd will of November 1697, where the widow was joined by a brother-in-law in the executorship. The earlier appearance of George Carne as a witness to the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699 connects him to the same broader network of literate islanders who supplied attestations and acted as executors.

Speculations

The decision to provide for the absence of both executors by directing the government to put the estate to auction suggests that Eleanor Beale anticipated a real possibility that neither her son-in-law George Carne nor her son Joseph Beale would be on the island at the time of her death. The willingness to entrust the conversion of the estate to the Council, rather than to other family members or neighbours, indicates a preference for the formal apparatus of island governance over informal local administration. The choice may reflect concerns about the integrity of the estate during an interregnum, or a recognition that no other family member was available to act with the same standing as the named executors.

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In The Name of God Amen.

I Thomas Box of the I[s]land S[t] Hellena being Sick and weak in body but of Sound and perfect minde and memory all prai[s]e and Glory be given to Almighty God for the Same and knowing that nothing is more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make con[s]titute and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following that is to [s]ay

Fir[s]t and principally I beqveath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[s]suredly beleiving the alone merrit of my ble[ss]ed lord and Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t After this life Ended to Enjoy Everla[s]ting bli[s]s my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent like manner according as my Executrix hereafter named [s]hall thinke fitt and as for Such wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God of his goodne[s]s to lend unto me I give and beqveath in manner and forme following

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Grand daughter Mary ffrench tenn Acres of land formerly belonging to Henry Webly and after all my debts and Legacies are paid and funerall Rites performed I give and bequeath unto my dear and loving daughter Mary ffrench whome I make my full Executrix of all and Singular my land hou[s]es goods Chattles debts bills bonds Reddy moneys or what [s]oe ever I can Claime Rite unto as mine for her life time and after her death then to be Eqvally divided among[s]t her Children and further I doe hereby Revoke di[s]annull and make void all former wills by me made and acknowledge this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sott my hand and Seale this twenty ninth day of May 1701

Signed Sealed and delivered In the pre[s]ence of Rich[d] Gurling Thomas Box James Greentree

In the name of God, amen. On 29 May 1701 Thomas Box of St Helena set down his last will and testament. He was sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of sound and perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executrix.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

To his granddaughter Mary French he gave ten acres of land formerly belonging to Henry Webley.

After his debts and legacies had been paid and his funeral rites performed, he gave the residue of his estate to his daughter Mary French, whom he appointed as sole executrix. The bequest covered all his land, houses, goods, chattels, debts, bills, bonds and ready money. Mary was to hold the residue for her lifetime, and after her death it was to be equally divided between her children.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Richard Gurling and James Greentree.

Interpretations

The bequest of ten acres to the granddaughter Mary French, distinct from and named separately from the residual gift to her mother of the same name, identifies two persons sharing the same name across two generations of the same family. The granddaughter takes the specific parcel of ten acres formerly belonging to Henry Webley in immediate ownership, while the daughter takes the residue including all other lands, houses and moveables for her lifetime, with remainder to her children. The arrangement gives the granddaughter a defined piece of land in her own right and the rest of the family the use of the wider estate through the life of the daughter.

The remainder to the daughter's children, after her death, follows the substitutional pattern observed in the Bowman will of February 1696 and the Beale will of January 1699, where a life interest in a parent was followed by an equal division among the children. The structure preserves the substantive descent of the residue through the next generation while ensuring the daughter's lifetime support from the working assets of the estate. The reference to her children without naming them, and without distinguishing the granddaughter Mary already named separately, treats the substitution as a general gift to all the children alive at the daughter's death.

Speculations

The decision to single out the granddaughter Mary French for a specific bequest of ten acres, rather than including her among the children of the daughter who would take the residue after their mother's death, suggests a particular concern for her position. The granddaughter shares her mother's name, and the bequest may reflect a special bond between the testator and his namesake granddaughter, or a practical recognition that the granddaughter was at a stage of life where a piece of land in her own name would be of immediate use. The choice of the Webley parcel rather than another part of the estate may reflect either the suitability of those particular ten acres for her circumstances or the natural separation of that parcel from the rest of the working holding.

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In The Name of God Amen.

I Orlando Bagley Sen[r] by rea[s]on of age and being very weak in body but in perfect memory prai[s]e be given to god for[t] it and knowing that nothing is more [s]ure then death and nothing [s]oe uncertain as the time when doe here make my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and form following

Fir[s]t and E[s]pecially I beqveath my [s]oul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it hoping that for the merits of my Lord and Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t that after this life ended I [s]hall enjoy eternall bli[s]s and happine[s]s in his holy and heavenly Kingdom and as for my body I de[s]ire to be buried in the Church yard in mo[s]t Chri[s]tian and decent manner as my Executor hereafter [s]hall think meet and as for my wordly goods which god of his mercy hath lent me in this world I give and beqveath in manner and form following.

Item I give to my Son John the hou[s]e and Land frely to Enjoy it without any mole[s]tation

Item I give to my Son Orlando one black woman called by name meg and ten pounds credit in the [s]tore and Remitting all other debts that hath bin due to me from him

Item I give to my Son Edward ten pounds Credit in the [s]tore and Remitting all debts that hath bin due to me from him

Item I give to my Son Thomas one black boy named Robin and one heifer

Item I give all the re[s]t of my goods and money to be divided Eqvally among[s]t all my Children (excepting [S]u[s]anna) and I doe make Orlando Bagley Jun[r] my Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking all former wills by me made In witne[s]s whereunto I have [s]et my hand and [s]eale this twenty [s]eventh day of November one thou[s]and Seven hundred and one according to the Computation of the Church of England

Signed Sealed and delivered In the pre[s]ence of us Thomas Davis Orlando Bagley John Orchard

In the name of God, amen. On 27 November 1701, by the calendar of the Church of England, Orlando Bagley senior of St Helena, weakened by age and very weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect memory, set down his last will and testament. He gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in the churchyard in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executor.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

To his son John he gave the house and land, to enjoy without molestation.

To his son Orlando he gave a black slave called Meg, £10 0s 0d in credit at the store, and remitted all debts which Orlando owed him.

To his son Edward he gave £10 0s 0d in credit at the store and remitted all debts which Edward owed him.

To his son Thomas he gave a black boy named Robin and one heifer.

He gave the remainder of his goods and money to be divided equally between all his children, except his daughter Susanna.

He appointed his son Orlando Bagley junior as executor and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Davis and John Orchard.

Interpretations

The will gives a clear picture of the use of store credit as a recognised form of property on the island. The two legacies of £10 0s 0d each to Orlando junior and Edward are not paid in coin but in credit at the store, that is, in entries to their accounts at the Company's warehouse on St Helena. The store functioned as a public commissary from which settlers could draw goods on account, and credit balances at the store circulated as a form of money distinct from coin. The will treats this credit as freely transmissible in the same way as cash, and the testator was able to bequeath defined sums of store credit to particular sons.

The exception of Susanna from the equal residual division of goods and money, with no explanation given in the will, indicates a deliberate exclusion of one daughter from the share that her siblings were to receive. The provision parallels the nominal one-shilling legacy to James Wilson in the Wilson will of February 1697, where a child was excluded from the substantive estate while being named in the will. Here Susanna is named but excluded entirely from the residual division, with no token gift to mark the exclusion. The structure indicates that the exclusion was deliberate and not the result of oversight, but the reason is not stated.

Speculations

The remission of the debts owed by Orlando junior and Edward to their father, taken with the £10 0s 0d in store credit to each, suggests that the two sons had been running running accounts with the testator and had accumulated obligations during his lifetime. The combination of the cash legacy and the release of the debt allowed the testator to settle the running accounts in a single act, giving the sons a clean balance while transferring a defined further sum to each. The arrangement may reflect that the sons had been managing parts of the testator's affairs or drawing on his resources during his lifetime, and that the will gave him the opportunity to close out those dealings in a formal way.

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In The Name of God Amen.

I Thomas Burnham of the I[s]land of S[t] Hellena Planter being very Sick and weak in body but of good and perfect mind and memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the [s]ame I do make this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament I beqveath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping in and through the merits and mediation of Je[s]us Chri[s]t my Saviour and Redeemer to Enjoy Eternall Salvation

Item my body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried as in and by my Executrix hereafter named [s]hall think fitt And as for my wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed God to be[s]tow upon me I give and beqveath as followeth

Imprimis I give and beqveath unto my well beloved wife Margarett Burnham nine Acres of land with a plantation of Yams belonging to the [s]aid land and likewi[s]e one Kitchin with the Chamber above it I do give my wife one Cow

And al[s]o my will is that [s]he may [s]ell any thing of the [s]aid Nine Acres of land for her u[s]e or maintenance my debts Legacys and funerall Expences being fir[s]t paid and di[s]charged I doe make ordaine Con[s]titute and appoint my well beloved wife Margarett Burnham to be my full and whole Executrix of this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament Revoking and di[s]annulling all other wills formerly by me made In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this Tenth day of January In the year of our Lord 170[1] 2

Signed Sealed and Delivered in the pre[s]ence of us John Hemmon W[m] Melling his Thomas T Burnham marke

This Will was proved before Governor and Councill on Tue[s]day the 3 day of march 170[1] 2 Te[s]ta p[r] me J Alexander

In the name of God, amen. On 10 January 1702, by the calendar of the Church of England, Thomas Burnham of St Helena, planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of good and perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executrix.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

To his wife Margaret Burnham he gave nine acres of land, with a plantation of yams growing on it, together with one kitchen and the chamber above it. He also gave her one cow.

He directed that she might sell any part of the nine acres for her own use or maintenance, once his debts, legacies and funeral expenses had been paid.

He appointed Margaret Burnham as sole executrix and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of John Hemmon and William Melling. Burnham signed by mark.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on Tuesday 3 March 1702, attested by J. Alexander.

Interpretations

The will gives Margaret Burnham not only the working assets but the express power to sell any part of the nine acres for her own use or maintenance. The grant of a power of sale to the widow over the principal piece of land departs from the more common pattern of vesting the land in her absolutely or for life and leaving any sale to the operation of her own title or to the discretion of an executor. By writing the power of sale into the will, Burnham gave Margaret explicit testamentary authority to dispose of the land as her needs required, with the result that any purchaser would take title under the will itself rather than through a subsequent conveyance.

The yam plantation growing on the land identifies the principal crop being cultivated, matching the pattern observed in the bulk bequest of 10,000 yams to Sarah Clifton in the Mary Dixon will of July 1696. Yams were the staple carbohydrate of the island and a stock plantation provided both household provision and a saleable commodity. The bequest of the standing crop together with the land gave Margaret the immediate productive capacity of the holding from the date of her husband's death.

Speculations

The express grant of a power of sale to the widow, allowing her to dispose of any part of the nine acres for her own use or maintenance, suggests an effort to provide flexibility in case the working income of the land proved insufficient to support her. With no other source of provision visible in the will, Margaret would have depended entirely on the productive capacity of the nine acres and the cow for her continued living. The express power of sale gave her the option of converting the land into cash if she became unable to work it, or if the proceeds were needed for medical care, food or other necessities in old age. The arrangement may also have anticipated that she might leave the island, in which case the sale of the land would have provided the means for her departure.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen I John Sich of the [s]aid I[s]land free Planter being very Sick and weak of body but of a perfect and [s]ound memory Prai[s]ed be god for the [s]ame and knowing that there is nothing more certain then death but the time and hour uncertain when do make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In manner and forme as followeth

Imprimis I beqveath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God who created it and my body I committ to the ground in Expectation of the ble[ss]ed Re[s]urrection hoping through the meritts of my Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t to inheritt the kingdom of heaven and as for the temporal E[s]tate that it hath plea[s]ed god to be[s]tow upon me farr beyond my de[s]erts I di[s]po[s]e of it in manner and forme as followes, Vi[zt] I will that what I am indebted to be fully Sati[s]fied out of my Said Temporall E[s]tate in a Convenient time after my decea[s]e

Item I give and beqveath the [s]umme of twelve Shillings to the poore of the Said I[s]land

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son James Sich one hou[s]e in Chapple Valley but to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my well beloved wife Margrett Sich during her life for her u[s]e and al[s]o for the u[s]e of my other children vi[zt] Benjamin Sich and Mary Sich untill they come of age or at the day of their marriage to make u[s]e of it Eqvally with the [s]ame of James Sich during the time afore[s]aid

Item I give and beqveath unto the Children of my beloved daughter In law margrett Tacknall as well them that [s]he had had by John Cleverly decea[s]ed as them that [s]he hath or may have by John Tacknald two Cowes But the [s]aid two Cowes and the Increa[s]e of them to remaine in the hands of my Said wife untill they come of age or at the day of marriage

Item I give and beqveath unto Margrett Cleverly the daughter of my Said daughter in Law margrett Tacknald one Heifer in Calfe but the Said Heifer to remaine (with the encrea[s]e of it) Into the hands of my Said beloved wife Margrett Sich untill the [s]aid margrett Cleverly Comes of age or at the day of her marriage

Item my will is that all my Land provi[s]ions contained in it my hou[s]hold goods ready money Cattle &c[a] be apprai[s]ed by two indifferent men Nominated by my Executors hereafter mentioned and the one third part of it I give unto my well beloved wife margrett Sich and the other two thirds I give and beqveath unto my well beloved children James Sich and Benjamin Sich and Mary Sich to be Eqvally divided among[s]t them to have each their portion In Specie as it [s]hall fall by lott unto each of them

Item I do appoint ordaine and Nominate my well beloved wife Margrett Sich to be the only Executrix of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

Item my will is that all my afore[s]aid E[s]tate be and remaine in the hands of my Said beloved wife untill my Said children comes of age or at the day of marriage at which Said time [s]he [s]hall give them their portion But if in ca[s]e my Said wife [s]hould marry [s]he [s]hall give an account of the [s]aid e[s]tate unto the wor[s]hipfull the Governor Stephen Poirier whom I nominate and appoint to be Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in ca[s]e of my Said wifes marridge or dies but if in ca[s]e the [s]aid Stephen Poirier Governor Should dye or goe of the I[s]land I doe Impower him to nominate and appoint another Executor of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

Item I give and beqveath unto the Said wor[s]hipfull the Governor Stephen Poirier three gold Venetians to bry him a Ring

Turn Over

In the name of God, amen. John Sich of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect and sound memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in expectation of the resurrection. He turned then to his temporal estate.

He directed that his debts be fully paid out of the estate within a convenient time after his death.

To the poor of the island he gave £0 12s 0d.

To his son James Sich he gave one house in Chapel Valley. The house was to remain in the hands of his wife Margaret Sich during her life, for her own use and for the use of his other children Benjamin Sich and Mary Sich until they came of age or married, on equal terms with James.

To the children of his daughter-in-law Margaret Tacknald, both those she had had by John Cleverly deceased and those she had or might have by John Tacknald, he gave two cows. The cows and their increase were to remain in his wife's hands until the children came of age or married.

To Margaret Cleverly, daughter of Margaret Tacknald, he gave one heifer in calf. The heifer and her increase were to remain in his wife's hands until the said Margaret Cleverly came of age or married.

He directed that all his land, the provisions growing on it, his household goods, ready money and cattle be appraised by two impartial men nominated by his executor. One third of the appraised estate was to go to his wife Margaret Sich, and the other two thirds were to be equally divided between his children James Sich, Benjamin Sich and Mary Sich. Each child's portion was to be received in kind, allocated by lot.

He appointed Margaret Sich as sole executrix. He directed that the whole estate remain in her hands until the children came of age or married, at which point she was to deliver each child's portion. If she remarried or died, she was to give an account of the estate to the Governor Stephen Poirier, whom he appointed as executor in that event. If Poirier died or left the island, Sich gave him the power to nominate and appoint another executor in his place.

To Governor Stephen Poirier he gave 3 gold Venetians to buy a ring.

Interpretations

The reference to John Cleverly deceased identifies him as the same John Cleaverlee whose will was made in August 1696 and proved in January 1697. Margaret Tacknald is therefore his widow, who has since remarried John Tacknald, and the present will refers to her children by both marriages. The remarriage of widows on the island, with the surviving spouse moving from one settler household to another, was a recognised feature of the small marriage market, and the Sich will captures the family network created by such successive marriages. The grandchildren of John Cleverly and the Tacknald children are placed on the same footing as recipients of the two cows, treating the family as a single unit regardless of the different paternity of the children.

The Chapel Valley house, given to James Sich subject to the joint use of his mother and the other two children during the minority, parallels the Chapel Valley house given to John Bowman the younger in the will of May 1699 and the same type of town premises mentioned in the Pledgerd and Fensdale wills. The valley running inland from Fort James was the principal urban area of the island, and a house there represented a town premises distinct from the country plantations.

Speculations

The decision to extend the bequest of the two cows to future children of Margaret Tacknald by John Tacknald, alongside her existing children by John Cleverly, suggests an effort to treat the testator's stepdaughter's expanding family as a single group of beneficiaries. The arrangement avoids the awkwardness of distinguishing between the children of two marriages and gives the gift a generational rather than an individual character. The structure may reflect a deliberate choice by the testator to recognise the new Tacknald marriage as the continuation of a single family rather than as the start of a separate line.

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Furthermore I Revoke and Di[s]annull all other will or wills Te[s]tament or Te[s]taments heretofore by me made Either by word or writing and acknowledging no other will but this to be mine In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this Twenty fifth day of february One thou[s]and Seven hundred and two and three

Signed Sealed and d[d] In the pre[s]ence of John Sich James Rider Era[s]mus Purling Matthew Bazett

In The Name of God Amen.

I Edward Edmunds of the I[s]land of S[t] Helena third of the Councill being very Sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory prai[s]ed be to God Almighty for the [s]ame but Knowing not how [s]oon my departure from time to Eternity may be and that I may have nothing to doe but wait upon the good plea[s]ure of the great God therefore do make and Ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following vi[zt]

Imprimis fir[s]t and principally I beqveath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God that gave it hoping that through the Meritorious death and Pa[s]sion of Je[s]us Chri[s]t to have Remi[s]sion of all my Sins And as for my mortall body to be buried in Chri[s]tian manner by the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned

Item I give unto my well beloved wife. Ann Edmunds all that E[s]tate that God has endowed me with both Reall and per[s]onall So long as [s]he [s]hall live and at her decea[s]e to be di[s]po[s]ed of according to her la[s]t will and te[s]tament but if no Such will appear one third part of my per[s]onall E[s]tate (after the decea[s]e of my wife as afore[s]aid) I give and beqveath unto my beloved Grand Children John and Nathaniell Cox and the other two thirds to be Equally divided betweene the children of Samuell Wrangham and Henry ffrancis as afore[s]aid

And I do hereby Nominate and Appoint my Said well beloved wife to be my whole and Sole Executrice of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking all other wills heretofore by me made acknowledging this and only this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this Twenty Seventh day of January One thou[s]and Seven hundred and two three

Witne[s]ses Tho: Goodwin Edw[d]: Edmunds John Kerr Chaplain to y[e] Hon[ble] Compagny John Nichols

He revoked all earlier wills and acknowledged this as his sole will. The will was signed and sealed on 25 February 1703, by the calendar of the Church of England, in the presence of James Rider, Erasmus Purling and Matthew Bazett.

In the name of God, amen. On 27 January 1703, by the calendar of the Church of England, Edward Edmunds of St Helena, third of the Council, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak but, by his own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executrix.

He gave all his estate, both real and personal, to his wife Ann Edmunds for her lifetime, to be disposed of by her will at her death. If she left no will, one third of the personal estate was to go after her death to his grandchildren John and Nathaniel Cox. The remaining two thirds were to be equally divided between the children of Samuel Wrangham and the children of Henry Francis.

He appointed Ann Edmunds as sole executrix and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was witnessed by Thomas Goodwin, John Kerr, chaplain to the Honourable Company, and John Nichols.

Interpretations

The description of Edward Edmunds as third of the Council places him within the formal hierarchy of the East India Company's administration on St Helena. The Council consisted of the Governor and a small number of named senior officers, with each member holding a numbered rank that determined his precedence in Council business. As third of the Council, Edmunds occupied the third senior position on the island, below the Governor and the second member, and his standing gave him the principal civil authority after those two officers.

The earlier appearance of Edward Edmunds as executor of the John Cannady will of May 1693 and the Mary Dixon will of July 1696, taken together with the present will, identifies him as one of the most active testamentary administrators on the island over a period of more than nine years. His standing on the Council reinforced his suitability as an executor, and his repeated appearance in that role across multiple wills shows the continuing trust placed in him by testators from a range of backgrounds.

Speculations

The decision to give the entire estate to Ann Edmunds for her lifetime, with her own will controlling the substantive descent, suggests a high degree of confidence in her capacity to dispose of the property correctly. The contingent fallback operates only if she leaves no will, and the structure indicates that Edmunds expected her to make her own testamentary disposition rather than allowing the matter to fall to the contingent gift. The arrangement gives her the practical authority to balance the claims of the three family branches according to her own judgement, with the contingent provision serving as a default rather than as the primary expression of the testator's wishes.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen I Anne Edmunds of the [s]aid I[s]land widdow being very Sick and weak but of good and perfect memory prai[s]ed to Almighty for the [s]ame but not knowing how [s]oone my departure from this [s]tate to Eternity may be and that I may have nothing to do but waite the good plea[s]ure of the great God therefore do make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following Viz

Imprimis fir[s]t and principally I beqveath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it hoping that through the merritts death and pa[s]sion of Je[s]us Chri[s]t to have Remi[s]sion of all my Sins and as for my mortall body to be buried in Chri[s]tian manner at the di[s]cre[t]ion of my Executors hereafter mentioned

Item I give unto my well beloved Grand Son Henry Francis that part of the Country hou[s]e I now po[s]se[s]s Tenn Acres of land that was Ja[s]per Jays but the Yams that [s]tands upon it to my well beloved Son Henry Francis Sen[r] but the hou[s]e and land to remaine in his fathers cu[s]tody till of age or marriage

Item I give unto my well beloved Son Henry Francis Tenn Acres of land that was M[r] Jen[s]ters with all its appurtenances with three Cowes three Calves one Bullock all the [s]heep Hogg[s] Goats that appertaine to me

Likewi[s]e all the fowles and Turkeys

Item I give unto my well beloved daughter Margrett Francis and my Grand daughter Mary Foules all my wearing apparell to be divided betweene them

Item I give unto my afore[s]aid daughter Margrett Francis Grand daughters mary foules and Rebecca Wrangham all my Sheets towells and Table Linnen to be divided as afore[s]aid

Item I give unto my well beloved Grand daughter Mary ffoules one Black Girle named Margrett to my well beloved Son Henry Francis one Black man named George one Black woman named Sarah pkina[?] one Black woman named Malvs one Black maid named Ellen one Black girle named Sarah

Item I give unto my beloved Grand Son John Cox one Black boy named George if he will carry him from this I[s]land (if not) to my Son Henry Francis What[s]oever el[s]e it hath plea[s]ed god to ble[s]s me with all as Hou[s]e at the fort Timber and appurtenahees to build the [s]aid hou[s]e workmen paid &c[a] all goods and Chattles bills bonds debts owes ready money &c[a] I will they be divided in manner following vi[zt]

One third part be given after apprai[s]ed by my Executors to John Cox and Nathaniell Cox if they [s]hall come or [s]end for the [s]ame but if it [s]hould happen one of the[s]e brothers die before Receipt hereof the other [s]hall enjoy both parts but in ca[s]e they both dye before Receipt afore[s]aid then it [s]hall be given to Henry Francis Jun[r] the other two parts to be divided betweene m[r] Wranghams Children and Henry Francis Jun[r]

Whereas [s]ome pi[c]tures are [s]ent for from England by my hu[s]band Edw[d] Edmunds decea[s]ed when they [s]hall come here I will they be [s]old and the money divided among[s]t my Grand children afore[s]aid

Item I give unto m[rs] Stillman in Englands Kin[s]woman to my decea[s]ed hu[s]band five pounds to be [s]ent by my Executors to M[r] fo[s]ter Bi[s]kett baker in Wapping that [s]o it may be delivered to the [s]aid Stillman but if the [s]aid Stillman be dead before Receipt hereof to be given one berry in England whom the [s]aid M[r] fo[s]ter well knoweth.

Turn Over

In the name of God, amen. Anne Edmunds of St Helena, widow, set down her last will and testament. She was very sick and weak but, by her own account, of good and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God.

She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be buried in Christian fashion at the discretion of her executors.

She turned then to her worldly estate.

To her grandson Henry Francis junior she gave the part of the country house she then occupied, together with ten acres of land formerly belonging to Jasper Jay. The yams growing on the ten acres were to go to her son Henry Francis senior, but the house and land were to remain in the father's custody until the grandson came of age or married.

To her son Henry Francis senior she gave ten acres of land formerly belonging to Mr Jenster, with all its appurtenances, together with three cows, three calves, one bullock, all her sheep, hogs and goats, and all her fowls and turkeys.

To her daughter Margaret Francis and her granddaughter Mary Foules she gave all her wearing apparel, to be divided between them.

To her daughter Margaret Francis and her granddaughters Mary Foules and Rebecca Wrangham she gave all her sheets, towels and table linen, to be divided between them.

To her granddaughter Mary Foules she gave a black girl named Margaret.

To her son Henry Francis senior she gave a black man named George, a black woman named Sarah, a black woman named Malus, a black maid named Ellen, and a black girl named Sarah. The reading of one of the slave names is unclear in the manuscript, but five slaves are passed to Henry senior in this bequest [...].

To her grandson John Cox she gave a black boy named George, on condition that he carry the boy off the island. If he did not, the boy was to pass to Henry Francis senior.

She turned then to the remainder of her estate, including her house at the fort, the timber and appurtenances bought to build that house, the wages paid to the workmen, and all her other goods, chattels, bills, bonds, debts owed to her and ready money. She directed that one third of these assets, after appraisal by her executors, be given to John Cox and Nathaniel Cox if they came or sent for the share. If one of the two brothers died before receipt, the survivor was to take both parts. If both died before receipt, the share was to pass to Henry Francis junior. The remaining two thirds were to be divided between the children of Mr Wrangham and Henry Francis junior.

Some pictures had been ordered from England by her late husband Edward Edmunds. When the pictures arrived on the island, they were to be sold and the proceeds divided between the grandchildren named above.

To Mrs Stillman in England, a kinswoman of her late husband, she gave £5 0s 0d. The sum was to be sent by her executors to Mr Foster Biskett, baker in Wapping, who was to deliver it to Mrs Stillman. If Mrs Stillman had died before receipt, the money was to be given to a person named One Berry in England, whom Foster knew.

Interpretations

The will follows directly from that of Edward Edmunds of 27 January 1703 and gives effect to Anne's testamentary capacity as life tenant under his will. Where her husband's will had vested everything in her for her lifetime, with the contingent gift over to the three family branches operating only in default of a will of her own, the present document is precisely the will that completes that arrangement. Anne's dispositions therefore override the contingent provisions of her husband's will and become the substantive testamentary record of the descent of the joint estate.

The earlier appearance of Henry Francis as a witness to the John Cannady will of May 1693, now identifiable as Henry Francis senior, places him within the same circle of established island figures as Edward Edmunds himself. The family connection through his marriage to Anne's daughter Margaret Francis, producing the grandson Henry Francis junior, brings him into the immediate family of the Edmunds household. The bequest of five slaves, ten acres and a large quantity of livestock to Henry senior gives him the working capital of a substantial planter.

Speculations

The decision to give the most substantial bequests to the Francis branch, with Henry Francis senior receiving ten acres, five slaves and the working livestock and Henry Francis junior receiving the country house and ten more acres, suggests that the Francis branch had been the closest to the Edmunds household during Edward's lifetime and Anne's widowhood. The other two branches, the Cox and Wrangham lines, receive only their contingent shares of the residue, with the Cox brothers also subject to the requirement of coming or sending for their share. The asymmetry indicates that the Francis branch was probably resident on the island and active in the management of the family property, while the Cox brothers were off the island and the Wrangham children may have been less closely connected to the testator in her final years.

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Item I give unto my Son Henry ffrancis my wedding ring unto my daughter Margrett ffrancis one Small Gold ring to my Grand Son Francis Wrangham one Small gold ring unto Mad[m] John[s]on one Burying ring

Item I give unto my beloved Son Henry Francis one new feather bed one Bol[s]ter three pillows one pair of Curtains one Qvilt one under Bed one blanket one Bed[s]ted which is at the fort

I give unto M[r] John Kerr mini[s]ter of the Said I[s]land one Guinea

I give unto Doctor O[s]wald one Pi[s]tole

I will that my goods be [S]old at the di[s]cretion of my Executors and dividends made as above[s]aid.

I doe hereby Nominate and appoint Geo: Ho[s]ki[s]on and my beloved Son Henry ffrancis my Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking all other wills heretofore by me made acknowledging this and only this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this fifth day of february One thou[s]and Seven hundred and two three

Witne[s]sed p[r] Hatten Starling her Samuell Maxwell Anne V Edmunds Geo: Ho[s]ki[s]on Marke

To her son Henry Francis she gave her wedding ring.

To her daughter Margaret Francis she gave one small gold ring.

To her grandson Francis Wrangham she gave one small gold ring.

To Madam Johnson she gave one mourning ring.

To her son Henry Francis she gave a new feather bed, bolster, three pillows, one pair of curtains, one quilt, one under-bed, one blanket and one bedstead, all of which were then at the fort.

To Mr John Kerr, minister of the island, she gave one guinea.

To Doctor Oswald she gave one pistole.

She directed that her goods be sold at the discretion of her executors and the proceeds divided as set out above.

She appointed George Hoskison and her son Henry Francis as executors. She revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on 5 February 1704 in the presence of Hatten Starling and Samuel Maxwell. Anne Edmunds signed by mark.

Interpretations

The pistole given to Doctor Oswald identifies a Spanish or French gold coin circulating in the international currency of the period. The pistole was a recognised gold piece valued at approximately seventeen shillings sterling, and the bequest of a single pistole to the island physician represents a substantial gift in coin. The use of a foreign gold coin to recognise a professional service, rather than a sterling sum or a ring legacy, parallels the use of Venetians for ring legacies in the Phillips and Sich wills, and shows how the multiple currencies in circulation on the island could be used to express gifts of recognised value in any of several denominations.

The instruction that the goods be sold by the executors and the proceeds divided as set out above provides the operational mechanism for the residual distribution. The structure parallels the auction provision in the Beale will of June 1700 and the Fensdale will of October 1699, where the sale of property through public auction was the recognised means of realising the value of an estate for distribution to multiple beneficiaries. The discretion given to the executors over the timing and conduct of the sale allowed them to manage the process according to market conditions.

Speculations

The decision to give the wedding ring specifically to her son Henry Francis, rather than to a daughter or granddaughter, suggests that the testator regarded him as the principal heir of the family memory as well as the principal beneficiary of the substantive estate. The wedding ring carried the symbolic value of the marriage from which the family had grown, and passing it to the son rather than to a female recipient indicates an attention to lineage rather than to traditional patterns of jewellery descent. The gift may also have been intended for use within his own household, perhaps for a future wife or daughter.

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In The Name of God Amen

I Michaell Morris of the I[s]land S[t] Helena free planter being Sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the Immortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament that is to [s]ay principally and fir[s]t of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of god that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Chri[s]tian like and decent manner at the di[s]cretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the Generall Re[s]urrection I [s]hall receive the [s]ame againe by the mighty power of God and as touching [s]uch wordly E[s]tate wherewith it hath plea[s]ed god to ble[s]s me with in this life I give devi[s]e and di[s]po[s]e of the [s]ame in the following manner and forme

Imprimis I give and beqveath unto my well beloved daughter Rebecca Gurling one Black man named Will one feather bed and bed[s]ted and furniture belonging to it one Long table being both in the middle Roome 1 Che[s]t of Drawers 1 trunck one Large pewter di[s]h 1 [s]mall deep di[s]h 2 pewter plates one Small Iron kettle 2 Cowes one called Blacky the other called patience Ten Goats Ten thou[s]and of Yams and [s]uckers [s]tanding in the bottom of Degarnees ground next to Edward Bagleys:

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Grandson J[no] Ho[s]ki[s]on one Heifer

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son Walter Morris my dwelling hou[s]e with ten Acres of land lying in friar Valley likewi[s]e one hou[s]e at fort James with the remaining part of my provi[s]ions in Degarnees ground or El[s]ewhere which I can lawfully Call mine one Black man named Jeffry with the remaining part of my hou[s]hold Stuffe Cattle goats hoggs he paying to my well beloved daughter mary Young the Summe of four and twenty pounds in I[s]land goods or money with one Cott and bed and Bol[s]ter one pillow one pair [s]heets one Quilt to be paid her at Eighteene years of age or at the day of marriage and if the Said Mary Young [s]hould dye before the Said time be Expired I doe ordaine the Said foure and twenty pounds with the other moveables to fall to my well beloved Son Walter Morris

Likewi[s]e I ordaine and con[s]titute my well beloved freinds Robert Addis and m[r] Jo[s]eph Trapp whole and Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament And I do hereby utterly di[s]allow revoke and di[s]annull all other te[s]taments wills and Legacys and Executors by me before this time named willed and beqveathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]ett my hand and Seal in the year of our Lord God one thou[s]and Seven hundred and two and the [s]even and twentieth day of february

Signed Sealed and delivered in the pre[s]ence of us the Sub[s]cribers his Michaell V Morri[s]s his marke John IF ffuller marke Edw[d]: Cro[s]by Rob[t]: Addis

In the name of God, amen. On 27 February 1703, by the calendar of the Church of England, Michael Morris of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executors. He turned then to his worldly estate.

To his daughter Rebecca Gurling he gave a black slave named Will, a feather bed with bedstead and furniture, the long table standing in the middle room, one chest of drawers, one trunk, one large pewter dish, one small deep pewter dish, two pewter plates, one small iron kettle, two cows named Blacky and Patience, ten goats, 10,000 yams and the suckers growing in the bottom of Degarnees' ground next to Edward Bagley's.

To his grandson John Hoskison he gave one heifer.

To his son Walter Morris he gave his dwelling house with ten acres of land in Friar Valley, one house at Fort James, the remaining provisions in Degarnees' ground and elsewhere, a black slave named Jeffry, and all the remaining household stuff, cattle, goats and hogs.

Walter was to pay his sister Mary Young £24 0s 0d in island goods or money, together with one cot and bed, bolster, pillow, pair of sheets and quilt. Payment was to be made when Mary reached eighteen or married. If Mary died before either event, the £24 0s 0d and the bedding were to revert to Walter.

He appointed Robert Addis and Joseph Trapp as executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of John Fuller, Edward Crosby and Robert Addis. Morris and Fuller signed by mark.

Interpretations

The bequest to Rebecca Gurling identifies her as a Morris daughter married into the Gurling family of Mary Dixon's earlier will of July 1696. The Gurling line, with Robert, Margaret and Anne Gurling appearing as Mary Dixon's children by her earlier marriage and Richard Gurling later witnessing the Box will of May 1701, has remained continuous on the island into the new century. Rebecca Gurling now appears as a Morris daughter who has married into that Gurling line, bringing the two settler families together.

The mention of a dwelling house with ten acres in Friar Valley and a separate house at Fort James matches the pattern of dual property holding observed in the Pledgerd will of November 1697, the John Bowman will of May 1699 and the Sich will of February 1703, where a country residence and a town house formed the principal premises of an established planter. Friar Valley was one of the recognised settled valleys of the island's interior, suitable for cultivation, while the Fort James property gave Morris access to the principal port and administrative centre.

Speculations

The distribution of the working estate between Rebecca Gurling, Walter Morris and Mary Young, with very different forms of provision for each, suggests that the testator was matching the gift to the established or expected circumstances of each child. Rebecca, already married into the Gurling family, received a comprehensive household setup including bedding, table, dishes, kettle, livestock and the standing crop of yams, sufficient to support an established household. Walter, the son, received the dwelling house, the country land, the town house, the remaining household goods and the principal livestock, becoming the principal heir of the working plantation. Mary Young, perhaps younger or less independently provided for, received a defined cash and bedding portion as her share, payable on her own marriage or majority.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen I Samvell Wrangham of the Said I[s]land free planter being Sick and weak of body but of Sound and perfect memory (all prai[s]e to god for the [s]ame) and knowing nothing more certaine then death and nothing more uncertaine then the time when doe make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following vi[zt]

Fir[s]t and principally I beqveath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits of Chri[s]t Je[s]us to receive pardon for all my Sins and as for my body I commit it to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in Chri[s]tian like manner at the di[s]cretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned and as for my worldly goods God of his mercy hath be[s]towed on mee I beqveath as followeth

Imprimis I give and beqveath all my Goods be the [s]ame in Ready money plate or Land Hou[s]es Cattle or what[s]oever El[s]e (after my funerall charges defraid debts paid) to be Eqvally divided betweene my Children vi[zt] ffrancis Job Mary ffoulis Rebecca Anne Margrett Sarah and Elizabeth Wrangham at the di[s]cretion of my Executors as my Said Children Shall come of age or upon their day of marriage and mean time to be Kept together for their maintenance and in ca[s]e of the death of any my Said Children before they come of age or be married It is my will their portion be Eqvally divided betweene the Survivors

Item I make ordaine and appoint my loving father in law Edw[d] Edmunds and my loving freind M[r] Tho: Goodwin Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking all others by me made In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this third day of June 1702

Witne[s]ses John O[s]wald Geo Ho[s]ki[s]on Sam[ll] Wrangham

This will was proved before Governor and Councill on Wedne[s]day y[e] 24[th] day of July 1702 atte[s]ted p[r] me

Jo[s] Alexander Cler Conc[il]

Note: This will seems to be out of order being dated 3 June 1702 and preceded by a will dated 27 February 1703). In the name of God, amen. On 3 June 1702 Samuel Wrangham of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of sound and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executors.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

He gave the whole of his estate, including ready money, plate, land, houses, cattle and everything else, to his children. The estate was to be equally divided between Francis, Job, Mary Foulis, Rebecca, Anne, Margaret, Sarah and Elizabeth Wrangham, after his funeral charges and debts had been paid. The division was to take effect as each child came of age or married, at the discretion of his executors, and the property was meanwhile to be kept together for the maintenance of the children. If any of the children died before reaching age or marrying, the portion of that child was to be equally divided between the survivors.

He appointed his father-in-law Edward Edmunds and his friend Thomas Goodwin as executors.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of John Oswald and George Hoskison.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on Wednesday 24 July 1702, attested by Joseph Alexander, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The will identifies Samuel Wrangham as the son-in-law of Edward Edmunds, third of the Council, and so confirms the family connection inferred from the Edmunds wills of January and February 1703. The Wrangham children listed here, Francis, Job, Mary Foulis, Rebecca, Anne, Margaret, Sarah and Elizabeth, are the grandchildren of Edward and Anne Edmunds who appear in their wills as the children of Mr Wrangham, taking the two-thirds residual share with the children of Henry Francis. The connection establishes that Samuel Wrangham was married to a daughter of Edward and Anne Edmunds, although her name is not given in the present will.

The appointment of the testator's father-in-law Edward Edmunds and his friend Thomas Goodwin as executors places the administration in the hands of two figures already well established in the testamentary affairs of the island. Edmunds had been executor of multiple estates by this date, and Thomas Goodwin had served as executor of the Phillips will of February 1698 and the Potter will of February 1699, as well as appearing as a beneficiary of the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699. The selection of two such experienced administrators provided strong assurance that the eight children's interests would be properly managed through the long minority of the younger members of the family.

Speculations

The decision to treat all eight children equally, without preferring the sons over the daughters in the descent of the real property, suggests that Wrangham regarded his estate as a fund for the establishment of all his children rather than as a holding to be preserved in a single male line. With six daughters and only two sons, a strict primogenitural arrangement would have concentrated the working assets on Francis as the eldest son and left the daughters dependent on dowries or marriage portions. The equal treatment given by the will treats each child as entitled to a working portion sufficient to support an independent household, regardless of sex.

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In The Name of God Amen

The tenth day of November in the year of our Lord god 1702 I Tho: Earle of the I[s]land of S[t] Helena free planter being very Sick and weake of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye doe make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament that is to [s]ay principally and fir[s]t of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of that God that gave it and for my Body I commend it to the Earth to be buryed in a Chri[s]tian like and decent manner at the di[s]cretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the Generall Re[s]urrection I [s]hall receive the [s]ame againe by the mighty power of God and as touching [s]uch worldly E[s]tate wherewith it hath plea[s]ed God to ble[s]s me with in this life I give devi[s]e and di[s]po[s]e of the [s]ame in the following manner and forme

Imprimis I doe give and beqveath to my well beloved wife Martha Earle a third of my whole E[s]tate when valved by my Executors and all debts and funerall charges defraid and likewi[s]e to live in the [s]aid hou[s]e and Plantation and other grounds as I now Enjoy it and if in ca[s]e the [s]aid Martha Earle [s]hould marry then to have her thirds paid her out of the per[s]onall E[s]tate and the re[s]t to remaine in her hands for the maintenance of the Children till her decea[s]e or their marriage then to be Eqvally divided betwixt them both reall and per[s]onable

Item I give and beqveath to my well belved freind Orlando Bagley Sen[r] forty Shillings to be rai[s]ed out of my per[s]onall E[s]tate for the good of his Son John Bagley

Item I give and beqveath to my well beloved freind Charles Steward forty [s]hillings to be rai[s]ed out of my per[s]onall E[s]tate for the good of his Son ffrancis Steward

Likewi[s]e I doe make con[s]titute and ordaine Orlando Bagley and Charles Steward free planters to be Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament and I do hereby utterly di[s]allow Revoke and di[s]annull all other former Te[s]taments wills and Legacys in any ways before this time named willed and beqveathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

Publi[s]hed pronounced and declared in the pre[s]ence of us Thomas Earle John Bagley Gabriell Powell Rob[t]: Addis

In the name of God, amen. On 10 November 1702 Thomas Earle of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executors.

He turned then to his worldly estate.

To his wife Martha Earle he gave one third of his estate, after valuation by his executors and after his debts and funeral charges had been discharged. She was also to live in the house, the plantation and the other ground as he then enjoyed them. If she remarried, her one-third share of the personal estate was to be paid to her at that point, and the remainder was to stay in her hands for the maintenance of the children. On her death, or on the children's marriages, the whole of the real and personal estate was to be equally divided between the children.

To his friend Orlando Bagley senior he gave £2 0s 0d from his personal estate, for the benefit of Bagley's son John Bagley.

To his friend Charles Steward he gave £2 0s 0d from his personal estate, for the benefit of Steward's son Francis Steward.

He appointed Orlando Bagley and Charles Steward, both free planters, as executors and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was published, pronounced and declared in the presence of John Bagley, Gabriel Powell and Robert Addis.

Interpretations

The description of Orlando Bagley senior here refers to the same Orlando Bagley whose will of November 1701 has appeared earlier in this series. The reference to him as senior in the present will, drafted just over a year after his own will, indicates that he survived the date of his testamentary disposition and continued in active life on the island. His own will had appointed his son Orlando junior as executor, but his role here as executor of another planter's estate shows that he continued to act in testamentary administration even after making his own preparations for death.

Charles Steward, named as the second executor, appears here for the first time in this series. The earlier appearance of Onesiphorus Steward as a witness to the Williams will of May 1700, signing in full as Onesiphorus, suggests a Steward family on the island connected by name to the present executor. The bequest of £2 0s 0d for the benefit of Charles Steward's son Francis Steward parallels the gift to John Bagley and indicates that Thomas Earle was providing modest charitable sums for the children of two friends, perhaps as godfather or as a means of recognising the children's standing in the community.

Speculations

The decision to give Martha Earle her thirds at the point of remarriage, rather than restricting her to the use of the estate during her widowhood, suggests that Thomas Earle was prepared to allow her to take her share into a new household if she chose to remarry, while protecting the children's portions against the consequences of that decision. The arrangement gives the widow real flexibility about her future, with no penalty for choosing a new husband, while ensuring that her share is detached from the family estate before it could be absorbed by another man. The structure contrasts with the more cautious arrangement in the Sich will, where the Governor was substituted as executor on the widow's remarriage.

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In The Name of God Amen

I Samvell Maxwell of the I[s]land of S[t] Helena Serj[t]: in the pay and Service of the R[t] Hono: Ea[s]t India Company being [s]omewhat indi[s]po[s]ed in body but of Sound and perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given unto Almighty God for the [s]ame and knowing there is nothing more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when do make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following

Fir[s]t and principally I beqveath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[s]suredly beleiving that through the merits of my Lord and Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t that after this life ended I [s]hall Enjoy Eternall Bli[s]s and my body I commit to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in Chri[s]tian like and decent manner as my Executors hereafter mentioned [s]hall think fit and as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God of his goodne[s]s to lend unto me I give and beqveath as followeth

Imprimis I give and beqveath unto my well beloved daughter Elinor Maxwell my be[s]t feather bed Quilt two Pewter di[s]hes Six Pewter plates one large Che[s]t one Cow named Pye and Cow calfe and ten Ewe goats

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved daughter Mary Maxwell two heifers and twenty ewe Goats

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved daughter Margarett Maxwell two heifers and Twenty Ewe Goats

Item give and beqveath unto my afore[s]aid beloved daughters Ellinor Mary and Margarett Maxwell all and Singular the re[s]t of my E[s]tate both real and per[s]onall after that my debts Legacies funerall Charges paid and defrayd and that my beloved wife hath had her thirds of my Per[s]onall E[s]tate according to the Laws of England to be Eqvally divided in Even portion[s] betweene my Said beloved daughters as they come of age or on the day of their marriage but in ca[s]e of the death of any of my [s]aid daughters before they come of age or marriage then the Survivors to Enjoy the decea[s]ed portions and in ca[s]e of the death of all my Said daughters before they come of age or be married then I will and beqveath that all and [s]ingular what belongs to them to be Eqvally divided betweene the Children of One[s]: Steward Charles Steward and Henry Francis

Item I give and beqveath unto the [s]on of my beloved wife, mary Maxwell (not yet bapti[s]ed) one Shilling of good and lawfull money of England

Item I will and ordaine that my Said beloved wife [s]hall live and dwell in my Country hou[s]e and to have the u[s]e of my Plantations Negros &c[a] So long as [s]he keeps her [s]elfe unmarried and doth well by my [s]aid Children which I de[s]ire may live altogether with her untill [s]uch time as my Executors thinks fit but in ca[s]e of the marriage of my [s]aid beloved wife then I will and ordaine that my Executors di[s]po[s]se[s]s her of the [s]ame: further I will and ordaine that in ca[s]e my [s]aid beloved wife hath a Child born begotten by me that it have a [s]hare of my Said E[s]tate Eqvall with the re[s]t of my beloved Children

In the name of God, amen. Samuel Maxwell of St Helena, serjeant in the pay and service of the Right Honourable East India Company, set down his last will and testament. He was somewhat indisposed in body but, by his own account, of sound and perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executors.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

To his daughter Eleanor Maxwell he gave his best feather bed, quilt, two pewter dishes, six pewter plates, one large chest, one cow named Pye, one cow calf and ten ewe goats.

To his daughter Mary Maxwell he gave two heifers and twenty ewe goats.

To his daughter Margaret Maxwell he gave two heifers and twenty ewe goats.

He gave the residue of his estate, both real and personal, to the same three daughters, after the payment of his debts, legacies and funeral charges and after his wife had received her thirds of the personal estate according to the laws of England. The residue was to be equally divided between the three daughters as they came of age or married. If any daughter died before reaching age or marrying, the survivors were to take her portion. If all three died before age or marriage, the property was to be equally divided between the children of Onesiphorus Steward, Charles Steward and Henry Francis.

To his wife's son Mary Maxwell, not yet baptised, he gave £0 1s 0d in lawful money of England.

He directed that his wife should live in his country house and have the use of his plantations and slaves so long as she remained unmarried and treated his children well. He wished the children to live with her until his executors thought otherwise. If she remarried, the executors were to dispossess her of the country house, the plantations and the slaves.

If his wife gave birth to a child begotten by him, that child was to have a share of his estate equal to the shares of the other children.

Interpretations

The description of Samuel Maxwell as serjeant in the pay and service of the Right Honourable East India Company places him within the Company's garrison on St Helena, parallel to the position of Peter Williams in the Williams will of May 1700 and to John Foid, named as serjeant in the William Harvey will of July 1694. A serjeant was a non-commissioned officer in the small armed establishment of the island, with subordinate command of soldiers in the defence of the fort and settlement. The use of the title indicates that Maxwell continued in active military service at the date of the will and that his estate included assets accumulated during his time on the island.

The substitutionary gift over to the children of Onesiphorus Steward, Charles Steward and Henry Francis, in the event that all three daughters died before age or marriage, identifies three island family branches as the contingent beneficiaries of the residue. Charles Steward has appeared as executor of the Earle will of November 1702, and Henry Francis has appeared throughout this series as the son-in-law of Edward and Anne Edmunds. Onesiphorus Steward appears as a witness to the Williams will of May 1700 and presumably represents the elder generation of the Steward family. The three named figures may be connected to Maxwell by ties of friendship rather than kinship, since no specific family relationship is identified.

Speculations

The careful distinction between the wife's existing son, who receives only the nominal one shilling, and any future posthumous child of the testator, who would share equally with the daughters, suggests that the testator had specific concerns about the paternity of his wife's existing son. The decision to name the boy and to give him a token gift, rather than ignoring him entirely, indicates that the testator did not wish to be seen as overlooking the boy but also did not wish to recognise him as his own. The provision may also reflect a concern that the wife or the boy might later claim a share of the estate, and that the testator wished to forestall any such claim by the formal device of the nominal legacy.

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And that my [s]aid beloved wife have the u[s]e of five Acres of Cabbage tree land (which I lea[s]e of the Right Honorable Company) during her naturall life

Item I doe hereby Nominate and appoint my Beloved Son in Law Charles Steward and Henry ffrancis free planters to be whole and Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking all other former wills and Te[s]taments heretofore by me made acknowledging this and no other to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal this Seventeenth day of May 1703 Sam[ll]: Maxwell Sealed Signed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of us One[s]: Steward Hatton Starling Jn[o]: Alexander

This will was proved before Governor and Councell on Wedne[s]day the 25[th] day of Augu[s]t 1703 atte[s]ted p[r] me Jn[o]: Alexander Cler Conc[il]

In The Name of God

I do declare to all whom it may Concerne that this is my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament I commend my Soule to God through the merits of Chri[s]t and my body to be interred at the di[s]cretion of my dear and lawfull wife Joy A[s]hby whom I by this pre[s]ents Con[s]titute my Sole and undoubted Executrix to act and doe in every re[s]pect that is to a[s]k and demand for my Ju[s]t debts from and to pay what[s]oever I am Ju[s]tly unto any per[s]on as if I my[s]elfe were in life This is the true intention of me the [s]aid Te[s]tamentor to be con[s]trued to the be[s]t [s]en[s]e in behalfe of my Said Executrix In witne[s]s whereof I have hereto [s]et my hand and mark this twenty fir[s]t day of July in the year of our Lord God 1703 and of our Sovereinge Lady Anne by the grace of God of England Scotland france and Ireland Queene &c

In pre[s]ence of his John Kerr Thomas T A[s]hby Jo[s]eph Par[s]ons marke his Jonathan I Higham mark

She was also to have the use of five acres of cabbage tree land, which the testator held on lease from the Right Honourable Company, during her natural life.

He appointed his son-in-law Charles Steward and Henry Francis, both free planters, as sole executors and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on 17 May 1703 in the presence of Onesiphorus Steward, Hatton Starling and John Alexander.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on Wednesday 25 August 1703, attested by John Alexander, clerk of the Council.

In the name of God. Thomas Ashby declared this as his last will and testament. He commended his soul to God through the merits of Christ and directed that his body be buried at the discretion of his wife Joy Ashby, whom he appointed sole executrix.

He gave her full authority to act in every respect, to ask and demand his just debts and to pay whatever he owed to others, as if he himself were alive. He directed that the intention of the will was to be construed in the best sense in favour of his executrix.

The will was signed and sealed on 21 July 1703, in the second regnal year of Queen Anne, by the grace of God Queen of England, Scotland, France and Ireland. The witnesses were John Kerr, Joseph Parsons and Jonathan Higham. Ashby and Higham signed by mark.

Interpretations

The description of Charles Steward as the testator's son-in-law in the Maxwell will identifies him as the husband of one of the testator's daughters, perhaps an earlier daughter not named among the three legatees Eleanor, Mary and Margaret. The earlier appearance of Charles Steward as executor of the Thomas Earle will of November 1702 placed him within the testamentary network, and his role here as executor of his father-in-law's will follows the recognised pattern of using a married daughter's husband as a family administrator. The combination of family connection and proven testamentary experience gave him the standing required for the role.

The will of Thomas Ashby, drafted on 21 July 1703, identifies the same Thomas Ashby who appeared as a witness to the Fensdale will of March 1699, where he signed by mark. The present will, also signed by mark, confirms that he remained on the island and that his testamentary capacity at the end of his life followed the same pattern of signature. The contrast between his role as witness to Fensdale's will four years earlier and his own position as testator now shows how members of the small island settler population moved across roles as testator, witness and executor over time.

Speculations

The decision to lease five acres of cabbage tree land from the Company, rather than to acquire it in fee, suggests that the most valuable timber resources on the island remained under Company control and were not available for outright grant to settlers. By leasing the land, Maxwell secured access to the cabbage tree resource for his lifetime and provided for his widow to continue the lease during her own life, but the underlying title remained with the Company and the land would revert at the end of the lease. The arrangement reflects the Company's careful management of the limited timber supply on the island, with the lease mechanism preserving the Company's ultimate control over the resource.

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In The Name of God Amen

The 16[th] of x[br]: 1703 I John Goodwin of the I[s]land S[t] Helena free planter being Sick in body but of good and perfect memory Thanks be to Almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertainty of this life do make Con[s]titute and ordaine and declare this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and form following revoking and annulling by the[s]e pre[s]ents all and every will and wills heretofore by me made and declared either in word or writing and this only to be taken for my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament And fir[s]t being heartily Sorry for my [s]ins pa[s]t mo[s]t humbly de[s]iring forgivene[s]s of the [s]ame I commit my Soule to Almighty God tru[s]ting to be [s]aved through the merits of Je[s]us Chri[s]t and my body to be buried where it [s]hall plea[s]e my Executors hereafter named to appoint and as to the [s]etling of the Temporall E[s]tate as it hath plea[s]ed god to be[s]tow upon me I do order give and di[s]po[s]e the [s]ame in manner and form following that is to [s]ay

Imprims I will and beqveath that my Wife [s]hall have all the Real E[s]tate in her cu[s]tody till my Son Rob[t] Goodwin be of age or marrys but with this provi[s]o that if my wife [s]hould marry before the [s]aid Rob[t] Goodwin comes of age or marrys that then my Executor hereafter mentioned [s]hall have full power to demand and take the moity of the [s]aid Real E[s]tate with my afore[s]aid Son into his care and cu[s]tody for the u[s]e and behoofe of the afore[s]aid Rob[t] Goodwin and the other moity to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my afore[s]aid beloved wife during her naturrall life and then to Returne to my afore[s]aid Son but in ca[s]e of my Said Sons death before he comes of age marrys or capable of making a will then my [s]aid beloved wife has full power to will the [s]aid moity of the [s]aid Real E[s]tate at her plea[s]ure

Item I give unto my afore[s]aid Beloved Son one hundred pounds in Ready mony Immediately to be paid after my decea[s]e and to be Improved and managed at the di[s]cretion of my Executors for the benefitt of my afore[s]aid Son I al[s]o give unto my Said Son Rob[t] Goodwin two Silver [s]poons and two Silver forks with two gold rings and five dozen Silver buttons likewi[s]e I give to my Said Son fifteene head of Cattle in proportion with my [s]tock to be put immediately after my decea[s]e into a particular mark of di[s]tin[c]tion to breed and increa[s]e for his u[s]e Al[s]o fifty Goats or the value thereof, one feather bed with furniture to the [s]ame to the value of forn pounds Six chairs and one Round table to the Value of three pounds Foure black Slaves named (Viz) Brockatt Seba George and Toby forty thou[s]and of Yams and [s]uckers to the value of Thirty pounds which particulars are to be delivered by my Executor to my Said Son at the day of age or marriage

I give unto my well beloved brother Tho: Goodwin twenty [s]hillings to buy him a Ring to wear for my [s]ake all the re[s]t of woordly goods (not yet di[s]po[s]ed of) after my debts are paid and funerall charges defrayed be it of what kind [s]oever I give and beqveath unto my well beloved wife Jane Goodwin to be di[s]po[s]ed of at her owne will and plea[s]ure

In the name of God, amen. On 16 December 1703 John Goodwin of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was sick in body but, by his own account, of good and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God. He revoked all earlier wills.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in such place as his executors should appoint.

He turned then to his temporal estate.

He directed that his wife should hold all his real estate in her custody until his son Robert Goodwin came of age or married. If she remarried before either event, his executor was to take one half of the real estate and his son Robert into his care for Robert's use. The other half was to remain in the widow's hands during her natural life and then to return to Robert. If Robert died before reaching age, marrying or becoming capable of making a will, the widow had full power to dispose of that half of the real estate by her own will.

To his son Robert he gave £100 0s 0d in ready money, to be paid immediately after his death and managed at the discretion of the executors for Robert's benefit. To Robert he also gave two silver spoons, two silver forks, two gold rings, five dozen silver buttons, fifteen head of cattle drawn from his stock and immediately marked with a distinguishing brand for Robert's use, fifty goats or their value, one feather bed with its furniture to the value of £4 0s 0d, six chairs, one round table to the value of £3 0s 0d, four black slaves named Brockatt, Seba, George and Toby, and 40,000 yams and suckers to the value of £30 0s 0d. The items were to be delivered by the executor to Robert on his coming of age or marriage.

To his brother Thomas Goodwin he gave £1 0s 0d to buy a ring in his memory.

He gave the rest of his goods, after his debts and funeral charges had been paid, to his wife Jane Goodwin, to be disposed of at her own will and pleasure.

Interpretations

The will identifies John Goodwin as the brother of Thomas Goodwin, the recurring executor and beneficiary observed across this series of wills. Thomas Goodwin has appeared as executor of the Phillips will of February 1698, the Potter will of February 1699 and the Wrangham will of June 1702, and as beneficiary of the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699 and the Edmunds wills of January and February 1703. The family connection through John as Thomas's brother explains how Thomas became so deeply enmeshed in the testamentary affairs of the island. The brothers therefore formed a recognised pair within the established planter community, with Thomas the more prominent figure in formal testamentary roles.

The protective arrangement for the real estate, with the wife holding the whole until the son comes of age or marries but losing half to the executor if she remarries, parallels and extends the structure observed in the Sich will of February 1703 and the Earle will of November 1702. The mechanism gives the widow practical control of the estate during her widowhood while providing for the son's portion to be separated and protected if she chose to remarry. The further provision that the wife may dispose of her half of the real estate by her own will if the son dies young gives her a substantial reversionary interest, encouraging her to maintain the estate in good condition.

Speculations

The careful provision for the protection of Robert Goodwin's interests if his mother should remarry, with the executor empowered to take half the real estate and the son's care into his own hands, suggests a real concern about the consequences of a second marriage for the widow. With a substantial estate at stake and only one named child, the testator wished to ensure that the son's portion could not be absorbed into the property of a new husband. The mechanism gave the widow flexibility about her future while protecting the son's eventual inheritance.

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And la[s]tly I do hereby ordaine and appoint my afore[s]aid brother Tho: Goodwin and my beloved wife Jane Goodwin to be Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament giving and allowing my Said brother (when ever my wife marrys) power to demand and receive and into his cu[s]tody take all my afore[s]aid Son Rob[t] Goodwins E[s]tate hereby given him both Reall and per[s]onall and deliver the [s]ame to my [s]aid Son when he comes to age or marrys al[s]o I give to my afore[s]aid brother and Executor full power to nominate and appoint other Executor or Executors in his Stead and place as he [s]hall think Convenient In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seall the day and date afore[s]aid

Witne[s]s Jn[o]: Lufkin John Goodwin James Greentree Geo Ho[s]ki[s]on

Lastly, he appointed his brother Thomas Goodwin and his wife Jane Goodwin as executors. He gave Thomas the power, whenever Jane remarried, to demand and take into his custody the whole of Robert's estate, both real and personal, and to deliver it to Robert when he came of age or married. He also gave Thomas the power to nominate and appoint another executor or executors in his place as he thought fit.

The will was witnessed by John Lufkin, James Greentree and George Hoskison.

Interpretations

The appointment of Thomas Goodwin alongside Jane Goodwin as joint executors gives the brother and the widow shared authority over the administration of the estate. The unusual feature is the explicit power conferred on Thomas to displace Jane in respect of Robert's portion if she remarried. The mechanism makes Jane the primary executrix in the normal course but converts Thomas into the controlling executor over the son's interests upon her remarriage. The structure parallels the substitution arrangement in the Sich will of February 1703, where the Governor was to step in as executor on the widow's remarriage, but here the substitute is a family member rather than an office-holder.

George Hoskison, who appears here as a witness, has also appeared as a witness to the Wrangham will of June 1702 and as joint executor of the Anne Edmunds will of February 1703. His repeated presence in testamentary roles places him within the recognised circle of administrators alongside Robert Addis, Matthew Bazett, Edward Edmunds, Thomas Goodwin and John Vernon. The continuity of these figures across the testamentary record gives a picture of the small group of established island residents on whom the formal apparatus of probate depended.

Speculations

The decision to give Thomas Goodwin the contingent power to displace the widow as executor in respect of Robert's estate, rather than appointing him as joint executor with equal authority throughout, suggests a preference for keeping the widow as the principal manager so long as she remained unmarried. The arrangement avoids the complications of joint administration during the ordinary course of the widowhood and reserves the brother's intervention for the specific contingency of remarriage. The structure may reflect a recognition that joint executors can produce friction in routine matters, while a clear single line of authority through the widow would simplify the day-to-day management of the estate.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen I James Rider of the Said I[s]land free planter being very Sick and weak of body but of perfect and Sound memory prai[s]ed be God for the [s]ame and knowing that there is nothing more certain then death but the hour very uncertaine when I make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In this forme and manner as followeth utterly Renouncing di[s]annulling and making void all former wills Legacys and beqveathes by me heretofore made or [s]poken Either by word or writing and do Confirme this to be and contain my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament

Fir[s]t I beqveath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that made it and my body I committ to the ground to be buried in a decent and Chri[s]tian buriall at the di[s]cretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned in expectation to be rai[s]ed again at the generall Re[s]urrection day and that through the meritorious death of our Savior Je[s]us Chri[s]t I [s]hall inheritt the kingdom of heaven and as for my Temporal E[s]tate which it hath plea[s]ed God to be[s]tow upon me farr beyond my de[s]erts I order it in forme and manner as followeth Vi[zt]

I will that all debts that I owe to any per[s]on what[s]oever be paid and [s]ati[s]fied in a Convenient time after my decea[s]e out of my afore[s]aid E[s]tate together with my funerall charges

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son James Rider my dwelling hou[s]e in the country and Thirty acres of Land thereunto belonging which lately was Hugh Booleys with about ten Acres of land lately in the po[s]se[s]sion of Richard Harding but to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my well beloved wife Sarah Rider during her naturall life only when my Said Son James Rider comes of age or at the day of marriage to enjoy the halfe of both hou[s]e and land and after the death of my Said wife the [s]aid hou[s]e land to be wholy & [s]olely his

Item my will and plea[s]ure is that my [s]aid Son James have my large Silver Bowle one Silver Spoone marked with JR when he comes of age or at the day of marriage but the Said Bowle and Spoone to be apprai[s]ed to him as part of his portion

Item I give and beqveath unto my [s]aid Son James one Sett of plate w[th] buttons

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son Samvell Rider all that parcell of land adjoyning to the Land in the po[s]se[s]sion of John Long in the Gum wood ground containing about twenty acres or better with one Acre of Cabbige tree land in Sandy bay under the maine Ridge

Item I give unto my Said Son Samvell three Girders to man the Trees [s]ix windows and doore ca[s]es proportionable to the three Girders to build him a hou[s]e upon the Said Gum wood ground when he comes of age or marries out of that land willed to my Said Son James Rider

Item I will that my [s]aid Son Samvell have my Silver watch but to be apprai[s]ed of his portion but my will and plea[s]ure is that my well beloved wife Sarah Rider [s]hall have the u[s]e of one third part of the Plantation of the [s]aid Gum wood ground willed to my [s]aid Son Samvell during her naturall life

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son Jonathan Rider one hou[s]e Scituate in Chappele Valley Towne with the Kitchin and back yard but the [s]aid hou[s]e to be and remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my [s]aid wife during her naturall life

In the name of God, amen. James Rider of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect and sound memory, and gave thanks to God. He revoked all earlier wills.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executors.

He turned then to his temporal estate. He directed that his debts and funeral charges be paid in convenient time after his death.

To his son James Rider he gave the dwelling house in the country and the thirty acres of land belonging to it, which had recently been Hugh Booley's, together with about ten acres of land lately in the possession of Richard Harding. The whole property was to remain in the hands of his wife Sarah Rider during her natural life. When his son James came of age or married, he was to receive the use of one half of the house and land, and after Sarah's death he was to take the whole house and land in his sole possession.

To his son James he gave his large silver bowl and one silver spoon marked with JR, to take effect on coming of age or marriage. The bowl and spoon were to be appraised against his portion.

To the same son he gave one set of plate with buttons.

To his son Samuel Rider he gave the parcel of land adjoining the holding of John Long in the Gum Wood ground, containing about twenty acres or more, and one acre of cabbage tree land in Sandy Bay under the main ridge.

To Samuel he also gave three girders to roof his house, six windows and door cases proportional to the three girders, to build a house on the Gum Wood ground when he came of age or married. The timber was to be taken from the land given to his elder brother James.

To Samuel he also gave his silver watch, which was to be appraised against his portion. Sarah was to have the use of one third of the plantation on the Gum Wood ground during her natural life.

To his son Jonathan Rider he gave one house in Chapel Valley town, with the kitchen and back yard. The house was to remain in Sarah's possession during her natural life.

Interpretations

The will identifies James Rider as the same person who has appeared repeatedly throughout this series as a witness, executor and beneficiary. As a witness to the Stevens will of March 1695, the Cleaverlee will of August 1696, the Wilson will of February 1697, the Sich will of February 1703 and the Edmunds will of January 1703, and as son-in-law and joint executor of the Rebecca Charlesworth will of April 1697, Rider has been one of the most prominent figures in the testamentary record of the island over a decade. The present will gives the first full view of his own family circumstances and the substantial estate he had accumulated by the time of his last illness.

The cabbage tree land of one acre at Sandy Bay under the main ridge identifies a small parcel of the same valuable timber-bearing land that has appeared in the Cleaverlee will of August 1696 and the Maxwell will of May 1703. The location at Sandy Bay places the parcel on the southern coast of the island, distinct from the more usual locations in the interior valleys, and the reference to the main ridge fixes its position under the central spine of the island.

Speculations

The acquisition of Hugh Booley's thirty acres and Richard Harding's ten acres, alongside the original Rider holdings, suggests that James Rider had built up his estate through systematic accumulation over the course of his settled life on the island. The combination of land formerly held by neighbours, brothers-in-law and others points to a planter who actively pursued the consolidation of his holding through purchase from neighbours or through family settlements following deaths and marriages. The acquisition of Booley's property in particular may reflect a family arrangement following Hugh Booley's death, with the land passing within the wider Charlesworth-Booley-Rider family group rather than being sold to an outside party.

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Al[s]o I will that my Said Son Jonathan have one Black man Slave named Jack when he comes of age or marries but to be apprai[s]ed as part of his portion but in ca[s]e the [s]aid Black [s]hould dye before the dividend is made that Everey one of my Said three Sons [s]hall Eqvally bear the lo[s]s of him

Item I will that my Said Son Jonathan have one Silver Cup with two Ears to be apprai[s]ed as part of his portion

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved wife Sarah Rider the be[s]t and large[s]t feather bed and furniture belonging unto it

Item I give unto my Said wife one Silver Tanker and one Silver Spoone marked SR:

Item I give and beqveath unto my daughter Sarah the wife of Gabriell Powell the Sum of twelve pence

Item I give and beqveath unto Edmund Booly one Cow and Calfe to be delivered pre[s]ently after my decea[s]e for his life

Item I give and beqveath unto Rebecca Booley one Heifer calfe to be delivered unto her as afore[s]aid

Item I give and beqveath unto my brother In law Hugh Booly the Sum of Twelve pounds in [s]hipping goods apprai[s]ed to help him to bvy a Black and to be delivered unto him as afore[s]aid be[s]ides all what he is Indebted to me from the beginning of the world to this day ffurthermore my will and plea[s]ure is that if it [s]hould happen that my Said Son James [s]hould dye before he comes of age or marriage that then my Second Son Samvell [s]hall have his portion of land and Hou[s]e and then my younge[s]t Son Jonathan [s]hall have what land is willed to my Said Son Samvell and then al[s]o the hou[s]e at the ffort [s]hall be apprai[s]ed and Equally divided betweene the two brothers but if in ca[s]e either of my other two Sons Samvell or Jonathan [s]hould dye before they come of age or marriage that their portion [s]hall be Equally divided betweene the other two Survivors but if in ca[s]e all my [s]aid three Sons [s]hould dye before they comes of age or marries that then my will and plea[s]ure is that all Hugh Booly my Brother In Laws Children have my afore[s]aid three Sons E[s]tate after thirty pounds be paid to my G[od] Mary the daughter of James Draper to be Eqvally divided among[s]t them all at the plea[s]ure of my afore[s]aid wife but in ca[s]e of her death then to be delivered by my Executors hereafter mentioned

Item I give unto Elizabeth Poole one flock bed Qvilt bol[s]ter and Pillow with the Cote al[s]o one Iron pot one Pewter di[s]h and two Bo Plates

ffurthermore all the re[s]t of my wordly goods not yet di[s]po[s]ed of [s]hall be apprai[s]ed and the one third part thereof [s]hall be for the u[s]e of my wife and to be di[s]po[s]ed of according to her will and plea[s]ure and the other two third parts to be divided Eqvally among[s]t my afore[s]aid three Sons but [s]till to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my Said wife untill they comes of age or marrys but if in ca[s]e my wife [s]hould dye before my Said three Sons comes of age or marries as afore[s]aid that then my Executors hereafter mentioned [s]hall take the afore[s]aid e[s]tate both reall and per[s]onall not being my wifes right for the u[s]e of my afore[s]aid three Sons comes of age or marries that then my Executors hereafter mentioned [s]hall have full power and Authority to demand good [s]ufficient [s]ecurity of her hu[s]band for my Said Sons E[s]tate both reall and per[s]onall but if in ca[s]e of delay or refu[s]al that then my Said Executors [s]hall have full power to take their Said e[s]tate into their po[s]se[s]sion for the u[s]e and behoofe of my Said three Sons &c[a]:

Turn Over

To his son Jonathan he gave a black slave named Jack, to take effect when Jonathan came of age or married, and to be appraised against his portion. If Jack died before the division of the estate, the three sons were to bear the loss equally.

To Jonathan he also gave one silver cup with two ears, to be appraised against his portion.

To his wife Sarah Rider he gave the best and largest feather bed with its furniture.

To Sarah he also gave one silver tankard and one silver spoon marked SR.

To his daughter Sarah, wife of Gabriel Powell, he gave £0 1s 0d.

To Edmund Booley he gave one cow and calf, to be delivered immediately after his death.

To Rebecca Booley he gave one heifer calf, to be delivered on the same terms.

To his brother-in-law Hugh Booley he gave £12 0s 0d in shipping goods, appraised, to help him buy a slave. The goods were to be delivered immediately after his death, in addition to the cancellation of all that Hugh owed him.

If James died before coming of age or marrying, his portion of the house and land was to pass to Samuel, and the land given to Samuel was to pass to Jonathan. The house at the fort was then to be appraised and equally divided between the two surviving brothers.

If Samuel or Jonathan died before coming of age or marrying, their portion was to be equally divided between the other two surviving brothers. If all three sons died before age or marriage, the whole of the three sons' portions was to pass to the children of his brother-in-law Hugh Booley, after a payment of £30 0s 0d to Mary, the daughter of James Draper, who was his goddaughter. The Booley children's share was to be equally divided between them at the pleasure of his wife Sarah, or, on her death, by his executors.

To Elizabeth Poole he gave one flock bed, quilt, bolster, pillow and cot, together with one iron pot, one pewter dish and two pewter plates.

The remainder of his goods was to be appraised. One third was to go to Sarah Rider, to be disposed of as she wished. The other two thirds were to be divided equally between the three sons, but the property was to remain in Sarah's hands until each son came of age or married. If Sarah died before the sons reached either threshold, the executors were to take the property, both real and personal except for the widow's own one-third share, for the use of the three sons until they came of age or married.

If Sarah remarried before the sons reached either threshold, the executors had full power to demand sufficient security from her husband for the sons' estate, both real and personal. If the husband delayed or refused, the executors had full authority to take the property into their own possession for the use of the three sons.

Interpretations

The bequest to the daughter Sarah, wife of Gabriel Powell, of £0 1s 0d follows the device observed in the Wilson will of February 1697, where a child was named and given a nominal sum to mark a deliberate exclusion from any substantive share of the estate. The technique forestalls any later claim by the daughter that she had been forgotten and gives the exclusion legal effect through formal acknowledgement. The earlier appearance of Gabriel Powell as a witness to the Thomas Earle will of November 1702 confirms that the Powell family was established on the island, but the nominal legacy here indicates that the daughter Sarah was deliberately excluded from the substantive descent of the Rider estate, perhaps because she had already received her portion through her marriage settlement.

The bequests to Edmund Booley and Rebecca Booley, by their first names alone, identify the children of Hugh Booley appearing also in the Rebecca Charlesworth will of April 1697, where Edmond Booley appeared as a grandson and Rebecca Booley as a granddaughter receiving silver spoons. The continuing presence of the Booley children in the testamentary record more than five years later confirms the persistence of the wider Charlesworth-Booley-Rider family network. The reference to Hugh Booley as the testator's brother-in-law fixes the relationship through their marriages to two daughters of Rebecca Charlesworth, Katherine Booley and Sarah Rider.

Speculations

The deliberate exclusion of the daughter Sarah, wife of Gabriel Powell, from any substantive share of the estate, with only the nominal one shilling to mark her name, suggests that her marriage had been provided for through earlier arrangements, perhaps a dowry or other settlement at the time of her wedding to Gabriel Powell. The pattern of preferring sons over married daughters in the descent of the principal estate appears throughout this series, but the use of a nominal legacy rather than a small substantive gift indicates a particularly deliberate decision to mark Sarah's exclusion. The exclusion may also reflect a specific concern about her husband acquiring control of any further gift through the rules of coverture.

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But if in ca[s]e my [s]aid three Sons [s]hould dye before they come of age or marries that though it is before [s]aid that my Said three Sons E[s]tate [s]hall be divided among[s]t the Children of Hugh Booly yet it is to be under[s]tood that my wife [s]hall keep the [s]ame in her cu[s]tody So long as [s]he lives or think fitt to di[s]po[s]e of it to them whereas there is a Clau[s]e afore[s]aid that my wife [s]hall po[s]se[s]s halfe the land allotted to my Son James and one third part of the plantation allotted to my Son Samvell and the hou[s]e in fort Valley Towne allotted to my Son Jonathan during her naturall life for to cult of all Lawes that gives another man (marrying my [s]aid wife) any Title or Intre[s]t in any part thereof by having a Child or Children born alive or any other Law what[s]oever that he [s]hall have no part or Intere[s]t in the [s]ame after my wifes decea[s]e but to be for the only u[s]e and behoofe as before willed.

And Now La[s]tly I do hereby Nominate Con[s]titute and appoint my truly beloved ffreinds m[r] Thomas Goodwin and m[r] Matthew Bazett both of the Said I[s]land to be my whole and Sole Executors of this my afore[s]aid la[s]t will and Te[s]tament And whereas I forgott to nominate a Gviny to bvy M[r] Tho: Goodwin a Ring to wear for my Sake I do order that notwith[s]tanding the [s]ame [s]hall be paid before the Inventory be taken and that my Said Executors are hereby Nominated apprai[s]ers of all my afore[s]aid E[s]tate In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this twentieth day of Janvary One thou[s]and Seven hundred three four

Signed and Sealed in the pre[s]ence of Thomas Davis Henry Coales James: Rider James Draper

I[s]land S[t] Helena This will was Proved before Govern[r]: and Councill on Tue[s]day the Eighth day of febrvary 1703 4 atte[s]ted by me Jn[o]: Alexander

He directed further that, in the event that all three sons died before age or marriage, the substitutional gift to the children of Hugh Booley was to be subject to Sarah's continuing custody of the property for as long as she chose to hold it before passing it to them.

He also directed that, despite the earlier provisions giving Sarah a life interest in half of James's land, one third of Samuel's plantation and the house in Chapel Valley town, no new husband of hers should acquire any right or interest in any part of that property by reason of a child born alive of the marriage or by any other law. The property was to remain solely for the use already provided in the will, regardless of any second marriage or its issue.

He appointed Thomas Goodwin and Matthew Bazett as sole executors. He also directed that, although he had forgotten to provide for it earlier, a guinea was to be paid to Thomas Goodwin to buy a ring before the inventory was taken. The two executors were nominated as the appraisers of the estate.

The will was signed and sealed on 20 January 1704, by the calendar of the Church of England, in the presence of Thomas Davis, Henry Coales and James Draper.

It was proved before the Governor and Council on Tuesday 8 February 1704, attested by John Alexander, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The provision blocking any new husband of Sarah from acquiring an interest in the property addresses a specific legal mechanism of the period known as the estate by the curtesy. Under the common law, a husband who married a woman holding a life interest, or who fathered a child with her that was born alive, could acquire a continuing interest in her property after her death. The express exclusion of any such right, by reason of a child born alive or by any other law, gives the will an explicit anti-curtesy effect that prevents a second husband from extending his hold over the Rider property beyond Sarah's lifetime. The provision shows that James Rider had thought carefully about the legal risks attaching to his wife's possible remarriage and had drafted to forestall them.

The appearance of James Draper as a witness to the will of his fellow son-in-law of Rebecca Charlesworth confirms the continuing connection between the Draper, Rider and Booley families within the wider Charlesworth network. James Draper had appeared as son-in-law in the Charlesworth will of April 1697 and now witnesses the will of his fellow son-in-law James Rider, both having married daughters of Rebecca Charlesworth. The continuity of the Draper-Rider-Booley network across more than six years shows the stability of the marriages and the family bonds within the planter society of the island.

Speculations

The explicit provision against any new husband acquiring a curtesy interest in the property, even where a child was born alive of the second marriage, suggests that James Rider was aware of specific legal precedents in English property law that might have given a second husband a continuing interest in his wife's life estate. By drafting an express exclusion, he attempted to override the common law presumption and to limit the second husband's interest strictly to whatever Sarah herself directed during her lifetime. The provision shows a sophisticated understanding of the legal risks attaching to remarriage and a determination to protect the descent of the estate against those risks.

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In The Name of God Amen

The Twelvth day of Jvly one thou[s]and Seven hundred and four I One[s]iphorus Steward of the I[s]land S[t] Helena free planter being Sick in body but of good and perfect mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to remembrance the uncertain E[s]tate of this Tran[s]itory life and that all fle[s]h mu[s]t yeild unto death when it [s]hall plea[s]e god to call do make con[s]titute ordain and declare this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and form following Revoking and annulling by the[s]e pre[s]ents all and Every Te[s]tament and Te[s]taments will and wills heretofore by me made and declared Either by word or writing and this to be taken only for my La[s]t will and Te[s]tament and no other And fir[s]t being Penitent and Sorry from the bottom of my heart for my Sins pa[s]t mo[s]t humbly de[s]iring forgivene[s]s for the [s]ame I give and commit my Soul unto Almighty God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by the merits of Je[s]us Chri[s]t I tru[s]t and beleive a[s]suredly to be [s]aved and to have full Remi[s]sion and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and that my Soul with my body at the Generall day of Re[s]urrection [s]hall ri[s]e again with Joy and through the merits of Chri[s]ts death and pa[s]sion po[s]se[s]s and Inherit the Kingdom of heaven preprepared for his Elect and cho[s]en and my Body to be buried in Such place and decent manner as it [s]hall plea[s]e my Executors hereafter named and appointed And now to the [s]etling of my Temporall E[s]tate and [s]uch goods Chattles and debts as it hath plea[s]ed god farr above my de[s]erts to be[s]tow upon me I do order give and di[s]po[s]e the [s]ame in manner and form following That is to [s]ay fir[s]t I will that all tho[s]e debts and duties as I owe in right or Con[s]cience to any manner of per[s]on or per[s]ons what[s]oever [s]hall be well and truly paid and Contented within Convenient time after my decea[s]e out of my Said E[s]tate by my Executors hereafter named

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son ffrancis Steward Ten Acres of land formerly my decea[s]ed fathers Francis Steward but to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my dearly beloved wife Martha Stew Steward untill my [s]aid Son Francis Steward [s]hall attain to the full age of twenty one years or married as al[s]o do give and beqveath unto my Said Son half the fifteene Acres of Gum wood Land which I Enjoy by lea[s]e of the R[t]: Hono: Ea[s]t India Company to be delivered him as time afore[s]d

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son One[s]iphorus Steward Tenn acres of Cabbage tree land which I bought of James Greentree free planter but to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my afore[s]aid beloved wife during her natvrall life as al[s]o the other halfe of the Said fifteene Acres of Gumwood land to be delivered him as afore[s]aid

Item Likewi[s]e give and beqveath unto my Said beloved Son One[s]iphorus Steward one dwelling hou[s]e Scituate in fort James Valley but to remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my Said beloved wife during her natvrall life as afore[s]aid

Item I give and beqveath unto my afore[s]aid beloved Son ffrancis Steward my dwelling hou[s]e in the Country but to be and remaine in my Said beloved wifes po[s]se[s]sion during her natvrall life

Item I give and beqveath unto my afore[s]aid two [s]ons ffrancis and One[s]iphorus Stewards the one fourth part of the two third parts of my E[s]tate not yet di[s]po[s]ed of to be Eqvally divided betweene them when they attain to the age of twenty one years or be married as afore[s]aid

In the name of God, amen. On 12 July 1704 Onesiphorus Steward of St Helena, free planter, set down his last will and testament. He was sick in body but, by his own account, of good and perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God. He revoked all earlier wills.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in such place and in such decent manner as his executors should appoint.

He turned then to his temporal estate. He directed that his debts be fully paid out of the estate by his executors within a convenient time after his death.

To his son Francis Steward he gave ten acres of land formerly belonging to his late father Francis Steward, the elder. The land was to remain in the hands of his wife Martha Steward until Francis the younger came of age at 21 or married. To Francis he also gave half of the fifteen acres of Gum Wood land that the testator held on lease from the Right Honourable East India Company, to be delivered on the same conditions.

To his son Onesiphorus Steward he gave ten acres of cabbage tree land, which the testator had bought from James Greentree, free planter. The land was to remain in Martha's hands during her natural life. To Onesiphorus he also gave the other half of the fifteen acres of Gum Wood land, to be delivered when he came of age or married.

To Onesiphorus he also gave one dwelling house in Fort James Valley, which was to remain in Martha's hands during her natural life.

To Francis he gave his country dwelling house, which was likewise to remain in Martha's hands during her natural life.

To his sons Francis and Onesiphorus jointly he gave one fourth of two thirds of the remainder of his estate, to be equally divided between them when they came of age or married.

Interpretations

The will identifies Onesiphorus Steward as the son of an earlier Francis Steward who had since died. The earlier Francis Steward had passed his ten acres of land to his son Onesiphorus, and the same ten acres are now being passed on to Onesiphorus's own son Francis the younger. The descent of the named parcel through three generations shows the continuity of property within the Steward family across at least three holders, with the land identified by the name of the original Francis Steward as its earliest known holder.

The earlier appearance of Onesiphorus Steward as a witness to the Williams will of May 1700, the Maxwell will of May 1703 and as one of the three branches named in the contingent gift in the Maxwell will, confirms his presence on the island over a period of years and places him within the recurring network of established settlers. His own will now reveals his family circumstances, with two sons named Francis and Onesiphorus carrying the family names forward to the next generation. The earlier identification of Charles Steward as executor of the Earle will of November 1702 and as son-in-law of Samuel Maxwell may place Charles in a parallel branch of the Steward family, perhaps the testator's brother or close kinsman, though the present will does not state the connection.

Speculations

The decision to divide the Gum Wood land into two equal halves, with each son receiving one half, departs from the more usual pattern of giving distinct parcels to distinct sons. The arrangement suggests either that the Gum Wood holding was particularly valuable or productive and worth dividing equally, or that the lease from the Company would not permit separation into smaller distinct parcels and required a joint inheritance of two undivided halves. The mechanism may also reflect a deliberate choice to give both sons a stake in the leased Company land, ensuring that neither would be excluded from this category of holding.

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Item I give and beqveath unto my two beloved davghters Mary and Martha Steward all the re[s]t of the remaining part of the two thirds of my Said E[s]tate to be paid them by my Executors hereafter named as they come of full age or be married and in ca[s]e of the death of any of my [s]aid four Children already named before they attaine to full age or be marries that then I will and ordaine that his or her portion [s]hall be Eqvally divided among[s]t all tho[s]e that [s]urvives and So [s]ucce[s]sively but in ca[s]e of the death of all my Said Children before they come of age or be married then my will and plea[s]ure is to beqveath their whole E[s]tate to my well beloved wife to di[s]po[s]e of as [s]he [s]hall thinke fitt

ffurthermore my will is that if it [s]hould happen that my [s]aid well beloved wife Martha Steward be now with Child then I give and beqveath to the [s]aid Child be it either male or female an Eqvall part of my E[s]tate proportionable to each of my afore[s]aid davghters Mary and Martha Moreover my will and de[s]ire is that if in ca[s]e my [s]aid beloved wife [s]hould marry before my Said Children comes of age or be married that my [s]aid Executors hereafter named [s]hall have full power and authority to demand [s]ufficient [s]ecurity for my [s]aid Childrens E[s]tate after a full and exact E[s]timation be made of all my per[s]onall E[s]tate and that her hu[s]band [s]hall be obliged to keep both my [s]aid Hou[s]es beqveathed as above[s]aid in as good repaire as when by him po[s]se[ss]ed

Now la[s]tly I give and beqveath unto my well beloved brother Charles Steward my be[s]t Svit of Apparell and likewi[s]e to my beloved father in Law Ri[s]pin Wills as much black [s]hattone as will make him a Svit of Cloaths whom I make con[s]titute and ordain to be whole and Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year fir[s]t above written.

Sealed Signed and Seal[d] in the pre[s]ence of Richard Alexander Jo[s]eph fox One[s]iphorus Steward Jn[o]: Alexander

Memorand[m] that there is Nine head of Cattle belonging to my children which I de[s]ire may be put into a perticular mark di[s]tinct from my owne and to be kept a part for their owne proper u[s]e and benefitt

and do give all triveall things thats of little value to my beloved wife for the u[s]e of my Said children

To his daughters Mary and Martha Steward he gave the remaining part of the two thirds of his estate, to be paid by the executors as the daughters came of age or married. If any of the four children died before reaching age or marrying, the portion of that child was to be equally divided between the survivors. If all four children died before age or marriage, the property was to pass to his wife, to be disposed of as she thought fit.

If his wife Martha Steward was then with child, the unborn child, whether male or female, was to take a share equal to that of his daughters Mary and Martha.

If his wife remarried before the children came of age or married, the executors had full power to demand sufficient security for the children's estate, after a full and exact valuation of the personal estate. The new husband was to be obliged to keep both of the houses in as good repair as when he took possession of them.

To his brother Charles Steward he gave his best suit of apparel.

To his father-in-law Rispin Wills he gave as much black shalloon as would make him a suit of clothes.

He appointed Charles Steward and Rispin Wills as sole executors.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Richard Alexander and Joseph Fox.

In a memorandum, he noted that nine head of cattle belonged to his children. He directed that the cattle be marked separately from his own and kept apart for the children's use and benefit. He also gave all trivial items of little value to his wife for the use of the children.

Interpretations

The fractional structure of the residue, with one fourth of the two thirds to the two sons jointly and the remaining three fourths to the two daughters, gives a clearer picture once both clauses are read together. The sons take one fourth of the children's two-thirds share, while the daughters take three fourths of the same. The arrangement gives each daughter roughly three eighths of the children's portion, while each son receives one eighth. The structure substantially favours the daughters in the moveable estate, in striking contrast to the more usual pattern in this series of preferring sons over daughters. The reversal probably reflects that the sons have already received the substantive real property in the form of the houses, ten-acre parcels and Gum Wood land, while the daughters have received nothing in those bequests and depend entirely on the moveable residue.

The memorandum identifying nine head of cattle as already belonging to the children, with the instruction that they be marked separately from the testator's own stock, parallels the marking instructions observed in the Mary Dixon will of July 1696 for Nathaniel Barrington's cattle and in the John Goodwin will of December 1703 for Robert Goodwin's fifteen head. The practice of separately marking children's cattle from the parent's herd was a recognised mechanism for preserving the children's individual property within the working household stock.

Speculations

The decision to give the daughters Mary and Martha a substantially larger share of the residue than the two sons, with three quarters of the children's two-thirds share going to the daughters and only one quarter to the sons, suggests a deliberate compensation for the lack of real property given to the daughters. The sons received the principal land and houses, while the daughters depended on the moveable residue, and the testator's allocation of the residue tilted heavily in their favour to balance the overall distribution. The structure reflects a careful attention to the equality of outcome between the children, with the form of each share matched to what each was likely to need for an independent establishment.

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In The Name of God Amen.

I Edward Cro[s]by of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being Sick in body but of Sound and perfect memory all prai[s]e be unto God Almighty for the [s]ame and knowing there is nothing more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time I then do make this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following

Fir[s]t and principally I beqveath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and beleiving that through the merits of our Lord and Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t after this life ended [s]hall Enjoy Everla[s]ting bli[s]s and my body I commit to the earth to be buried in decent manner

And for what I have I give and beqveath as followeth

Item I give to my wife after all debts paid my hou[s]e and Ten Acres of land during her life and then to return to my Son John Cro[s]by and if in ca[s]e he dye before he is of full age then to goe to my Son Edward Cro[s]by

And I do hereby revoke and make void all former wills by me made and do acknowledge this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In witne[s]s whereof I have hereunto [s]et my hand this 26[th]: May 1705

Signed Sealed in the pre[s]ence of Edward Bagley Edward Cro[s]by Sarah Brady

Examin[d] & found agreable to the Original in words (but not Spelling) as it [s]hould have bin 6[o] May 1715 E C Povey

In the name of God, amen. On 26 May 1705 Edward Crosby of St Helena, being sick in body but, by his own account, of sound and perfect memory, set down his last will and testament. He gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God, hoping for everlasting bliss through the merits of Christ, and directed that his body be buried decently.

He turned then to his estate.

After his debts had been paid, he gave his wife the house and ten acres of land for her lifetime. After her death the property was to return to his son John Crosby. If John died before reaching full age, the property was to pass to his other son Edward Crosby.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Edward Bagley and Sarah Brady.

A later endorsement, dated 6 May 1715 and signed E. C. Povey, recorded that the copy had been examined and found agreeable to the original in words, though not in spelling.

Interpretations

The brevity of the will, with only the house, ten acres of land and one contingent substitution disposed of, indicates an estate of modest scale and a settler whose property could be expressed in a single short clause. The structure is among the simplest in this series, ranking with the Fensdale will of March 1699 and the Ashby will of July 1703 for compactness. The will gives the widow a life interest and the elder son the substantive remainder, with the younger son taking only by way of substitution if his brother died young.

The earlier appearance of Edward Crosby across this series places him within the recurring network of established residents. He has appeared as a witness to the Potter will of February 1699, the Morris will of February 1703 and as the predecessor holder of land in the Mary Dixon will of July 1696, where the twenty acres formerly belonging to Edward Crosby were given in halves to Sarah Clifton and to a remaining portion. The continuity of his presence across the period and the recognition of his land as a known parcel in the descriptions of other estates indicates that he was a settled figure in the island's planter community.

Speculations

The brevity of the will, with no specific bequests of livestock, household goods, slaves or other particular items, suggests that the testator either held only the house and ten acres of land as his principal property or that the moveable property was implicitly included in the general gift to the widow. The absence of any disposition of the moveables apart from the implicit grant through the general clause leaves the executors and the family to handle the personal estate without specific direction. The pattern fits a small holding where the principal asset was the land and any moveables were of secondary importance.

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In The Name of God Amen

This Eighteene[th] day of Jvly In the year of our Lord god one thou[s]and Seven hundred and five according to the Computation of the Chvch of England I William Hayes of the I[s]land S[t] Helena planter being at this pre[s]ent very weak but prai[s]ed be Almighty God of Sound and perfect memory do make and ordaine this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following that is to [s]ay

Fir[s]t and principally I commend my Soule into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits death and pa[s]sion of my Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t to have full and free pardon and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and to Inherit Everla[s]ting life and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the di[s]cretion of my Executrix hereafter named and touching the di[s]po[s]ition of all [s]uch Temporall E[s]tate as it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God to be[s]tow upon me I give and di[s]po[s]e thereof as followeth

Fir[s]t I will that my debts and funerall charges be paid and di[s]charged

Item I give and beqveath unto my dearly beloved wife Dorothy Hayes all and Singular my per[s]onall E[s]tate Goods Land and Chattles what[s]oever to Enjoy and di[s]po[s]e among[s]t my dearly beloved Children vi[zt] Thomas John Giles and frances and Jo[s]eph [s]ons Mary and Martha davghters at her own will and plea[s]ure

Provided [s]he keepeth her [s]elfe unmarried but if in ca[s]e [s]he my Said beloved wife doth marry I doe hereby ordaine that [s]he my Said wife doe take the one third part of my E[s]tate which [s]hall then Remain and the re[s]t and Re[s]idve of Said per[s]onall E[s]tate I do hereby ordaine to be Eqvally and truly divided among[s]t my afore[s]aid Children Except a hou[s]e in Chappele Valley which I beqveath to my beloved Son ffrancis and Tenn Acres of land which I beqveath to my beloved Son Jo[s]eph after the decea[s]e of my beloved wife,

Item I give and beqveath to my Son William one Shilling and to my davghters Sarah Elizabeth and Bridget each one Shilling and I doe hereby make my Said beloved wife full an Sole Executrix of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking and making null all other and former wills and Te[s]taments what[s]oever In witne[s]s whereof I the [s]aid William Hayes have hereunto [s]et my hand and Seal the day and year fir[s]t above written

Signed Sealed and delivered in pre[s]ence his of us William H Hayes Svtton I[s]ack marke Jn[o] Mar[s]h

In the name of God, amen. On 18 July 1705, by the calendar of the Church of England, William Hayes of St Helena, planter, set down his last will and testament. He was at that time very weak but, by his own account, of sound and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God, hoping for pardon through Christ, and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executrix.

He turned then to his temporal estate. He directed that his debts and funeral charges be paid and discharged.

To his wife Dorothy Hayes he gave the whole of his personal estate, goods, land and chattels, to be enjoyed and disposed of between his children at her own will and pleasure. The children named for this purpose were his sons Thomas, John, Giles, Francis and Joseph, and his daughters Mary and Martha.

The gift to the widow was conditional on her remaining unmarried. If she remarried, she was to take one third of the remaining estate, and the residue was to be equally and truly divided between the children named above. Two items were excepted from this division: a house in Chapel Valley, which he gave to his son Francis, and ten acres of land, which he gave to his son Joseph. Both bequests were to take effect after Dorothy's death.

To his son William he gave £0 1s 0d. To his daughters Sarah, Elizabeth and Bridget he gave £0 1s 0d each.

He appointed Dorothy Hayes as sole executrix and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Sutton Isack and John Marsh. Hayes signed by mark.

Interpretations

The will identifies a large family of eleven children spread across what appears to have been more than one marriage. Seven children are named as the principal beneficiaries: the sons Thomas, John, Giles, Francis and Joseph, and the daughters Mary and Martha. Four further children are excluded from the substantive distribution by nominal one-shilling legacies: the son William and the daughters Sarah, Elizabeth and Bridget. The pattern of exclusion through the nominal legacy device, already observed in the Wilson, Bagley and Rider wills, indicates a deliberate decision to exclude four named children from the family inheritance while preserving the formal acknowledgement of their existence.

The presence of two groups of children, one substantively provided for and one nominally excluded, suggests that the testator had had children by two different marriages or that the four excluded children had already received their portions through earlier settlements. The nominal one-shilling legacy device gives the testator's exclusion legal effect while avoiding any claim that the excluded children had been overlooked in error. The four named children excluded here represent the most extensive use of the device in this series, with one son and three daughters all cut off in identical terms.

Speculations

The decision to exclude four named children from the substantive estate through nominal one-shilling legacies, while providing for seven other named children, suggests a careful family arithmetic in which the excluded children had already received their portions or were considered for some reason ineligible. The four excluded children, William and the three daughters Sarah, Elizabeth and Bridget, may have been the children of an earlier marriage who had already been provided for through their mother's estate or their own marriages, while the seven principal beneficiaries may have been the children of the testator's marriage to Dorothy. The pattern fits a household combining children from two marriages, with the seven Hayes-Dorothy children as the principal beneficiaries and the four earlier children given only the formal recognition of nominal legacies.

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In The Name of God Amen

I Edward Bagley of the I[s]land S[t] Helena being [s]ick and weak in body but of [s]ound and perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e and glory be given to Almighty God for the [s]ame and knowing that nothing is more certaine then death nor nothing more uncertaine then the time when do make Con[s]titute and Ordain this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and form following that is to [s]ay

Fir[s]t and principally I beqveath my Soule into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[s]suredly beleiving the alone merits of my ble[ss]ed Lord and Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t after this Life ended to Enjoy Everla[s]ting bli[s]s my body I commit to the earth from whence it came to be buried in decent and Chri[s]tian like manner according as my Executor and Executrix hereafter named [s]hall think fitt and as for [s]uch wordly goods which it hath plea[s]ed almighty god of his goodne[s]s to lend unto mee I give and beqveath in manner and form following

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved davghters Elizabeth Bagley and Sarah Bagley twenty Nine Acres of land after their Mothers decea[s]e to be Eqvally divided betweene them

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved brother in law Richard Gvrling whom I make my Executor one [s]vit of Apparell and after all my debts and legacies are paid and funerall Rites performed I give and beqveath unto my dear and loving wife Sarah Bagley whom I make my Executrix with my brother Richard Gurling of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament the one third of my per[s]onall E[s]tate and u[s]e of my hou[s]e and all my Lands for her life Except [s]he marries but if [s]he marries then the one halfe of my lands to be let for the u[s]e of my Children And as for the re[s]t of my per[s]onall E[s]tate I de[s]ire that it may be Eqvally divided among[s]t my Children and further I doe hereby Revoke di[s]annvll and make Void all former wills and Te[s]taments by me made In witne[s]s whereof I have hereto [s]ett my hand and Seale the twenty fifth of Aprill 1706

Signed Sealed and delivered in the pre[s]ence of Edward Bagley Orlando Bagley Thomas Bagley

In the name of God, amen. On 25 April 1706 Edward Bagley of St Helena set down his last will and testament. He was sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of sound and perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian fashion at the discretion of his executor and executrix.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

To his daughters Elizabeth Bagley and Sarah Bagley he gave twenty-nine acres of land, to take effect after their mother's death, and to be equally divided between them.

To his brother-in-law Richard Gurling he gave one suit of apparel, and appointed him as executor.

After his debts, legacies and funeral charges had been paid, he gave to his wife Sarah Bagley, whom he appointed as executrix alongside Richard Gurling, one third of his personal estate, and the use of his house and all his lands during her life. The grant of the lands was conditional on her remaining unmarried. If she remarried, half of the lands were to be let for the benefit of his children.

The rest of his personal estate was to be equally divided between his children.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Orlando Bagley and Thomas Bagley.

Interpretations

The will identifies Edward Bagley as the same son of Orlando Bagley senior who appeared in the latter's will of November 1701, where he received £10 0s 0d in store credit and the remission of his debts. The continuity of Edward's identity across the period is confirmed by his recurring appearances as a witness to other wills, including the Crosby will of May 1705, and as the neighbouring planter whose land identified the location of yams in the Morris will of February 1703. His own will now allows a fuller view of his family circumstances and the estate he had accumulated.

The identification of Richard Gurling as the testator's brother-in-law fixes Edward's wife Sarah as a sister of Richard Gurling. The recurring presence of the Gurling name across this series, from the Mary Dixon will of July 1696 through the Box will of May 1701 to the Morris will of February 1703 with Rebecca Gurling, indicates the continuity of the Gurling family on the island. The marriage of Edward Bagley to Sarah Gurling brings the Bagley and Gurling families together, parallel to the earlier connection between the Booley, Rider, Draper and Vernon families through marriages to the daughters of Rebecca Charlesworth.

Speculations

The decision to give the twenty-nine acres of land to the two daughters Elizabeth and Sarah, rather than to a son or to other beneficiaries, suggests either that there were no surviving sons of the marriage or that the testator wished to favour the daughters in the descent of the principal real property. The mention of my children later in the will, without further enumeration, leaves uncertain whether there were sons who would share in the residual personal estate but not in the substantive land. The structure may reflect a deliberate decision to ensure that the daughters had property of their own to bring into their future marriages, parallel to the concern observed in the Bowman will of February 1696 to give a granddaughter direct title rather than allowing the land to pass through a daughter's husband.

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In The Name of God Amen

This Sixth day of May according to the computation of the Church of England one thou[s]and Seven hundred and Six I Era[s]mus Purling of the I[s]land S[t] Helena En[s]igne being Sick and very weak of body but in good and perfect memory prai[s]ed be Almighty God for the [s]ame doe make this my La[s]t will and Te[s]tament In forme and manner as followeth vi[zt]

Fir[s]t I commit my Soule into the hand of Almighty God hoping and firmly beleiving to receive free pardon and remi[s]sion of all my [s]ins pa[s]t through the merrits of the death of our Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t and as for my body I doe Committ to the ground from whence it came to be buried in a decent manner at the di[s]cretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned

And as for the[s]e wordly goods it hath plea[s]ed God farr beyond my de[s]erts to be[s]tow upon me I doe Give and di[s]po[s]e of as followeth Vi[zt]

Fir[s]t I will that my funerall charges with what[s]oever debts I owe unto any body what[s]oever be fully and duly paid in a convenient time after my decea[s]e out of my Said E[s]tate

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved davghter in law Mary Knipe the [s]um of twenty five pounds with the provi[s]o that if in ca[s]e [s]he can by Law come in for an Eqvall [s]hare with John and Anne Knipe although not mentioned in her father John Knipes la[s]t will and Te[s]tament that the [s]aid Legacy [s]hall remaine Void an of Non Effect but if in ca[s]e [s]he cannot Legally come in for any Share being [s]he was not then born and therefore not mentioned in her [s]aid fathers will and te[s]tament that then the Said [s]um of twenty five pounds now beqveathed unto her [s]hall be paid unto her out of my Said E[s]tate when [s]he comes of age or marries

Item I give and beqveath unto my God [s]on Jonathan the [s]on of Jonathan Higham free planter the [s]um of thirty [s]hillings to be paid unto him after my decea[s]e and to be laid out in a young bea[s]t for his only u[s]e

Item I give unto my God davghter Elizabeth the davghter of James Draper the [s]um of twenty [s]hillings to be paid to her and laid out as before [s]aid to her be[s]t advantage

Item I give and beqveath unto my God[s]on Henry the Son of Richard Cleave the [s]um of twenty [s]hillings to be paid unto him as above[s]aid

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son Era[s]mus Purling one gold Sealed Ring

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved daughter Elizabeth Purling one plain gold ring with a po[s]ey[l] (Loves delight is to Unite)

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Son Era[s]mus Purling the Lea[s]e of Sixteene Acres of Land which I have hired of the Right Hono[ble] Company Scituate being and lying as may appear in the Said Lea[s]e Signed by the Governor and Cownell of the [s]aid I[s]land but neverthele[s]s the Said Sixteene Acres of land [s]hall remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my well beloved wife Mary Purling untill my Said Son Era[s]mus Purling comes of age or marries then afterwards the Said Sixteene Acres of Land [s]hall be the u[s]e and behoofe of my Said wife Mary Purling and my [s]aid Son Era[s]mus Purling Eqvally betweene them both whil[s]t my wife lives But the Said Lea[s]e of Sixteene Acres of land [s]hall be apprai[s]ed by two men as my Executors [s]hall think fitt and convenient and the worth of it my Said Son Era[s]mus Purling [s]hall make good to the re[s]t of my Children

In the name of God, amen. On 6 May 1706, by the calendar of the Church of England, Erasmus Purling of St Helena, ensign, set down his last will and testament. He was sick and very weak in body but, by his own account, of good and perfect memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God, hoping for pardon through Christ, and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executors.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

He directed that his funeral charges and his debts be paid in convenient time after his death.

To his stepdaughter Mary Knipe he gave £25 0s 0d, on condition that she could not by law claim an equal share with John and Ann Knipe under her father John Knipe's will. If she could establish such a claim, the legacy was to be void. If she could not, on the ground that she had not then been born and so was not mentioned in her father's will, the £25 0s 0d was to be paid to her out of his estate on her coming of age or marrying.

To his godson Jonathan, son of Jonathan Higham, free planter, he gave £1 10s 0d, to be laid out in a young beast for his use.

To his goddaughter Elizabeth, daughter of James Draper, he gave £1 0s 0d, to be laid out on the same basis.

To his godson Henry, son of Richard Cleave, he gave £1 0s 0d, to be paid in the same manner.

To his son Erasmus Purling he gave one gold seal ring.

To his daughter Elizabeth Purling he gave one plain gold ring with a posy reading Love's delight is to unite.

To his son Erasmus Purling he gave the lease of sixteen acres of land, which the testator held on hire from the Right Honourable Company, located as shown in the lease signed by the Governor and Council of the island. The sixteen acres were to remain in the hands of his wife Mary Purling until Erasmus came of age or married. After that, the land was to be used jointly by Mary and Erasmus while she lived. The lease was to be appraised by two men chosen by the executors, and Erasmus was to make good the appraised value to the other children.

Interpretations

The will identifies Erasmus Purling as the same person who has appeared throughout this series as a witness to the Phillips will of February 1698, the Charlesworth will of April 1697, the Pledgerd will of November 1697 and as joint executor of the Pledgerd estate with the widow Sarah Pledgerd. His earlier identification in the Pledgerd will as the testator's brother-in-law, taken with his role here as the husband of Mary, indicates that Mary was the sister of Praise Pledgerd and that Erasmus had married into the Pledgerd family. His description as an ensign places him within the Company's small armed establishment, with ensign being the most junior commissioned officer rank, below lieutenant and captain.

The earlier appearance of Jonathan Higham as a witness to the Ashby will of July 1703, where he signed by mark, places him within the recurring network of witnesses, and his son Jonathan now appears as Erasmus Purling's godson. James Draper has appeared throughout the series as son-in-law of Rebecca Charlesworth and as witness to the James Rider will of January 1704, and his daughter Elizabeth now appears as Purling's goddaughter. Richard Cleave appears for the first time in the series here, with his son Henry as a third Purling godchild.

Speculations

The careful conditional structure of the gift to Mary Knipe suggests that there was genuine uncertainty about whether she could claim under her father's will. The will of John Knipe of June 1695 had not anticipated a posthumous child, and the application of the rule allowing posthumous children to share would have required either a determination by the Council or an agreement among the executors and existing beneficiaries. By providing the alternative legacy of £25 0s 0d, Purling protects his stepdaughter against the risk that the legal claim would fail, while preserving the existing arrangements if it succeeded. The structure shows a careful attempt to ensure that Mary would receive a portion regardless of the outcome of the legal question.

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Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved wife Mary Purling the one third part of my whole E[s]tate both Reall and Per[s]onall and the other two thirds I give and beqveath unto my well beloved Children Era[s]mus Purling John Purling Solomon Purling and Elizabeth Purling to be divided Eqvally betweene them But neverthele[s]s my will and plea[s]ure is that the Said two thirds of my Said E[s]tate beqveathed unto my Said Children [s]hall remaine into the hands of my Said beloved wife untill they come of age or marries But if in ca[s]e my Said beloved wife [s]hould marry before any of my Said Children comes of age &c[a] the man that [s]he marries [s]hall give [s]ufficient [s]ecurity for my Said Childrens E[s]tate unto my Executors hereafter mentioned whil[s]t it remains in his hand but if he [s]hould refu[s]e to give [s]ufficient [s]ecurity for the [s]ame I give Power and Authority unto my Said Executors to take the [s]aid E[s]tate into their hands to make the be[s]t of it they can for the only u[s]e of my [s]aid Children Moreover my will and plea[s]ure is that an Inventory [s]hall be taken by my Executors hereafter mentioned of my Said whole E[s]tate after my decea[s]e and apprai[s]ed by them[s]elves or two indefferent men cho[s]en by them as they [s]hall think fitt.

Moreover I do make con[s]titute and appoint my well beloved ffreinds Matthew Bazett & Samvell Be[s]fontaines to be wholy & Solely the Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking and annulling all manner of wills and Te[s]taments heretofore by me made Either by word of mouth or writing acknowledging no other but this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament In Witne[s]s whereof I have Sett to my hand and Seale the day and year here above written

Signed Sealed and d[d] In the pre[s]ence of Tho: Sander[s]on Era[s]mus Purling his Richard Cleave marke

To his wife Mary Purling he gave one third of his whole estate, both real and personal. The remaining two thirds were to be equally divided between his children Erasmus Purling, John Purling, Solomon Purling and Elizabeth Purling. The children's share was to remain in Mary's hands until each came of age or married.

If Mary remarried before any of the children came of age, her new husband was to give sufficient security to the executors for the children's share while it remained in his hands. If he refused, the executors had full power and authority to take the share into their own hands and make the best of it for the children's use.

The whole estate was to be inventoried and appraised after his death, either by the executors themselves or by two impartial men chosen by them.

He appointed Matthew Bazett and Samuel Desfontainess as sole executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Sanderson and Richard Cleave. Cleave signed by mark.

Interpretations

The will identifies four children of the Purling marriage, namely Erasmus, John, Solomon and Elizabeth, alongside the stepdaughter Mary Knipe. The unusual name Solomon stands out within the more conventional naming pattern of the period and suggests a particular family tradition or biblical preference. The combination of three sons and one daughter gives the testator a family of four children of his own, together with the stepdaughter inherited from his wife's earlier marriage.

The appointment of Matthew Bazett and Samuel Desfontainess as executors places the administration in the hands of two established island figures. Matthew Bazett has appeared throughout this series as a witness to the William Bowman will of February 1696, the Mary Dixon will of July 1696, the Praise Pledgerd will of November 1697 and the deed of gift of January 1708, the Eleanor Beale will of June 1700, the Sich will of February 1703, the John Bowman will of May 1699 and the James Rider will of January 1704 as executor. His selection here as executor of yet another estate confirms his continuing role as one of the most active testamentary administrators on the island. Samuel Desfontainess appears for the first time in this series, and his foreign-sounding name suggests French Huguenot origin, perhaps among the Protestant refugees who settled at various Company stations following the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685.

Speculations

The decision to provide for an inventory and appraisal of the whole estate after death gives the executors and the family a clear basis for the eventual distribution. The mechanism parallels the appraisal arrangements observed in the Sich and Wrangham wills, and reflects the established practice on the island of treating the testator's property as a defined fund to be valued and divided according to fixed proportions. The flexibility to choose either the executors themselves or two impartial men gives the executors discretion in the practical conduct of the valuation, recognising that the executors might in some cases prefer to draw in outside appraisers to avoid any appearance of self-interest.

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In The Name of God Amen

June y[e] 7[th] 1706 I Edward Heath of the I[s]land S[t] Helena Planter being very Sick and weak of body but of perfect and Sound memory prai[s]ed be Almighty God for the [s]ame doe make this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament in form and manner as followeth vi[zt]

Fir[s]t I beqveath my Soole into the hand of Almighty God that made it and my body I committ to the ground to be buried in a decent manner as my Executor hereafter mentioned [s]hall think fitt In Expectation of a Ble[ss]ed Re[s]urrection at the la[s]t day and that through the merritts of our Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t I [s]hall inherit the Kingdom of heaven And as for my wordly goods that it hath plea[s]ed God to be[s]tow upon me far beyond my de[s]erts I di[s]po[s]e of it in manner and forme as followeth

Fir[s]t I will that all what[s]oever I am Indebted to any Per[s]ons be paid and [s]ati[s]fied in a fitt and convenient time after my decea[s]e out of my Said E[s]tate

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved davghter Mary Heath my dwelling hou[s]e Scitvate at the head of fi[s]hers Valley upon the land that formerly I purcha[s]ed of Edward Bryan late of the Said I[s]land decea[s]ed with the Spring that I[s]sves out of a Rock behind the [s]aid hou[s]e and what land there is from the [s]aid [s]pring downward

Item I give and beqveath unto my Beloved davghter davghter in law Sarah ffo[s]ter the Remainder of the Said land formerly Bryan from the Said Spring and upwards

Item I give and beqveath unto my well beloved davghter Mary Heath twelve Acres of land being part of twenty acres of land I purcha[s]ed of John Hemmon formerly of the [s]aid I[s]land Planter with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging

Item I give and beqveath unto my Said davghter Mary Heath one Black man called Roger neverthele[s]s my will and plea[s]ure is that the Said hou[s]e and lands already beqveathed be and remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my well beloved wife Mary Heath during her natvrall life

ffvrthermore I give and beqveath all the Remainer of my goods as moveable &c[a] betweene my beloved wife Mary Heath and my two daughters already above mentioned to be Eqvally divided betweene them three and that an Inventory be taken of the [s]ame and apprai[s]ed by two indefferentent men after my decea[s]e but however the [s]aid goods [s]hall Remaine in the po[s]se[s]sion of my Said wife Mary Heath Untill my Said two davghters comes of age or marries and if in ca[s]e my Said wife [s]hould marry the man that [s]hall marry her [s]hall give [s]ufficient [s]ecurity for the [s]aid E[s]tate beqveathed to my Said two davghters but in ca[s]e he [s]hould refu[s]e to give Sufficient [s]ecurity for the [s]ame my will and plea[s]vre is that my Executors hereafter mentioned [s]hall take the [s]ame into their owne hands and di[s]po[s]e of it as they [s]hall think fit and convenient to the be[s]t advantage of my Said two davghters

In the name of God, amen. On 7 June 1706 Edward Heath of St Helena, planter, set down his last will and testament. He was very sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of perfect and sound memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executor.

He turned then to his worldly goods.

He directed that his debts be paid in convenient time after his death.

To his daughter Mary Heath he gave his dwelling house at the head of Fishers Valley, which stood on land formerly purchased from Edward Bryan, late of the island deceased. The bequest included the spring of water that issued from a rock behind the house, together with the land from that spring downward.

To his stepdaughter Sarah Foster he gave the remaining part of the Bryan land, lying from the spring upward.

To Mary Heath he also gave twelve acres of land, being part of a twenty-acre parcel he had bought from John Hemmon, formerly of the island, planter, with all the appurtenances belonging.

To Mary Heath he also gave a black slave called Roger. The house and lands given to her were to remain in the hands of his wife Mary Heath during her natural life.

The remainder of his goods was to be equally divided between his wife and his two daughters. An inventory was to be taken after his death and the goods appraised by two impartial men. The property was to remain in his wife's hands until each of the two daughters came of age or married.

If his wife remarried, her new husband was to give sufficient security to the executors for the daughters' share. If he refused, the executors were to take the share into their own hands and dispose of it for the best advantage of the two daughters.

Interpretations

The will identifies Sarah Foster as the testator's stepdaughter. The earlier appearance of a Sarah Foster, daughter of Mary Foster, in the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699, where she was named as a granddaughter alongside her sister Ann Foster, may indicate the same person if Mary Foster the daughter of Katherine Fensdale had later married Edward Heath. The connection would place Heath as the second husband of Mary Foster, with Sarah Foster as his stepdaughter from her earlier marriage. The earlier Mary Foster of the Fensdale will would have been the granddaughter, but the stepdaughter relationship suggests that another Sarah Foster, perhaps the mother of the daughter in the Fensdale will, had remarried Heath. The chronology and the family relationships are not fully recoverable from the present record.

The earlier appearance of Edward Bryan in the William Bowman will of February 1696, where Grace Brian, John Brian and Conrad Brian appeared as the testator's daughter and grandsons, confirms the Bryan presence on the island. The Bryan land at the head of Fishers Valley, identified here as formerly belonging to Edward Bryan late of the island deceased, had since been acquired by Edward Heath. The identification of the parcel by its previous holder follows the recognised practice of describing land by reference to a former owner, even where the holder had died and the land had since been purchased.

Speculations

The decision to allocate the land in two parts along the watercourse, with the daughter receiving the lower portion including the house and spring and the stepdaughter receiving the upper portion, suggests a deliberate effort to give each beneficiary a piece of land with its own integrity. The lower part contained the existing dwelling and the principal water source, making it the more developed and useful portion. The upper part, while higher up the valley and perhaps less convenient, formed a distinct holding of its own that the stepdaughter could develop separately. The structure may reflect the relative priorities of the testator's affection or the practical recognition that the daughter Mary needed the developed parcel while the stepdaughter could work the unimproved upper section.

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Moreover if in ca[s]e my Said wife [s]hould dye before my Said two davghters come of age or Either of them I give power and avthority to my Executors hereafter mentioned to Sell and di[s]po[s]e of my Said E[s]tate both reall and per[s]onall or lett it out for terms of years untill my Said davghters comes of age or marry or as they [s]hall think mo[s]t fitt and nece[s]sary for the be[s]t advantage of my Said two davghters ffurthermore I appoint make and Con[s]titute my beloved freinds Matthew Bazett and Samvell Be[s]fontaine to be Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking annvlling and making void all Te[s]tament or Te[s]taments what[s]oever heretofore by me made Either by word of mouth or writing In Witne[s]s whereof I have [s]ett to my hand and Seale the day and year above written

Signed Sealed and d[d] in the pre[s]ence of John Nicholls Edward Heath Hugh Booly John French

He directed further that, if his wife should die before either of the two daughters came of age, the executors had power and authority to sell and dispose of the whole estate, both real and personal, or to let it out for a term of years until each daughter came of age or married. The executors were to act as they thought most fit and necessary for the best advantage of the two daughters.

He appointed Matthew Bazett and Samuel Desfontaines as sole executors and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of John Nicholls, Hugh Booley and John French.

Interpretations

The provision for the executors to sell or let the estate if the widow died before the daughters came of age addresses the contingency that the principal trustee of the working property would be removed before the children reached the threshold of independence. The arrangement gives the executors the flexibility to convert the estate to cash through sale or to maintain it as an income-producing asset through leasing for a term of years, with the choice depending on their judgement of the daughters' best interests. The structure parallels the wider testamentary practice of allowing executors to choose between maintenance of an estate as a working concern and its conversion to a fund for distribution.

The appearance of Hugh Booley as a witness places him within the same Charlesworth-Booley-Rider-Draper network that has appeared throughout this series. The earlier identification of Hugh Booley as son-in-law of Rebecca Charlesworth in the will of April 1697 and as brother-in-law of James Rider in the will of January 1704 fixes him as a continuing figure in the testamentary record. His role here as witness, after his earlier appearance as executor and son-in-law, confirms the recurring pattern of established residents moving between the roles of witness, executor and beneficiary across the testamentary instruments of their neighbours.

Speculations

The careful provision for the executors to sell or let the estate in the event of the widow's death before the daughters came of age suggests that Edward Heath was thinking through the practical contingencies of a long minority for his two children. With the daughters perhaps still young and the widow herself possibly in delicate health, the testator anticipated the possibility that both might predecease the daughters' attainment of independence. The mechanism gives the executors the discretion to handle the property in whatever form was most advantageous, whether by immediate sale to convert to cash or by leasing to maintain an income stream. The structure parallels the broader testamentary planning observed in the Wrangham, Charlesworth and Goodwin wills, where the executors were given wide discretion to manage substantial estates during long minorities.

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In The Name of God Amen.

I Edward Rawdon Surgion being Sick and weak in body but of Sound and perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e be given to Almighty God for the [s]ame and calling to mind that it is appointed for all men once to die but the time when very uncertain do make and ordain this my la[s]t will and te[s]tament in manner following

Imprimis I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Ble[ss]ed Saviour and Redeemer hoping through the merritts death and pa[s]sion of my Lord and Saviour Je[s]us Chri[s]t to receive free pardon and forgivene[s]s for all my Sins And as for my body I commit it to the Earth from whence it came to be Decently Interrd at the di[s]cretion of my Executors hereafter named and as touching the di[s]po[s]all of my wordly E[s]tate wherewith God hath farr above my de[s]erts be[s]towed upon me I give and beqveath as followeth.

I give and beqveath to my Executors hereafter named all moneys debts Jewells Plate goods and Merchandize and all other E[s]tate what[s]oever which I have in my po[s]se[s]sion or belongeth to me in S[t] Helena as al[s]o all the [s]ame to which I have any right title or property being in Madra[s]s or in any place or places or on the Seas to the Ea[s]tward of the Cape of good hope commonly called the Ea[s]t Indies In Tru[s]t for the [S]ole u[s]e and benefitt of my good and Loving freind Lovi[s]a Coventry Wid[d] Re[s]iding in Madra[s]s and for no other u[s]e what[s]oever as a gratefull acknowledgment and Reward for the Con[s]tant and freindly care [s]he the Said Lori[s]a Coventry hath had of me during my long Re[s]idence in Sickne[s]s in her hou[s]e I do al[s]o will that if I die at S[t] Helena that my good freind M[r] John Affleck one of my Executors do forthwith po[s]se[s]s him[s]elfe of all moneys Plate Jewells and goods what[s]oever which do belong to me on the [s]aid I[s]land and after he hath paid all my debts there funerall charges I will that he do carry the [s]ame on the [S]hip he [s]hall Embark on for England or El[s]ewhere and on his arrivall that my Executors do di[s]po[s]e of and Sell all the [s]ame according to their di[s]cretion for the u[s]e above mentioned

I give and beqveath to my beloved Si[s]ters Sarah and Mary Rawdon all moneys debts and other E[s]tate what[s]oever which belongeth to me or to which I have any Right title or Intere[s]t being in England at the time of my decea[s]e for their own u[s]e and benefitt,

I Nominate Con[s]titute and appoint my loving freinds M[r] John Affleck and his Son M[r] Gilbert Affleck the Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament declaring all others by me formerly made void and of none Effect which I do publi[s]h Sign and [s]eale this Second day of Jvly in the year of our Lord one thou[s]and Seven hundred and Six

Witne[s]sed by us Jo[s]: Hymmers Henry Albert Edw[d] Rawdon George Carne Jn[o]: Alexander

A trve Coppy of the Originall atte[s]ted by mee Jo[s]: Alexander Cler Concel[l]

In the name of God, amen. On 2 July 1706 Edward Rawdon, surgeon, set down his last will and testament. He was sick and weak in body but, by his own account, of sound and perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried decently at the discretion of his executors.

He turned then to his estate.

He gave to his executors, in trust, all the moneys, debts, jewels, plate, goods and merchandise and all other property in his possession or belonging to him at St Helena, together with all the same to which he had any right, title or property in Madras or in any place or places, or on the seas, to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, commonly called the East Indies. The trust was for the sole use and benefit of his friend Louisa Coventry, widow, residing at Madras. The bequest was made in grateful acknowledgement of the constant and friendly care she had shown him during his long residence in her house through his sickness.

If he died at St Helena, he directed that his executor John Affleck should at once take possession of all his money, plate, jewels and goods on the island. After paying his debts and funeral charges, John Affleck was to carry the property on the ship on which he embarked for England or elsewhere. On his arrival, the executors were to sell and dispose of the property at their discretion for the use stated above.

To his sisters Sarah and Mary Rawdon he gave all his money, debts and other property in England at the time of his death.

He appointed John Affleck and his son Gilbert Affleck as executors and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Joseph Hymmers, Henry Albert and George Carne, and attested by John Alexander.

A true copy of the original was attested by John Alexander, clerk of the Council.

Interpretations

The will identifies Edward Rawdon as a surgeon visiting St Helena rather than a resident settler, with his principal connections in Madras and London rather than on the island itself. The bulk of his estate is described as lying in Madras or in places to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, with his St Helena property representing only a portion of the total. The structure places him among the East India Company medical staff serving in the Indian factories, similar in position to Thomas Phillips of the will of February 1698, whose estate also spanned the island, London and the East. The presence on the island during his last illness rather than at his usual place of residence in Madras explains the choice of an island executor to receive the local assets.

The earlier appearance of George Carne as a witness to the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699 and as son-in-law of Eleanor Beale in the will of June 1700 places him within the recurring network of island figures. His appearance here as witness to a will of a visiting surgeon, alongside Joseph Hymmers and Henry Albert who do not appear elsewhere in this series, confirms his continuing role as a recognised witnessing figure.

Speculations

The decision to direct the bulk of the estate to a friend at Madras rather than to family in England, with only the English assets going to the sisters, suggests that the testator's principal personal connections lay in the East rather than at home. The description of Louisa Coventry as his good and loving friend, with the gift framed as a reward for her care during his sickness, indicates a relationship of considerable depth, perhaps approaching that of a quasi-domestic partnership. The use of the trust mechanism, rather than a simple absolute gift, may reflect both the practical need to convert the property for remittance and the social discretion appropriate to a gift to a woman who was not the testator's wife.

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I[s]land S[t] Helena

In the Name of God Amen I Margaret Cotgrave of the [s]aid I[s]land Widdow (and Relict of John Cotgrave Dec[d]) being very Sick and weak in body but of Sound and perfect mind and memory all prai[s]e be given to Almighty God for the [s]ame and calling to mind that it is appointed for all fle[s]h once to die but the time when very uncertain do make con[s]titute and appoint this to be my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament in manner and forme following

Imprimis Fir[s]t and principally I give and commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Ble[ss]ed Saviour and Redeemer hoping and a[s]suredly beleiving to receive free pardon and forgivene[s]s of all my Sins and as for my body I commit it to the Earth to be decently Inter[r]d at the di[s]cretion of my Executors hereafter named And as touching the di[s]po[s]all of all [s]uch wordly goods as it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God of his goodne[s]s to be[s]tow upon me far above my de[s]erts I givt and beqveath in manner following

Item I give and beqveath to my Son Gilbert Cotgrave one [s]hilling of good and lawfull money of England

Item I give and beqveath to my beloved Son Thomas Cotgrave one [s]hilling of good and lawfvll mony of England be[s]ides twenty pounds in Engli[s]h money which I de[s]ire may be delivered to his ma[s]ter M[r] John Hell for my Said [s]ons only u[s]e and benefitt

Item I give and beqveath to my beloved Son John Cotgrave one Shilling of good and lawfvll mony of England but neverthele[s]s my will and plea[s]ure is that my Executors hereafter named do allow him a Sufficient maintenance and what el[s]e they [s]hall think nece[s]sary towards putting him out to Apprentice Either by Sea or Land to be wholy at the di[s]cretion of my [s]aid Executors hereafter named

Item I give and beqveath to my well beloved Son Jo[s]eph Cotgrave one Hundred pounds but to be Valved into his portion

Item I give and beqveath to my well beloved davghter Anne Cotgrave One hundred pounds but to be valved into her portion

Item I give and beqveath to my well beloved davghter Mary Cotgrave One hundred and twenty pounds but to be Valved into her portion

Item I give and beqveath unto my beloved Grand Son John Alexander Son of my Son in Law John Alexander Sen[r] Ten Acres of Cabbidge tree Lands but to remain in the po[s]se[s]sion of my Said Son in Law till my Said Grand Son Comes of age or be married and in ca[s]e of the death of my Said Grand Son John Alexander I give the [s]ame to my beloved Grand [s]on Richard Alexander and in ca[s]e of the death of him before he Comes of age or be married then I give the Said land to my beloved Grand Son William Alexander

ffvrthermore my will and plea[s]ure is that my Executors do Employ my Black man named Jack at work towards the Maintenance of my beloved Son Jo[s]eph Cotgrave and davghter Mary Cotgrave & for no other u[s]e what[s]oever

Tvrn Over

In the name of God, amen. Margaret Cotgrave of St Helena, widow and relict of John Cotgrave deceased, set down her last will and testament. She was very sick and weak in body but, by her own account, of sound and perfect mind and memory, and gave thanks to God.

She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be buried decently at the discretion of her executors.

She turned then to her worldly goods.

To her son Gilbert Cotgrave she gave £0 1s 0d in lawful money of England.

To her son Thomas Cotgrave she gave £0 1s 0d in lawful money of England, together with £20 0s 0d in English money to be delivered to his master Mr John Hell for Thomas's own use and benefit.

To her son John Cotgrave she gave £0 1s 0d in lawful money of England. Her executors were to allow him a sufficient maintenance and to put him out as an apprentice, by sea or land, at their discretion.

To her son Joseph Cotgrave she gave £100 0s 0d, to be valued into his portion.

To her daughter Anne Cotgrave she gave £100 0s 0d, to be valued into her portion.

To her daughter Mary Cotgrave she gave £120 0s 0d, to be valued into her portion.

To her grandson John Alexander, son of her son-in-law John Alexander senior, she gave ten acres of cabbage tree land. The land was to remain in John Alexander senior's possession until the grandson came of age or married. If the grandson died before either event, the land was to pass to her grandson Richard Alexander. If Richard also died before age or marriage, the land was to pass to her grandson William Alexander.

She directed that her executors employ her black slave Jack at work for the maintenance of her son Joseph Cotgrave and her daughter Mary Cotgrave, and for no other purpose.

Interpretations

The will reveals a family of six surviving children of Margaret Cotgrave, namely the sons Gilbert, Thomas, John and Joseph, and the daughters Anne and Mary, alongside at least one married daughter who has produced three named grandsons through the Alexander connection. The use of the nominal one-shilling legacy for the three sons Gilbert, Thomas and John, while the two daughters Anne and Mary and the son Joseph receive substantial cash portions, indicates a deliberate distinction between the children in the testator's treatment. The pattern of three exclusions and three substantive provisions parallels the William Hayes will of July 1705, where four children were excluded and seven were named for substantive shares.

The supplementary gift of £20 0s 0d to Thomas Cotgrave, despite his receiving only the nominal shilling under the formal scheme, indicates that he was placed with a master named John Hell, presumably under an apprenticeship arrangement. The payment to the master rather than directly to Thomas places the money under the master's control for the benefit of the apprentice, parallel to the gifts laid out in young beasts for godchildren in the Erasmus Purling will of May 1706. The arrangement ensures that the apprentice will have a defined sum applied to his benefit during his term, even though he is excluded from the substantive estate.

Speculations

The pattern of nominal exclusion for three sons combined with substantial portions for the youngest son and two daughters suggests that the three excluded sons had already received their portions through earlier settlements or had otherwise been provided for. Gilbert Cotgrave, the eldest, may have received his share at marriage or on the death of his father John Cotgrave. Thomas, placed with a master under apprenticeship, was already on a defined career path that required only the supplementary £20 0s 0d to support him. John, still to be placed, had the executors' discretion to support him through his maintenance and apprenticeship. The substantive portions to Joseph, Anne and Mary, by contrast, represent the establishment funds for children not yet otherwise provided for.

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Item I give and beqveath to the Son of my Son Gilbert Cotgrave now unbapti[s]ed my Black wench named Barberry and her black child but in ca[s]e of the death of my Said Son Gilbert Cotgrave and his [s]aid Son already born then I give the Said wench and child to my three Grand Sons John Richard and William Alexander or to any of them that [s]hall [s]urvive

Item I give and beqveath to M[rs] Lvffkin one bvriall Gold Ring

Item I beqveath to M[r] John Hell and his wife Each a Gviny to buy them a Ring

All the Re[s]t of my E[s]tate not yet di[s]po[s]ed of and after all my debts are paid and funerall Charges defrayed I give and beqveath the [s]ame to my three children Jo[s]eph Ann and Mary Cotgrave to be Eqvally divided among them as they come of age or be married Except [s]ome [s]mall valve which I de[s]ire my Executors to give unto my Said Son Gilbert Cotgrave towards the payment of [s]ome debts he [s]tunds now Indebted

ffurther my will is that in ca[s]e my E[s]tate wont be [s]ufficient Enough for my Said beloved Children to have [s]o much as I have beqveathed them then my will is that the [s]ame [s]hall be divided according to proportion

La[s]tly I nominate Con[s]titute and appoint my tru[s]ty and well beloved freinds the Wor[s]hipfull Stephen Poirier E[s]q[r] Governor of the Said I[s]land And my Son in Law John Alexander to be whole and Sole Executors of this my la[s]t will and Te[s]tament Revoking all former wills and Te[s]taments by me made Either in word or writing which I Signe Seale and Publi[s]h as [s]uch this Seventh day of Avgu[s]t 1706

Sealed Signed and delivered in the pre[s]ence of John Hell Margarett Cotgrave Richard Alexander John Robin[s]on

To the son of her son Gilbert Cotgrave, then unbaptised, she gave her black slave Barberry and her black child. If both Gilbert and his son died, the slave and her child were to pass to her three grandsons John, Richard and William Alexander, or to whichever of them survived.

To Mrs Lufkin she gave one mourning ring.

To Mr John Hell and his wife she gave a guinea each to buy a ring.

She gave the residue of her estate, after payment of her debts and funeral charges, to her three children Joseph, Anne and Mary Cotgrave, to be equally divided between them as they came of age or married. A small sum, in the discretion of the executors, was to be paid to her son Gilbert Cotgrave towards the discharge of his debts.

If the estate was not sufficient to provide the full portions she had bequeathed, the bequests were to be reduced proportionately.

She appointed Governor Stephen Poirier and her son-in-law John Alexander as sole executors and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on 7 August 1706 in the presence of John Hell, Richard Alexander and John Robinson.

Interpretations

The bequest of the slave Barberry and her black child to the unbaptised son of Gilbert Cotgrave introduces the new generation of the Cotgrave family into the testamentary record. The grandchild's status as not yet baptised parallels the unborn or newly born children provided for in the William Bowman will of February 1696 and the Onesiphorus Steward will of July 1704. The gift gives the infant a defined property right that vests on his survival, with the slave woman and her child forming a working asset that would grow in value through the child's labour as he aged.

The appointment of Governor Stephen Poirier as joint executor with John Alexander places the principal civil officer of the island in the direct administration of a substantial estate. The earlier appearances of Governor Poirier as the recipient of ring legacies in the Phillips will of February 1698 and the Sich will of February 1703, and as the substitute executor in the Sich will if the widow remarried, have indicated his standing as a recognised testamentary figure. His appointment here as a principal executor, rather than as an overseer or contingent administrator, reflects the substantial scale of the Cotgrave estate and the testator's evident desire to draw the highest civil authority of the island into the formal administration.

Speculations

The decision to vest the slave Barberry and her child in the unbaptised grandson, the son of Gilbert who has otherwise been excluded from the family estate, suggests an effort to ensure that the next generation of the Gilbert Cotgrave line receives a substantive bequest even though the father did not. The arrangement gives the infant grandson a working asset that will grow in value as both he and the slave's child mature, and provides the means for the future establishment of his household. The structure may reflect a particular affection for the grandchild or a deliberate effort to compensate the next generation for the exclusion of the parent.

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In The Name of God Amen The Sixteenth day of August one thousand seven hundred and Six Paul Charles of the Island St Helena free planter being very Sick and weak of body but of perfect and Sound memory praised be Almighty God for the same Doe make my will and Testament In manner and forme as followeth Vizt First I beq[ue]ath my Soul into the hand of Almighty God that made it And my Body I commit to the ground to be buried In a Decent manner In hopp[e] that of the Generall Res[urr]ection it shall rise again and through the merritts of my Saviour Jesus Christ I shall inheritt the Kingdom of heaven And as for my Temporall Estate that it has pleased God (farr beyond my deserts) to bestow upon mee I doe dispose of it in manner and forme as followeth Vizt First I will that what I owe to any person whatsoever be paid and satisfied In a fitt and convenient time after my decease out of my Said Estate Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved Son William Charles Ten Acres of land formerly belonging unto Richard Griffen late of the Said Island Scitvate and being under the main Ridge nigh Diana peake next to Sandy Bay Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved Son Paul Charles one house Scitvate and being in Chapple Valley near fort James and formerly belonging to Thomas Coales Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved Sons William and Paul Charles the Lease of thirty Six Acres of land twenty whereof is Scitvate under the maine Ridge and Sixteene Joyns to the Land of Mary Coales and to Thomas Gargen and Thomas Swallow Ten[a]nt and to be Equally divided betweene them both by my Executors hereafter mentioned but neverthelefs my will and pleasure is that my aforesaid Reall Estate be and remain In the possefsion of my well beloved wife Martha Charles during her life with the proviso that my Said two Sons after they come of age shall Enjoy both of them with my Said wife their Respective share beq[ue]athed unto them Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved wife one Third part of my Temporall Estate and the other two thirds to my Said Two Sons William and Paul Charles to be Equally Divided betweene them both Neverthelefs I will that my Said Temporall Estate Remain Into the hands and possefsion of my Said wife Martha Charles untill my Said two Sons comes of age or marries and then they to Enjoy and possefs their aforesaid two thirds Moreover I will that an Inventory be taken (after my decease) of my Said Temporall Estate and Appraised by my Said Executors hereafter mentioned and whom they shall think fitt and appoint but if In case my wife should marry again he that shall marry her shall give Sufficient Sevrity for my Said Estate unto my Said Executors but if in case he should refuse or Couls not give Sufficient Sevrity of my Said Estate both reall and personall belonging to my Said two Sons I will and Impowrer my Said Executors to take the Said Estate into their pos[s]efsion for the use of my Said Children and to dispose of it as they shall se[e] fitt convenient for my Said two Sons Lastly I no[m]inate and appoint and Constitute my well beloved freinds Mathew Bazett and Sam[uel] Bef[f]enfaine to be the Sole Executors of this my Last will and Testament Revoking and an[n]ulling and making void all other will[s] wills Testament or Testaments heretofore by me made Either by word of mouth or writing acknowledgeing none other but this to be my Last will and Testament moreover if in case my Said Executors or Either of them Should die I do impower the Survivor to n[o]minate and appoint a[n]other [...] in the roome of the Deceased Such as he Shall Judge mostt fitt In witnefs whereof I have h[e]reunto Sett my hand and Seale the Day and year hereabove written Signed Sealed and de[livere]d in presence of Henry Coales James Draper Simon his Whaley marke

Paul Charles

In the name of God, Amen.

On 16 August 1706, Paul Charles of St Helena, a free planter, set down his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He gave thanks to God for that clarity.

He commended his soul to God and asked for a decent burial, in hope of resurrection and salvation through Christ.

He directed that his debts be paid out of his estate within a reasonable time after his death.

To his son William Charles, he left ten acres of land formerly held by Richard Griffen. The land lay under the main ridge near Diana's Peak, next to Sandy Bay.

To his son Paul Charles, he left a house in Chapel Valley near Fort James, formerly held by Thomas Coales.

To both sons jointly, he left the lease of thirty-six acres. Twenty acres lay under the main ridge. The remaining sixteen adjoined the land of Mary Coales, Thomas Gargen and Thomas Swallow the tenant. The executors were to divide the lease equally between the two boys.

His wife Martha Charles was to hold all this real estate for her lifetime. Once the sons came of age, each was to enjoy his share alongside her.

Of his personal estate, one third went to Martha. The remaining two thirds went to William and Paul in equal shares. Martha was to keep the personal estate in her hands until the boys came of age or married. Only then were they to take possession of their portions.

The executors were to take an inventory of the personal estate after his death and have it appraised by such persons as they thought fit.

Paul Charles set a condition on his widow's remarriage. Any new husband would have to give sufficient security to the executors for the estate. If he refused or could not give such security, the executors were empowered to take the whole estate, real and personal, into their own hands for the benefit of the children, and to manage it as they judged best.

He named Mathew Bazett and Samuel Desfontaines as his executors. He revoked all earlier wills, whether written or spoken. If either executor died, the survivor was empowered to nominate a replacement of his own choosing.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Henry Coales, James Draper and Simon Whaley, who signed by mark.

Paul Charles.

Interpretations

The executors named in the will identify a working pair at the centre of the island's testamentary business in the closing months of 1706 and through 1707. Matthew Bazett, the senior administrator recorded throughout the second period of the handover, had already served as witness to Bowman in 1696, Pledgerd in 1697, Bowman the younger in 1699, Beale in 1700, Sich in 1703 and Purling in May 1706, and had acted as co-executor with Samuel Desfontaines of the Purling and Heath wills earlier in the same year. Samuel Desfontaines of the present will is the same Samuel Desfontaines whose name varies across the register. The pairing of Bazett and Desfontaines as executors of Paul Charles in August 1706 thus continues a working partnership already established a few months earlier on Purling and Heath, and prefigures Desfontaines's appointment as advisor and prospective guardian in Stephen Poirier's will of August 1707.

The naming of Henry Coales as the first witness places Paul Charles within the same Coales household network already documented in the handover. Henry Coales, planter and tailor, had appeared as overseer in the Charlesworth widow's will of April 1697 and as father-in-law and overseer in the John Smith will of November 1692. His daughter Mary Coales is named in the present will as the adjoining landholder of the sixteen-acre portion of the leased land. The witnessing of Paul Charles's will by Henry Coales, taken with the adjacency of Mary Coales's land and the earlier ownership of the Chapel Valley house by Thomas Coales, indicates that the Charles estate was tightly enmeshed with the Coales family by neighbourhood and by household connection.

Speculations

The careful structuring of the widow's life interest, the children's reversion and the security clause on remarriage suggests that Paul Charles had a specific concern in mind rather than a generic anxiety. The will protects the estate against a particular risk: that a second husband might absorb the land and goods of the household and leave the two boys with nothing to inherit when they came of age. The detailed fallback, allowing the executors to remove the estate from the household entirely, reads as a response to a known pattern on the island rather than an abstract precaution. The same pattern recurs in three further wills of the next fifteen months, suggesting that the practice was a settled response to a real and recurrent problem within the planter community.

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In The Name of God Amen. July the 17th 1706 I Richard Harding of the Island St Helena free Planter being very Sick and weak of body but of perfect and Sound memory Praised be God for the same & knowing that death is certain but the hour when uncertain do make this my last will and Testament in manner and forme as followeth First I beq[ue]ath my Soul Into the hand of Almighty God that made it and my body I commit to the Ground hoping that through the merrits of our Saviour Jesus Christ I Shall at the Resurrection inherit the kingdom of heaven And as for the Temporal Estate that it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me farr beyond my deserts I dispose of it in forme and manner as followeth viz[t] I Will that whatsoever I owe unto any body whatsoever be fully paid and Satisfied after my decease In a fitt and convenient time by my Ex[e]cutors hereafter mentioned Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved Children Vizt Sarah Harding John Harding Richard Harding Lady Harding Elizabeth Harding James Harding Priscilla Harding and Joseph Harding all my Reall Estate Vizt Houses and Land that I now possefs and Enjoy to be Equally divided betweene all my Said Children but neverthelefs my will and pleasure is that my Said Reall Estate shall Remain into the hands and possefsion of my well beloved wife Anne Harding during her naturall life and as for my Temporall Estate Vizt Goods Chattles or any moveable thing I give and beq[ue]ath two thirds parts unto my aforesaid Children to be Equally divided betweene them and the other third part I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved wife Anne Harding Neverthelefs my will and pleasure is that my Said whole Temporall Estate shall Remain into the hands of my Said wife during the minority of my Said Children but as they come of age or marry they shall Receive their respective portions

Furthermore my will and pleasure is that if in case my Said wife should marry after my decease the man that She shall marry shall give good and Sufficient Sevrity for my Said Childrens Estate unto my Ex[e]cutors hereafter mentioned but if in case he Should Refuse or could not procure any Sevrity for the Same I give power and authority unto my Said Ex[e]cutors hereafter mentioned to take my Said Childrens Estate into their hands and put it out to the best advantage they can for the use and behoofe of my aforesaid Children furthermore I will that an Inventory be taken of my Said whole Estate both Reall and personall and appraised by my Said Ex[e]cutors themselves or whom they Shall Nominate and appoint Furthermore I nominate Constitute and appoint my well beloved freind Thomas Gargen and my well beloved brother In law James Greentree both of the Said Island free planters to be Lawfull Executors of this my Last will and Testament Revoking and annulling all other will and wills Testament and Testaments heretofore by me made Either by word of mouth or writing and acknowledgeing none other but this to be my Last will and Testament In witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year hereabove written Signed Sealed and de[livere]d in the presence of John Bagley Walter Balward Mathew Bazett

Richard Harding

In the name of God, Amen.

On 17 July 1706, Richard Harding of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that death was certain and its hour unknown.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground, in hope of resurrection through Christ.

He directed that his debts be paid out of his estate within a reasonable time after his death by the executors.

He left all his real estate, his houses and his land, to his eight children in equal shares. They were Sarah, John, Richard, Lady, Elizabeth, James, Priscilla and Joseph Harding. His wife Anne Harding was to hold the whole of this real estate for her lifetime.

He divided his personal estate, meaning his goods, chattels and moveables, into thirds. Two thirds went to the children in equal shares. The remaining third went to Anne. The personal estate was to stay in her hands during the children's minority. Each child was to receive his or her portion on coming of age or marrying.

Richard Harding set a condition on his widow's remarriage. Any new husband would have to give good and sufficient security to the executors for the children's portions. If he refused or could not procure security, the executors were empowered to take the children's estate into their own hands and to invest it to best advantage for their benefit.

The executors were to take an inventory of the whole estate, real and personal, and to have it appraised either by themselves or by appraisers of their choosing.

He named Thomas Gargen, his friend, and James Greentree, his brother-in-law, both free planters of the island, as executors. He revoked all earlier wills, whether written or spoken.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of John Bagley, Walter Balward and Mathew Bazett.

Richard Harding.

Interpretations

The Richard Harding who drew this will is distinct from the Richard Harding whose will is recorded in the handover at 28 December 1681. The earlier testator was married to Sarah Harding, with children Richard, Benjamin, Mary and Lydia. The present testator is married to Anne Harding and has eight children, none of whose names matches the earlier set. The reappearance of the surname twenty-five years on, with a fresh household, suggests that the present Richard is either the son of the same name named in the 1681 will, by then grown to adulthood and head of his own household, or a separate branch of the same family. The 1681 will conditioned the son Richard's inheritance on dutiful behaviour, and a son of the same name surviving to marry Anne and father eight children would be consistent with the chronology. The handover also records ten acres lately Richard Harding's reappearing in the Rider will of January 1704, having passed through intermediate ownership, which suggests that the elder Richard had died and his land had been alienated before the present testator drew his own will.

The naming of James Greentree as brother-in-law places the present Richard Harding inside the Greentree kinship network of the island. The handover records John Greentree's will of April 1683, with six named children including a son James, who is identified as a witness to the Box will of 1701 and as previous holder of ten acres of cabbage tree land sold to Onesiphorus Steward. James Greentree of the present will is presumably the same man, by then a free planter in his own right and connected by marriage to the Harding household. The Greentree-Harding marriage thus links two families whose original testators had drawn wills within eighteen months of each other in the 1681 to 1683 period.

Speculations

The decision to give Anne Harding a life interest in the whole of the real estate, rather than a share outright, points to a specific calculation about how the plantation could be kept running. With eight children to provide for, dividing the land at once would have produced parcels too small to support any of them. Vesting the entire holding in the widow for life allowed the household to continue as a single economic unit and deferred the practical question of partition to a later generation. The same calculation underlies the Samuel Desfontaines will of November 1707, which addresses the equivalent problem with a buy-out option. Richard Harding's silence on the eventual partition mechanism may suggest he expected one or more of the eight children not to survive to majority, reducing the practical fragmentation, or that he left the question for his executors and his widow to resolve as circumstances allowed.

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Island St Helena In the Name of God Amen the Eight day of March one thousand Seven hundred and Six Seven I Leonard Coulson of the Said Island free planter being very Sick and weak of body but of perfect and Sound memory praised be God for the same doe make my will and Testament in manner and forme as followeth vizt First I beq[ue]ath my Soul Into the hand of Almighty God that made it and my Body I commit to the ground to be Buried in a Decent and Christian manner In hope that at the day of the generall Res[urr]ection it Shall raise again and through the merritts of my Saviour Jesus Christ I shall inheritt the kingdom of heaven And as for my Temporall Estate that it hath pleased God (ffarr beyond my deserts) to bestow upon me I do dispose of it in manner and forme as followeth First I will that what I owe to any person whatsoever be paid and Satifyed In a fitt and Convenient time after my decease out of my Said Estate Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved Son (not yet christened) designed to be John Coulson my Dwelling house in the Countrey with Ten Acres of Land lying and Scitvate at the head of Chapple Valley altogether with the Lease of Two acres of land I hire of the Right Hono[urable] the United Company Joyning to the Said Ten Acres of Land Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved daughter Mary Coulson the two thirds of my personall Estate and the other third I give and beq[ue]ath unto my well beloved wife Ellen Coulson furthermore my will and pleasure is that my aforesaid Estate be and Remaine into the possefsion of my Said beloved wife untill my aforesaid Son comes to the age of one and Twenty years and he to Enjoy the halfe of it and the other halfe to be in the possefsion of my Said wife during her naturall life Likewise my will and pleasure is that the Said two thirds of my personall Estate bestowed to my Said Daughter be and Remaine In the possefsion of my Said wife untill my Said daughter Comes of age or marry Moreover my will and pleasure is that an account of my Said personall Estate shall be taken and Appraised by my Executors hereafter mentioned or whom they shall app[o]int presently after my decease Lastly I nominate and appoint my two brothers in Law Jonathan Doveton and Robert Leech both of the Said Island free planters to be the Sole Executors of this my last will and Testament Revoking annulling and making Void all other wills and Testaments heretofore by me made Either by word of mouth or writing acknowledgeing none others but this to be my last will and Testament In Witnefs I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year Hereabove written

Signed Sealed and de[livere]d in the presence of George Hoskison John Coulson Mathew Bazett

Leonard Coulson

In the name of God, Amen.

On 8 March 1707, Leonard Coulson of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for Christian burial, in hope of resurrection through Christ.

He directed that his debts be paid out of his estate within a reasonable time after his death.

To his son, not yet christened but intended to be named John Coulson, he left his country dwelling house and ten acres of land at the head of Chapel Valley. He also left him the lease of two acres adjoining the ten, held from the East India Company.

To his daughter Mary Coulson, he left two thirds of his personal estate. The remaining third went to his wife Ellen Coulson.

Ellen was to hold the whole of the estate until the son reached twenty-one. At that point the boy was to take half, and Ellen was to keep the other half for her lifetime. Mary's two thirds of the personal estate were to stay in Ellen's hands until Mary came of age or married.

The executors were to take an account of the personal estate and have it appraised, either by themselves or by appraisers of their choosing, soon after his death.

Leonard Coulson named his two brothers-in-law, Jonathan Doveton and Robert Leech, both free planters of the island, as executors. He revoked all earlier wills, whether written or spoken.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of George Hoskison, John Coulson and Mathew Bazett.

Leonard Coulson.

Interpretations

The bequest to a son not yet christened tells us that Ellen Coulson was either heavily pregnant or had recently given birth at the time the will was drawn. Leonard's awareness that he was dying ahead of the baptism explains the unusual phrasing. The clause shows how testators on the island used wills to fix the inheritance of children whose legal identity was not yet settled by the church, naming the intended name in advance to remove any later ambiguity over who the heir was.

The two-acre parcel held on lease from the East India Company shows the dual character of land tenure on St Helena. Freehold and Company leasehold coexisted on the same holding, with the leased ground worked as part of the same plantation as the freehold next to it. The will treats the lease as an alienable asset that passes with the freehold to the son, which indicates that such Company leases were assignable through testamentary disposition and were treated by planters as part of their heritable estate. The same pattern appears in the will of Paul Charles drawn the previous August, where the Charles sons jointly inherited the lease of thirty-six acres alongside their freehold inheritance.

Speculations

The decision to divide the real estate in half on the son's coming of age, rather than to defer his inheritance until his mother's death, points to a specific intention about how the plantation should be worked. By giving John a substantial working share at twenty-one, Leonard ensured that the boy would have land of his own to plant on while still young, rather than waiting indefinitely for his mother to die. The arrangement reads as a calculation about agricultural productivity and the timing of generational transfer, not merely about inheritance.

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In The Name of God Amen. The Seavent[h] day of Aprill 1707 I William Dufton Sen[r] of the Ifland St Helena free planter being Sick and weak in body but of Sound mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God do make and ordain this my last will and Testament In manner and form following that is to Say First and principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping through the merits death and passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ for a full and free pardon and forgivenefs of all my Sins And I commit my body to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named And as touching all my Temporall Estate which it hat[h] pleased God to bestow upon me I give and dispose thereof In manner and form following First I will that all my debts and funerall Expences be paid & discharged Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my youngest daughter Susannah Dufton one Black Negro Slave named Peter Item I give unto my Grandson Samuell Dufton Son of Jonathan Dufton free planter five Dollers towards buying a Ring Item I give and beq[ue]ath unto my wife Susannah Dufton what the law allows her and no more And as to the rest and Residue of my Estate both reall and personall of what kind or [Q]uality whatsoever and not herein before mentioned and disposed of my will and pleasure is that the same be appraised by my Executors Hereinafter named or any two persons whom they shall appoint in Some convenient time after my decease And that all and every of my Children Namely Jonathan Dufton Samuell Dufton William Dufton and Michaell Dufton Mary Elizabeth and Susannah Dufton do and shall Receive an Equall Share part or dividend thereof as they are or come of age or marriage And as for those of my Children which are under age and in their minority I commit them to A[d]d my will and pleasure is that they be wholy under the care Tuition and at the dispos[s]all of my Executors and that the part Share or dividend of Each and Every of them be Imployed and disposed and laid out by my Executors aforesaid for their benefit and to the best advantage Item It is my desire and my will is that my Son Jonathan Dufton have my Black named Dick making good in Lieu of him thirty pounds to the Estate And Lastly I Appoint Jonathan Dufton free planter and Daniell Griffith free planter Executors of this my last will and Testament Revoking and Annulling all and every former will and wills heretofore by me made by word or writing confirming and ratifying this to be my last will and Testament In witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year abovewritten

Signed Sealed publifhed and delivered in the prefence of Leonard Hunt John Jones Henri E Batchelor

Willi[am] Signum × Dufton Sen[r]

In the name of God, Amen.

On 7 April 1707, William Dufton senior of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind.

He commended his soul to God in hope of pardon through Christ. He committed his body to the ground for decent burial at the discretion of his executors.

He directed that his debts and funeral expenses be paid.

To his youngest daughter Susannah Dufton, he left a slave named Peter.

To his grandson Samuel Dufton, son of his son Jonathan Dufton, he left five dollars towards the purchase of a ring.

To his wife Susannah Dufton, he left only what the law allowed her and nothing more.

The remainder of his estate, both real and personal, was to be appraised by the executors or by any two persons they appointed, within a reasonable time after his death. The whole was to be divided equally among his seven children: Jonathan, Samuel, William and Michael Dufton, and Mary, Elizabeth and Susannah Dufton. Each was to receive a share on coming of age or marrying.

The minor children were placed entirely under the care and disposal of the executors. Their shares were to be invested and managed by the executors for their benefit and to the best advantage.

William Dufton directed that his son Jonathan should have a slave named Dick, on condition that Jonathan paid thirty pounds into the estate in exchange.

He named Jonathan Dufton, free planter, and Daniel Griffith, free planter, as executors. He revoked all earlier wills, whether written or spoken.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Leonard Hunt, John Jones and Henri Batchelor.

William Dufton senior, by mark.

Interpretations

The treatment of the wife is the most striking feature of the will. William Dufton left Susannah only what the law allowed and nothing more. The phrasing is a deliberate refusal to make any voluntary provision for her beyond the minimum dower or widow's third that the courts would enforce. It is the opposite of the generous life interests granted by Paul Charles and Richard Harding in the preceding months, and of the routine widow's third granted by Leonard Coulson and later by Samuel Desfontaines. The clause records a marital breach or grievance in the form of a legal instruction, using the minimum legal entitlement as a ceiling rather than a floor.

The bequest of five dollars to the grandson for the purchase of a mourning ring follows a standard English testamentary practice of giving a small sum to kin or close associates for a ring to be worn in memory of the deceased. The use of dollars rather than sterling reflects the circulation of Spanish silver dollars as the practical currency of the island, with sterling functioning as the unit of account. The same pattern appears in the handover, where Andrew Wilson in 1697 gave twenty dollars each to overseers Thomas Swallow and James Rider, and where ring legacies in dollars are recorded in the Charlesworth widow's will of April 1697. The grandson is singled out from a larger circle of descendants, which suggests a particular bond or perhaps a recognition of his position as the eldest grandson in the senior male line.

Speculations

The combined effect of the wife's minimum legal entitlement, the placement of the minor children under the executors' custody and the absence of any role for Susannah in the management of the estate points to a deliberate decision to write her out of the household after his death. The will reads as a deliberately punitive settlement rather than an oversight. The contrast with the four other planter wills of the same twelve-month period is sharp. Paul Charles, Richard Harding, Leonard Coulson and Samuel Desfontaines all gave their widows life interests, executor or executrix powers, or both, and treated the wife as the working centre of the household after the husband's death. William Dufton inverted that pattern in every respect. Whatever the cause, he used the testamentary instrument to ensure that his widow would have no voice over either the estate or the upbringing of his younger children.

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In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Ghost the Holy and Admirable Trinity whom I beleive and adore with all the power of my understanding

I Declare that I am a Great Sinner who have offended often times the divine and Eternall Majesty of my God but I die in the af[s]urance that the meritts of the Sweet and mercifull Saviour will Blot out these wofull Stains of my Soul and that he will make me possefsor of the Glorious Immortality

I Give Thanks to my God for the Miraculous Means of which he made use of to withdraw me out of my house In France Protesting that there was no humane means in it and that I heard his only voice (when the Judges Sent to take me) Saying come out hence come out hence which I did to their Confusion and So I came out from under the Slavery of Babelon

I Give Him also my most humble thanks for having Provided me an Asile Protection and Entertainment under good and Auspicious Masters The Right Hono[urable] English East India Company Although loaded Perpetually of troubles and Vexations by traitors and Unjust Enemies only because I never Sought but the good and advantage of my Illustrious Masters God grant he lay not their Sins to their Charge

The dear Spouse that God hath given me In this place hath bin without doubt a great Comfort to me In my troubles her love and vertue towards me does deserve thousand times more advantage then I am able to procure her but as the Laws of England makes the Second hus[b]ands the absolute masters of the widdows portion and that I See by a wofull Experience that the widdows and their Children of the first bed are properly but their Slaves and these poor Orphans are for the most part Buried Either by the debauchery or by the Covetousnefs of the fathers in law For which reason a father is bound and obliged in conscience to Save these poor Innocents from the hands of these Crribies In all this I know also that there is Some Endued with a high Vertue I honor these Upon this Reason and consideration I give to my Said Spouse the Heirs of my moveable Effects (according to the Laws of England) of whatsoever is at Madrafs here and In England and to obtain this dividend Immediately after my death an Inventory shall faithfully be taken my Said Spouse giving her Oath that She Shall keep and Retain nothing in her possefsion after which I will that a Publick Auction be publifhed and all Sold to the very Last of my apparell to the Last Either Except my books which I give to my Son Samuell in case he should obtain to the holy Ministry Otherwise they Shall likewise be Sold and divided In giving Re[a]sonable time to the fryers for the payment of it Provided they give Sufficient Sevrity to do it By that time my Said Spouse Shall be willing to go for England And as it has pleased God to give Sufficient means to my Son Gabriell and to my daughter Lucy together wherewithall to live and these poor Little ones that god hath given me here have but Little I hope they will not take it ill that according to the Law of England I make them heirs of but each of them a Shilling Only that they may Remember me as a father that hath Loved them tenderly and that have done what was in my power to advance them I Give to my dear Son Gabriell my Silver watch made by D[u]quare in London And to my dear daughter Lucy my Diamond Ring

The writer opened his will with a profession of faith in the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, the Holy and Admirable Trinity, whom he said he believed in and adored with all the powers of his understanding.

He confessed himself a great sinner who had often offended the divine and eternal majesty of God. He declared that he died in the assurance that the merits of his sweet and merciful Saviour would wash away these grievous stains from his soul and bring him into glorious immortality.

He gave thanks to God for the miraculous means by which he had been drawn out of his house in France. There had been nothing human in it. When the judges had sent men to seize him, he had heard the voice of God alone, telling him to come out from that place. He had done so, to their confusion, and so had come out from under the slavery of Babylon.

He thanked God also for having provided him with refuge, protection and a livelihood under good and favourable masters, the Right Honourable English East India Company. He had served them under constant trouble and vexation from traitors and unjust enemies, only because he had sought nothing but the good and advantage of his illustrious masters. He prayed that God would not lay their sins to their charge.

The dear wife that God had given him in this place had been a great comfort to him in his troubles. Her love and virtue towards him deserved a thousand times more than he was able to procure for her.

The laws of England made second husbands the absolute masters of a widow's portion. He had seen by sorrowful experience that the widows and children of a first marriage became in effect the slaves of such men, and that the orphans were ruined either by the debauchery or by the greed of their stepfathers. A father was therefore bound in conscience to save these poor innocents from the hands of such villains. He acknowledged that some stepfathers were men of high virtue, and he honoured them.

On this reasoning, he gave to his wife the inheritance of all his moveable goods according to the laws of England, whether at Madras, on the island or in England. To establish this share, an inventory was to be taken faithfully immediately after his death. His wife was to swear an oath that she had kept back nothing in her possession. A public auction was then to be held, and everything was to be sold down to his last piece of apparel.

His books were excepted. They were to go to his son Samuel if he entered the holy ministry. If he did not, the books were likewise to be sold and the proceeds divided. Reasonable time was to be allowed to the friars for payment, provided they gave sufficient security. By that time his wife was to be ready to go to England.

God had given his son Gabriel and his daughter Lucy sufficient means to live on together. The little ones God had given him on the island had very little. He hoped they would not take it ill that, under the law of England, he made Gabriel and Lucy heirs of only a shilling each, as a token to remember him as a father who had loved them tenderly and had done what he could to advance them.

To his dear son Gabriel he gave his silver watch, made by Duquare in London. To his dear daughter Lucy he gave his diamond ring.

Interpretations

The writer was a French Protestant refugee who had escaped from France under threat of arrest for his faith. The reference to the slavery of Babylon was standard Huguenot language for the Catholic church and the French crown, and the account of his judges sending to take him located his flight in the persecution that followed the revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. The will was unusual in the St Helena register because it opened with an extended spiritual autobiography rather than the standard preamble, and because the writer described his service to the East India Company in terms of refuge granted to a Protestant exile.

The handover identifies the principal Huguenot administrative figures of the second period: Stephen Poirier, governor, with appearances across multiple wills from February 1698 onwards; Matthew Bazett, the recurring administrator paired repeatedly with Samuel Desfontaines; and the wider French Protestant circle that handled the testamentary business of Purling, Heath and Paul Charles in 1706. The writer of the present text belongs to that same Huguenot circle, and the references to his gubernatorial standing later in the document, to the firing of guns at his funeral and to his cousin Lewis Poirier, will identify him as Stephen Poirier. The present opening, however, does not yet name him.

Speculations

The vehemence of the passage against stepfathers pointed to specific knowledge of cases on the island or within the Company circle. The writer described the ruin of widows and orphans not as a general risk but as something he had seen by hard experience. The handover and the wills record numerous remarriage clauses among the planter class, including the categorical clauses in Paul Charles, Richard Harding and Samuel Desfontaines, all of which presuppose a real risk. The writer's response was sharper than any of those, and read as the response of a man who had concluded that the standard security clause was not protection enough. His solution was to dispose of the entire moveable estate at once by auction, eliminating the assets that a future husband could appropriate before any remarriage could take place.

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And if God think fitt to lett me live longer in this miserable world and that peace was made for our liberty I would have Spared neither Cares nor fatigues to Reinvest them in the possefsion of their Estate as I of mine against the Unjust detainers of it

To prove and Show to my dear Spouse that what I have Said hereabove and Shall Say hereafter is not properly against her but for the good of her poore Children I will that in case she remains a widdow She have the dispo[s]ition of as Executrix Jointly with Mr Samuell Def[s]ontaines who shall give her and Impart his advice for the good of the Said Children And in case she marries here the Said Def[s]ontaines Shall have all in his dispo[s]ition Children and their portions but in case She should aleadge reasons that other Mothers have done that it is hard to See her Selfe dispof[s]est of her Children and that in this consideration the Law would give her them I will that it be at her proper Charges And that their portions be not in any wise diminifhed by it her only good will ought to overweigh it above her Interest but as Soon as it Shall be proved that the ffather In law does treat them Rudely and abuses them I will that they be taken away from under his hands In vertue and in Authority of these presents by the Said Def[s]ontaines for to be brought up in the fear of God of which he Shall give advice to my Son Gabriell and to Mr Lewis my Son in Law that if they should think fitt to Send for Mary and Sarah to Madrafs for their advantage he Shall Send them and in case my Said dear Spouse leave St Helena the Said Def[s]ontaines is charged to give advice of my affairs to my Hono[ura]ble ffather in law and to Mr Charles Dubois merchant in London whom I constitute my Executors of all and as above in case my Said dear Spouse should marry

And being a thing Impofsible to me to See without a mortall Regrett my daughters in France in the midst of Babilon that is Elizabeth Ann (who is married) and Magdalen that I love tenderly I will that in case the God whom I adore and whose arms are not Shortned should bring them out from that Infamous Sink they Shall divide with my Spouse and the three Children that I have had by her but with that Condition that in case my Son in Law Mr Lewis be So Charitable as to give them that which my well beloved daughter Mary Parham hath Left them by Testament that Sum Shall make part of what I give them that is to Say they Shall have lefs of my Effects to be Equall to them

After having Spoken of my other Children it is time at present that I come to the desiny of this poor Little Samuell the object of my Vows I will then that if his portion will permitt and is Sufficient that he be brought up and Educated to be Minister of the holy Gospell and for this Effect I desire my most Hono[ura]ble ffather in Law Mr Charles Dubois and my dear Spouse In case She be widdow that he may be put in the hands of Monsieur Denis Dutry merchant in London who will have the goodnefs to transfer him In those of Mefsieurs Sacrelaires Merchants In Amsterdam that he may be brought up and Educated In the Academy or Univer[s]ity of Leyden

If God thought fit to let him live longer in this miserable world, and peace was made that restored their liberty, the writer would have spared neither care nor labour to recover the estates of his daughters in France against those who unjustly held them, just as he would have recovered his own.

To show his wife that what he had said and would say was not aimed against her but for the good of her children, he set out the following arrangement. If she remained a widow, she was to act as executrix jointly with Mr Samuel Desfontaines, who was to advise her in the interests of the children. If she married on the island, Desfontaines was to have sole control of the children and their portions.

If she pleaded, as other mothers had done, that it was hard to see herself dispossessed of her children, and that the law would give them to her, the writer directed that she might keep them only at her own charges. The children's portions were not to be diminished on that account. Her affection for them ought to outweigh her own interest. As soon as it was shown that the stepfather treated them harshly or abused them, they were to be taken from his hands by Desfontaines, by the authority of the will itself, and brought up in the fear of God. Desfontaines was to advise the writer's son Gabriel and his son-in-law Mr Lewis of any such removal. If they judged it best, the girls Mary and Sarah were to be sent to Madras to him.

If his wife left the island, Desfontaines was to report on the writer's affairs to his honoured father-in-law and to Mr Charles Dubois, merchant in London, whom he appointed as executors should his wife remarry.

It was impossible for him, without mortal regret, to think of his daughters in France in the midst of Babylon. They were Elizabeth Ann, who was married, and Magdalen, whom he loved tenderly. If God, whose arm was not shortened, brought them out of that infamous sink, they were to share the estate with his wife and the three children she had borne him. The condition was this: if his son-in-law Mr Lewis was charitable enough to give them what his beloved daughter Mary Parham had left them by her will, that sum was to count as part of their share. They were to receive correspondingly less of his own effects so that all were made equal.

He came then to the future of little Samuel, the object of his prayers. If his portion would allow it, the boy was to be brought up and educated to be a minister of the holy Gospel. To that end the writer asked his honoured father-in-law Mr Charles Dubois, together with his wife if she was then a widow, to place Samuel in the hands of Monsieur Denis Dutry, merchant in London. Dutry was to transfer him to Messieurs Sacrelaires, merchants in Amsterdam, so that he might be brought up and educated in the Academy or University of Leiden.

Interpretations

The conditional structure of the executrixship was the central legal mechanism in this portion of the will. The widow was trusted as executrix only while she remained unmarried, and only in partnership with Samuel Desfontaines as her advisor. The moment she remarried on the island, her authority over the children and their portions was extinguished entirely and transferred to Desfontaines as sole controller. The arrangement used the office of executor as a switch that activated or deactivated the mother's legal power according to her marital state, and it converted Desfontaines from advisor to guardian on the day of any remarriage.

Samuel Desfontaines, named here as the principal trustee, recurs across the registers as the Huguenot administrator paired with Matthew Bazett in the executorship of Erasmus Purling in May 1706 and Edward Heath in June 1706, and as co-executor with Bazett of the Paul Charles will of August 1706. He drew his own deathbed will on 15 November 1707, only three months after the present document. The handover does not record his earlier appearances under the present spelling, although his name is rendered variously as Desfontaines, Defsontaines and Desfontaines across the registers.

Speculations

The detail of the custody provisions suggested that the writer had specific cases in mind rather than abstract concerns. He anticipated the precise legal arguments his widow might raise, the response of an English court, and the practical means by which a hostile stepfather could be circumvented. The level of detail pointed to direct knowledge of how such disputes had played out among other St Helena or Company families, and the will read as an attempt to forestall a known sequence of events rather than to legislate in the abstract.

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In the principles and Theologie of the true Reformed Religion and after he be Capable to be ordained Minister I had rather he had a Church in the United Provinces or in the Territories of the King of Prussia then in any place whatsoever (having Seen by a Sorrowfull Experience Somewhere else) A very Loose Clergy without being or Little notice taken of it by their Superiors Although to the praise and advantage of the vertuous I Say there is as many learned pious and Recommendable of them as in any place of the world wheresoever

As what concerns my body as after my poor Soul Shall be in the hands of God it Shall be but the object of wormes And of corruption untill the Generall Generall Resurrection I look upon what the world makes use of For a Sumptuous Buriall which they call and term commendable I look upon it I Say as mere Heathenifh ffooleries for which reason I will have none If I die in this Island Governor my Succefsor may fire Guns or may fire none that is all indifferent to mee I will have to my funeralls none but the Governor and Councill Mr Bazett and his family Mr Def[s]ontaines and his family the widdow Charles my Cousin Lewis Poirier and my wifes Relations I will be Buried with my father In Laws family and that my wife shall not Erect any Mausolies or Tomb on my Grave I will have no funerall Sermon

I Have no more to Say but only I pray God (and have continually done it) for the prosperity of Queen Ann that he may continue unto her a happy Reigne as he hath already begun and before She depart this life I wifh She may See all her Subjects United in the same principles of Religion as She hath happily united the English and Scotch under the Same Politick Laws God poor upon all great Bretain his most holy Blefsings untill the end of the world that he may Reforme these Infamous Blasphemers Adulterers and Drunkards I pray God with all my heart that he may poor also his most favorable Blefsings upon the Commerce of the Rt Honorable English East India Company That I have Served here with the most Zeal and Affection then if it had been for my Selfe

Finally I protest before God before whom I am going to appear that I have considered and look[t] upon the Inhabitants of this Ifland as being altogether of my family that I have prayed God morning and Evening for their prosperity both Spirituall and Temporall and I pray him still to give them grace to bring up their Children in the true fear of God to the End his holy Blefsings may never depart from this Ifland

Although there is little appearance that my Son Alexander be in this world notwith[s]tanding if he is not dead and is in Necefsity more then his brothers and Sisters I give him forty pounds Sterling for to advance him at Sea or any other Negoce where his Inclination shall Lead him

Samuel was to be brought up in the doctrines of the true Reformed religion. Once he was qualified for ordination, the writer preferred that he hold a church in the United Provinces or in the territories of the King of Prussia rather than anywhere else. He had seen by sorrowful experience elsewhere a loose clergy whose conduct had passed with little or no notice from their superiors. To the credit of the virtuous, he added that there were as many learned, devout and admirable men among the clergy in such places as anywhere else in the world.

As for his body, once his soul was in the hands of God, it was no more than food for worms and corruption until the general resurrection. What the world called a fine and commendable burial he dismissed as heathen folly, and he wanted none of it.

If he died on the island as governor, his successor was free to fire guns at the funeral or not, as he chose. It was all the same to him. He wanted no one present but the governor and council, Mr Bazett and his family, Mr Desfontaines and his family, the widow Charles, his cousin Lewis Poirier and his wife's relations. He was to be buried with his father-in-law's family. His wife was not to raise any monument or tomb over his grave. He wanted no funeral sermon.

He prayed for the prosperity of Queen Anne, as he had done continually, that God might continue her happy reign as he had already begun. Before she departed this life, he hoped she might see all her subjects united in the same religious principles, just as she had happily united the English and the Scots under the same body of political laws. He prayed that God would pour his most holy blessings on all Great Britain until the end of the world, and that he would reform its blasphemers, adulterers and drunkards. He prayed with all his heart that God would pour his most favourable blessings on the commerce of the Right Honourable English East India Company, which he had served on the island with more zeal and affection than if it had been for himself.

Lastly, he protested before God, before whom he was about to appear, that he had looked on the inhabitants of the island as members of his own family. He had prayed morning and evening for their prosperity, spiritual and temporal, and he prayed still that God might give them grace to bring up their children in the true fear of God, so that his holy blessings might never depart from the island.

There was little likelihood that his son Alexander was still in this world. If he was not dead, and if he was in greater need than his brothers and sisters, the writer gave him forty pounds sterling to set him up at sea or in any other trade his inclination led him to.

Interpretations

The reference to firing guns at the funeral, together with the phrase identifying the writer as governor, confirms that he held the office of governor of St Helena at the time of writing. The handover records Stephen Poirier as governor across multiple wills of the second period, beginning with the bequest of twenty gold Venetians for a ring in the Thomas Phillips will of February 1698, the three gold Venetians in the John Sich will of February 1703, the appointment as substitute executor in the same Sich will, and the appointment as executor in the Margaret Cotgrave will of August 1706. The naming of the writer's cousin Lewis Poirier among the funeral guests fixes the surname Poirier, and the combination of the gubernatorial office with the Huguenot identity confirms that the writer is Stephen Poirier, governor of St Helena.

The valuation of forty pounds sterling as sufficient to set a young man up at sea or in trade provided a working figure for the cost of launching a commercial career in the Company world at this date. The sum compared with the thirty pounds at which William Dufton had valued his slave Dick the same year, and with the legacies recorded in the handover such as the £25 conditional to Mary Knipe in the Purling will of May 1706 and the £20 cash bequests in the Pledgerd and Andrew Wilson wills of 1697. The forty-pound figure indicated the scale of cash capital regarded as a meaningful starting stake for a young man entering the seaborne economy.

Speculations

The detailed account of clerical laxity observed somewhere else pointed to a specific judgement about Anglican or English Huguenot clergy rather than an abstract complaint. Poirier distinguished his criticism from any general charge by adding that virtuous and learned clergy existed everywhere, which suggests he was answering an anticipated objection to his preference for the continental Reformed churches. The clause read as a reasoned argument from observation, intended to justify directing Samuel away from an Anglican career path even though he was to be educated through London and Amsterdam. The handover records that the Company's chaplain to St Helena in this period was John Kerr, who appeared as witness and beneficiary in the Edmunds and Ashby wills of 1703. Poirier's remarks may reflect tensions with the Anglican chaplaincy on the island, although the will does not name Kerr or any other particular cleric.

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And if it is the will of God to take away the Children of my Second bed out of this world without Children I will that their Estate Returns to the Children of my ffirst with the Provisor they dwell not in France

That Mr Samuell Defsontaines for his great care and Mr Mathew Bazett for the Translation of this In Englifh be both paid honestly to the Judgment of two disinterest persons to their Satisfaction

There is amongst my moveables about Six Paire of Sheets Five Dozen of Napkins Five table Cloths And Five Towells which I will not have Sold I will that they be praised for her use but that the price of them be divided in Common Finally those that have Served me be honestly Servd Done at St Helena this One and Twentieth of August (old Stile) one thousand Seven hundred and Seven

Witnefsed & Thomas Cason John Robinson Thomas Gargen

Stephen Poirier

This is A True Translation from the French Originall of Governor Poiriers Last will and Testament according to the best of my Skill and Judgment wittnefs my hand this 7th day of October 1707

Mathew Bazett

If God took away the children of his second marriage from this world without issue, Stephen Poirier directed that their estate revert to the children of his first marriage, with the condition that they did not live in France.

Mr Samuel Desfontaines, for his great care, and Mr Mathew Bazett, for the translation of the will into English, were both to be paid honestly. The amount was to be fixed by two disinterested persons to their satisfaction.

Among Poirier's moveables there were about six pairs of sheets, five dozen napkins, five tablecloths and five towels. These were not to be sold. They were to be appraised for his wife's use, and the appraised value was to be divided in common with the rest of the estate. Lastly, those who had served him were to be honestly paid.

Done at St Helena on 21 August 1707 (old style).

Witnessed by Thomas Cason, John Robinson and Thomas Gargen.

Stephen Poirier.

Mathew Bazett certified the document as a true translation from the French original of Governor Poirier's last will and testament, according to the best of his skill and judgement, by his hand on 7 October 1707.

Interpretations

The signature is the first appearance of the writer's name in the text. Throughout the body of the will he had identified himself only by his role as a Huguenot exile, husband, father and governor, without naming himself. The signature, supported by Bazett's certification heading, fixes him as Stephen Poirier, governor of St Helena, and provides the surname now applied to the wider analysis. The translator's heading also confirms that the original was written in French and that the English text in the register is a translation prepared by Bazett.

The naming of Thomas Gargen among the witnesses links Poirier's will to the wider planter administrative network. Gargen had served as an executor of Richard Harding's will in July 1706 and as a neighbouring landholder in the will of Paul Charles in August of the same year. His recurrent role as witness, executor and neighbour across these consecutive wills illustrated how the small literate planter class on the island carried the administrative weight of testamentary business through repeated mutual service. The handover does not record Gargen's appearance in earlier wills under that spelling, although a Thomas Fudsdale appears as executor of John Greentree in April 1683 and a Thomas Fensdale drew his own will in March 1699, suggesting either a variant rendering of the same family name or a separate planter line.

Speculations

The reversion clause, taken with the residence condition, shows that Poirier was thinking past the immediate generation to the long-term distribution of his estate within the diaspora. He wanted the property to remain in the hands of Protestants outside France, regardless of which branch of his family ultimately held it. The arrangement read as a deliberate construction of a Protestant inheritance pool, with religious geography rather than direct descent as the governing principle.

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Ifland St Helena. In the Name of God Amen. The Fifteenth day of November One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventh, I Samueell Desfontaines of the Said Ifland Free Planter, Beeing Very Sick and Weak of Body, But of Perfect and Sound Memory Praised be God for the Same Doe Make my Will and Testament In Manner and Forme as Followeth Vizt First I Bequeath my Soul Into the Hand of Almighty God that made it, and my Body, I committ to the Ground to be Buried In a Decent Manner. In Hope that at the Day of the Generall Resurrection it Shall Raise Again and Through the Meritts of my Saviour Jesus Christ I Shall Inheritt the Kingdom of Heaven. And as for my Temporall Estate That it hath Pleased God (farr beyond my Deserts) To Bestow upon me I do Dispose of it In Manner and Forme as Followeth. Vizt First I will that whatsoever I owe to any Person or Persons Whatsoever be paid and Sattisfied out of my Said Estate In a Fitt and Convenient Time after my Decease; Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Wife Ruth Desfontaines the Third of my Personall Estate, Item I give and Bequeath The other Two Therds of my Said Personall Estate, and all my Reall Estate Unto my Well Beloved Children Samueell, John, Martha, Mary and Joseph Desfontaines To be Equally Divided amongst them five, But my Will and Pleasure is, That the Said Reall and Personall Estate Be and Remain Into the Hand and Pofsefsion of my Said Beloved Wife Ruth Desfontaines Untill my Children comes of Age or Marry, So that at Each of them comes of Age Shall Receive their Po[r]tion, But if In case my Said Wife should Marry, The Man whom se She shall Marry Shall Give a Sufficient Security for my Said Childrens Estate if my Executors (Hereafter Mentioned) Whom k it fitt, and convenic [c]ent for the good of my Said Children, Furthermore I will that In case my Said Wife should Dye Before any of my Said Children come of Age, That my Said Executors hereafter Mentioned Sell, Bargain and Deliver my Said Reall Estate both Ifland and House or any thing Else whatsoever Belonging to my Said Children, Impowering them by this Present Will and Testament To Effect under it, as I may doe at this present time if they Think it Advantageous for the good of my Said Children, Furthermore my Will and Pleasure is That in case my Said Son Samueell Desfontaines Coms of Age, and after the Deceafe of my Said Wife is Welling to Buy the part of my four other Children of the Said Land Shall then be appraised By two Indifferent Men, Elected and Chosen one by the Said Samueell Desfontaines, and the other by my Said Executors, hereafter Mentioned But in case my Said Son Samueell Refuses to Buy the Said Land, my Said Hereafter Mentioned Executors are hereby Impowered To Sell the Said Land and Leases of Land; To Whomsoever Shall offer to Buy it if they Think fitt, and is for the Advantage of Said Children but in case the Said Land cannot be Sold, The Necefsity of my Children that comes of Age Shall

In the name of God, Amen.

On 15 November 1707, Samuel Desfontaines of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for decent burial, in hope of resurrection through Christ.

He directed that his debts be paid out of his estate within a reasonable time after his death.

To his wife Ruth Desfontaines, he left one third of his personal estate.

The other two thirds of his personal estate, together with all his real estate, were to go to his five children Samuel, John, Martha, Mary and Joseph Desfontaines in equal shares. Ruth was to hold the whole of the real and personal estate until the children came of age or married, with each child receiving his or her portion on coming of age.

Samuel Desfontaines set a condition on his widow's remarriage. Any new husband was to give sufficient security to the executors for the children's estate, if the executors judged it necessary and convenient for the children's good.

If Ruth died before any of the children came of age, the executors were empowered to sell, bargain and deliver the real estate, including land, the house and anything else belonging to the children. The will gave them the same authority over the property that Desfontaines himself held at the time of writing, provided they judged the sale to be in the children's interest.

If the eldest son Samuel came of age, and Ruth was by then dead, he was to have the option of buying out the shares of his four siblings in the land. The land was to be valued by two indifferent men, one chosen by Samuel and the other by the executors. If Samuel refused to buy, the executors were empowered to sell the land and the leases to any buyer they thought fit, if it was to the advantage of the children. If the land could not be sold, the necessity of the children coming of age was to govern what followed.

Interpretations

The will places Samuel Desfontaines, free planter on the island, at the centre of the small Huguenot administrative network that handled testamentary business across the closing months of 1706 and the first three quarters of 1707. The handover records his appearances as co-executor with Matthew Bazett of the Erasmus Purling will of May 1706 and the Edward Heath will of June 1706. In the wills processed in the current session, he served as co-executor of Paul Charles in August 1706, and as the principal advisor and prospective guardian named in Stephen Poirier's will of August 1707. The drawing of his own will three months after Poirier's shows that the man on whom these earlier testators had relied was himself sick and weak when he accepted those responsibilities. The chain of executorships rested on a single individual whose own health was already failing.

The contingent power to sell the real estate on Ruth's death before the children came of age was an unusual administrative provision. Most planter wills tied the land to the children's eventual inheritance and treated alienation as a last resort. The handover records the comparable mechanism in the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699, where the Fensdale house and land were directed to public auction with proceeds to the Jossy sons, and in the Margaret Cotgrave will of August 1706, which contemplated sale of cabbage tree land for the benefit of grandsons. Desfontaines went further than these by giving the executors power to sell, bargain and deliver the whole real estate, including the house, on the same terms he himself could have done. The clause anticipated that the loss of both parents during the children's minority would leave the executors unable to manage a working plantation, and authorised conversion of the land into cash for distribution and maintenance.

Speculations

The succession of deathbed wills among the Huguenot circle and the wider planter class points to a wave of mortality running through the senior generation of the island's administration. The handover records the wills of Erasmus Purling and Edward Heath in May and June 1706, both drawn by men who were sick at the time of writing, with Desfontaines and Bazett as their executors. Paul Charles followed in August 1706. Richard Harding had drawn his own will only weeks earlier in July 1706. Leonard Coulson followed in March 1707 and William Dufton in April 1707. Stephen Poirier signed his French will in August 1707, and Desfontaines drew the present will in November 1707. The compression of so much testamentary business into eighteen months suggests an epidemic episode or a series of related illnesses among the older generation of planters and Company servants, rather than a coincidence of individual deaths.

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Shall have the Refus[a]ll Before any body Else, To Buy the Said Land in the Same Manner as my Said Son Samueell DesFontaines was to Buy it And So as the Rest of my Said Children comes of Age; Lek[e]wise I will that my [E]xecutorrs be hereby Impowered To Sell my House Scitvate in Chappell Va[l]ley Near Fort James if my Said Wife Dyes before any of my Said Children comes of Age, To any Body, whatsoever if they Lek[e]wise Think it for the good of my Said Children, But in case She Should Live Untill any of my Said Children comes of Age, That then my Said Son Samueell (after my Wifes Decease) Buy the Said House if he be welling after the Same Manner as he was to Buy the Land But if he Refuses to buy the Said House, That then my [E]xecu torrs have the Same Power To Sell the Said House as they have for the Land if they Lek[e]wise Think it fitt convenient and Advantagi[o]us for my Said Children; Moreover if In [c]ase my Beloved Daughterrs In Law, Ruth and Margrett Quincey When they come of Age or Marry, are Welling to Put what Estate Both Reall and Temporall is Properly belong to them Amongst my Said Estate as one Whole Estate They Shall Each off them have Equall Share with Each of my Said Children otherwise Nothing of my Said Proper Estate, Furthermore I will that an Inventory be Taken of My Said Reall and Personall Estate, and Appraised by my Said [E]xecutors, or any Body Else Whom they Shall appoint, after my Decease. Lastly I Appoint Ordain and Constitute my Beloved Friends Math[ew] Bazett and James Draper Both of the Said Ifland, To be my Sole [E]xecutors of this my Last Well and Testament, Whom I Impowrer To ordain and Con stitute (in case any of them Dee) other [E]xecutors in theer Roome. Revoaking and annull[i]ng all other Well or Wills, Testament or Testaments Whatsoever Heretofore by me made Either by Word of Mouth or Wreting Acknowledgeing but this, to be my Reall True and Last Well and Testement; In Wittnefs Whereof I have Sett my hand and Seale the Day and Year Here above Written.

Signed Sealed and Delivered In the Presence of Geo: Hosk[...]on Wm Coales Simon his Whaley marke

Samuel DesFontaines

The same option applied in turn to each of the other children as they came of age. Each of the remaining children was to have the right of first refusal on the land before any outside buyer, on the same terms as Samuel.

The executors were likewise empowered to sell the Chapel Valley house near Fort James, if Ruth died before any of the children came of age, to any buyer they thought fit, provided they judged the sale to be for the children's good. If Ruth survived until at least one child came of age, the eldest son Samuel was to have the option to buy the house after her death, on the same terms as he was to buy the land. If he refused, the executors had the same power to sell the house to others.

Samuel Desfontaines made a further provision for his stepdaughters Ruth and Margaret Quincey. When they came of age or married, they were to choose between two courses. If they brought their own real and personal estate into the common estate, to be treated as a single whole, each was to take an equal share alongside the five Desfontaines children. If they declined to do so, they were to take nothing from the present estate.

The executors were to take an inventory of the real and personal estate and have it appraised, either by themselves or by appraisers of their choosing, after his death.

He named Matthew Bazett and James Draper, both of the island, as his executors. He empowered them to appoint replacements in the event of either's death. He revoked all earlier wills, whether written or spoken.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of George Hoskison, William Coales and Simon Whaley, who signed by mark.

Samuel Desfontaines.

Interpretations

The extension of the buy-out option to each child in turn, with a right of first refusal exercisable on coming of age, completes the structural design begun earlier in the will. The land was to be offered first to the eldest son Samuel; if he declined, to the next sibling; and so on through the five children. Only after all five had refused could the executors sell to an outside buyer. The arrangement gave each child a chance to take over the family land at a valuation, while preserving the executors' ultimate authority to convert the holding into cash if no child wished to inherit it. The cascade of refusals through the sibling order shows how Desfontaines balanced equal division of value against the practical need to keep the land in single working hands.

The witnesses include George Hoskison, who had served as the first witness to the Leonard Coulson will of March 1707 and who is identified in the handover as executor with Henry Francis senior of the Anne Edmunds will of February 1703. His repeated appearance as witness across the 1707 wills confirms his standing as an active member of the planter administrative circle. William Coales is presumably a member of the Coales household already previously documented: Henry Coales tailor served as overseer in the Charlesworth widow's will of April 1697 and as father-in-law in the John Smith will of November 1692, and Mary Coales appeared as a neighbouring landholder in the Paul Charles will of August 1706. Simon Whaley, who signed by mark, was the same Simon Whaley who had served as the third witness, also by mark, to the Paul Charles will of August 1706.

Speculations

The substitution of James Draper for Desfontaines as Bazett's working partner in the executorship of the Desfontaines estate points to a deliberate succession plan within the administrative network. With Desfontaines himself the testator, the standard Bazett-Desfontaines pairing could not be used. Draper, already a witness to the Paul Charles will of August 1706 and connected to the Charlesworth network through marriage, was the obvious choice for a partner with the experience and standing to handle the complex multi-property estate, the buy-out cascade and the stepdaughter pooling option. The selection suggests that Desfontaines was thinking not only about his own family's affairs but about who would inherit his role as Bazett's working partner in the administrative business of the island.

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97

Ifland St Helena

In the Name of God Amen, I Will[i]am Hague of Said Ifland Sould[i]er, b[e]ing Sick and weak in body but of a Sound and perfect Memory all praise be given to God for the Same And [k]nowing that nothing is more Sure then Death and nothing So uncertain as the time when do here make my last Will and Testament in Manner and forme following.

First and Especially I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God who gave it hoping that for the Mer[i]ts of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that after this Life Ended I Shall Enjoy Eternall blifs and happinefs in his Holy and Heavenly Kingdom and as for my Body I Desire to be buried in a Decent Manner as my Executors hereafter Na med shall think meet, and as for my Worldly goods what God of his Mercy hath lent me in this World I give and bequeath in Manner and forme following.

Item I give unto my well beloved Wife Elizabeth Hague Living Near New[m]illerdam in the Parifh of Sandel in Yorkshire all my house hold goods be they in what k[i]nd Soever that I left ther when I came for London but upon the Death of my beloved Wife I give and bequeath the Said goods to my Brother in Law Thomas Hoult in Harbury Near Wea[k]field and my Dear Mother Sus[a]nna Hague to be Equally divided between them.

Item I desire that what Goods I have upon the Said Ifland after my Death be Sold at a Publick out Cry but that I leave to the Difer[e]fion of my Executors.

Item after all the goods are Sold and my Debts paid what Remains in Mony or Credett Over I give to my Beloved Wife Elizabeth Hague or upon her death to my Dear Mother Sus[a]nna Hague and if Ihe be Dead to my Brother in Law Thomas Hoult to be Equally Divided be =tweext my Sister Grace, Sister Anne and Sister Eli[s]abeth and if my Bro= =ther John be Loving to gi[v]e him what they think fitt.

I do make my well beloved Friends Will[i]am Mar[s]den and Morris Griffen both of Said Ifland Executor of this my Last Will and Testament Revoaking and Disannull[i]ng all former Wills by me made, In Wittnefs hereof I have Sett my hand and Seal this fi[r]st Day of March One thousand Seven Hundred Seven Eight. Sealed Signed & deli[vere]d in p[re]sence of his Rep[o]rt Well[s] Thomas Deuth[?] Will[i]am W H Hague Samuell A[l]gate marke

In the name of God, Amen.

On 1 March 1708, William Hague of St Helena, a soldier, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that nothing was more certain than death and nothing more uncertain than its hour.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of eternal happiness in heaven through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently as his executors thought fit.

To his wife Elizabeth Hague, living near Newmillerdam in the parish of Sandal in Yorkshire, he left all the household goods he had left behind when he came to London. On her death, those goods were to pass equally to his brother-in-law Thomas Hoult of Harbury near Wakefield and to his mother Susanna Hague.

His goods on the island were to be sold by public auction after his death, although the manner of sale was left to the discretion of the executors. After the auction and the payment of his debts, any remaining money or credit was to go to Elizabeth. On her death, the residue was to pass to his mother Susanna; if Susanna was also dead, to his brother-in-law Thomas Hoult, who was to divide it equally between William's sisters Grace, Anne and Elizabeth. If William's brother John behaved kindly to them, they were to give him whatever they thought fit.

He named William Marsden and Morris Griffen, both of the island, as his executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Report Wells, Thomas Deuth and Samuel Algate.

William Hague, by mark.

Interpretations

The will places William Hague in a distinct social category from the planter testators of the preceding sessions. He is identified as a soldier rather than as a free planter, and his estate consists of moveable goods and ready money rather than land, houses or leases. The handover records earlier soldier wills with comparable structures: Samuel Holland in July 1682, Hugh Syms in May 1684, Peter Williams in May 1700, Samuel Maxwell in May 1703 and others. Hague's will fits the established soldier pattern of an estate to be liquidated by public auction with the proceeds remitted to family in England, rather than the planter pattern of a working household to be preserved for the next generation.

The executors William Marsden and Morris Griffen are identified only as men of the island. Neither name appears in the handover under the spellings given here, although Morris Griffen may be related to the Daniel Griffith named as co-executor of William Dufton senior in April 1707, or to the Richard Griffen whose former lands passed under the Paul Charles will of August 1706. The Griffin or Griffen surname appears repeatedly in the planter records of 1706 and 1707, suggesting a family with continuing presence in island affairs. William Marsden is a new name in the registers covered by the handover and the present session.

Speculations

The decision to specify the precise English location of the wife and the brother-in-law, rather than relying on general reference to family in Yorkshire, suggests that William Hague was preparing his executors to deal with relatives they did not know. The executors William Marsden and Morris Griffen were men of the island, with no obvious connection to the Wakefield district. The will had to function as a set of instructions for distant strangers, identifying each relative by name, by relationship and by precise place of residence so that the executors could locate them through correspondents in England. The level of geographical detail reads as a practical aid to administration rather than as ordinary testamentary specificity.

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Ifland St Helena March the 3. 170 7/8

In the Name of God Amen.

I Thomas Sanderson of the Ifland St Helena Ensigne being very Sick and Weak of body but of Sound Mind and perfect Memory blefed be God for it do make this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following.

First I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God from whom I Receiv[e]d it tre[s]ting through the Merits of my Blefsed Saviour Jesus Christ that I shall enjoy it again in glory in the Kingdom of Heaven.

As to my body, I committ to the Earth from whence it came to be decently buried according to the d[i]scret[i]on of my Executor hereafter Named.

As to my Worldly goods I leave in Manner and forme following.

Impromis I give and bequeath to my well beloved Sifter Sarah Worrall One Red Cow in Cal[f]e.

Impromis I give and bequeath to my well beloved brothers John Worrall and William Worrall, all my Wearing Apparrell Lin[n]en and all things belonging to them, to be Equally d[i]vided between them.

Impromis I give and bequeath to my Well beloved Wife Elizabeth Sanderson whom I make whole and Sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament, Sixty Pounds that Will[i]am Mar[s]h is in[d]ebted to me for a house I Sold him in Chappell Valley.

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved Wife Elizabeth Sanderson all goods and Chattels as well ready Moneys debts and all things that are properly belonging unto me. Acknowledgeing this to be my last Will and Testament Revoaking all former Wills, or Will by me heretofore made, In Wittnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this 3. day of March 170 7/8.

Wittnefs George Hoskison Thomas Sanderson Thomas Cason

In the name of God, Amen.

On 3 March 1708, Thomas Sanderson of St Helena, an ensign, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of resurrection through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently as his executor thought fit.

To his sister Sarah Worrall, he left one red cow in calf.

To his brothers John Worrall and William Worrall, he left all his wearing apparel, linen and everything belonging to them, in equal shares.

To his wife Elizabeth Sanderson, whom he made sole executrix, he left sixty pounds owed to him by William Marsh for a house in Chapel Valley that Sanderson had sold him.

To Elizabeth he also left all his other goods and chattels, ready money, debts and anything else that belonged to him.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, witnessed by George Hoskison and Thomas Cason.

Thomas Sanderson.

Interpretations

The will places Thomas Sanderson as an officer in the garrison rather than as a free planter. The handover records earlier officer testators including Hugh Syms, soldier, and Ralph Syms, serjeant, both in 1684, and Samuel Maxwell, serjeant, in May 1703. The rank of ensign in the present will is the lowest commissioned rank in the garrison, above serjeant but below lieutenant. Sanderson's estate consists mainly of moveable goods, ready money and a single substantial debt, with no land directly held at the time of his death.

The naming of the siblings as Worrall, with the testator himself as Sanderson, indicates that Sarah, John and William Worrall are Sanderson's half-siblings on his mother's side, or his step-siblings through a parental remarriage. The shared sibling relationship without a shared surname identifies a blended household at one remove from the testator. The handover records similar half-sibling and step-sibling relationships in earlier wills, including the William Bishop will of June 1687, where the stepchildren John and Mary Hemons retained their natural father's surname while inheriting from their stepfather.

Speculations

The decision to name Elizabeth as sole executrix, with no overseer, security clause or contingent guardian, points to a household where the testator's death would close his account on the island rather than open a new chapter for his widow. With no children to provide for and the principal asset already an enforceable debt, Elizabeth's role would be to collect the sixty pounds from Marsh, remit the household effects to her own use and distribute the named bequests to the Worrall siblings. The structure read as a clean and self-executing settlement rather than as the opening of an extended trusteeship, which explains the absence of the protective machinery elaborated in the contemporary planter wills.

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Ifland St Helena.

In the Name of God Amen.

The 26th Day of Aprill 1706. I James Easthope of the Said Ifland Free Planter being Sick and weak in body but of Sound Minde and perfect Me mory; Thanks be to Almighty God; Calling to mind the Mortality of the body And that it is Appointed for All Men Once to dee. Do Make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament; that is to Say; First and principally I Give and Commit my Soul into the hands of Allmighty God. Hoping through the Merits Death and Pafsion of our Saviour Jesus Christ, To have a free full and perfect pardon and forgivenefs of all my Sins; And to Inherit Everlasting Life. And my body to the Earth to be buried in a Christian-like, and Decent Manner; At the Diferet[i]on of my Executrix hereafter Named; And as touching my Temporall Estate, wherewith it hath pleased God to Blefs me I give and Dispose thereof as followeth.

That is to Say. I Give Devise and Bequeath unto my Dearly Beloved Wife Mary Easthope All my Temporall Estate both Reall and personall Cons[i]sting in Lands, Houses, Plantations, Leases, Goods Ready Money, Hou[s]ehold Stuff Sum or Sums of Money Due or Owing unto me, All Cattle and Chattels whatsoever Which Does of Right Appertain or belong unto me, To have hold, and Enjoy All the Said premises in as full and Ample Mannrer as I myselfe do hold and Enjoy the Same; And further my Will and Pleasure is that my beloved Wife Shall Dispose of the Same and of Every part thereof as She Shall think fitt. The Same being Left wholy to her Own Will and pleasure to doe and therein to Act as She pleafes. Hoping and having great Confidence that She will be a good and Tender Mother to all my Deser[v]ing Children, as they behave themselves in being Du tifull And Obedient unto her. And Lastly, to her by Cu[n]stitute ordain and appoint the Said Mary Easthope my Well beloved Wife full and Sole Execcutrix of this my Last Will and Testament; And do Revoake Difan[n]ull and make Void all other former Will or Wills heretofore by me made. Ratifying and Confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament. In Wittnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the Day and Year above Written Signed Sealed Declared Publifhed & Delivered (as his Last Will and Te[s]tam[ent]) in the pre[s]ence of us X Joseph Trapp Thomas Stamper Daniell Griffeth

In the name of God, Amen.

On 26 April 1706, James Easthope of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and everlasting life through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian manner as his executrix thought fit.

To his wife Mary Easthope, he left his whole estate, real and personal. This included land, houses, plantations, leases, goods, ready money, household stuff, all debts owed to him, cattle and chattels. She was to hold and enjoy the estate in the same full manner as he himself had done.

He gave her complete freedom to dispose of the estate as she thought fit. The decision was left wholly to her own will and pleasure. He expressed confidence that she would be a good and tender mother to his children, provided they behaved dutifully and obediently towards her.

He named Mary Easthope sole executrix. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Joseph Trapp, Thomas Stamper and Daniel Griffeth.

James Easthope, by mark.

Interpretations

The will places James Easthope within the pattern of compact planter wills that vested the entire estate in the widow as sole executrix without conditions on remarriage or formal trusteeship for the children. The handover records several earlier examples of this approach, including John Stevens surgeon in March 1695, Thomas Fensdale free planter in March 1699, Thomas Burnham planter in January 1702, Thomas Ashby in July 1703 and the Sanderson will of March 1708 already processed . The pattern indicates that the elaborate dual-executor and remarriage-security model used by Paul Charles, Richard Harding, Stephen Poirier and Samuel Desfontaines was a deliberate choice for complex estates, not the universal standard.

The date of the will, 26 April 1706, places it within the wave of planter mortality documented across 1706 and 1707. The handover records the Erasmus Purling will of 6 May 1706 and the Edward Heath will of 7 June 1706 within weeks of the present document, and the Edward Bagley will of 25 April 1706 the previous day. Whether James Easthope died soon after drawing his will is not recorded in the materials available, but the proximity in date to other planter wills of the period reinforces the suggestion of a sustained period of illness affecting the planter class in the first half of 1706.

Speculations

The decision to give Mary Easthope absolute discretion over the children's inheritance, rather than to fix their portions in the will itself, points to a testator who placed unconditional trust in his wife's judgement. The absence of any security clause on remarriage, of any trusteeship for the minor children, or of any reversionary protection of their shares, contrasts sharply with the elaborate protective machinery used by the senior planter wills of the same period. Easthope was either confident that Mary would never remarry, or confident that her future conduct would not require external policing. The will reads as a testament of marital confidence in a form rarely seen among the contemporary planter wills.

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In the Name of God Amen. The Twenty fourth. day of May in the Year of our Lord God 1708

I John Mudge of the Ifland St Helena Free planter being very Sick and weak in body but of perfect Mind and Memory thanks be given unto God therefore Calling to Minde the Mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die, do make and ordaine In this my Last Will and Testament, that is to Say, principall and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God, that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like and Decent Manner at the discret[i]on of my Executor nothing doubt[i]ng but at the Generall Resurrection I shall Receive the Same again by the Mighty Power of God, and as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to blefs me, in this Life, I give and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner and form

Imprimus I give and bequeath to Jane my dearly beloved Wife whom I Likewise Constitute make and Ordain my only and Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament, all and S[i]ngular my Houses and all appurtenances thereunto belonging, Likewise my Lands with all that thereunto belongs, with my Blacks, Cattle, and all Moveables whatsoever, to be possefsed by my Wife, and freely, in[j]oyed, leaving of all my Children, and Grand Children with Twelfve pence a piece, and I do hereby Utterly disallow Revoake and D[i]san[n]ull all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequest, and Executors by me in any ways before this Time Named Willed and bequeathed, Rectifying and Co[n]forming this and No other to be my Last Will and Testament. I Wittnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal, the day and Year above written

John Mudge

Signed Sealed publifhed pronounced and declared by the Said John Mudge as his Last Will and Testament in the prefence of us. Henry Coales Elizabeth Mudge John Welch

In the name of God, Amen.

On 24 May 1708, John Mudge of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for Christian burial as his executor thought fit, in hope of resurrection.

To his wife Jane Mudge, whom he made sole executrix, he left all his houses with their appurtenances, all his lands and everything belonging to them, his slaves, his cattle and all his moveables. Jane was to possess and enjoy the whole estate freely.

To each of his children and grandchildren, he left twelve pence.

He revoked all earlier wills, legacies and executors.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Henry Coales, Elizabeth Mudge and John Welch.

John Mudge.

Interpretations

The will places John Mudge within the pattern of compact planter wills that vested the whole estate in the widow as sole executrix, alongside the Easthope will of April 1706 already processed and the earlier examples recorded in the handover. The Mudge will pushes that pattern further than any of its predecessors by reducing all the children and grandchildren to a token bequest of twelve pence each. The handover records the shilling bequest as a standard legal device used to bar a child from claiming that they had been forgotten or unintentionally omitted, and the same device appears in the Andrew Wilson will of February 1697 with a nominal sum to son James, in the James Rider will of January 1704 with a nominal sum to daughter Sarah Powell, in the William Hayes will of July 1705 with nominal sums to four children, and in the Erasmus Purling will of May 1706 with a conditional payment to stepdaughter Mary Knipe. Mudge applied the same device to every descendant in his family at once.

The handover identifies the witness Henry Coales as the same Henry Coales tailor who served as overseer in the Charlesworth widow's will of April 1697 and as father-in-law and overseer in the John Smith will of November 1692. He had also served as a witness to the Paul Charles will of August 1706, processed . His repeated appearance as witness, overseer and father-in-law across multiple wills confirms his standing as one of the most enduring senior figures in the planter administrative network of the island, with a witnessing record stretching across at least sixteen years.

Speculations

The decision to give Jane Mudge the entire estate outright, while reducing all the children and grandchildren to token bequests, points to a deliberate choice rather than an oversight. The testator clearly knew that he had descendants, naming them collectively in the twelve-pence clause, but chose to disinherit them in substance while preserving the legal form. This records no other will that applies the disinheritance device so comprehensively. Where Andrew Wilson, James Rider, William Hayes and Erasmus Purling each used the device against a single problematic heir, Mudge used it against every descendant at once. The unusual scope suggests either a serious rupture between the testator and all his children and grandchildren, or a positive determination to leave Jane completely unfettered in her own right.

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101

Ifland St[.] Helena.

In the Name of God Amen I James Sich of the Said Ifland Single Man being Very Sick and weak of Body but of perfect and Sound Memory prai[se]d be God for the Same And knowing that there is nothing more Certaine then Death But the Time when Uncertain I make this my Last will and Testament In Manner and Forme as follo[w]eth Vizt I Comme my Soul into the h[a]nd of Almighty God that made it and my body to the Ground from whence it Came in hope of the Blefsed Resurrection and that through the Merritt of my Saviour Jesus Christ I shall Inheritt the Kingdom of heaven And as for the Temporall Estate that it hath pleased God to bestow upon me farr beyond my Deserts I dispose of it as followeth vizt I give and bequeath Unto my God Son and Cousin James Vesey Jun[r] One Black man Called Rice Item I give and bequeath Unto my God son and Cousin Richard Swallow Jun[r] One Black boy Called Sol[ti]an Item I give and bequeath Unto my God Daughter Elizabeth Hurling one Cow Item I give and bequeath Unto my Loving Cousins Eliz[abeth] Frances and Mary [P]ackn[a]ld Two Cows Equally between them three Item I give and bequeath unto my Beloved Nephew Caul [Eaton/Gaton] one Cow Called Tidy and [Pe]r Calfe Item I give and bequeath Unto my Beloved Brothers & Sisterrs viz[t] Richard Swallow and his wife James Vesey and his wife Caul Ginton and his wife Benjamin Sich Francis Wadingham and his wife and Thomas Bagley Each of them Twenty Shillings to buy them [r]ing Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Mother Margarett Sich all my Reale Estate During her Naturall Life and after hee[r] Deceafe I give the Said Reale Estate Unto my Beloved Brother Benjamin Sich for he to do and Dispose of as he Shall think fitt Furthermore my will and pleasure is that the Two Blacks that I have bequeathed as a[f]oresaid Shall be and Remain in the Possesion of my Said Mother Margrett Sich During her Life And the Remainer of my Estate I give Unto my Said Mother, all after my Deceafe; Moreover I Appoint my beloved Mother Margrett Sich and beloved Brother Benjamin Sich To be my Executors of this my Last Will and Testament Revoking and Annulling all other Wills whatsoever heretofore by me made In Wittnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this 9th Day of December 1708.

James Sich

Wittnefs Tho[.] Swallow W[m] Porteous Matt Bazett

In the name of God, Amen.

On 9 December 1708, James Sich of St Helena, a single man, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that death was certain and its hour unknown.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground, in hope of resurrection through Christ.

To his godson and cousin James Vesey junior, he left a slave called Rice.

To his godson and cousin Richard Swallow junior, he left a slave called Soltian.

To his goddaughter Elizabeth Hurling, he left one cow.

To his cousins Elizabeth Packnald, Frances Packnald and Mary Packnald, he left two cows equally between the three of them.

To his nephew Caul Eaton, he left one cow called Tidy and per calf.

He left twenty shillings each, for the purchase of mourning rings, to his brothers and sisters Richard Swallow and his wife, James Vesey and his wife, Caul Ginton and his wife, Benjamin Sich, Francis Wadingham and his wife, and Thomas Bagley.

To his mother Margaret Sich, he left his entire real estate for her lifetime. After her death, the real estate was to pass to his brother Benjamin Sich, who could dispose of it as he thought fit.

The two slaves bequeathed to James Vesey junior and Richard Swallow junior were to remain in Margaret's possession during her lifetime, with the bequests taking effect only after her death.

The residue of his estate went to Margaret after his death.

He named his mother Margaret Sich and his brother Benjamin Sich as joint executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Thomas Swallow, William Porteous and Matthew Bazett.

James Sich.

Interpretations

The will places James Sich within the Sich family already documented in the handover. John Sich, free planter, drew his own will on 25 February 1703, leaving a house in Chapel Valley to his son James, with the property held in his widow Margaret's hands during her life. The handover records two cows passing to the children of stepdaughter Margaret Tacknald, formerly wife of John Cleaverlee. Governor Stephen Poirier appeared as substitute executor of that will. The present testator James Sich is the same son James named in his father's will five years earlier. The widow Margaret Sich of the present will is the same woman who held John Sich's house during her life, now confirmed as the mother of the testator and as joint executrix of her son's estate.

The naming of cousin Richard Swallow junior identifies a connection to the Swallow family documented in the handover. Robert Swallow had drawn his own will on 17 June 1688, with son Thomas Swallow as residuary heir and executor, and grandson Richard Swallow receiving four cows. The present Richard Swallow junior is presumably the same grandson, now grown to adulthood. His earlier appearance as a small child in the 1688 will, taken with his appearance here as godson of James Sich and recipient of a slave, traces him from infancy to young manhood across two decades of the registers. Thomas Swallow, the first witness to the present will, is the same Thomas Swallow who served as residuary heir and executor of the 1688 Robert Swallow will, and who recurred across the records as witness, overseer and neighbouring landholder, including as the leaseholder of part of the thirty-six acres in the Paul Charles will of August 1706.

Speculations

The descent of the real estate from James to his mother for life and then to his brother Benjamin echoes the structure of his father John Sich's will of 1703, which similarly gave the Chapel Valley house to son James through his mother Margaret's lifetime tenure. The present testator therefore replicated for his brother the arrangement that his father had made for him, passing the property down the male line through the mother's life interest. The repetition across the two wills suggests a settled family practice of using the mother's residence right as a hinge between generations of male succession, with the real estate effectively returning to the next male heir on Margaret's death after passing through both her sons.

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Ifland St Helena In the Name of God Amen

I Thomas Goodwin of Said Ifland being Sick and weak in Body but of a Sound and Perfect Memory all Praise be given to God for the Same, And knowing that Nothing is more Sure then death, and Nothing So Uncertain as the time when do hereby make this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and Form following.

First and Especially I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God who gave it, hoping that for the Merritt of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that after this Life ended I Shall Enjoy Eternal Blifs, and happynefs in his Holy and Heavenly Kingdom, and as for my Body I desire to be Buried in a De[c]ent Manner as my Executrix hereafter Named Shall think meet, And as for my Worldlefs goods which God of his Mercy hath Lent me in this World, I give and Bequeath in Manner and form following.

Item I give and bequeath unto my well Beloved Wife Francis Goodwin both Real and Personall Estate after my Debts, and Funerall Charges are defrayed to Sell or dispose of at her discretion and dev[i]ding the Same amongst my Children, as She Shall think fit, or as much power as if I were in being.

Now whereas I am Executor to an Estate of John Goodwin Deceafed, I do hereby Constitute my Said Dearly Beloved Wife Francis Goodwin to be Sole Executrix to that Estate, And I do further Constitute my aforesaid Beloved Wife to be Executrix to Wranghams Orphans Estate.

Item I do hereby Nominate and appoint my Said well beloved Wife to be Sole Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament. Revoaking and Disanulling all former Wills by me made In Witnefs whereof I have here unto Set my hand and Seal this 17. December 1709.

Memorandum the word Tho: Goodwin and Sealed Interlined before the Sealing hereof.

Witnefsed Wm Mar[s]den Joseph Thoml[i]nson Mathew Bazett.

This is a true Coppy of the Originall Will proved before the Governour and Councill the 1[?] day of March 170 9/10[?] Attested p[er] Thomas [...] Cl[er]k Coun[c]

In the name of God, Amen.

On 17 December 1709, Thomas Goodwin of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that death was certain and its hour unknown.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently as his executrix thought fit.

To his wife Frances Goodwin, he left his whole estate, real and personal, after his debts and funeral expenses were paid. She was empowered to sell or dispose of the estate at her own discretion, and to divide it among the children as she thought fit, with the same authority he himself would have had in life.

Goodwin had been acting as executor of the estate of John Goodwin, deceased. He directed that Frances should take his place as sole executrix of that estate. He further directed that she should also act as executrix of the Wrangham orphans' estate.

He named Frances Goodwin sole executrix of his own will. He revoked all earlier wills.

A memorandum noted that the words Thomas Goodwin and Sealed had been interlined before sealing.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of William Marsden, Joseph Tomlinson and Matthew Bazett.

The document was certified as a true copy of the original will, proved before the governor and council on the first day of March 1709/10, attested by Thomas, clerk of the council.

Interpretations

The will draws together two distinct strands of administrative business that the handover documents extensively. Thomas Goodwin, the testator, is the same Thomas Goodwin who recurs across the handover as the executor of the Thomas Phillips will of February 1698, the Richard Potter will of February 1699, the James Rider will of January 1704 and the Samuel Wrangham will of June 1702, and as a witness to the Edward Edmunds will of January 1703. He is also identified there as the brother of John Goodwin, free planter, whose will of December 1703 named him as the contingent executor. The present will closes the longest single executor career documented across the registers, with Goodwin's testamentary work spanning at least eleven years from 1698 to 1709.

The substantive bequest of the Goodwin estate to Frances is unusual in granting her not only full ownership but also the discretionary power to divide the estate among the children at her own judgement. The clause is closer in form to the Easthope will of April 1706 and the Mudge will of May 1708, both processed , than to the categorical division mechanisms used by Paul Charles, Richard Harding or Samuel Desfontaines. Goodwin trusted Frances to exercise paternal discretion in dividing the working estate, rather than fixing each child's share in advance.

Speculations

The decision to transfer three concurrent executorships, his own, his brother John's, and the Wrangham orphans', to his wife Frances rather than to any other planter suggests that Thomas Goodwin saw no acceptable replacement available within the administrative network at the time of his death. The handover documents the long-running pairing of Bazett with Desfontaines as the principal executor combination of the period, but Desfontaines had died in late 1707 and the Bazett-Draper combination established in the Desfontaines will of November 1707 had taken over much of that work. Goodwin's transfer of three estates to his widow rather than to any of the surviving male administrators suggests either that he had particular confidence in Frances or that he doubted the capacity of the available pool to take on so substantial an additional burden. The choice reads as a recognition that the administrative network was thinner in late 1709 than it had been three years earlier, with Desfontaines dead, Poirier dead and several other senior figures gone.

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Ifland St Helena In the Name of God Amen

This twenty Ninth day of Aprill One Thousand Seven hundred and Ten, According to the Comp[u]tation of the Church of England, I Richard Alexander of the Said Ifland Inhabitant being Very Sick and weak in body but of Sound and Perfect mind and Memor[y] all Praise and Glory be given to Almighty God for the Same, And Calling to Remembrance that it is appointed for all Men Once to die but the Place and Time when being Very Uncertain, Do make Ordaine Constitute and appoint this and no Other to be my Last will and Testament In Manner and form following.

Imp[r]: First and principally I recomend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Blefsed Saviour and Redeemer hoping and A[ss]uredly believ[i]ng to Receive free Pardon and forgivenefs for all my Sins, and that I Shall at the Generall Resurrection Rife again to Receive and Enjoy the Kingdom of Heaven, pre pared for all his Chosen and Elect, And as for my Body I committ it to the Earth from whence it Came to be Decently Interred at the Discre[t]on of my Executorr hereafter Named, AND now as touching the Dispo[s]all of my Small Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me farr above my Deserts I give Devise and bequeath as followeth

Item I do ordaine and appoint that my Executors hereafter Named do Immediately after my Deceafe take an Inventory, of all and S[i]ngular my Estate, and to See that all Debts which I do in Cons[c]ience Owe to any Person or Persons be paid in a Convenient time afterwards, and to Adjust all Account[s] whatsoever where there[s] any Depending at any time or times therea[f]ter.

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Marcy Alexander the One third part of my Estate According to the Laws of England, and Constitu tions of this place.

Item I give and bequeath unto my five well beloved Children Vizt Rip[e]n Richard, John, William and Abigaill Alexander, as well the Child that my Said well beloved Wife is Now bigg with, the other two third Parts of my Said Estate, Cons[i]sting in any kind Nature or thing Soever, Excepting my Neat Cattle, which I Ordaine and Appoint to be only Divided between my Said beloved Wife, and before Named four Sons, and the Child Now in my aforesaid Wifes body, for that my beloved Daughter Abigall Alexander hath already four head of Cattle Vizt Two Cows, and two Young Heifer[s], which I desire and do appoint maybe with their Increase Pu[t] into a Seperate and Distinct Stock and Markk, for her only Ufe and Bennefitt, and in case of her Death before She come to full Age or be Married, Then in such case all her Stock of Cattle to be Equally divided amongst those of my Aforesaid beloved Children as Shall Sup[r]vive, and So in case of the Death of any the rest of my Said beloved Children the Survivors to Enjoy the Deceafed part or Dividend, but Neverthelefs my Will and Pleasure is That my well beloved Wife Marcy Alexander

In the name of God, Amen.

On 29 April 1710, according to the computation of the Church of England, Richard Alexander of St Helena, an inhabitant, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die, with neither the place nor the time of death certain.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and resurrection through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently as his executors thought fit.

The executors were to take an inventory of his estate immediately after his death. All debts he conscientiously owed were to be paid within a reasonable time, and all accounts were to be adjusted as they fell due.

To his wife Mercy Alexander, he left one third of his estate, according to the laws of England and the customs of the place.

To his five children, Ripen, Richard, John, William and Abigail Alexander, together with the child his wife was then carrying, he left the remaining two thirds of his estate. This division covered every kind of property except the neat cattle.

The neat cattle were to be divided differently. They were to go to Mercy, the four sons and the unborn child, but not to Abigail. Abigail had already received four head of cattle in her own right: two cows and two young heifers. These four animals, together with any increase, were to be kept under a separate stock and mark for her exclusive use and benefit.

If Abigail died before coming of age or marrying, her separate stock was to be divided equally among her surviving siblings. The same survivor's rule applied to the rest of the children: on the death of any of them before majority or marriage, the survivors were to take the deceased child's share.

Interpretations

The will places Richard Alexander within the long Alexander family record documented in the handover. Richard Alexander the elder had drawn his own will on 24 May 1683, naming sons John Alexander and Richard Alexander (the youngest) as heirs, with each receiving a named slave: Jack to the youngest Richard, Robin to the eldest John. The handover further records that the two orphan sons reappeared nine years later in the Price will of December 1692, each receiving one sow and six wrought silver buttons. The present testator Richard Alexander is the same Richard Alexander the younger of the 1683 will, now grown to adulthood and head of his own household with five children and a sixth on the way. The earlier orphan beneficiary has become, twenty-seven years later, a planter making his own deathbed dispositions.

The handover also documents a third Alexander generation through John Alexander, clerk of the council from about 1699, who was the son-in-law of Margaret Cotgrave. His sons John, Richard and William Alexander were Cotgrave's grandsons and contingent remaindermen of cabbage tree land under her will of August 1706. The present testator may be the same John's brother, and the John, William and Richard among the present testator's own children may extend the established Alexander naming pattern across yet another generation. The handover records Richard Alexander the younger as a witness to the Steward will of 1704 and to the Cotgrave will of 1706, confirming his active presence in island affairs in the years before the present will.

Speculations

The decision to provide for Abigail through a separate cattle stock established during her father's lifetime, rather than through an equivalent cash portion in the will, suggests that the testator preferred to settle his daughter's inheritance in productive assets that would have grown by the time of her marriage. Two cows and two heifers, breeding over the years of her minority, could have produced a substantial herd by the time Abigail was old enough to bring it to a marriage. The arrangement reads as a deliberate alternative to the standard cash-portion structure used for daughters in other planter wills, with the daughter being given a working economic stake rather than a paper claim against the estate.

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Alexander Shall Possefs and Enjoy all my whole Estate Untill my aforesaid beloved Children Shall Each attaine to full age or be Married, and as the[y] [d]o come of full Age or be Married to Receive his, hers, or theer Proper Share and Dividend of my Said Estate, as Shall be Allotted them by my Said Executors hereafter Named.

Item I do further ordaine order and appoint that in Case my well beloved Wife Marcy Alexander Should Marry before my Said beloved Children, or any of them, Should come of Age as aforesaid that then and in Such Case I do hereby give my Said Executorrs full power and Authority to take my Said Childrens Intire Estate into their hands and Pof[s]es[s]ion for the Only Use and Bennefell of my Said Children, Unlefs the Man whom She Shall Marry do give Sufficient Security for their Estate and well Maintain them for the Use of the Same, Further my Will and Pleafure is That in case my Said beloved Wife Marcy Alexander Should Marry a Man that hath (or may have) a Hou[s]e in Fort James Valley that then I ordain and appoint that my House formerly Mr John Le[s]kins be Either Sold, or Let out by the Year or any other way Disposed of for the only good and use of all my aforesaid beloved Children, But in case my Said well beloved Wife dont Marry, as aforesaid Then to have the Use and Bennefitt of my Said house during her Naturall Life

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my Well beloved Brother John Alexander, and my beloved Father in Law Ripin Wells both of the Said Ifland to be whole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament Revoaking and Disanulling all former Will, or Wills, Testament or Testaments, heretofore by me made Aknowledging Declaring and pronouncing this and No other; And I do further Order and appoint that in case of the Death of any One of my aforesaid Executors, that the Survivor with the Consent of my beloved Wife do make Choice of Another to Act in the Deceased Stead, both the Same power as the present Executor hath IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seale the day and Year fer[s]t before Written

Signed Sealed and Richard Alexander Delivered in p[re]sence of John Robinson gilbert Cotgrave

Memorandum. That the words (heretofore by me made) between the fourth and Fifth Line in the Last Article was Interlin[e]d before Signing and Sealing hereof

This is a true Coppy of the Originall Will proved before the Governour and Councill this 15th day of August 1710

Attested p[er] Thomas [...] Cl[er]k Coun[c]

Mercy Alexander was to hold and enjoy the whole estate until each child came of age or married. As each child reached majority or marriage, that child was to receive his, her or their proper share as allotted by the executors.

Richard Alexander set a condition on his widow's remarriage. If Mercy married before all the children had come of age, the executors were empowered to take the whole of the children's estate into their own hands for the children's benefit. The only exception was if her new husband gave sufficient security for the estate and maintained the children properly.

A further clause addressed the case where Mercy married a man who already had, or might acquire, a house in Fort James Valley. In that event, the testator's own house, formerly held by John Leskins, was to be sold, let out by the year or otherwise disposed of for the benefit of the children. If Mercy did not remarry, she was to enjoy the use of the house for her lifetime.

He named his brother John Alexander and his father-in-law Ripin Wells, both of the island, as joint executors. If either died, the survivor was to choose a replacement with Mercy's consent. The replacement was to have the same powers as the original executor. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of John Robinson and Gilbert Cotgrave.

A memorandum noted that the words heretofore by me made had been interlined between the fourth and fifth lines of the last article before signing and sealing.

The document was certified as a true copy of the original will, proved before the governor and council on 15 August 1710, attested by Thomas, clerk of the council.

Interpretations

The remarriage clause closes the protective scheme for the children that was begun in the earlier portion of the will. The handover records the same security mechanism in numerous earlier wills, but the present clause adds a distinctive refinement. Where Paul Charles, Richard Harding and Stephen Poirier applied the security requirement to any future husband regardless of his circumstances, Richard Alexander specified the particular case of a husband already holding a house in Fort James Valley. In that event the testator's own house was to be sold or let, with the proceeds applied to the children rather than to the new household. The provision shows how Alexander anticipated a specific practical scenario, where a new husband bringing his own town house would absorb the Alexander house into a single household, and built in a mechanism to prevent that absorption.

The naming of Ripin Wells as father-in-law identifies the testator's marriage into the Wells family. The handover records Rispin Wills as witness to the Knipe will of June 1695 and to the Phillips will of February 1698, and as father-in-law and co-executor of Onesiphorus Steward in July 1704. The present Ripin Wells is the same man, with the spelling varying between Rispin Wills, Ripin Wells and similar forms across the registers. His daughter Mercy is therefore the testator's wife, and the Wells family connection links the Alexander estate to the Steward estate of 1704 through a shared father-in-law. The arrangement places Richard Alexander, John Alexander, Onesiphorus Steward and the Wells family within a single web of marital and administrative connections.

Speculations

The detailed contingency planning around a possible second husband with his own house in Fort James Valley suggests that Richard Alexander had a specific anticipated marriage in mind. The hypothetical scenario is unusually concrete, naming the location and the type of pre-existing property the new husband might bring. The clause reads as a response to a known prospect rather than as a generic precaution. The handover documents a relatively small group of men holding houses in Fort James Valley, and the testator's specification of that particular geographical possibility suggests he had identified at least one likely candidate for his widow's hand. Whether or not Mercy in fact remarried such a man cannot be determined from the materials available, but the level of specificity in the clause points to an identifiable concern.

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Ifland St Helena In the Name of God Amen

I Isaac Bothway Soldier of Said Ifland being Sick and weak in body but of a Sound and perfect Memory all Praise be given to God for the Same, and knowing that Nothing is more Sure then Death, and Nothing So Uncertain as the time when do hereby make this my last Will and Testament in Manner and form following Vizt.

Imp[r]: First and Especially I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God who gave it, hoping that for the M[e]rritt of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that after this Life Ended I Shall Enjoy Eternall Blifs and happinefs in his Holy and Heavenly Kingdom, and as for my body I desire to be buried in a De[s]cent Manner as my Executor hereafter Named Shall think meet, and as for my Worldly goods which God of his Mercy hath Lent me, in this World I give and bequeath in Manner and form following.

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Friend Samuell A[l]gate Forty Shillings.

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Friend Septha Fowler all my Money due to me in the Hon[oura]ble Companys Stores, and Every thing Else he paying all my Debts and Funerall Charges.

Item I do hereby Nominate and appoint my well beloved Friend Septha Fowler to be my whole and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament Revoaking and Di[s]anulling all former Wills by me heretofore made Either in word or Writing as Witnefs my hand and Seale this 4th day of his June 1710 Isaac D Bothway marke

Sign'd Seal'd & D[elivere]d in the presence of Thomas [...]

Nathaniel Cotton John Samersh[a]ll

This is a true Coppy of the Originall Will proved before the Governour and Councill this 15th day of August 1710

Attested p[er] Thomas [...] Cl[er]k Coun[c]

In the name of God, Amen.

On 4 June 1710, Isaac Bothway, a soldier of St Helena, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that death was certain and its hour unknown.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently as his executor thought fit.

To his friend Samuel Algate, he left forty shillings.

To his friend Septha Fowler, he left all the money due to him in the Company's stores, together with everything else he owned. Fowler was to pay all debts and funeral charges out of the estate.

He named Septha Fowler sole executor. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Thomas, Nathaniel Cotton and John Somershall.

Isaac Bothway, by mark.

The document was certified as a true copy of the original will, proved before the governor and council on 15 August 1710, attested by Thomas, clerk of the council.

Interpretations

The will places Isaac Bothway within the soldier testator pattern documented across the registers. The handover records earlier soldier wills including Samuel Holland in July 1682, Hugh Syms in May 1684, Peter Williams in May 1700 and Samuel Maxwell in May 1703, and the present session has already processed the comparable wills of William Hague in March 1708 and Thomas Sanderson in March 1707/8. Bothway's will fits the established soldier pattern of a small estate held mainly as wages in Company stores, disposed of in cash legacies to friends rather than land or livestock to family.

The principal asset of the estate is the money due to Bothway in the Company's stores. The handover records the same arrangement in the Samuel Holland will of July 1682, where East India Company pay was the principal estate item, and in earlier soldier wills where wages outstanding at the date of death formed the bulk of the estate. The Company maintained running accounts with each soldier in the garrison, debiting purchases from the stores and crediting pay as it accrued. The balance at the time of death was an enforceable claim against the Company, payable to the executor on production of the will.

Speculations

The absence of any family bequests, taken with the choice of two friends as legatees, suggests that Isaac Bothway had no close family on the island and either no surviving family in England or none with whom he maintained contact. The pattern is consistent with a soldier who had served abroad for some years and who had lost or set aside his English connections during his service. The handover documents soldier testators with explicit English family bequests, such as Richard Eddis in 1682 (brother in London, sister in Gloucestershire) and James Pynsent in 1682 (sisters in named English locations). Bothway's will makes no such reference, which suggests that his identity had become bound up with his garrison service rather than with any continuing English household.

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Ifland St Helena In the Name of God Amen. I Henry Coales of the Said Ifland, Being Sick and Very weak of Body, But Thanks be to God, In a Perfect Sense and Memory, and knowing and being Sensible that all Men must Dee, but not being Certain the Time when, I Doe Make this my Last Will and Testament In Manner and form as followeth, Revoking and Annulling all other Will, and Wills, Testament and Testaments, Heretofore by me made Either by word or Wreting, and Acknowledging None but this to be my Last Will and Testament

Imp[r]: First I Bequeath my Soul Into the hand of Allmighty God, who hath Created it, and Committ my Body to the Ground to be Burried in a D[e]sent and Christian Mannerr as my Executors hereafter Mentioned Shall think fitt, In Hopes of the Generall Resurrec tion at the Last day, and of Eternall Life Both of Soul and Body Through the only Merrits and Pafsion of Deer Blefsed Redeemer Jesus Christ, And as for what Temporall Estate God hath been pleased to Bestow upon me farr beyond my Deserts I do Order and dispose of it, In this forme and Mannerr as followeth Vizt First I will that whatsoever I do Owe To any p[e]rson or Persons, whatsoever be paid to them after my Deceafe In a Convenient Time as my Executors shall think fitt out of my Said whole Estate.

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Son Thomas Coales all the Lower Rooms of my House Scitvate at Fort James, with the fore Half Length of the Said Upper House

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Jonathan Mudge the Other half Length of the Upper back part of the Said House, and that the Weather Boards of the Said House, and Petitions of the Said Lower House be taken downe to make up the Entry Petetion, and the Stairs to be common between both, and that a Stone Wall be Built In the Room of the Weather Boards Between both my Said Son Thomas Coales, and my Said Daughter Elizabeth, the Wife of Jonathan Mudge, and that the Charge thereof be proportionally between them, as the part of the One is, to the part of the Other, which is Three parts of the Charge, To be paid by my Said Son Thomas Coales, and the Other One part by my Said Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of the Said Jonathan Mudge

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Daughter Martha Coales my Mefsuage House in the Country Scitvate and Lying In Pleasant Vally, with the Upper Ten Acres of Gum wood, Ground, Whereon the Said Mefsuage House Stands, and alfe I give and Bequeath unto her my Said Daughter Martha Coales, The Lower five acres of Cabbedge tree Ground Lifeing at the Upper End of the Said Pleasant Vally

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Beloved Son Samuell Coales the Lower Ten Acres of Gumwood Ground adjoyneing to the Said Upper Ten Acres of land Whereon the Said Mefsuage House Stands, and alfe the Upper five Acres of my Cabbedge Tree land adjoyning to the Said Lower five Acres of the Said Cabbedge Tree Ground

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my well Beloved Son William Coales the Lower Back and the foor[e] Upper Roo[m]s of my house formerly belonging to Edward Bri[a]n, and I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Daughter Martha Coales, the fore Lower and Upper Back Rooms, of the Said Edward Brians house.

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Daughter Mary the Wife of William Beale One Black Slave Called Manays

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my well Beloved Daughter Bridgett Bazett, the Wife of Mathew Bazett One black Slave Called Toney.

Item

In the name of God, Amen.

Henry Coales of St Helena made his will. He was sick and very weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men must die, but not when.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for decent Christian burial as the executors thought fit, in hope of resurrection and eternal life through Christ.

He directed that his debts be paid out of his estate within a reasonable time after his death, as the executors thought fit.

He revoked all earlier wills, whether written or spoken.

To his son Thomas Coales, he left the lower rooms of his house at Fort James, together with the front half of the upper storey.

To his daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Jonathan Mudge, he left the other half of the upper storey, comprising the rear portion. The weatherboards of the house and the partitions of the lower rooms were to be taken down, in order to open up a common entry passage. The staircase was to be shared between Thomas and Elizabeth. A stone wall was to be built where the weatherboards had stood, dividing the two parts. The cost of the wall was to be borne three-quarters by Thomas and one-quarter by Elizabeth, in proportion to the relative size of their shares.

To his daughter Martha Coales, he left his country dwelling house in Pleasant Valley, together with the upper ten acres of gum wood ground on which the house stood. He also left her the lower five acres of cabbage tree ground at the upper end of Pleasant Valley.

To his son Samuel Coales, he left the lower ten acres of gum wood ground adjoining the upper ten on which Martha's house stood. He also left him the upper five acres of cabbage tree ground adjoining Martha's lower five.

To his son William Coales, he left the lower back rooms and the front upper rooms of his house formerly held by Edward Brian.

To Martha Coales, he also left the front lower rooms and the upper back rooms of the same house.

To his daughter Mary, the wife of William Beale, he left a slave called Manays.

To his daughter Bridget Bazett, the wife of Matthew Bazett, he left a slave called Toney.

Interpretations

The will fixes the family relationships of Henry Coales, one of the most enduring senior figures in the planter administrative network. The handover records him as overseer in the Charlesworth widow's will of April 1697, as father-in-law and overseer in the John Smith will of November 1692, and as a guardian alongside John Mudge and John Barklee of the Orchard children in October 1682. He had appeared as a witness to the Paul Charles will of August 1706 and to the John Mudge will of May 1708 , and his sustained presence in the records traces him from the early planter generation of the 1680s through to the close of the period covered by the registers. The present will identifies his children as Thomas Coales, Elizabeth (wife of Jonathan Mudge), Martha Coales, Samuel Coales, William Coales, Mary (wife of William Beale) and Bridget (wife of Matthew Bazett).

The handover records Pleasant Valley as the location of John Smith's ten acres formerly Isaac Leach's, given to son Giles Smith by the will of November 1692. The Coales family's holding in the same valley places them as neighbours of the Smith family across a generation of land tenure. The handover identifies Henry Coales as Smith's father-in-law in 1692, which now appears as a connection that ran in both directions, with the Coales family established in Pleasant Valley alongside their Smith in-laws.

Speculations

The marriage of Bridget Coales to Matthew Bazett, coming to light only in the present will, casts the entire administrative career of Bazett in a new light. The handover documents Bazett's recurring role as witness, executor and translator across more than a decade of wills, including the bilingual handling of Stephen Poirier's French will of August 1707. The Coales connection, established through marriage to Henry Coales's daughter, gave Bazett a family base within the planter community alongside his professional administrative role. The partnership with Coales across multiple wills reads as a father-in-law and son-in-law working together rather than as two independent administrators happening to share business. The marriage explains the unusual continuity of the Coales-Bazett presence across so many testamentary acts of the period.

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Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Daughter Martha Coales One Black Slave Called Boilo.

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Jona than Mudge One Black Slave Called Tommys

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Daughter Mary the Wife of William Beale, and my Well Beloved Daughter Bridgett the Wife of Mathew Bazett, The Sum of Ten Pounds Each Beeing for both Twenty Pounds to be paid to them Out of my personall Estate

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Son William Coales One Heifer about the Age of Two Years

Item I give and Bequeath to my Well Beloved Grand and God Son Henry the Son of Thomas Coales the Sum of Ten Pounds

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Grand and God Son Henry Bazett, the Son of Mathew Bazett the Sum of Ten Pounds

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Grand Sons Thomas, John, and Benjamin the Sons of Thomas Coales, and my Grand Daughter Martha the Daughter of the Said Thomas Coales the Sum of Twenty Shillings Each

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Grand Son and Grand Daughter, Giles, and Bridgett Smith the Sum of Twenty Shillings Each

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Grand Daughters, Mary, Martha, and Elizabeth Bazett, Daughters of Mathew Bazett Twenty Shillings Each

Item I give and Bequeath Unto my Well Beloved Grand Son Mathew the Son of Jonathan Mudge the Sum of Twenty Shillings

Item I give and Bequeath Unto My Beloved God Son John Colgrave the Sum of Twenty Shillings

Item I give and Bequeath after the Legacys are paid Unto my Well Beloved Son Thomas Coales, my Well Beloved Daughter Mary the Wife of William Beale my Well Beloved Daughter Bridgett the Wife of Mathew Bazett, and to my Well Beloved Son Samuell Coales, all the fruits of my Gum wood, and Cabbedge Tree Land therein Growing all my Cattle, Hoggs, foules, and all Other my househould Moveable goods both of the Country and Fort, Houfes, and all Other Chattlefs what soever, and also One black Wench Named Megg, Out of which Said Cattle, Fruit[s] &c. I will and Bequeath unto my Beloved Daughter Martha Coales, and my beloved Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Jonathan Mudge a fi[f]th part to be Divide[d] between both, and the four fifths part of the Said goods to be Devieded Equally between my Said Son Thomas Coales, my Said Daughter Mary Beale, my Said Daughter Bridgett Bazett, and my Said Son Samuell Coales

Furthermore my Will and Testament is that if in case any of my aforesaid Black Men Slaves Should die before they be delivered Into the hands to whom they are Bequeathed, Shall be made good Unto any of them, Out of my Personall Estate, before any Legacys be paid, at the Rate of Twenty five pounds Each.

Moreover my Will and Testament is that my Aforesaid whole Estate both Reall and Personall be and Remain In the Pofsefsion of my Well Beloved Wife Bridgett Coales, during her Naturall Life. Whom I do appoint and Constitute my Well Beloved Son in Law Mathew Bazett, and my Well Beloved Son

William

To his daughter Martha Coales, he left a slave called Boilo.

To his daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Jonathan Mudge, he left a slave called Tommy.

To his daughters Mary Beale and Bridget Bazett, he left ten pounds each, twenty pounds in all, to be paid out of his personal estate.

To his son William Coales, he left a heifer about two years old.

To his grandson and godson Henry Coales, son of Thomas Coales, he left ten pounds.

To his grandson and godson Henry Bazett, son of Matthew Bazett, he left ten pounds.

To his grandsons Thomas, John and Benjamin Coales, sons of Thomas Coales, and to his granddaughter Martha Coales, daughter of Thomas Coales, he left twenty shillings each.

To his grandson and granddaughter Giles and Bridget Smith, he left twenty shillings each.

To his granddaughters Mary, Martha and Elizabeth Bazett, daughters of Matthew Bazett, he left twenty shillings each.

To his grandson Matthew Mudge, son of Jonathan Mudge, he left twenty shillings.

To his godson John Colgrave, he left twenty shillings.

After the legacies were paid, the residue went to four of his children, Thomas Coales, Mary Beale, Bridget Bazett and Samuel Coales. The residue comprised the fruits growing on his gum wood and cabbage tree land, his cattle, hogs, fowls, all household and moveable goods from both the country house and the Fort James house, all other chattels, and a slave called Megg.

The residue was to be divided in fifths. Martha Coales and Elizabeth Mudge were to share one fifth between them. The remaining four fifths were to be divided equally between Thomas Coales, Mary Beale, Bridget Bazett and Samuel Coales.

If any of the slaves bequeathed individually died before delivery to the legatee, the legatee was to be paid twenty-five pounds out of the personal estate in compensation, before any other legacies were satisfied.

The whole estate, real and personal, was to remain in the possession of his wife Bridget Coales during her lifetime. He named his son-in-law Matthew Bazett and his son William Coales as executors.

Interpretations

The bequest of a heifer about two years old to William Coales, set against the cash legacies, named slaves and divided properties given to his siblings, marks William's share as the smallest of any of the children of the household. This records similar disparities in earlier wills, where one child within a larger sibling group received a notably smaller bequest than the others. The William Hayes will of July 1705 listed four children with nominal one-shilling bequests against seven principal children. The present will gives William a substantive bequest in the heifer and the rooms of the Brian house, but no slave, no cash legacy and no share of the four-fifths residue. The pattern reads as a deliberate intermediate position, neither full inclusion nor token disinheritance.

The mention of Giles and Bridget Smith as grandchildren identifies a further family connection. Giles Smith was named in the handover as son and heir of John Smith of Pleasant Valley, by his will of November 1692, with Henry Coales serving as the executor and overseer of that estate. The present will identifies Giles and Bridget Smith as the testator's own grandchildren, which means John Smith's wife Mary was Henry Coales's daughter, and that the executorship of 1692 was a father-in-law's care for his daughter's family. The Smith connection thus runs back eighteen years to a will already documented in the handover, with the present will closing the circle by acknowledging the surviving Smith grandchildren among the heirs.

Speculations

The reduced residuary share of Martha and Elizabeth, taken alongside the substantial real property bequests they had already received, suggests that the testator was using the will to perform a careful overall equalisation across the six children. This records similar hotchpot calculations in other planter wills, where pre-mortem gifts or specific bequests were balanced against residuary shares to achieve overall equity. Henry Coales took the principle a step further by making the offsets explicit within the will itself, reducing the residuary shares of those who had already received more substantial real property. The clause reads as a deliberate piece of arithmetic, with each child's total entitlement calculated by combining the specific bequests with the residuary share.

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William Coales to be the Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, and hereby I do Revoke and Annull all other Will, or Wills, Testament, or Testaments heretofore by me made Either by word of Mouth or Writing as aforesaid, and Acknowledge None but this to be Mine In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seale this Sixteenth day of August One thousand Seven hundred

Sign'd and Deliver'd Henry Coales In the Pre[se]nce of David Law Witnefs Erasmus Purling.

In the Name of God Amen the 26th day of February One thousand Seven hundred Ten Eleven, I John Boyce of the Ifland S[t] Helena Free [v]olunteer being very Sick and weak of body but of perfect minde and Memory praised be God for the Same, calling unto minde the Mortality of my Body and knowing it is Appointed, for all Men Once to dye do make and Ordaine this my Last Will and Testament that is to Say, p[r]incipally, and first of all I gibe and Recomend my Soule into the hands of God that gave it, and for my body I [c]omend it to the Earth to be buryed in a Christian Like and decent Manner at the discretion of my Executor Nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I Shall Receive the Same by the m[i]ghty Power of God, and as touching Such Wordly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to Blefs me in this Life I give and bequeath Unto my well beloved Freend James Greentree all my Cattle and Other goods I am at this present time pof[s]eft with all Di[s]anullling all former Wills, Testaments, and Legacies by me formerly made

Sign'd Sealed Publifhed John Boyce Pronounced and declared in the Prefence of Us Sub[s]criberr David [H]ine Robert Addis John Orchard

The remainder of Henry Coales's will closes the document with the formal executor clause and the witness attestation. William Coales was named as sole executor alongside Matthew Bazett. Henry Coales revoked all earlier wills, written or spoken. The will was signed and sealed on 16 August 1700.

It was witnessed by David Law and Erasmus Purling.

Henry Coales.

On 26 February 1711, John Boyce of St Helena, a free volunteer, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for Christian burial as his executor thought fit, in hope of resurrection through Christ.

To his friend James Greentree, he left all his cattle and all the goods he possessed at the time.

He revoked all earlier wills, legacies and testaments.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of David Hine, Robert Addis and John Orchard.

John Boyce.

Interpretations

The dating of the Henry Coales will in 1700, rather than within the cluster of late wills processed , places its execution a decade before its probate or before the closure of the testator's affairs by the present register. This has documented Henry Coales's continuing active presence as witness and overseer well beyond 1700, including his appearance as a witness to the Paul Charles will of August 1706 and to the John Mudge will of May 1708. A will signed in August 1700 by a man who continued to act for ten more years suggests either that Coales drew his will during an earlier serious illness from which he recovered, or that the present register has copied an old testamentary document for filing or reference rather than for immediate probate. The pattern is consistent with a testator who survived the immediate crisis that prompted the will and who continued in business for another decade before the will eventually took effect.

The naming of James Greentree as sole beneficiary connects the will to the Greentree family documented in the handover. John Greentree had drawn his own will in April 1683, naming six children including son James Greentree. The handover records James Greentree's later appearances as a witness to the Box will of 1701 and as the previous holder of cabbage tree land sold to Onesiphorus Steward by 1704. He had also served as brother-in-law and co-executor of Richard Harding in July 1706, processed earlier . Boyce's choice of Greentree as sole beneficiary places the two men within a personal relationship that the registers had not previously disclosed.

Speculations

The drafting of the Henry Coales will ten years before its eventual operation, taken with the testator's evident recovery and continued activity through to at least 1710, suggests that the document was kept on file as a standing testamentary disposition rather than being redrafted on each occasion of serious illness. The handover records few comparable cases of wills drawn years before death, with most testators appearing to have drafted their wills in the final weeks or months of life. Coales's longevity after the 1700 drafting may indicate a more deliberate approach to estate planning, with the will prepared in advance and held in reserve against the eventual day of need. Whether the present text was the only will Coales drew or whether it represents a subsequent codification cannot be determined from the materials available.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Thomas Allis of Deep Valley in the Ifland of St Helena Planter being in p[e]rfect minde and Memory Blefsed be God for it, but weak of Body and knowing that it is Appointed for all Men Once to dye have made and Ordained These my Last Will and Testament (That is to Say) having first Recommended my Soul to God who gave it depending on the alone merits of my Blefsed Saviour for pardon of my manifold Sins &c. For what worldly goods it hath pleased almighty God to blefs me with in this present Life I give and bequeath as followeth (viz)

Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Loving Son Thomas Allis all that my House and Lott Land Containing by E[s]ti[m]ation Ten Acres whereon I am Now Settled with the Appertenances thereunto belonging Immediately after mine and my Wives deceafe.

2 Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving Son in Law John Worrall and my Loving Daughter Elinor his Wife all that my Ten Acres of Gumwood ground purchased of the Hon[oura]ble Company by Exchange of John Hemwoods Ten Acres of Land I formerly purchased of the Said Hemwood with the Said House and Appertenances

3 Item I give and bequeath unto my Said Son Thomas Allis and my Said Son in Law John Worrall and Elinor his Wife all that my Ten Acres of Cabbedg[e] Tree ground purchased of Benjamin Miller to be Equally divieded between my Said Two Sons with the appertenances thereunto belong[i]ng, and my Will is that the Said Lands above bequeathed be and I do hereby give and bequeath the Said Lands as Aforesaid to my Sons Thomas Allis and John Worrall and Elenor his Wife and theer Heires for Ever to be enjoyed by them Immediately after my Deceafe, in case the Said John Worrall and his Wife Shall Live Lik[e] Son and Daughter with my Affectionate Wife Elizabeth in my Now dwelling Houfe. That is to Say my Will is that my Son Thomas Allis Continue pofsefs of the House and Land he Now enjoys untell mine and my Wives deceafe and that my Son in Law John Worrall and Elenor his Wife (my daughter) do Immediately After my deceafe Cohabet and dwell in my Now dwelling Houfe with my Said Loving Wife Elizabeth and Manage the blacks and Plantation always allowing my Said Wife the Liberty of raseing and disposing what She [v]aseth about the Houfe and Mistrefs in the Same.

4 Item I give and bequeath unto my Son Thomas Allis my black fellow Lawrence Immediately after mine and my Wives deceafe

5 Item I give my black Wench Megg to my Son in Law John Worrall and Elenor his Wife on Leke manner as Lawrence is bequeathed

6 Item my Will &c. is That my Said Wife and Two Sons be and I do hereby Oblige them to Maintain and bring up my Grand daughter Margaret to the Age of four teen Years allowing her Convenient Meal drink wash[i]ng Lodgeing and Education And alfe at that Age my Black boy Jack I do Lek[e]wife give and bequeath unto my Said Grand daughter to go with her and her Heirs for Ever.

And Lastly I do hereby give and bequeath my House at the Fort with the Appertenan ces thereunto belonging and Lekewife all my househ[o]ld goods Chattles Cow Cattle War[e]ing Apparell &c. after mine and my Wives deceafe unto my Said Son Thomas Allis

In the name of God, Amen.

Thomas Allis of Deep Valley on the island of St Helena, a planter, made his will. He was clear in mind but weak in body. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and salvation through Christ.

To his son Thomas Allis, he left the house and ten-acre lot of land on which he was then settled, with its appurtenances. The bequest was to take effect after the deaths of both Thomas Allis senior and his wife Elizabeth.

To his son-in-law John Worrall and his daughter Eleanor, John's wife, he left the ten acres of gum wood ground that he had acquired from the Company by exchange. The Company had taken back the ten acres he had originally purchased from John Hemwood and had granted him this gum wood parcel instead. The bequest included the house on the parcel and its appurtenances.

To his son Thomas Allis and his son-in-law John Worrall and his daughter Eleanor, jointly, he left the ten acres of cabbage tree ground he had purchased from Benjamin Miller. The cabbage tree ground was to be divided equally between the two sons with their appurtenances.

The lands were to pass to the heirs of Thomas Allis the younger, John Worrall and Eleanor, and their successors, immediately after the testator's death, on condition that John and Eleanor lived in proper familial relation with the testator's wife Elizabeth in his dwelling house. The arrangement required that Thomas Allis the younger continue to hold the house and land he was already occupying until both his parents had died. John Worrall and Eleanor were to move into the testator's house immediately after his death, to live with Elizabeth, and to manage the slaves and the plantation. Elizabeth was to retain the right to raise and dispose of whatever she chose around the house and to remain mistress of the household.

To his son Thomas, he left the slave Lawrence, the bequest to take effect after the deaths of both parents.

To his son-in-law John Worrall and daughter Eleanor, he left the slave Megg on the same terms as the bequest of Lawrence to Thomas.

Thomas Allis senior obliged his wife and his two sons to maintain his granddaughter Margaret until she reached the age of fourteen. She was to be provided with food, drink, washing, lodging and education. On reaching fourteen, she was also to receive the slave Jack, to pass to her and her heirs absolutely.

To his son Thomas Allis, he left his house at Fort James with its appurtenances. He also left him all the household goods, chattels, cattle and wearing apparel, to take effect after the deaths of both Thomas Allis senior and his wife Elizabeth.

Interpretations

The will places Thomas Allis within the early planter generation documented in the handover. He had served as a witness to the William Bishop nuncupative will of June 1687, signing by mark in that capacity. The present will, drawn many years later, shows him as a literate testator with substantial land holdings across Deep Valley, indicating either that the witnessing in 1687 was a younger man who acquired literacy and property over the intervening decades, or that the mark-signing in the earlier will reflects only the standard manner of execution for an informal nuncupative attestation rather than the witness's actual literacy.

The naming of Eleanor as a daughter married to John Worrall connects the will to the Worrall family already documented through the Thomas Sanderson will of March 1707/8. Sanderson had left bequests to his sister Sarah Worrall and to his brothers John and William Worrall. The present will identifies John Worrall as Thomas Allis's son-in-law, which means that the John Worrall of the Sanderson will and the John Worrall of the present will may be the same man, with the Worralls connected to both the Sanderson and the Allis families. The handover does not record an earlier Worrall testator, so the family enters the registers through these consecutive wills.

Speculations

The conditional bequest of the lands to John Worrall and Eleanor, contingent on their living with Elizabeth as son and daughter, points to a specific concern about how the widowed mother would be treated by her married daughter and son-in-law. The testator anticipated that John and Eleanor might wish to take possession of the gum wood and cabbage tree lands and depart, leaving Elizabeth alone in her dwelling house. The conditional clause prevented that outcome by making the inheritance dependent on continuing personal residence with the widow. The clause reads as a response to a known risk within the planter community, where married daughters were sometimes drawn away by their husbands' separate interests after the patriarch's death.

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Allis, and John Worrall and theer Heirs for Ever to be Equally divieded between them, hereby appointe[i]ng my Said Loving Wife and Sons Thomas Allis, and John Worrall to be Executors and Executrix of this my Last Will and Testament To whose discre[t]ion I Leave the Management of my Funerall only des[i]ring a De[s]ent Christian Buriall, and do hereby Renounce all former Will, Testaments or Deeds of gift whatsoever only rati fy[i]ng these present as my Last Will Testament being Now in as p[e]rfect mind and Memory as ever I was In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seale Dated at my Houfe in Deep Valley In St Helena an Ifland belonging to the Hon[oura]ble United East India Company of England this thirteenth day of September Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven and in the Ninth Year of the Reigne of Our Sovereign Lady Ann by the Grace of God Over Great Britani[e] France and Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c: 1711.

Signu[m]

Signed Sealed & Delivered as T his Last Will and Testament, them Tho: Allis being first interlin[e]d between the Eleventh and Twelvth Line on this Side. In presence of Us

Orlando Bagley Isaac Leech Antepas Tovey

In the Name of God Amen I John Luther of St Helena Cooper being weak in body but of P[e]rfect Mind and Memory praised be God do make and Ordaign this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and forme following vizt

First and Principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God hoping thro[ugh] the Merits death and Pafsion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free Pardon and forgivenefs of all my Sins and to have Everlas ting Life and my Body I committ to the Earth to be decently buryed at the discretion of my Executor hereafter Named, and as touching the dispo[s]ition of all Such Temporall Estate as it hath Pleased Almighty God to bestow upon Me I give and dispose thereof as followeth

First I will that my Debts and funerall Charges Shall be paid and discharged. Secondly All the Rest and Residue of my Personall Estate, Goods and Chattells, I give and bequeath unto my Loving Wife Catherine Luther by her to be enjoyed without any Molestation or disturbance whatsoever.

Item I Consti[t]ute appoint and Ordain my Loving Freend Francis Junge of Said Ifland my full and Sole Executor of this my Last Will and Testament by him to be Faithfull and truly p[e]rformed, Revoking and disann[u]lling all former Wills and Testaments by Me heretofore made. In Witnefs whereof I hereunto Sett my hand and Seale at St Helena this Fifteenth day of March In the Year of Our Lord 1712

Signed John Luther Sealed and delevered in the Prefence of his marke Hugh H Cloutman Joseph Thoml[i]nson

The Fort James house, with its appurtenances, and all the household goods, chattels, cattle and wearing apparel, were to pass after the deaths of both Thomas Allis senior and his wife Elizabeth to Thomas Allis the younger and John Worrall, to be divided equally between them. The bequest was to descend to their heirs in perpetuity.

He named his wife Elizabeth and his sons Thomas Allis and John Worrall as joint executors. The management of the funeral was left to their discretion. He desired only a decent Christian burial. He revoked all earlier wills, testaments and deeds of gift.

The will was signed and sealed at his house in Deep Valley on 13 September 1711, in the ninth year of the reign of Queen Anne.

A memorandum recorded that the words Thomas Allis had been interlined between the eleventh and twelfth lines on the relevant side before signing.

The will was witnessed by Orlando Bagley, Isaac Leech and Antepas Tovey.

Thomas Allis, by mark.

On 15 March 1712, John Luther of St Helena, a cooper, made his will. He was weak in body but clear in mind.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon, forgiveness and everlasting life through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently as his executor thought fit.

He directed that his debts and funeral expenses be paid. He left all the residue of his personal estate, goods and chattels to his wife Catherine Luther, to be enjoyed without molestation or disturbance.

He named his friend Francis Junge of the island as sole executor. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on 15 March 1712, in the presence of Hugh Cloutman and Joseph Tomlinson.

John Luther, by mark.

Interpretations

The final disposition of the Allis estate completes the structural plan set out earlier in the will. The Fort James house and the bulk of the moveable goods pass jointly to Thomas Allis the younger and to John Worrall after the deaths of both parents, to be divided equally. The arrangement contrasts with the earlier asymmetric treatment of the lands, where Thomas Allis the younger received the homestead and ten acres outright while John Worrall and Eleanor received only the exchanged gum wood ground and a shared interest in the cabbage tree ground. The equal division of the Fort James house and the household goods between Thomas and John brings the two branches closer together in their eventual inheritance, with the Worrall household sharing equally in the urban property and moveable wealth even though the country lands were apportioned more heavily to the testator's own son.

The signature by mark indicates that Luther was unable to write his own name. The witness Joseph Tomlinson is the same Joseph Tomlinson who served as the second witness to the Thomas Goodwin will of December 1709, processed earlier . His reappearance here, just over two years later, places him within the continuing administrative network as a witness called on for testamentary acts. Hugh Cloutman is a new name in the records.

Speculations

The interlining of the words Thomas Allis between the eleventh and twelfth lines, recorded in the memorandum, addresses a specific drafting correction made before sealing. The substantive bequest of the Fort James house and the moveable goods required identification of the recipient by name. The drafter had evidently omitted the name on the first writing and had inserted it before the final execution. The notation follows the standard testamentary practice of recording any pre-execution amendment to protect the document against later challenge, as observed in the Thomas Goodwin will of December 1709 and the Richard Alexander will of April 1710 processed earlier .

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Ifland St Helena In the Name of God Amen.

The Thirteenth day of October in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven, I Gilbert Colgrave of the Said Ifland Free planter being Very Sick and weak in body, but of Sound and Perfect mend and Memory all p[r]aise and Thanks be given to Almighty God for the Same, and Calling Unto mend the Mortality of my body, and knowing that it is Appointed for all Men Once to dee but the time when very Certaine Do make Ordaine Constitute and Appoint this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and forme following.

Imp[r]: That is to Say First and Principally I Recomend my Soul Into the hands of Almighty God that gave it hopeing and A[ss]uredly believ[i]ng to Receive free pardon and forgivenefs of all my Sins through the Merritorious Death and Pafsion of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and that at the Generall Resurrec tion I Shall Enjoy the Kingdome of Heaven prepared for all his Chosen and Elect: and as Touching the Dispo[s]all of my Estate, wherewith it hath p[l]eased God to Blefs Me in this Life; I give Devise and bequeath as in the following Manner and forme.

Item I give and bequeath (after all my Debts are paid and Funerall Charges Defrayed) Unto my Well beloved Sons John Colgrave, Thomas Colgrave, and the Child my Well beloved Wife Elinor Colgrave is Now bigg with, Three Cows, Named viz[t] Browney, Merrygold, and White Apron, with Each their Calves Now at Stake, to Run in Common Amongst them, and to be put into a Distinct Stock and Marke from the rest of my Cattle for their only use and Bennefitt, and No other whatsoever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid well beloved Wife Elinor Colgr[a]ve all the Rest of my Estate both Reall and personall, Notwithstanding any Lawor Custome to the Contrary, Except all my Stock of Hoggs, which I ordaine and Desire may be Sold, and the [J]udgment Ariseing to be for the Use and good of my aforesaid beloved Wife and Children already Mentioned. But Neverthelefs my Will and Pleafure is, that notwithstand[i]ng of my Giveing and bequeathing my Said Estate No other way Disposed of, then to my Said beloved Wife my Executors with her Consent Shall, and do hereby give them full Power to Sell and Alienate the Same at their discretion for the good of both my Said beloved Wife and Children towards their Main[ten]ance, and her Proffell, yet it is to be understood Accordi[n]g to the true Meaneing and Intent of this my Last Will and Testament, and it is my A[b]solute desire and Appointment that my aforesaid beloved Wife Elinor Colgrave in Consideration of what is hereby Given and bequeathed her, do and Shall bring up Mai[n]tain and Educate with Learning and what Else is Necefsary all my aforesaid Children (for the Use of my Said Estate) till they all attaine to full Age, or be Marrie[d] And that in case of the Marriage of my Said beloved Wife to a Man that may happen and prove unkinde to my Said beloved Children, in being Severe beyond Measure; and not becoming a Father in Law, That then and in such case I do hereby Give my Executors hereafter Named full Power and Authorety to take them Out of the hands and Pofsefsion of their Father in Law, and what belongs to them, and that the Estate hereby Given and bequeathed unto my Aforesaid beloved Wife Shall Maintaine them and Each of them with C[l]oathing and all Other Necefsary whatfo[e] ver till they Arrive to full Age or be Married as Aforesaid.

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Brother Joseph Colgrave One Gold Ring. Further

In the name of God, Amen.

On 13 October 1711, Gilbert Colgrave of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die, with the time of death certain to come.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and resurrection through Christ.

After his debts and funeral expenses were paid, he left three cows, named Browney, Merrygold and White Apron, with their calves then at stake, to his sons John Colgrave and Thomas Colgrave, together with the child his wife Eleanor was then carrying. The three cows and their calves were to run in common among the three children, and were to be marked as a separate stock from the rest of his cattle, for their exclusive use.

To his wife Eleanor Colgrave, he left the residue of his estate, both real and personal, notwithstanding any law or custom to the contrary. His stock of hogs was excepted: the hogs were to be sold, with the proceeds applied to the use and benefit of his wife and the named children.

The executors, with Eleanor's consent, were empowered to sell or alienate any part of the estate at their discretion, for the benefit of the wife and the children.

Eleanor was required, in consideration of the bequest to her, to bring up, maintain and educate all the children at her own charge out of the estate until each child came of age or married.

If Eleanor remarried, and her new husband proved unkind to the children, being severe beyond measure and not becoming a father-in-law to them, the executors were empowered to remove the children from his hands, together with the property belonging to them. The estate was then to maintain the children with clothing and all other necessaries until each came of age or married.

To his brother Joseph Colgrave, he left a gold ring.

Interpretations

The will places Gilbert Colgrave within the Cotgrave family previously documented, with the surname rendered variously as Cotgrave, Colgrave and Cotgreave across the registers. Margaret Cotgrave, widow of John Cotgrave, had drawn her will on 7 August 1706, leaving nominal one-shilling bequests to her sons Gilbert, Thomas and John, with the latter to be apprenticed. She had left larger sums to son Joseph (one hundred pounds) and daughters Anne and Mary (one hundred and one hundred and twenty pounds respectively). Governor Stephen Poirier and son-in-law John Alexander had been appointed executors. The present Gilbert Colgrave is the same Gilbert who had received the nominal one-shilling bequest from his mother, now five years on and a free planter with his own family, drawing his own will.

The handover further records Gilbert Cotgrave as a witness to the Richard Alexander will of April 1710, processed earlier . The witnessing role brings him into close connection with his brother-in-law John Alexander, husband of his sister and the man who, with Stephen Poirier, had been executor of his mother's will in 1706. The present testator's appearance in the registers as planter and testator confirms that he had established himself on the island in his own right between his mother's will of 1706 and his own will of 1711.

Speculations

The arrangement under which Eleanor receives the residue of the estate but is required to bring up, maintain and educate the children at her own charge, drawing on that estate, points to a particular conception of the widow's role as a working trustee rather than a passive beneficiary. The handover records similar arrangements in other planter wills, but Gilbert's structure is unusually explicit about the consideration: the estate is given to Eleanor in exchange for her undertaking to maintain and educate the children. The clause converts the bequest into a contractual arrangement where the widow's enjoyment of the property is conditional on her discharging the parental duties of upbringing and education. The reading frames the will less as a gift to Eleanor than as a structured trust with her as both trustee and life beneficiary.

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Further my Will and Pleafure is that the Cattle Vizt Three Cows, and Three Calves already Bequeathd to my beloved Children During the time they Live and Dwell with my Said Beloved Wife, Shall Remain in her Pofsefsion in hopes She will take good Care of them and their Increafe.

Lastly, I do hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my Trusty and beloved Brothers in Law John Coles, and John Alexander both of the Said Ifland to be Joynt and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby Revoking and making Null and void all former Will or Wills, Testament or Testaments heretofore by Me made Either in word or wreting Acknowledg[i]ng this and No Other. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and Year before Written.

Sign'd Sealed and Gilbert Colgrave Delivered in the Prefence of Us Mem[ora]nd[u]m: That the words all my Aforesaid Children between the 12th & 8th Line on y[e] 2 Side was Interlined before Signing and Sealing hereof.

William Coales James Draper Giles Hayes

In the Name of God Amen I George Norther[n] being Sick and weak in body but of Sound and Perfect mind, and Memory All Praise and Glory be Given to Almighty God for the Same, and knowing That nothing is more Certain then Death yet nothing more Uncertain then the Time when, Do make Conftitute and ordaine this my Last Will and Testament in Manner & forme following, That is to Say first and principally I bequeath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping and a[ss]uredly believ[i]ng the alone Merrits of my Bl[es]sed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ after this Life Ended to Enjoy Everlasting blefs. My body I Commit to the Earth from whence it Came

And Desire my Body Should be buried in Decent and Christian Like Manner According as my Executors Richard Gurling and Nicholas Sk[reeve] Shall think fitt. And after my Debts and funerall Charges are fully Sati[s]fy[e]d I bequeath to that I have to my well beloved wife Eliz[a]beth Northen In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this Two and Twentieth Day of May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twelve

Signed Sealed in George Northen [the] presents of Thomas South[a]n James W[i]llson

The three cows and three calves bequeathed to the children were to remain in Eleanor's possession during the time they lived and dwelt with her. Gilbert expressed his hope that she would take good care of them and their increase.

He named his brothers-in-law John Coles and John Alexander, both of the island, as joint executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

A memorandum recorded that the words all my aforesaid children, between two lines on the second side, had been interlined before signing.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of William Coales, James Draper and Giles Hayes.

Gilbert Colgrave.

On 22 May 1712, George Northern made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that death was certain and its hour unknown.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently in Christian manner as his executors Richard Gurling and Nicholas Skreeve thought fit.

After his debts and funeral expenses were paid, he left the remainder of his estate to his wife Elizabeth Northern.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Southan and James Wilson.

George Northern.

Interpretations

The naming of John Coles and John Alexander as brothers-in-law of Gilbert Colgrave establishes two further family connections. John Alexander is the same John Alexander identified in the handover as clerk of the council from about 1699 and as son-in-law of Margaret Cotgrave. His marriage to one of Margaret's daughters made him brother-in-law to Gilbert. He was named as executor of his mother-in-law Margaret's will in August 1706 alongside Stephen Poirier, and he had been confirmed as brother of Richard Alexander the testator of April 1710 through the present session's processing of that will. He now appears as joint executor of his brother-in-law Gilbert's estate.

The interlining memorandum follows the established practice of recording all pre-execution amendments to the will to protect its integrity against later challenge. The notation matches similar memoranda in the Thomas Goodwin will of December 1709, the Richard Alexander will of April 1710 and the Thomas Allis will of September 1711, all processed earlier . The procedure had become standard testamentary practice on the island by this date.

Speculations

The two consecutive marriages of Cotgrave daughters to John Alexander and to a man named John Coles, taken with the marriage of Margaret Cotgrave's other daughter to Mary Coles or to other surnames not identified in the present materials, suggest that the Cotgrave daughters had married into an interconnected network of established planter families. The handover records that Margaret Cotgrave's daughters Anne and Mary received cash bequests of one hundred and one hundred and twenty pounds respectively in 1706. The marriages of these daughters into the Alexander and Coles families would have brought their cash portions into those households as marriage portions, strengthening the economic connections between the families. Gilbert Colgrave's choice of his two brothers-in-law as joint executors reflects the consolidation of his sisters' marriages into the broader administrative network of the island.

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Island St Helena.

In the Name of God Amen The fourth Day of May. One Thousand Seven Hundred and twelve. I Robert Leech of the Said Ifland free planter being Very Sick and weak of Body but of Perfect mind and Memory praised be be God

vizt Do make this my Last Will and Testament in Manner and forme as followeth

First I bequeath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I committ to the Ground to be buried in a Christian Manner In hopes that at the Day of the Generall Resurrection it Shall rife againe and through the Merrits of my Saviour Jesus Christ, I Shall inherit the Kingdom of Heaven

And as for my Temporall Estate that it hath Pleased God to bestow upon me, I Dispose of in Manner and forme as followeth, vizt

First I will that what I owe to any Person, whatsoever be paid and Sattisfied in a fitt and Convenient Time after my Deceafe out of my Estate

Item I give as a Legacy to my Son Richard Leech Two Cows to be Delivered at my decea[s]e to my Executors hereafter Mentioned for the Bennefitt of my Said Son

Item I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Richard Leech my Ten Acres of Land with Dwelling House After the Deceafe of my widdow

Item I give unto my Son Robert Leech My Daughter Mary Leech, and the Child my wife is gr[e]at with, all my two Thirds of my Personall Estate, Fourteen Acres of Land at the High Peak in[c]luded to be Equally Divieded amongst them as they come of Age

Item I give unto my well beloved wife Ten Acres of Land and Dwelling House in Tornstone Moor During Life as also one Third of my Personall Estate

Item My Will is that all my Estate Shall remaine [j]ointly together in the Pofsefsion of my Wife till She is otherwise Disposed of by Death or Marriage As also the Charge of my Children Provided She doth well behave, and Taking the Advice of my Executors hereafter Mentio[n] [e]d in Cafe She Dispofes of her Self by Marreage My Will is that the Said Estate be Appraised by my Executors, or Under order And in Cafe my Widdow or her Husband Doth not Do well by my aforesaid Children And Refufeth to give Securety for their parts That when my Said Children and Estate Shall be at the Discre[t]ion of my Executors.

Lastly I Nominate my Well beloved Friends Richard Gurling James Greent[r]ee Thomas P[a]rkins Jonathan Doveton to bee Sole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will & Testament Revoking Annuling and Making void all other Wills & Testaments heretofore by me made Either of word of Mouth or W[r]eting acknowledgi[ng] None other but this to be my Last Will and Testam[ent] In wittnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seale the Day & year above Written

Signed Sealed and Robert Leech Delivered in p[re]sents of Robert Gurling Jn[o] Marsh

In the name of God, Amen.

On 4 May 1712, Robert Leech of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for Christian burial, in hope of resurrection through Christ.

He directed that his debts be paid out of his estate within a reasonable time after his death.

To his son Richard Leech, as a legacy, he left two cows. The cows were to be delivered at his death to the executors for Richard's benefit.

To Richard, he also left his ten acres of land with the dwelling house, the bequest to take effect after his widow's death.

To his son Robert Leech, his daughter Mary Leech, and the child his wife was then carrying, he left two thirds of his personal estate, with the fourteen acres of land at High Peak included. The combined property was to be divided equally between the three children as they came of age.

To his wife, he left ten acres of land and the dwelling house at Tornstone Moor for her lifetime. He also left her one third of his personal estate.

The whole estate was to remain in the wife's possession until her death or remarriage. She was to bear the charge of bringing up the children, provided she behaved well. If she remarried, she was to take the advice of the executors before doing so.

The executors were to appraise the estate, or to direct its appraisal.

If the widow or her future husband did not treat the children well, or refused to give security for the children's portions, the executors were empowered to take control of the children and the estate at their own discretion.

He named Richard Gurling, James Greentree, Thomas Parkins and Jonathan Doveton as executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Robert Gurling and John Marsh.

Robert Leech.

Interpretations

The will places Robert Leech within the Leach or Leech. The Knipe will of June 1695 had named Richard Leach as co-executor. The Leonard Coulson will of March 1707, processed earlier , had named Robert Leech as co-executor and brother-in-law of the testator. The present Robert Leech, drawing his own deathbed will five years later, is the same man who had served as Coulson's executor. His own death follows the pattern of administrative continuity within the family, with the executor of one will becoming the testator of another a few years on.

The naming of Richard Gurling as a fourth executor connects the will to the Gurling family documented in the handover and in the George Northern will of May 1712 processed earlier . Richard Gurling had served as joint executor of the Edward Bagley will of April 1706 and as one of the two executors of the George Northern will of less than three weeks earlier. The present appointment continues his administrative role.

Speculations

The selection of four joint executors, rather than the standard two, points to a deliberate decision to spread administrative responsibility widely. This records no other will with this many executors. The choice may reflect the size of the estate, with three distinct land holdings and four named children to provide for, requiring more administrative capacity than a two-man pairing could comfortably manage. Alternatively, the four-executor structure may reflect Robert Leech's wish to ensure continuity of administration across the long minorities of his children, with replacement executors implicitly available if any of the four died before the youngest child came of age. The arrangement contrasts with the standard executor-replacement clause used in earlier wills, which relied on the survivor to appoint a successor: by naming four executors from the outset, Leech reduced the likelihood that the administration would ever depend on a single survivor's choice.

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In the Name of God Amen

The Seventh day of June in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven, I Mary Jewster of the Ifland St Helena Wid[ow], being of a great Age and thereby often Indisposed and weak in body but of Sound and P[er]fect mind and Memory thanks be given to Almighty god for y[e] Same and Calling into mind the uncertainty of this Transitory world and that it is Appointed for all People once to die Do hereby ordaine Constitute and Appoint this only and no other whatsoever to be and for ever hereafter remaine my Last Will and Testament in Manner and forme as followeth.

First and Principally I recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Blefsed Saviour and Redeemer hopeing through the merritorious death of his Son Jesus Christ to receive free Pardon and forg[i]venefs of all my Sins and as for my body I recommend it to the Earth from whence it came to be Defently buried at the Discre[t]ion of my Executors hereafter Named, And as touching Such w[o]rldly goods and Estate which it hath pleased Almighty God above my Deserts to bestow upon me, I give Devise, and bequeath as followeth.

Imp[r]: I will and ordaine that all Debts, which in conscience I owe to any Person or Persons be paid in a Convenient time after my deceafe by my Said Executors, And to defray all my Funerall Charges as well as to pay all Such Legacys as I Shall and do hereafter Direct and bequeath away to the Severall Persons hereafter Named

Item I give and bequeath unto my Loving Friend (whom I own and Confefs my Self much obliged to for Severall good Offices) Grace Coulson of the Said Ifland Wid[ow] All & Singular my ready money one fronspell[?] one Brafs Kettle four Pewter Difhes one Pewter Bason One Ditto Porringer one Sett of four Knives One pair of brafs Cand[le]sticks (now with two Pewter Difhes already mentioned), in my house Scitvate in James Valley I one Chest all my wearing Apparrell with what Other odd things of Small Vallue that are at this present time In the Said Grace Coulsons house to do and Dispose of at her own Will and pleasure and to be quietly Posefsed and Enjoyed by her aforesaid Grace Coulson and her Heirs for ever, without any manner of Claime Challeng or Demand of any Person or Persons whatsoever, notwithstanding any manner of th[i]ng or thi[n]gs, Decise or De[v]ices in the Laws to the Contrary of any thing herein mentioned makeing Exceptions agai[n]st nothing in the Said Grace Coulsons house, but one bed whereon I Lie and a Small Silver Dram cup.

Item All the rest and Residue of my Estate not yet any ways disposed of I give and bequeath the Same amongst those of my beloved grand Children and great grand Children that are now Liveing To be Divieded I[n] Such manner and form as I or[d]aind and divided in a Will & Testament bearing date next to this, which I mention and Particularly seek as ad[s]rocted in the Said Dividents and Serves only and is of no more force then to prevent fraudes and other Disputes which b[a]fore may be feared my decay, and that is the Chiefe and only reason of this my Last Will and Testament

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Con[s]titute and Appoint my Trusty and well beloved friends

In the name of God, Amen.

On 7 June 1711, Mary Jewster of St Helena, a widow, made her will. She was of great age and often indisposed, and weak in body, but clear in mind. She acknowledged the uncertainty of the world and that all people were appointed to die.

She commended her soul to God, in hope of pardon through Christ. She directed that her body be buried decently as her executors thought fit.

She directed that her debts be paid by her executors within a reasonable time after her death, together with her funeral expenses and the legacies set out below.

To her friend Grace Coulson of St Helena, widow, she left a substantial collection of household goods. Mary Jewster acknowledged that she was much obliged to Grace Coulson for several good offices. The bequest comprised all her ready money, a fronspell (an object of unclear nature), a brass kettle, four pewter dishes, a pewter basin, a pewter porringer, a set of four knives, a pair of brass candlesticks, the two pewter dishes already mentioned (held in her house in James Valley), a chest, all her wearing apparel and whatever other small items were then in Grace Coulson's house. Grace was to enjoy these goods at her own will and pleasure, and the bequest was to pass to her heirs in perpetuity, free from any challenge. The only exceptions were the bed on which Mary Jewster lay and a small silver dram cup.

The residue of her estate was left to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren then living, to be divided as set out in a separate testamentary document she had drawn at an earlier date. She explained that the present will referred to that earlier document for the detail of the division, and existed only to prevent fraud or disputes that might arise after her death. That precaution was the chief reason for drawing the present document.

Interpretations

The will is the first female testator's will processed . The handover records a small number of female testators: Sarah Younge (widow) in October 1682, Rebecca Charlesworth (widow of Josias Charlesworth) in April 1697, Mary Dixon (wife of soldier Thomas Dixon) in July 1696, Katherine Fensdale (widow of Thomas Fensdale) in October 1699, Eleanor Beale (widow) in June 1700, Anne Edmunds (widow of Edward Edmunds) in February 1703 and Margaret Cotgrave (widow of John Cotgrave) in August 1706. Each of these earlier female testators was identified as a widow whose deceased husband had been a planter, soldier or member of the council. Mary Jewster fits the same pattern as a widow drawing her own will after her husband's death.

The handover identifies Mary Jewster as the recipient of a ring legacy in the John Cannady will of May 1693, alongside Grace Colson, with both women receiving mourning rings as widows. The connection between Mary Jewster and Grace Coulson, here described as her friend to whom she was much obliged, traces back at least eighteen years through their joint receipt of legacies from the Cannady estate. The Grace Coulson of the present will is presumably the same Grace Colson, with the surname rendered variously across the registers. The handover further identifies Grace Colson as possibly the same Grace Colson who was mother-in-law of chaplain Joseph Church by his will of May 1683, where she received a forty-shilling ring. The accumulated record traces Grace Colson or Coulson across nearly three decades of the registers as a recurring figure in the island's older female generation.

Speculations

The decision to draw a new will referring back to an earlier one, rather than simply allowing the earlier document to stand, points to a specific anxiety about the integrity of the earlier disposition. The testator may have feared that the earlier will would be lost, contested or altered after her death, and drew the present document partly as a backup record and partly as a fresh testamentary act asserting the same residuary division. The explicit statement that the chief reason for the new will is to prevent fraud and disputes confirms that the testator had identified a specific risk against which she was guarding. Whether the risk arose from particular descendants, from her own advancing age, or from the general fragility of testamentary records in a small colonial settlement cannot be determined from the surface of the text alone.

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freinds John Coulson of the Said Ifland Planter, and Grace Coulson wid[ow] my only and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and do utterly D[i]sallow Revoke and Disannull all and Other former Testaments Wills and Executors by me heretofore Named and Wille[d] Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale the day and year first above Written her Sign'd Seal'd Publifhed pronounced and Declar'd by the Mary M Jewster Said Mary Jewster as her Last Will and Testament in the mark Prefence of us the Sub[s]cribers vizt Humphry Edwards Leonard Hunt Jn[o] Alexander

In the Name of God Amen

The Fifth day of May 1713. I Benjamin Boucher of London Gent[leman] At this Present Governour of the Ifland St Helena being indisposed and Sick of Body, But of Sound and Perfect memory praife be given to God for it and well know[i]ng the unce[r] tainty of this Life and willing to put my w[o]rldly Affairs in as good order as Pof[s]ible. Doe make this my Last Will and Testament in manner and Form following

First and Principally I recommend my Soul to the Mercies of my Creator Trusting through the Meritorious death of my Redeemer the Lord Jesus Christ to receive Pardon & Remif[s]ion of all my Sins and be received to Eternall Happinefs. My Body to the Earth from whence it came to be buried Decently and Christianly but not with Expensive Shew and Pomp forbidding all Extravagan[c]ies in any kind, Whatsoever.

And as touching Such worldly Estate as Apportunes to me on this Ifland, whether in Sallaries due from the H[o]no[ura]ble United East Indie Company as their Govern[er] here, or in other Cred[i]ts in their Store books or accounts on this Ifland and Goods, [F]urniture, Plate Linnen Woolen Books and Armes, Cattle or Liquors or what[s]oever Else belongs to me Iwell that every thing be dispof'd of as soone as Pofsible after my decea[s]e at Publick out cry or Auction and y[e] ballance of my Account faithfully remitted to my very Loveing freind M[r] Richard Mead Jun[r] of Tower Street London Marchant by bills of Exchange D[r]own on the Said Ho[noura]ble United East Indie Company for the Sole use and benefit of my within mentioned Children viz[t] my Inventory Containing Wearing Apparell, Linnen, Woolen, Ready Money Plate Jewels &c[.] As alfse one other Coppy of this my Last Will and Testament and [...]

Mary Jewster named John Coulson of St Helena, a planter, and Grace Coulson, widow, as her sole executors. She revoked all earlier wills and executors.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of Humphrey Edwards, Leonard Hunt and John Alexander.

Mary Jewster, by mark.

On 5 May 1713, Benjamin Boucher of London, gentleman, the current governor of St Helena, made his will. He was sick and indisposed in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and his wish to put his worldly affairs in good order.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian manner, but without expensive show or pomp, and forbade extravagance of any kind.

His worldly estate on the island consisted of his salary due from the East India Company as governor, his credits in the Company's store books and accounts, and his goods, furniture, plate, linen, woollen items, books, arms, cattle and liquors. He directed that everything be sold as soon as possible after his death at public auction. The balance of his account was to be remitted faithfully to his friend Richard Mead junior of Tower Street, London, merchant, by bills of exchange drawn on the East India Company. The proceeds were to be used for the sole benefit of his children mentioned in the will.

He listed an inventory comprising wearing apparel, linen, woollen items, ready money, plate, jewels and other items, together with a copy of the will.

Interpretations

The naming of John Coulson and Grace Coulson as executors of the Mary Jewster will places the administration in the hands of two members of the Coulson family. This has documented Grace Coulson or Grace Colson as a recurring figure across nearly three decades of the registers. The John Coulson of the present executorship is presumably a planter relative of Grace, perhaps her son or grandson. He is not the same John Coulson named as a witness to the Leonard Coulson will of March 1707, since that witness was a younger man witnessing a deathbed will whose testator intended to name his unborn son John Coulson. The John Coulson of the present will, a planter in his own right by 1711, is more likely a member of the earlier Coulson generation or a distinct branch of the family.

The choice of Richard Mead junior of Tower Street, London, as the recipient of the bills of exchange identifies the testator's principal London correspondent. Mead is described as merchant, and the surname together with the Tower Street address may identify him as a member of a known London commercial family. The eminent Dr Richard Mead (the physician) had family in the City connected to East India Company business, although the precise identification of the Richard Mead junior of the present will requires confirmation from outside the registers. The role of London merchant correspondent for governors and senior Company servants is documented elsewhere in the registers: Stephen Poirier's will of August 1707 had named Charles Dubois, merchant in London, as the recipient of similar reports and executor in the event of remarriage. Boucher's arrangement follows the same pattern, with the metropolitan merchant acting as the bridge between the colonial estate and the English beneficiaries.

Speculations

The Mary Jewster will and the Benjamin Boucher will, drawn within two years of each other but reflecting very different testamentary positions, illustrate the social range of the registers. Mary Jewster was an aged widow of the island's settler community, with property dispersed between two domestic locations and an obligation to a caring friend. Benjamin Boucher was a metropolitan gentleman serving a fixed term as governor, with his estate to be liquidated and remitted to London for distribution to children who probably remained in England. The two wills together show that the registers received both the long-running domestic settlements of the resident population and the transient liquidation accounts of the temporary administrators, with the same probate machinery applied to both.

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be Likewise Sent to M[r]s Elizabeth Dyke of Well Clof[e] Square by the first Ship that Shall Saile from hence after my Decease.

Item I give unto my Well beloved Sonn Dyke Boucher one Moiety of the amount and Ballance of my Inventory Amount to be remitted to the Amen[a]ted M[r] Richard Mead as af[t]er one Moiety of the Ballance of what the aforesaid M[r] Rich[ar]d Mead has alread[e]n in his hands or Shall have belonging unto me to be for the Sole use and at the Disposall of my Said Sonn Dyke Boucher in case his Grand Mother M[r]s Elizabeth Dyke die before he come of Age but if She Should Live to be putt into her hands till he be of Age And in Case of the Death of my Said Sonn Dyke before he come of Age I will that the Mo[i]ety abovementiond gi[v]e and Do hereby Bequeath the Same to my Youngest Daughter Ann Boucher.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Said Youngest Daughter Ann the other Moiety of the Ballance of what Shall be remitted from hence by the abovementiond M[r] Rich[ar]d Mead as Alf[s]er that other Moiety of what the aforesaid M[r] Rich[ar]d Mead has or may have in his hands belonging to her.

Item I further give and bequeath unto my Said Youngest Daughter Ann all the Linnen and Wearing Apparel that was her decea[s]ed Mothers and is now (if its be Liveing) in P[o]fsefsion of the abovenamed M[r]s Elizabeth Dyke whome whilst She Lives and untill my afore[s]aid Children Shall be of Age I Leave the care and Government of my Said Son & Daughter.

Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Elizabeth the order of whatever belongs to me not mentiond in this Cod[i]cill or any former Will to be given to my abovenamed Sonn and Daughter to be at her own Disposall and for her own p[r]op[er] use.

Item I give and bequeath to my Executors hereafter Named One Guinea Each of them to buy a ring.

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint my Trusty and belov[e]d Friends M[r] Mathew Bazett M[r] Thomas Cason Capt John French M[r] Joshua Thoml[i]nson and W[m] John Alexander To be whole and Joynt Executors of this Will or Cod[i]cill in a full Power Effectually to Act as above Directed for the only good and Profitt of all my before named Well belovd Children Elizabeth Dyke and Ann Boucher In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal the Day and year first above Written Ben:

Sealed Signed Declar'd as a Codicil Boucher to a Former Will in England in the Prefence of us Mathew Bazett Tho[.] Cason J[no] French Joshua Thoml[i]nson

A True Coppy attested by me. Jn[o] Alexander Cl[er]k Coun[c]

On 5 May 1713, Benjamin Boucher of London, gentleman, the current governor of St Helena, made his will. He described himself as indisposed and sick in body but clear in mind, in keeping with his frequent claims of ill health. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and his wish to put his worldly affairs in good order.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian manner, but without expensive show or pomp, and forbade extravagance of any kind.

His worldly estate on the island consisted of his salary due from the East India Company as governor, his credits in the Company's store books and accounts, and his goods, furniture, plate, linen, woollen items, books, arms, cattle and liquors. He directed that everything be sold as soon as possible after his death at public auction. The balance of his account was to be remitted faithfully to his friend Richard Mead junior of Tower Street, London, merchant, by bills of exchange drawn on the East India Company. The proceeds were for the sole use and benefit of his children.

He listed an inventory comprising wearing apparel, linen, woollen items, ready money, plate, jewels and other items, together with a copy of the will.

Interpretations

The document is identified at its execution as a codicil to a former will made in England, not as a free-standing will. Boucher had drawn his principal will before his departure for St Helena, and the present instrument supplemented that earlier document with directions specific to his colonial estate and to the possibility of his death on the island. The arrangement is consistent with the practice of metropolitan gentlemen accepting Company appointments overseas, who would settle their main testamentary dispositions before departure and add colonial supplements as circumstances required. As events turned out, Boucher did not die on St Helena but eventually left the island, and the colonial codicil was therefore never required to take effect on its own terms. The document survives in the registers as a precautionary instrument prepared during a period of self-reported indisposition that did not in the end prove fatal.

The guinea-ring legacies to the executors follow the established English testamentary practice documented across the registers. The handover records similar mourning ring legacies in the Joseph Church will of May 1683 (twenty-shilling rings), the William Price will of December 1692 (twenty-shilling rings to Margaret Draper and Samuel Wrangham), the John Cannady will of May 1693 (rings to Mary Jewster and Grace Colson), the Rebecca Charlesworth will of April 1697 (rings in dollars), and many other wills. The single guinea (twenty-one shillings) figure used by Boucher follows the same pattern with a slightly higher and more prestigious metropolitan unit.

Speculations

The asymmetric treatment of the three children, with Elizabeth taking the residue absolutely and the two younger children taking equal halves of the remittance through the grandmother, points to a testator distinguishing carefully between an adult daughter able to manage her own affairs and minor children requiring guardianship. Elizabeth may have been an adult unmarried daughter or a married daughter whose husband was capable of handling her financial affairs, in either case requiring no continuing trusteeship. Dyke and Ann required both substantive provision and the protective structure of grandmaternal custody. The arrangement reads as a deliberate division of the estate according to the needs of the recipients rather than a strict equality of shares.

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Ifland St Helena

In The Name of God Amen. The twenty Sixth Day of November one Thousand seven Hundred and Eleven, I Thomas Bagley of y[e] S[ai]d Ifland free planter and Carpenter Being very Sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to almighty God, therefore I but calling to mind the mortality of my Day and knowing it is appointed for all men once to D[i]e do make and Ordain this my Last will and Testament that is to Say Principally an first of all I Give and Recomend my Soul into the hands of almighty God that gave it, and my Body to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner at the disre[t]ion of my Executors hereafter Named, Doubting not but at the Generall Resurrection to receive the Same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching any Worldly Estate wherewith it has pleafed God to blefs me in this Life I give Devise and Dispoer of the Same in manner and Form following

Imprimis. I give bequeath and Devise unto my well beloved Wife Margaret Bagley one man Black known by the name of Sa[v]ix, and all my house[h]old Goods, Excepting one Large Yarn Pott, one Pewter Bed Set Six things belonging to it [O]therd I give her y[e] third part of my Bed of [F]eath of what Bed Soever I have, A third part of the Houfe in Chappte Valley, half the Land I have at third part of all Debts owing to me, and in case the Hon[oura]ble Company Repubelifh me, or more in the Said again, which I was Lately disposset of, then I give my Said Wife the th[i]rd of the Provifions, S[al]tted now to be upon the Bed, but if not, then all to her[.]

Item I give unto my well beloved Son Thomas Bagley one man Black known by the Name of Coraw[s] one feather bed and all belonging to it, Adviced he be a good w[i]r[t] at my decease, with a third part of all before mentioned, House to each Excepted the L[an]d being but a third more which I give wholely to my Wife and half my Cafh, the other half to be devided between him and the Child my Wife now goth With if it Live[s], if it Likewise, if not als[o] to him.

Item I give unto this my Child my Wife is with Child of, the Black boy known by the Name of Clovis my one large Yarn Pott, and a third part of all before mentioned untill whose Exceptions are made[.]

Item I give unto my well beloved Brother John Bagley twenty Shillings to buy a Ring

Item I give unto my well beloved Brother Orlando Bagley five Ewes out of my Stock of Goats going in Pole Valley.

Item I give unto my well beloved Brother in Law Richard Swallow one Cow known by the Name of Mothelifs and fifteen Shillings to buy a Ring, and to his daughter Mary Swallow Blackey [...] half now at the Stake

Item I give unto my God Son & Nephew John Bagley Son of Edward Bagley deceased one heifer at the Discretion of my Executors.

Item I give unto Francis Steward Son of Onesiphorus Steward Deceased one Cow out of my Stock of Goats at the pound, Belonging to John Cole, John Robinson and madmell[?] Orph[a]ns) that in S[ai]d Place Liveth.

Item. It is my will that next after my Funerall Expences all Debts Down to any Persons whatsoever And all Legacies by me given be first paid be Safe to is in Lieu be made of my Estate, And if my Wife Marry again, the man Ihe marries do give Securety to my Executors for the principle of my S[ai]d Eftate but until they come of Age or are married, And in cafe he be unwilling to give Sevrity for my Childrens parts that then the Same may be Disposed of at the Discretion of my Ex[ecu]tors for the use and Benefitt of my Children, and if either Child Dee before any come to Age or Marry the deceased Childs part to be Divided between the m[ot]her and the Surviveing Child, if there be any thing happens that I forrhae not in my will let it be decided at the discretion of my Executors and if they agree not, let it be done according to Law.

This Lastly I no Cusey ord[a]in Constitute and appoint my Trusty and well belovd Brothers Orlando Bagley and Richard Swallow Executors of this my Last Will and Testament Revokeing and Disannulling all other Wills by me formerly made Ratifying and Confirming this to be my Last will and Testament

Tho: Bagley

Signed Sealed Publifhed and Delivered, it being my Last will and Testament in the Presence of us James Defey William Slaughter

In the name of God, Amen.

On 26 November 1711, Thomas Bagley of St Helena, a free planter and carpenter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the mortality of his life and that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for decent Christian burial as the executors thought fit, in hope of resurrection.

To his wife Margaret Bagley, he left a slave called Savix and all his household goods. The bequest excepted one large iron pot, one pewter bedset and six items belonging to it. He also left her one third of his feather bed (from whichever bed he had at the time of death), one third of his house in Chapel Valley, half of his land, and one third of all debts owing to him. If the East India Company had reinstated him to the land from which he had recently been dispossessed, or restored him to it in some other form, his wife was to have one third of the provisions then due on that land. If the Company had not restored him, the whole was to pass to her.

To his son Thomas Bagley, he left a slave called Coraws, one feather bed and all that belonged to it, on condition that the boy was well behaved at the testator's death. Thomas was also to receive one third of all the items previously mentioned, with the exception that his mother received the whole of the land share rather than half. Thomas was to receive half of the testator's cash, with the other half divided between him and the child Margaret was then carrying. If that child died, Thomas was to take the whole.

To the unborn child Margaret was then carrying, he left the slave boy Clovis, the large iron pot and one third of all the previously mentioned property, subject to the exceptions already noted.

To his brother John Bagley, he left twenty shillings for the purchase of a ring.

To his brother Orlando Bagley, he left five ewes from his stock of goats running in Pole Valley.

To his brother-in-law Richard Swallow, he left a cow called Motherless and fifteen shillings for the purchase of a ring. To Mary Swallow, Richard's daughter, he left a calf called Blackey then at stake.

To his godson and nephew John Bagley, son of his deceased brother Edward Bagley, he left a heifer at the discretion of the executors.

To Francis Steward, son of the deceased Onesiphorus Steward, he left a cow from his stock of goats at the pound. The pound was the place where the orphans of John Cole, John Robinson and another belonged.

The executors were to pay funeral expenses, debts and legacies before any other distribution. If Margaret remarried, her new husband was to give security to the executors for the principal of the estate during the children's minorities. If he refused, the executors were empowered to dispose of the children's portions at their discretion for the children's use and benefit. If either child died before coming of age or marrying, the deceased child's share was to be divided between the mother and the surviving child. Anything not provided for in the will was to be decided at the executors' discretion, and if they disagreed, according to law.

He named his brother Orlando Bagley and his brother-in-law Richard Swallow as executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of James Vesey and William Slaughter.

Thomas Bagley.

Interpretations

The will places Thomas Bagley within the Bagley family extensively documented in the handover. Orlando Bagley senior had drawn his own will on 27 November 1701, naming sons John, Orlando junior, Edward and Thomas, with bequests of stores, debt remissions and a slave Meg. Edward Bagley, son of Orlando senior, drew his own will in April 1706, leaving twenty-nine acres to his daughters Elizabeth and Sarah Bagley and naming Richard Gurling and his wife Sarah as joint executors. John Bagley, another son of Orlando senior, had appeared as a recipient of two pounds under the Thomas Earle will of November 1702 and as a witness to the Richard Harding will of July 1706 processed earlier .

The bequest to Francis Steward, son of Onesiphorus Steward deceased, connects the will to the Steward family documented in the handover. Onesiphorus Steward had drawn his will in July 1704, naming son Francis Steward junior as recipient of ten acres formerly his father's land and half of fifteen acres in Gum Wood. The handover further records Charles Steward as executor of the Earle will of November 1702 and of the Steward will of July 1704, and as son-in-law of Samuel Maxwell in May 1703. The present bequest from Thomas Bagley to Francis Steward, the son named in his father's 1704 will, places the Steward and Bagley families within the wider acquaintance of the period.

Speculations

The recent dispossession of Bagley's land by the East India Company, with the question of restoration unresolved at the date of the will, points to a specific administrative difficulty between the testator and the Company. The handover and the present session do not record a comparable instance of Company action against an established planter. The dispossession may have been a regulatory or punitive action, or a redistribution of land for other purposes, or a dispute over the terms of an earlier lease. The careful drafting of contingent bequests depending on the outcome suggests that the testator regarded the matter as serious enough to warrant explicit testamentary provision but not so settled that he could rely on either resolution.

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118

Ifland St Helena

In the Name of God the father Son & Holy Ghost, Amen. I Simon Lenox, of y[e] Ifland S[t] Helena Sold[ie]r, finding a Daily decay in my Body, & considering y[e] uncertainty of this mortall Life, But being of Sound & Disposeing mind & memory (thanks be to God) Do make ordain & constitute this my Last Will & Testament as followeth viz[t]

Imprimis I humbly & earnestly commend my Immortall Soul into y[e] hands of Almighty God my faithfull Creator trusting in his infinite Mercies through y[e] meritts & mediation of my dear Redeemer Jesus Christ our Lord that all my Sins of which I heartily repent will be pardoned my Soul Sanctified by his blefsed Spirit & received into y[e] immortall happinefs that God has prepared for those that Love him. As for my Body I Leave it to be buryed decently & Christianly at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned, hopeing a Joyfull Resurrection of it to Glory & Immortality

As for what worldly Goods it Shall please the Goodnefs of God to blefs my poor condeition with at the time of my death I bequeath y[e] Remainder after the payment of my Funerall Charges & just Debts to my good Land Lady M[r]s Margaret Sich as a small acknowledgment & thankfull cons[i]deration of her great kindnefs & Charitable tendernefs to my poor & helplefs cond[i]ction these Several years Last past, that I have Lodged in her house: Praying that God would grant the blefsings of this world & of a better to her & hers, And Do appoint y[e] S[ai]d Margaret Sich my only Executrix to this my Last Will dis[a]nulling all former Wills wha[t]ever In Wittnefs whereof I have sett my hand & Seale this Third day of August 1713

Sign'd Seal'd declared & Publifhed Simon Lenox to be his Last Will (no Stampt paper to be had upon y[e] Ifland) in presence of

Joshua Thoml[i]nson Joseph Thoml[i]nson

In the Name of God Amen the Nineteenth of Novem[be]r one Thousand seven Hundred & Thirteen, I Benjamin Sich of the Ifland S[t] Helena Planter, being very Sick and weak in Body, but of perfect mind and memory (thanks be to Almighty God) but Calling to mind y[e] mortality of my Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, do make this my Last Will & Testament, that is to say, Principally and first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of God, that gave it; nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection to receive y[e] same again by the mighty power of his Spirit working hereby and my Body to be buried in a Decent & Christian like manner, at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as to my Worldly Estate which it hath pleafed God to blefs me with I Dispose of in manner and form following

Imprimis I Give bequeath and Devise unto my well beloved Daughter Elizabeth Sich, all Houses and Lands which may be mine after the Deceafe of my Well beloved Mother, and in case of my Daughter Deleafe before She come of Age or is Married, that the same male here of my well beloved Sister [G]rason no[w] in India do enjoy it and in default of male, that the Heir male of my well belov'd ne[ic]e Mary Bright do enjoy it And if there be a deficiency of Mall Heirs that the females of both Enjoy it Eequally.

Item, I give and bequeath beloved n[ie]ce Daughters of John Packnall deceas[e]d viz: Elizabeth, Francis & Mary Twenty Pounds Each. when they come of Age or the day of Marriage to be paid out of my Estate

Item it is my desire that my well beloved Mother may not be Called to any acc[oun]ts. for what was brought me by my Wife, out of what is her proper Right, But all to be and Remain in her hands During her Naturall Life and no appraisment to be made

In the name of God, the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Amen.

On 3 August 1713, Simon Lenox of St Helena, a soldier, made his will. He felt a daily decay in his body and considered the uncertainty of mortal life, but his mind and memory remained sound.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon for his sins, sanctification by the Holy Spirit, and immortality. He directed that his body be buried decently and in Christian manner as the executrix thought fit.

The residue of his worldly goods at the time of his death, after his funeral expenses and debts were paid, was to go to his landlady Mrs Margaret Sich. He left her this bequest as a small acknowledgement and thankful recognition of her great kindness and charitable tenderness towards his poor and helpless condition during the several years he had lodged in her house. He prayed that God would grant the blessings of this world and of a better one to her and to her family.

He named Margaret Sich sole executrix. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written. A note recorded that no stamped paper was available on the island. The will was witnessed by Joshua Tomlinson and Joseph Tomlinson.

Simon Lenox.

On 19 November 1713, Benjamin Sich of St Helena, a planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for decent Christian burial as the executors thought fit, in hope of resurrection.

To his daughter Elizabeth Sich, he left all the houses and lands that would become his after his mother's death. If Elizabeth died before coming of age or marrying, the property was to pass to the eldest male heir of his sister Grason, then in India. In default of a male heir to Grason, the property was to pass to the eldest male heir of his niece Mary Bright. If no male heirs were available, the property was to be divided equally between the female heirs of both Grason and Mary Bright.

To his three nieces, daughters of the deceased John Packnall, namely Elizabeth, Frances and Mary Packnall, he left twenty pounds each, to be paid out of his estate when they came of age or married.

He directed that his mother was not to be called to account for what his wife had brought to him out of her proper right. The whole was to remain in his mother's hands during her lifetime, with no appraisal to be made.

Interpretations

The Simon Lenox will is the most unusual testamentary document yet processed . The testator was a soldier who had been quartered for several years in the house of Margaret Sich. His will leaves nothing to family, nothing to fellow soldiers and nothing to friends elsewhere on the island. The entire residue passes to his landlady in recognition of her kindness during his lodging with her. The structure indicates a soldier with no close family ties on the island, perhaps because his English connections had lapsed and his island connections had narrowed to the single household where he was quartered.

The Packnall nieces, named as Elizabeth, Frances and Mary Packnall, daughters of the deceased John Packnall, fix another branch of the family. The Packnall or Tacknald surname appeared in the James Sich will of December 1708, where the testator's cousins Elizabeth, Frances and Mary Packnall received two cows between them. The handover further records the connection to the John Sich will of 1703, where children of the stepdaughter Margaret Tacknald (formerly wife of John Cleaverlee) received two cows. The Packnall nieces of the present will are the same three women, now identified as daughters of the deceased John Packnall, who must have been Margaret Tacknald's husband and a brother-in-law of Benjamin Sich. The twenty-pound cash bequest to each on coming of age or marrying is a substantial provision, considerably larger than the cattle bequests in the earlier wills.

Speculations

The Lenox will, with its extraordinary bequest of an entire residue to a landlady in recognition of her care, illustrates the social bonds that could form within the small island community across boundaries of status and origin. Lenox was a soldier of the garrison, while Margaret Sich was the widow of an established planter and the mother of two planter sons. The class difference between them in normal circumstances would have been considerable, but the years of dependent lodging had created a relationship that transcended that difference. The will reads as a posthumous record of a relationship that the conventional social categories of the period would not have predicted.

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Item. I give unto the Children of my Well beloved Brothers, Richard Swallow James Vesey and Francis Wrangham One Hund[red] Pound to be divided into nine parts, Martha Swallow to have two Parts the other Seven to Mary Margaret & Susanna Swallow, to Martha Vesey & Mary Margaret and Rebecca Wrangham when they come of Age or is Married

Item. That in case my Neice Mary Bright Marry a Man Liveing upon the Ifland destitute of a house, at the Fort, I give the House at y[e] Fort Purchased of Cap[t]. Tho[s]. Goodwin to her but if he have any or She should die without Ifsue, I freely give the same to Francis W[r]angham and his Heirs for Ever.

Item. it is my desire That all Debts I owe to any Person or Persons may be paid by the best Methods which can be u[s]ed by my Executors And Lastly I Ordain Constitute and Appoint my Trusty and Well beloved Brothers Richard Swallow and Francis Wrangham Executors of this my Last Will & Testament Revokei[n]g all former Wills Ratifying this to be my La[s]t In WITNESS whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand & Seale the day and Year above Written

Signed Sealed & Deliver'd Benjamin Sich in the Presence of us

Witnefs W[m] Porteous Henry Francis

To the children of his brothers Richard Swallow, James Vesey and Francis Wrangham, Benjamin Sich left one hundred pounds, to be divided into nine parts. Two parts were to go to Martha Swallow. The other seven parts were to be shared between Mary, Margaret and Susanna Swallow, Martha Vesey, and Mary, Margaret and Rebecca Wrangham, each on coming of age or marrying.

If his niece Mary Bright married a man living on the island who had no house at Fort James, he gave her the Fort James house he had purchased from Captain Thomas Goodwin. If her husband already had a Fort James house, or if she died without issue, the house was to pass to Francis Wrangham and his heirs in perpetuity.

He directed that his debts be paid by the best methods his executors could use.

He named his brothers Richard Swallow and Francis Wrangham as executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of William Porteous and Henry Francis.

Benjamin Sich.

Interpretations

The naming of Richard Swallow, James Vesey and Francis Wrangham as brothers of Benjamin Sich clarifies the kinship structure underlying the present will and several earlier ones. This has documented all three men as significant figures in their own right. Richard Swallow had appeared in the Robert Swallow will of June 1688 as grandson and recipient of four cows, in the James Sich will of December 1708 as godson and recipient of the slave Soltian, in the Thomas Bagley will of November 1711 as brother-in-law and recipient of a cow called Motherless, and in the Robert Leech will of May 1712 as an indirect reference. Francis Wrangham was one of the eight Wrangham children listed in the Samuel Wrangham will of June 1702 recorded in the handover. James Vesey had appeared in the James Sich will of December 1708 as godson and recipient of the slave Rice.

The naming of William Porteous as a witness places him alongside his earlier appearance as the second witness to the James Sich will of December 1708. His reappearance in the present Benjamin Sich will, five years later, indicates his continuing presence on the island and his role within the Sich family network. Henry Francis, the second witness, is presumably the same Henry Francis senior who was a son of the original Henry Francis testator of April 1684 and son-in-law of Edward Edmunds. His appearance here as witness extends his presence in the registers to 1713.

Speculations

The careful weighting of the nine-part division, with Martha Swallow taking two parts and the other seven nieces taking one each, points to a specific reason for her preferred position. The likely explanation is that Martha was the testator's goddaughter, perhaps named after a deceased family member of the testator's own immediate household. The handover records frequent godparental bequests in which the godchild received a larger share than other equivalents, and the doubled share to Martha Swallow follows that pattern. Alternatively, Martha may have been particularly close to the testator, perhaps having lived in his household for a period, or she may have been the eldest of the nieces and therefore due a larger share in the customary sense. Without further information, the precise reason for her preferred position cannot be determined.

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120

In the Name of God Amen I Robert Addis of the Ifland S[t] Hellena free planter being Sick and weak in body but of P[er]fect memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing that it is Appointed for all men to dee Do make and Ordain this my Last Will & Testam[ent], that is to Say Prin[ci] pally and first of all I gibe and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like Manner at the discre[t]ion of my Execut[or]s nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I Shall recieve the Same againe by the mighty Power of God and touching Such Worldly Goods wherewith it hath pleafed God to blefs me with in this Life I give and Dispose of the Same in the following Manner and form

Item I Do Order that all my Lands and Cattlefs Shall be put to Publick Sale and after my debts and Funerall Expences being fully Settisfyd, what is Left of my Estate I bequeath unto my three beloved Children William Addis Mary Addis and Joannah Addis to be Equally Divided amongst them, after that Dec[i]ded is made I Do Defire that fifteen Pounds Shall be taken from my Son Williams Part Land Added to my Daughtters Joannahs part.

Item I appoint my true and trusty Friends M[r] Joshua Johnson and M[r] James Greentree p[er]som I make full and whole Executors to this my Last Will & Tef[t]am[ent] And do hereby Utterly Disallow Revoke and Disannull all and Every other Testam[ent] Wills and Legacies and Execut[ors] by me made Rat[i]fying and Confirming this and no other to be of my Last Will & Testam[ent] In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seale this 20 day of June in the Year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred & fourteen Rob[t] Addis

Signed Seal'd & Deliveird in the presence of John Nichols Sen[r] John Nichols Jun[r] Walter Morris

In the Name of God Amen I Ann Fuller of the Ifland of St Helena Widdow, being of Sound mind and P[er]fect Memory tho weak of body and not knowing how Soon it may pleafe the Almighty to take me out of this Mortall Life Have made this my Last Will and Testament First recomend[i]ng my Soul to God who gave it Depending on the alone Meritts of my Blefed Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ for Pardon of my Sins and Redemption thro[ugh] his blood and my body to a decent Christian buriall at the Discre[t]ion of my Execut[or] hereafter Named, and for what worldly Goods it hath pleased the Almighty to Blefs me with in this Life I give and bequeath as followeth (vizt)

First I give and bequeath unto my daughter Frances Anne and the Heirs of her Body all that my Twenty Acres of Sett Land and Ten Acres of Purchased Land in all Thirty Acres with the House thereon, wherein I now dwell for Ever agreeable to the Will of my Husband John Fuller by word of mouth, but all the Witnefses thereto are Since Dead

Item.

In the name of God, Amen.

On 20 June 1714, Robert Addis of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for Christian burial as the executors thought fit, in hope of resurrection.

He directed that all his lands and cattle be sold at public auction. After his debts and funeral expenses were paid, the remainder of the estate was to go to his three children William, Mary and Joanna Addis, to be divided equally between them. After the equal division was made, fifteen pounds was to be taken from William's share and added to Joanna's.

He named his friends Joshua Johnson and James Greentree as joint executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of John Nichols senior, John Nichols junior and Walter Morris.

Robert Addis.

Ann Fuller of St Helena, widow, made her will. She was clear in mind but weak in body. She did not know how soon it might please God to take her out of mortal life.

She commended her soul to God, in hope of pardon and redemption through Christ. She directed that her body be buried decently as the executor thought fit.

To her daughter Frances Anne and the heirs of her body, she left her twenty acres of settled land and ten acres of purchased land, thirty acres in total, with the house in which she then lived. The bequest was to be in perpetuity. She added that this disposition agreed with the verbal will of her husband John Fuller, although all the witnesses to that earlier verbal disposition had since died.

Interpretations

The Robert Addis will discloses the final disposition of one of the most enduring administrators in the registers. The handover documents Robert Addis as witness to the Thomas Fensdale will of March 1699 and the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699, as co-executor of the Peter Williams will of May 1700 (with Thomas Earle), as witness to the Thomas Earle will of November 1702, and as co-executor of the Michael Morris will of February 1703 (with Joseph Trapp). The present session has further documented him as a witness to the John Boyce will of February 1711. His career as administrator and witness ran for at least fifteen years before his own deathbed will of June 1714.

The instruction to sell the whole estate at public auction marks a deliberate departure from the practice of dividing land in kind among the children. Addis chose to convert his real and personal property entirely into cash, with each child receiving a share of the proceeds rather than a particular parcel of land or named items of livestock. The handover records similar arrangements in earlier wills, including the Katherine Fensdale will of October 1699 where the Fensdale house and land were directed to public auction with proceeds to her sons John and Samuel Jossy. The Stephen Poirier will of August 1707 had used a comparable mechanism for the moveable goods. Addis applied the auction model to his entire estate, eliminating the alternative of allocating physical assets to individual children.

Speculations

The decision to sell the entire estate at public auction, rather than to divide it in kind among the three children, points to a specific calculation about the family's circumstances. With three children, the alternative of dividing the land into three parcels would have produced holdings too small to function as working plantations. Conversion to cash gave each child a portable share that could be used to establish themselves through marriage, apprenticeship, business or migration, without the constraint of a small inherited plot on the island. The arrangement reads as a deliberate recognition that the next generation of the Addis family might not all remain on St Helena, and that a cash inheritance was more flexible than land for a generation whose future locations were uncertain.

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Item I give and bequeath all my Goods and Chattles whatever to four of my Grand Children hereafter Named (Except one Heifer Calfe hereafter bequeathed) in manner and form following, That is to Say, all my Goods, Cattle, Hogs, Poultry Shall be Sold at a Publick out cry and the Neet Proceeds after my Lawfull Debts and funerall Charges are paid, be Divided into five Equale Shares whereof my Grandson Richard Goodwin two and my Grand Daughters Sarah, Priscilla and Elizabeth One Share Each, and So in like Manner for Credit[s] in the Store Debts owing to me or ready mony &c[a]

Item I give unto Margarett Hine (daughter to the Black wench [k]now here of M[r] Joshua Johnson[)] Named Abigail One Heifer Calf of a year Old the last Heifer Calfe of Long Leggs and the increase (after my deceafe) for ever

Item I do hereby apoint and Desire my good friends M[r] James Greentree & my Grandson Joshua Johnson, to be Execut[ors] of this my onely Last Will & Testament.

In witnefs whereof I have hereunto put my hand and Seale this thirteenth day of March One Thousand Seven hundred and twelve (comonly called) thirteen and in the Twelfth Year of her Majesties Reigne Signum ejus Anh + Fuller

Signed Sealed deliver'd & declared to be her Last Will & Testam[ent] In presence of David Hine Peter Sins[m]ick [...] Tovey

Ann Fuller continued with further bequests.

She left all her goods and chattels to four of her grandchildren in equal shares, with one exception relating to a calf set out separately. Her goods, cattle, hogs and poultry were to be sold at public auction. After her lawful debts and funeral expenses were paid, the net proceeds were to be divided into five equal shares. Her grandson Richard Goodwin was to receive two shares, and her granddaughters Sarah, Priscilla and Elizabeth were to receive one share each. The same division was to apply to credits in the Company's store, debts owing to her and ready money.

To Margaret Hine, daughter of Abigail (the slave woman now in the household of Joshua Johnson), she left a heifer calf one year old, the last heifer calf of a cow called Long Legs, together with its increase after Ann's death, in perpetuity.

She named her friend James Greentree and her grandson Joshua Johnson as joint executors. The will was signed and sealed on 13 March 1713, in the twelfth year of Queen Anne's reign.

Ann Fuller, by mark.

The will was witnessed by David Hine, Peter Sinsnick and Tovey.

Interpretations

The further bequests now reveal that Ann Fuller's family connections extended into the Goodwin and Johnson families documented earlier and in the handover. The grandson Richard Goodwin and granddaughters Sarah, Priscilla and Elizabeth would have been the children of one or more of her own children who had married into those families. The handover records the Goodwin family extensively, with John Goodwin (testator December 1703) and Thomas Goodwin (testator December 1709) as brothers, and the John Goodwin will naming son Robert. The present Richard Goodwin may be a son of either John or Thomas Goodwin, or of another Goodwin not yet documented. The grandchildren's surname Goodwin places at least one of Ann's daughters as the wife of a Goodwin son.

The bequest to Margaret Hine, daughter of the slave Abigail, is the most distinctive social provision in the will. Margaret Hine is identified as the daughter of a slave woman, and the bequest of a heifer calf with its increase places a productive asset in her hands. The handover records very few instances of testamentary bequests to slaves or their children. The Stephen Poirier will and the Samuel Holland will of 1682 record bequests of slaves as property to be inherited. The Robert Swallow will of June 1688 contemplated freeing the slave Rowly after the widow's death if the governor and council consented. The Anne Edmunds will of February 1703 made a conditional bequest of a slave George to a grandson on condition that he carried the slave off the island. The present Ann Fuller will goes further by leaving a productive asset directly to the daughter of a slave woman, in her own right.

Speculations

The doubled share to grandson Richard Goodwin, against single shares to the three granddaughters, points to a deliberate preference for the male grandchild within the bequest to that branch of the family. This multiple instances of preferential treatment of male heirs in the planter wills, with sons typically receiving the principal land and daughters receiving moveables or cash. Ann Fuller's doubled share to Richard follows the same principle, even though the bequest is of moveables rather than land. The arrangement reads as an extension of the standard male-preference inheritance pattern into a generation removed from the testator.

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Ifland St Helena

In the Name of God Amen. This twelveth day of December in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred & fourteen I Charles Steward of the said Ifland free Planter being Sick of body but of Perfect mind and memory praise be given to Almighty God for the same and calling to mind that it is Appointed for all men once to Die, but the time when very uncertaine Do make Constitute Ordain this and no other to be my Last Will & Testament in manner and form following. FIRST and Principally I commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my blefsed Saviour and Redeemer hopeing thro[ugh] the Meritorious Death & pafsion of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to receive free Pardon & forgivenefs of all my Sins, And as touching the Disposall of my Temporall Estate and Such Goods Chattles Debts &c. as it hath pleased God farr above my deserts to bestow upon me, I give devise bequeath & Dispose of y[e] Same in the following Manner.

Item I give and bequeath unto four of my well beloved Children viz[t] Gabriell, Onesiphorus, Samuell and Thomas Steward four of my best Heifers to be put into a Districk Mark from the other of my Cattle Immediately after my Decease, and to Run in a Stock Seperate from the rest, for their only use and Bennefitt and none others, And as they or either of them comes to full Age or Marriage, the Same to be Equally divided among them all or those that [s]urvi[v]es further my Will and desire is that those two head of Cattle now belong[i]ng and known to be my well beloved Son Francis Steward (absent) do remain in a Distinct Mark & Stock for his only use and bennefitt, As alsoe that four head of Cattle viz[t] one Cow, two Heifers, and one Bull Calf belonging to my well beloved Son Charles Steward, do and shall remain as at this time in a Seperate Stock and Distinct Mark from the rest of my own Cattle for his use & none Else, And whereas my aforesaid beloved Son Francis Steward had formerly some Cattle given part of which I have disposed of for his Acco[un]t and bennefitt to the Vallue & amount of Thirty five pounds Sterling 10[s] I desires and ti[s] my absolute request that he receive so much out of my Estate over and above his dividend Equall w[i]th the rest of my beloved Children, and good part or as much as pofsible can be paid him at his comeing next to this Ifland to fitt him out to Sea, and better provideing for himself hereafter Item.

In the name of God, Amen.

On 12 December 1714, Charles Steward of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die, with the time of death uncertain.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon through Christ.

To four of his children, Gabriel, Onesiphorus, Samuel and Thomas Steward, he left four of his best heifers. The heifers were to be marked with a distinct mark separate from the rest of his cattle immediately after his death, and were to run in a separate stock for the exclusive use and benefit of these four children. As each came of age or married, the stock was to be divided equally among all four, or among those then surviving.

Two head of cattle, already belonging to and known to be the property of his absent son Francis Steward, were to remain under their own distinct mark and stock for Francis's exclusive use and benefit.

Four head of cattle, namely one cow, two heifers and one bull calf, belonging to his son Charles Steward, were likewise to remain in a separate stock and distinct mark for Charles's exclusive use.

His son Francis Steward had earlier been given some cattle, part of which the testator had disposed of for Francis's account and benefit. The sum realised amounted to thirty-five pounds and ten shillings sterling. The testator directed that Francis receive that amount out of the estate over and above his equal share with the other children. As much of it as possible was to be paid to Francis on his next arrival on the island, to fit him out for sea and to provide for him in his future.

Interpretations

The will places Charles Steward within the Steward family extensively documented in the handover. Onesiphorus Steward, free planter, had drawn his own will on 12 July 1704, naming sons Francis Steward junior and Onesiphorus Steward junior, daughters Mary and Martha, and naming Charles Steward and father-in-law Rispin Wills as executors. The handover further records Charles Steward as executor of the Thomas Earle will of November 1702 and as son-in-law of Samuel Maxwell in May 1703.

The careful establishment of distinct marks and separate stocks for different children's cattle follows the same pattern documented in the Richard Alexander will of April 1710 and the Gilbert Colgrave will of October 1711, both processed earlier . Each child's cattle were to run in a separate stock with their own brand, identifying ownership during the years of minority and growth. The mechanism allowed children to acquire productive assets that would multiply during their childhood, providing them with an established economic base by the time they came of age or married.

Speculations

The careful structuring of distinct cattle stocks for different sons, with separate marks for the four younger boys, for the absent Francis and for the son Charles, indicates that the testator was managing a complex herd in which each child's individual property was already established and identified during his lifetime. This records this pattern in multiple wills, but the present case has the most detailed structure, with three distinct stocks identified by name of owner. The arrangement reads as a deliberate piece of agricultural and family management, with individual children's economic assets tracked from an early age and integrated into the working herd of the household.

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Item. As to the dispo[s]all of y[e] rest of my Personall Estate after my well beloved wife Elizabeth Steward hath had her third part, which I desire and tis my Earnest desire and Will that she may have the choice [e]ither she will accept of the said one third of my Personall Estate in their Severall Specie[s] and kinds according to the Gen[era]ll Custom of this place or to Consent to have all & Every Individuall thing Sold (except the Cattle beforementioned) at a Publik Auction or to those that will give most, and the paym[en]t from thence ariseing to be Equally Divided among all my beloved Children viz[t] Francis, Charles, Gabriell Onesiphorus, Samuel and Thomas Steward, and then my said beloved wifes third part paid her by my Execut[ors] hereafter Named and in case my said beloved wife dot[h] Accept and is willing to take her third part of the said Personall Estate as aforesaid and as Shee, & my said Execut[or] Shall agree, then and in Such case my Will & Desire is that the other two thirds be Sold as before Ordered, and the mony ariseing to be applyed to the best use and Advantage of all my before named Children and the same paid to them and either of them as they come to full age or Marriage, and in case of the Death of any my Said Child[re]n before they so come of age or Marriage then the Survivor or Survivors to quietly Enjoy the Deceaseds Part or Portion. by y[e] same in what kindsoever

AND now as touching the dispo[s]all of my Reale Estate as Houses & Lands free and Leased, I Leave the same Intirely to the Discre[t]ion of my said Executors to do and Act in the best they can for the good and bennefitt of both my beloved wife Eliz[abeth] Steward and beloved Sons before Named, But Neverthelefs my will and Pleasure is that in Case my said Reale Estate is not Sold as afore[said] that then my said beloved Son Charles Steward have that peice or Parcell of Land containing by Estimation Twenty Acres formerly Andrew Wilsons & Since in the Occupation of Joseph Fox, together with half my Lease Land to be as Equally divided as pofsible, and Delivered him by my said Executors, at the time of his attaining to full age or Marriage, and the other half of my free Land with the rest of my Lease Land I give and bequeath unto my beloved Son Samuel Steward but to remain in the Pofsefsion of my beloved wife Eliz[abeth] Steward dureing her natural[l] Life, under those Conditions before mention'd and upon this consideration the said Charles & Sam[uel] Steward to have Each so much lefs of y[e] Pe[r]sonall Estate as shall be thought fitt,

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute and Appoint my trusty and well beloved Friends & Relations Thomas Gargen, Gabriel[l] Powell and Richard Gurling all of the said Ifland to be whole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament hereby revokeing and makeing Null and void all other Testam[ent] or Testaments

Charles Steward turned to the disposition of the rest of his personal estate. His wife Elizabeth was to receive her one-third share. He gave her a choice between two methods of taking that share. She could either accept her third in kind, taking individual items of the personal estate according to the general custom of the island, or she could agree to have everything sold at public auction (with the exception of the cattle already allocated), and take one third of the cash proceeds. The remaining two thirds of the proceeds were to be divided equally among his six children: Francis, Charles, Gabriel, Onesiphorus, Samuel and Thomas Steward.

If Elizabeth chose to take her third in kind, the remaining two thirds of the personal estate were still to be sold as directed. The cash from that sale was to be invested for the best use and benefit of the children, and each was to receive their portion on coming of age or marrying.

If any child died before reaching majority or marrying, the surviving children were to take the deceased child's share equally between them.

The disposition of the real estate, comprising houses and lands both freehold and leased, was left entirely to the executors' discretion. They were to act in the best interest of Elizabeth and the named sons.

If the real estate was not sold, Charles Steward set out the following alternative. His son Charles Steward was to receive the twenty acres formerly Andrew Wilson's, later in the occupation of Joseph Fox, together with half of the leased land. The two parcels were to be divided as equally as possible and delivered to Charles by the executors when he came of age or married. The other half of the freehold land, with the rest of the leased land, went to his son Samuel Steward. The Samuel bequest was to remain in Elizabeth's possession for her lifetime. In consideration of these land bequests, Charles and Samuel were each to receive proportionately less of the personal estate, as the executors thought fit.

He named Thomas Gargen, Gabriel Powell and Richard Gurling, all of the island, as joint executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

Interpretations

The provision of a choice to the widow Elizabeth, between taking her third in kind or in cash, marks an unusually flexible approach to the standard widow's-third arrangement documented across the registers. Most planter wills fix the form in which the widow's share is to be taken, either as a defined set of items or as a proportion of the auction proceeds. Charles Steward gave Elizabeth the decision herself, recognising that the most suitable form would depend on her own circumstances and preferences after his death. The clause shows the testator deferring to his widow's judgement on a matter the standard wills typically settled in advance.

The naming of Thomas Gargen, Gabriel Powell and Richard Gurling as three joint executors places the will at the centre of the established administrative network of the second period. Thomas Gargen had served as executor of Richard Harding in July 1706, as neighbouring landholder in the Paul Charles will of August 1706, and as witness to the Stephen Poirier codicil of August 1707. Gabriel Powell is documented in the handover as grazing location for Harding cattle in 1681, sole heir of Hans Yorgin in 1683, witness to the Earle will of November 1702, and husband of Sarah Rider (daughter of James Rider) by 1704. Richard Gurling had served as joint executor of the Edward Bagley will of April 1706, as executor of George Northern in May 1712, and as one of four executors of Robert Leech in May 1712. The three executors together represent the leading administrative figures available in late 1714.

Speculations

The choice given to Elizabeth between taking her third in kind or in cash points to a testator deliberately recognising that the standard widow's third worked differently in different circumstances. A widow with young children to maintain might prefer the in-kind option, retaining household items, livestock and other working assets for the continued operation of the household. A widow planning to leave the island or to live in reduced circumstances might prefer the cash option, with the proceeds available for travel, investment or simple expenditure. By giving Elizabeth the choice, Charles Steward let her decide which structure best fitted her plans. The clause reads as a deliberate recognition that the standard testamentary structures might not suit every widow's situation, and that flexibility was sometimes more valuable than prescriptive certainty.

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Testaments Executor or Executors heretofore by me made Constitute[d] or Named acknowledgeing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament which I Pronounce and declare as such in p[re]sence of the Witnefses hereunto. Witnefs my hand & Seale the day and year first before Written

Sealed Sign'd & Charles Steward Delivered in y[e] presence of Tho[s] Price [J]n[o] Alexander

Ifland St Helena

In the Name of God Amen The Eight Day of Jan[ua]ry In the Year of our Lord God one Thousand Seven Hundred and Fourteen I Thomas Gargen of y[e] Ifland St Helena Free Holder being Sick & weak in Body but of P[er]fect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowe[i]ng it is appointed for all men once to dye doe make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say first and principally I give and bequeath my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and for my body I committ To the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like and decent manner att the Discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I shall receive the same againe by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to blefs me in this Life I give and dispose of the same in the following manner and forme

Imp[r]: I Give and bequeath to Mercy my well beloved wife one third of my personall Estate and her [b]eing in the dwelling House and Land dureing her naturall life and after her decease then my House and Land to be Sold and the product thence ariseing to be Equally divided between my beloved children John, Long Elizabeth Steward Sarah Gargen and Susannah Gargen.

Item I give to my beloved Daughter Susannah Gargen two Heifer[s] and as for the rest of my Personall Estate Desire that it may be

In the name of God, Amen.

On 8 January 1715, Thomas Gargen of St Helena, a freeholder, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for Christian burial as the executors thought fit, in hope of resurrection.

To his wife Mercy, he left one third of his personal estate and her residence in the dwelling house and on the land during her lifetime. After her death, the house and land were to be sold, and the proceeds divided equally between his children John Long, Elizabeth Steward, Sarah Gargen and Susannah Gargen.

To his daughter Susannah Gargen, he left two heifers.

He directed that the rest of his personal estate be disposed of in a manner to follow.

Interpretations

The will closes the testamentary career of Thomas Gargen, one of the most recurrent administrators across the registers and the present session. The handover documents him as a neighbouring landholder in the Paul Charles will of August 1706, as executor of the Richard Harding will of July 1706, as witness to the Stephen Poirier codicil of August 1707, and now as one of the three executors named in the Charles Steward will of December 1714, processed earlier . He drew his own deathbed will less than four weeks after the Steward will of which he was an executor, indicating that he was sick at the time of his appointment in that role.

The son John Long, named alongside the three daughters, carries a different surname from the testator. The handover records no earlier Long testator. The most likely explanation is that Mercy Gargen had been previously married to a man named Long, with John being her son from that earlier marriage. Thomas Gargen treated his stepson on equal terms with his own biological daughters, dividing the eventual proceeds of the house and land sale equally among the four. The arrangement is consistent with the practice documented in earlier wills, including the William Bishop will of June 1687, where stepchildren retained their natural father's surname while inheriting from their stepfather.

Speculations

The drawing of Thomas Gargen's deathbed will less than four weeks after his appointment as executor of Charles Steward's will points to a sudden onset of fatal illness rather than a chronic decline. Charles Steward had named Gargen as executor on 12 December 1714, implying that Gargen was healthy enough at that date to be appointed to a substantial administrative responsibility. By 8 January 1715, Gargen was himself sick enough to draw his own will. The rapid transition from active administrator to deathbed testator within four weeks is consistent with an acute illness, perhaps a winter respiratory infection or another rapidly progressing condition. The handover records similar patterns of sudden mortality among the senior administrative class.

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Equally divided between my aforesaid Children but that part which I give to my beloved Daughter Elizabeth Steward I give to her for her naturall life and after her decease then to be divided between the Children of Charles Steward decea[s]ed Likewise I constitute and appoint my beloved Friends John Robinson and Richard Gurling Executors of this my Last Will and Testament utterly Disallowing & Revoaking all former Wills and Testaments by me made In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seal the day and year above written T[ho] Gargen Witnefs James Vesey Richard Swallow

In the Name of God Amen the 3[d] of March 1714/5 I Thomas Harper of the Ifland St Helena being sick in Body but of good and perfect memory thanks be to almighty God and Calling to Remembrance the uncertain estate of this transitory life and that all Flesh must yeild unto Death when it shall please God to call do make and declare this my Last will and testament in manner and form following first being P[e]nitent and Sorry for all my Sins and humbly desireing forgivenefs for the same I commend my Soul unto almighty God, my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by whose merits I trust and beli[e]ve a[ss]uredly to be saved and to have full remifsion and forgivenefs of all my Sins and to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven and my body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter nam'd and for the settling of my temporal Estate and such goods chattles and Debts as it hath Pleased God to bestow upon me I do order give and dispose the same in manner and form following.

Imp[r]: I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife the one halfe of the Lease land dureing her naturall life and then to return to the Children and the one third of my personalll Estate to dispose of att her own will and Pleasure

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Children Thomas Martin Gabriel Elizabeth and the Child in the Womb all to have an Equall part of the two thirds of my personall Estate and the one half of the Lease Land for the use of my Children and that the whole Estate be kept together till my wife marries but then to be divided

And thereby make and appoint my Loveing Brother M[r] Gabriel Powell Free Holder of the Ifland St Hellena full and Sole Executor of this my Last will and Testament hereby revoking[,] disannulling and making void all former Wills and Bequests by me made and declareing

The residuary personal estate was to be divided equally between Thomas Gargen's four children. Elizabeth Steward's share was given to her for her lifetime only, and after her death it was to be divided between the children of Charles Steward, deceased.

Thomas Gargen named John Robinson and Richard Gurling as joint executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day above written, in the presence of James Vesey and Richard Swallow.

Thomas Gargen.

On 3 March 1715, Thomas Harper of St Helena made his will. He was sick in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the uncertainty of mortal life and the certainty of death.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and salvation through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently as the executor thought fit.

To his wife, he left one half of the leased land for her lifetime, with the land then to return to the children after her death. He also left her one third of his personal estate, to be disposed of as she chose.

To his children Thomas, Martin, Gabriel, Elizabeth and the child his wife was then carrying, he left an equal share each in the remaining two thirds of his personal estate and in the other half of the leased land. The whole estate was to be kept together until his wife remarried, at which point it was to be divided.

He named his brother Gabriel Powell, freeholder of St Helena, as sole executor. He revoked all earlier wills.

Interpretations

The reference to Charles Steward as deceased in Thomas Gargen's residuary clause fixes the date of Charles Steward's death before 8 January 1715. This has documented Charles Steward as the testator of December 1714 and as Thomas Gargen's son-in-law through his marriage to Elizabeth Gargen. Steward had named Gargen as one of three joint executors on 12 December 1714. By the time Gargen drew his own will on 8 January 1715, Steward was already dead. The interval between Steward's appointment of his executors and his own death was therefore less than four weeks.

The naming of Gabriel Powell as the testator's brother and sole executor connects the Harper will to the Powell family extensively documented in the handover. Gabriel Powell had appeared as the grazing location for Harding cattle in 1681, as the sole heir of Hans Yorgin in 1683, as witness to the Earle will of November 1702, and as husband of Sarah Rider (daughter of James Rider) by 1704. He had now been named as one of the three joint executors of the Charles Steward will of December 1714. His role here as sole executor of the Harper will, with the additional identification as brother of the testator, fixes a kinship connection between the Powell and Harper families not previously disclosed in the registers. Either Gabriel Powell and Thomas Harper had a common parent (with one of them adopting a different surname), or one was the husband of the other's sister, making them brothers-in-law.

Speculations

The asymmetric treatment of Elizabeth Steward's share, with a life interest where her siblings received outright shares, points to a testator using the testamentary form to protect his daughter's property against absorption into her late husband's family estate. The Charles Steward will of December 1714 had distributed his own estate among his six sons, with elaborate cattle stocks and a discretionary clause for the executors. Gargen's life-interest mechanism for his daughter Elizabeth ensured that any property he gave her would not be merged into the Steward distribution but would be reserved for the next generation. The clause reads as a deliberate protection of the Gargen line's contribution to the Steward children's eventual inheritance, with the testator ensuring that his own grandchildren rather than the Steward family at large received the eventual benefit.

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declareing) this only to be my Last Will and Testament. In Wittnefs Hereof I have sett my hand and Seal the Day and date above mentond

Sealed Signed and his D[elivere]d. In the Pre[s]ence of Tho[s] [+] Harper John Nicholls mark Robert Gurling Joshua Johnson The above is a True Coppy taken & Examined by Antipas ToveyIfland St Helena

In the Name of God Amen This Twenty Ninth Day of March in the Year of our Lord God one thousand Seven hundred & fifteen, I Edward Mashborne of the Ifland St: Helena Third in Councill in the Service of the Hono[u]rable y[e] United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies being under great indisposition of Body, but of Sound and disposing Mind & memory (praised be God) knowing that it is appotehed for all men once to Dye Do upon mature consideration make ordain & constitute this my Last Will & Testament in manner & Form following.

First and principally I recommend my Soul into y[e] hands of my Almighty Creator and mercifull Redeemer trusting in the Meritts and Mediation of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ for y[e] full pardon of all my Sins and Everlasting Life and my Body I committ to y[e] Earth in hopes of it[s] glorious Resurrection to Immortality, to be buried in a Decent & Christian like manner at y[e] Discretion of my Executrix & Executor hereafter mentioned, as to the Disposall of what Temporal Goods & Estate which it has pleased the Providence of God to grant me, I give devise and bequeath y[e] same in following manner viz[t].

IMPRIMIS, I give and bequeath unto my only Child and well beloved Son Thomas Mashborne one Silver Tankard Mark'd E M the Lesser of the two which I have also One Black Boy named Peter, and one Heifer, to be taken out of the three that I am possefsed of as Soon as may be after my Decease and Mark'd for him my said Son unto whom I also give all the Increase of the said heifer. Item

Thomas Harper's will was signed and sealed on the day above mentioned, in the presence of John Nicholls, Robert Gurling and Joshua Johnson.

Thomas Harper, by mark.

The copy was attested by Antipas Tovey.

On 29 March 1715, Edward Mashborne of St Helena, third in council in the service of the East India Company, made his will. He was under great indisposition of body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and everlasting life through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently in Christian manner, as the executrix and executor thought fit.

To his only son Thomas Mashborne, he left a silver tankard marked E M, the smaller of the two he owned. He also left him a slave called Peter and one heifer, to be taken from the three he owned, marked for the son as soon as possible after his death. Thomas was also to receive any future increase from the heifer.

Interpretations

The witness Joshua Johnson at the Harper will is the same Joshua Johnson named as one of the executors of the Robert Addis will of June 1714, the grandson and joint executor of the Ann Fuller will of March 1713, and the planter from whose household the slave Abigail and her daughter Margaret Hine came to attention in the Fuller will. His repeated appearance in the testamentary record of 1713 to 1715 confirms his standing as one of the rising administrative figures of the period. The witness Robert Gurling is the same Robert Gurling named in the handover as son of Mary Dixon by her will of 1696, who had appeared as a witness to the Robert Leech will of May 1712. He also appears with that name and family link . The witness John Nicholls is presumably the same John Nichols who had served as witness to the Robert Addis will of June 1714, with the spelling varying between Nicholls and Nichols across the registers.

The bequest of one heifer from the three Mashborne owned, with the further provision that the marked heifer's future increase would belong to the son, follows the same separate-stock pattern documented across the registers. This records similar arrangements in the Richard Alexander will of April 1710, the Gilbert Colgrave will of October 1711 and the Charles Steward will of December 1714. The mechanism gave the son a productive asset with an identified ownership mark, distinct from the rest of the family herd.

Speculations

The compressed sequence of senior deaths in the winter of 1714 to 1715 continues with Edward Mashborne's deathbed will of 29 March 1715. The Charles Steward will of December 1714, the Thomas Gargen will of January 1715, the Thomas Harper will of March 1715 and now the Mashborne will of late March 1715 represent four substantial deathbed dispositions within four months. The handover documents earlier compressed periods of mortality among the senior administrative class, particularly around 1707 to 1710. The winter of 1714 to 1715 appears to have been another such period, with significant losses across both the planter community and the Company administration. The recurrent waves of mortality reflect the island's general health environment, with disease outbreaks periodically claiming a significant proportion of the senior settler population.

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Item, I give and bequeath unto my said Son all my Share and Benefitt of a Policy payable upon my Honoured Mother M[r]s: Elizabeth Mashbornes Decea[se] by the Perpetuall A[ss]urance (or Insurance) office in England in which Policy my beloved Brother M[r]: James Mashborne and I are equal Sharers.

Item, as to y[e] Rest and Residue of my Estate, I give and bequeath one third part of it to my Said beloved Son Thomas, and the other two Thirds to my well-beloved Wife Mary Mashborne and in case of the Decease of my said Son before full Age or Marriage then I give and bequeath all and Every Legacy or Legacys Share or Shares hereby given to him, to my said well beloved wife, to be intirely at her dispo[s]al, as my will and meaning is that her aforesaid two Thirds shall Likewise be.

Lastly. I do hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my said well beloved Wife, Executrix and my beloved Brother in Law John Goodwin Executor of this my Last Will & Testament, During the time that my said Son shall remain under Age, or Marriage, as aforesaid upon the said Ifland St: Helena or not remove into England as hereafter Specified, But if my said Wife shall remove with said Son into England then requiring my said beloved Brother in Law John Goodwin to quit and resign his said Executorship and all and all manner of my said Son's Effects I then hereby nominate & constitute, my said Wife and my well beloved Brother the Reverend M[r]: James Mashborne Executrix and Executor of this my said Last Will and Testament But if my said Wife shall think fit, to remain out of England and be content for her good to send my said Son into England, in such case I constitute my said beloved Brother James Whole and Sole Executor t[h]ereof requiring both my said well beloved wife and Brother-in-Law to quitt this Executorship and remitt or cause to be remitted my said Sons Effects upon this Ifland into the hands of my said Brother in England for the use and Benefitt of my said Son not Doubting my said Beloved Brothers Willingnefs to do for my Child as I would my Self if Living and I do hereby fully Revoke and disannul all former Wills or Wills Testament or Testaments Executor or Executors heretofore by me made constituted or named, Acknowledging and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and

To his son Thomas, Edward Mashborne also left his share and benefit of a policy payable on the death of his mother Mrs Elizabeth Mashborne, issued by the Perpetual Assurance Office in England. In that policy, the testator's brother Mr James Mashborne held an equal share alongside the testator.

To his son Thomas, he left one third of the residue of his estate. To his wife Mary Mashborne, he left the remaining two thirds. If Thomas died before reaching majority or marrying, all the legacies and shares given to him were to pass to Mary for her own disposal, on the same terms as her two-thirds residue.

He named his wife Mary as executrix and his brother-in-law John Goodwin as executor. This arrangement applied while Thomas remained under age or marriage, on St Helena. If Mary chose to remove Thomas to England, the structure changed: John Goodwin was to resign his executorship, and the testator's brother, the Reverend James Mashborne, was to act as executor jointly with Mary.

A third alternative was provided. If Mary chose to remain on the island and to send Thomas to England alone, the entire executorship was to pass to James Mashborne as sole executor. Mary and John Goodwin were both to resign and remit Thomas's effects on the island to James in England, for the son's use and benefit. The testator expressed his confidence that James would care for the child as he himself would have done if living.

He revoked all earlier wills.

Interpretations

The reference to the Perpetual Assurance Office in England introduces a new financial instrument not previously documented in the registers. The Perpetual Assurance Office was a London-based life insurance company. The fact that Edward and his brother James held equal shares of a policy on their mother's life indicates that the brothers had jointly invested in a life insurance arrangement covering their mother Elizabeth Mashborne. On her death, the policy would pay out a sum divided equally between the two brothers. The bequest of Edward's share to his son Thomas means that Thomas would receive Edward's half of the eventual payout on his grandmother's death, with James retaining his own half.

The brother-in-law John Goodwin named as executor is presumably a relative of Mary Mashborne through marriage. The handover records the Goodwin family extensively, with John Goodwin (testator December 1703), his brother Thomas Goodwin (testator December 1709) and Thomas's wife Frances Goodwin, who had inherited multiple executorships in the December 1709 will. The present John Goodwin may be the son Robert Goodwin of the December 1703 will, who would have reached adulthood by 1715, or a separate Goodwin connection. The given name John matches that of the December 1703 testator, suggesting the present John Goodwin may have been named after his father by a son or other relative. Mary Mashborne, the testator's wife, would thus be a sister or close relative of the Goodwin family.

Speculations

The participation in a London life insurance policy on his mother's life is the most distinctive financial feature of Mashborne's estate. The arrangement implies a sophisticated approach to family financial planning, with the two brothers using the emerging metropolitan insurance market to provide a future cash payment on their mother's death. The clause shows how members of the English administrative class engaged with the new financial instruments of the period. The bequest of his share to Thomas integrates the boy into this financial structure, giving him an interest in a London policy from his colonial location.

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128

and Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett

my hand and Seale this Day and Year first above

Written

Signed Sealed Declared and

pronounced (no Stampt Paper

being here to be had) by the Edw[d]: Mashborne

said Edward Mashborne as his

Last Will and Testament in

Presence of us, Tho[s]: Price

W[m] Porteous

Joshua Thoml[i]nson

Proved before Gov[er]no[r] & Councill the 20: of March 1715/16

Attested p[er] Jn[o] Alexander

A True Copp[y] of the originall p[er] [Jn]o Alexander

In the Name of God Amen this twenty

Seventh Day of August in y[e] year of our Lord God 1713 I Sutton

Isaac Sen[r] free planter of y[e] S[ai]d Ifland being very weake in

body but of perfect mind and memmory thanks be given

Unto God Therefore caling unto mind the mortality of

my Body & knowing y[t] it is appointed for all men once to

to die, do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament that

is to say principally and first of all I give & Recommend my

Soul Into hands of Almighty God y[t] gave it & my Body to

be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at y[e]

discretion of my Executor hereafter Named nothing Doubt

= ing but at the Generall Resurrection I shall receive y[e] same

againe by y[e] mighty power. & as touching y[e] worldly Estate

wherewith it Pleased God to blefs me with in this world

I give & bequeath & Dispose of y[e] same in manner &

and from following

Imprimis I give & bequeath Unto my Dearly beloved Wife

Elizabeth Isaac y[e] whole Estate both p[er]sonal and Real y[t] I do pofsefs

Dureing her life and at her my S[ai]d Wifes Decease I give &

bequeath unto my well and only beloved Son Sutton Isaack whom

Edward Mashborne's will was signed, sealed, declared and pronounced on the day and year first above written. A note recorded that no stamped paper was available on the island.

The witnesses were Thomas Price, William Porteous and Joshua Tomlinson.

The will was proved before the governor and council on 20 March 1716, attested by John Alexander.

A true copy was attested by John Alexander.

Edward Mashborne.

On 27 August 1713, Sutton Isaac senior, free planter of St Helena, made his will. He was very weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God and his body to the ground for decent Christian burial as the executor thought fit, in hope of resurrection.

To his wife Elizabeth Isaac, he left the whole estate, both real and personal, for her lifetime. After her death, the estate was to pass to his only son Sutton Isaac.

Interpretations

The note that no stamped paper was available on the island repeats the same observation already recorded in the Simon Lenox will of August 1713 processed earlier . The shortage of stamped paper, first noted in 1713, evidently continued into 1715 when the Mashborne will was drawn. The persistence of the deficiency over at least eighteen months indicates a sustained interruption of supply from England rather than a brief administrative gap. The repeated notations in successive wills show how the island's testamentary practice continued without the proper stationery, with the formal notice substituting for the missing physical compliance.

The date of 27 August 1713 places the will within the same window as the Simon Lenox will of August 1713 and just before the Benjamin Sich will of November 1713, all processed . The three wills together represent a cluster of deathbed dispositions in the late summer and autumn of 1713, potentially reflecting another wave of mortality among the planter community. The handover documents earlier such clusters, and the recurrence of compressed periods of testamentary activity across the registers reinforces the pattern of episodic illness affecting the senior settler population.

Speculations

The unusual length of time between Mashborne's will (29 March 1715) and its probate (20 March 1716) suggests that he lived for at least several months after drawing the document. The phrase under great indisposition of body in the opening formula indicated a serious illness, but the testator was not at the immediate point of death. The extended interval before probate is consistent either with a prolonged decline through 1715, during which the will remained current but unproved, or with Mashborne's recovery from the initial illness and subsequent death from another cause later in the year. Either possibility would explain the year-long gap between execution and probate.

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129

I likewise make & ordaine Heir & Executor of this my Last will & Testam[ent] all & p[er]ticular my Estate afore named Item I give & bequeath unto my Daughter Susanna Swallow one Shilling Disanulling her from having any fur =ther part in my S[ai]d Estate and Likewise I give unto my son in Law John French one Shilling C[u]ting y[e] S[ai]d French of from having any further part or Sha[r]e of my Estate. Item I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children Stevens & Susanna Edward and Edward Collier and mary Swallow daughter of Thom[as] Swallow desceased twenty shillings each to Receive at y[e] day of marri[a]ge

Item I give & bequeth unto my Grandson Thomas Collier all my we[a]ring appar[r]ell to whom I likewise give twenty shillings to buy him a Ring

Rectifying and Confirming this & no other to be my Last will & Testament Uterly disanulling Revokeing and disallowing all & every other former Wills & Testaments by me in any ways before this time named Willed & bequeath =ed confirming this & no other to be my Last will & Testament as afor[e] S[ai]d in witnefs whereof I have here unto Set my hand & Seal y[e] day & yea[r] above Writen

Signed Sealed publifhed and Decleared by y[e] S[ai]d Sutton Isaack Sen[r] Sutton Isaack as his Last Will & Testament Senior

Humphre Edwards Samuel Price Jn[o] Welch

Sutton Isaac senior made and ordained his son Sutton Isaac heir and executor of his will, with respect to all and particular property already named.

To his daughter Susanna Swallow, he left one shilling, disinheriting her from any further share in his estate. To his son-in-law John French, he likewise left one shilling, cutting him off from any further part or share of the estate.

To his grandchildren Stevens and Susanna Edward, Edward Collier, and Mary Swallow (daughter of Thomas Swallow deceased), he left twenty shillings each, to be received on the day of marriage.

To his grandson Thomas Collier, he left all his wearing apparel, together with twenty shillings to buy a ring.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on the day and year above written, in the presence of Humphrey Edwards, Samuel Price and John Welch.

Sutton Isaac senior.

Interpretations

The provisions in this concluding portion of the Sutton Isaac will substantially extend the family connections discernible in the opening section. The bequest to his daughter Susanna Swallow connects the Isaac family to the Swallow family extensively documented in earlier records. The Robert Swallow will of June 1688 named son Thomas Swallow as residuary heir and executor, and grandson Richard Swallow as recipient of four cows. Thomas Swallow recurred across multiple wills as witness, overseer and neighbouring landholder, including as a leaseholder in the Paul Charles will of August 1706. The present Susanna Swallow is presumably the wife of one of the male Swallows in this network, although her precise position is not specified.

The shilling bequests to Susanna Swallow and John French follow the same disinheritance pattern documented across earlier wills. The William Hayes will of July 1705 had used nominal shillings for four children. The Andrew Wilson will of February 1697 had used a nominal sum for son James. The James Rider will of January 1704 had used a nominal sum for daughter Sarah Powell. The William Dufton senior will of April 1707 had effectively used the same device by leaving the wife only what the law allowed. The Sutton Isaac will applies the same mechanism to a daughter and a son-in-law, indicating a deliberate exclusion from the working estate while preserving the legal acknowledgement.

Speculations

The disinheritance of the daughter Susanna Swallow and the son-in-law John French points to a specific family rupture rather than a general policy of excluding married daughters. The testator did not apply the same treatment to all his daughters, since the named grandchildren include children of other daughters (Edward and Collier) who appear to have received some recognition through their own children's twenty-shilling bequests. The specific exclusion of Susanna and her husband suggests a particular conflict, perhaps over property, marriage, religion or family conduct. The handover and earlier records do not provide further evidence to identify the cause, but the deliberate inclusion of one daughter's children and the exclusion of another's points to a discriminating decision rather than a general policy.

145

130

Ifland St Helena Feb[r]y y[e] 4th 171 7/8

In the Name of God Amen.

I Robert Marsh of y[e] said Ifland Freeholder being

Sick and Weak of Body but of Perfect mind and mem

=ory Thanks be to God for y[e] same but Calling to mind

y[e] Uncertainty of this Life and Knowing it is ap

=pointed for all men once to die Hopeing through y[e]

merrits and death of Jesus Christ to Receive Remifsion and

pardon for all my Sins do hereby make and ordain this

my Last Will and Testament In Manner and Form

following Viz

Inprim[i]s I Will and order that all my Debts and Funerall

Charges be first of all paid and Sat[i]sfyed

Item I give and bequeath to my Nieces Margaret and mary

Burnhum Each one Heifer Calfe to my Sister Martha

Marsh one heifer to Sary Marsh ten pounds to be Sent to

her in Goods or in mony all y[e] Rest and Remainder

of my Estate both Real and Personal I give and bequeath

to my beloved Wife Dureing her Naturall Life provided

unmaried

She keeps her Self Singell and at her Deceafe I give and

bequeath to my Brother John Ten Acres of Land belonging

formerly to my ffather William Marsh and one Black man

to Sary Long Ten Acres of Land formerly M[r] Dovetons and

one black Girl Called Abigail to Will[m] Funge one black

boy and Houfe at fort but in cafe Sarah Long Will[m] Funge Either

or both of them Should D[i]e before age or marri[a]ge that part

or part[s] to Richard Long but if in case my Wife Should

Marry then to Deliver to y[e] s[ai]d John Marsh Sarah Long and

Will[m] Funge their Parts or Lequecies Lastly I Nominate ap

=point and make my Wife Elizabeth Marsh and my brot[her]

John Marsh Executrix and Executor of this my Last Will &

Testament Revoking and make void all former Wills by me made De

=cleareing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testam[en]t

Sign'd Seal'd and

Delivered in Pre[s]ence of Robert Marsh

y[e] Marsh

Richt: Long Frances Long

On 4 February 1718, Robert Marsh of St Helena, a freeholder, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of remission and pardon through Christ.

He directed that his debts and funeral expenses be paid first.

To his nieces Margaret and Mary Burnhum, he left one heifer calf each.

To his sister Martha Marsh, he left one heifer.

To Sarah Marsh, he left ten pounds, to be sent to her either in goods or money.

The rest and remainder of his estate, both real and personal, he left to his beloved wife for her lifetime, provided she remained single and unmarried.

After his wife's death, he left ten acres of land formerly belonging to his father William Marsh to his brother John, together with one slave.

To Sarah Long, he left ten acres of land formerly Mr Doveton's and a slave girl called Abigail.

To William Funge, he left a slave boy and a house at Fort James.

If Sarah Long or William Funge, either or both, died before reaching majority or marrying, their portion was to pass to Richard Long.

If Robert Marsh's wife remarried, the executors were to deliver to John Marsh, Sarah Long and William Funge their respective legacies immediately.

He named his wife Elizabeth Marsh and his brother John Marsh as executrix and executor. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Richard Long and Frances Long.

Robert Marsh, by mark.

Interpretations

The will places Robert Marsh as a freeholder on the island, identified by the same status used by Thomas Gargen in January 1715. The term distinguishes him from leaseholders or tenants. The naming of his father as William Marsh fixes the family's land base through the patrilineal inheritance of the ten acres that had passed from William to Robert and that the will now directed to brother John. The handover does not record an earlier William Marsh testator, although a William Marsh appeared in the Thomas Sanderson will of March 1707/8 as the man indebted by sixty pounds for a Chapel Valley house Sanderson had sold him. Whether the William Marsh of the Sanderson will is the same as the father William Marsh of the present will is uncertain, with the timing being approximately compatible.

The ten acres of land formerly Mr Doveton's, given to Sarah Long, connects the will to the Doveton family. Jonathan Doveton had served as brother-in-law and co-executor of Leonard Coulson's will of March 1707 and as one of four executors of the Robert Leech will of May 1712 in earlier records. The reference to Mr Doveton in the present will suggests that Jonathan Doveton, or another Doveton, had owned the ten acres before Robert Marsh acquired them. The chain of land ownership from Doveton to Marsh to Sarah Long traces the typical pattern of land transactions within the planter community, with parcels passing between families through purchase and inheritance.

Speculations

The strict condition on the widow's life interest, with the bequest depending on her remaining single, points to a deliberate decision to discourage remarriage rather than to manage its consequences through security bonds. The Robert Marsh will reads more restrictively on this point than most of the comparable wills documented in the registers. The testator's choice may reflect a particular concern about his widow remarrying, perhaps because of identified prospective husbands he wished to exclude, or because he wanted his accumulated property to descend entirely to his named beneficiaries rather than being absorbed into any future household. The arrangement gives Elizabeth a clear binary choice: continue as a widow with the life interest, or remarry and lose it entirely.

146

131

The Wittnefs to this Testam[en]t: Jn[o] Marsh Says y[e] Testator to[ld] y[e]

Will was read over to him Sayed on Reading y[e] Legacy to W[i]ll[i]am

Funge & Sarah Long to be delivered to them at his

Wifes remariage he Addes if at at age D[e]noting thereby as this

Wittnefs Think that he Could not have them to pofsefs their

Legacies till at age

Jn[o] Marsh

proved in Consulta[t]ion

thon y[e] 25th of Feb.

by all y[e] Wittnefses

above-Named

I George Bryner having made a memorandum of my

Debts. I do desire y[t] after my debts and funerall Expences

being fully Sat[i]sfyed y[e] Remainder of Moneys I have due

to me in the Store books with my we[a]ring C[l]oaths Shall be

Left in y[e] pofsefsion of M[r] Rich[d]. Swallow Sen[r]. for the use

of my Child to help to bring it up.

also desire that M[r] Swallow will not use my Said Child

as a Slave but use y[e] best means he can in bringing it

up Knowing I have not Left Enough to maintain him

without Labour So desire y[e] said Swallow will be favorable

as he can In Witnefs I have hereunto Set my hand

this 19th day of June 1718

Signed in y[e] Brory Brmerr [Geor]ge Bryner

presents of us

John William Sh[i]frer

John Young

Walter Morris

Memorand[u]m

That tho[s] this is not drawn up in the true form

of a Will yet We adp[i]dge it Equall to a verball Will

Jo[hn] [C]yke[?]

Antipas Tovey Mathew Bazett

The witness John Marsh said that the testator, when the will was read over to him, made a remark on the legacy to William Funge and Sarah Long. The original wording stated that the bequest was to be delivered on the widow's remarriage. The testator added the words if at age. John Marsh understood this to mean that the beneficiaries could not take possession of their legacies until they reached majority.

John Marsh attested the testator's intent.

The will was proved in consultation on 25 February by all the witnesses named above.

On 19 June 1718, George Bryner made a memorandum of his debts.

He directed that after his debts and funeral expenses had been satisfied, the remaining money owed to him in the Company's store books, together with his wearing clothes, should be left in the possession of Mr Richard Swallow senior, for the use of his child and to help bring the child up.

He asked that Richard Swallow would not treat his child as a slave but would do his best in bringing the child up. The testator acknowledged that he had not left enough to maintain his child without labour, and he asked Swallow to be as favourable as possible.

The will was signed in the presence of John William Shifrer, John Young and Walter Morris.

George Bryner.

A memorandum noted that although the document was not drawn up in the proper form of a will, the witnesses judged it equivalent to a verbal will. The memorandum was attested by John Cyke (or a similar surname, partially illegible), Antipas Tovey and Matthew Bazett.

Interpretations

The witness John Marsh's clarification on the Robert Marsh will, that the testator had added the words if at age to the legacy delivery clause, indicates a deliberate correction made during the reading of the will. The original text directed delivery of the legacies on the widow's remarriage. The testator wished to qualify this by adding that the beneficiaries could only take possession when they reached majority. The correction preserves the widow's life interest as the primary structure, with the remarriage clause triggering the maturation of the legacies but not their actual delivery until the beneficiaries were of age. The arrangement protects the young beneficiaries from receiving their inheritances before they could manage them, while still ensuring that the widow's remarriage would not deprive them of their eventual portions.

The Ann Fuller will of March 1713 in earlier records had documented a similar situation, with the bequest of a heifer calf to Margaret Hine, identified as the daughter of the slave Abigail. The Bryner document treats the same kind of situation with greater anxiety, with the testator explicitly asking that his child not be reduced to slavery despite the modest provision he was able to leave. The acknowledgement that the boy would have to labour to support himself, combined with the request that Swallow be as favourable as possible, indicates that the testator recognised the precarious position of a free child of mixed parentage in a slaveholding society.

Speculations

The careful retention of the testator's correction to the Robert Marsh will, with the witness John Marsh recording the additional words spoken at the reading, indicates the importance attached to capturing the testator's exact intent. The handover and earlier records document the standard practice of recording any interlined corrections in a memorandum at the foot of the will. The Robert Marsh procedure goes further by recording a spoken clarification rather than an interlineation, with the witness's testimony serving as the documentary record of the testator's intent. The procedure shows the testamentary practice of the island adapting to capture meaning even when the written text was ambiguous or incomplete.

147

132

Ifland St Helena

In The Name of God Amen

I John Crosbey of the Ifland of St Helena being Sick & weak in body but

of sound & p[er]fect memory all Praise be given unto Almighty God for the

Same, & Knowing there is nothing more certain than Death nor Nothing more

uncertain then the time When I then do make this my Last Will & Testament

in manner & form following

First & Principally I bequeath my Soul into the Hands of Allmighty God

my Creator hoping & believ[i]ng that through the merrits of Our Lord & Saviour

JESUS CHRIST after this Life Ended Shall Injoy Everlasting Blifs, And my Body

I commend to the Earth to be Buried in a decent manner, & as touching such

Worldly Goods which it hath pleas'd God to Lend unto me I give & dispose of the

same in manner & form following

Imp[r]: I give & bequeath unto my Loving Brother Richard Crosbey one Heifer Calf

Item I give & bequeath unto my Loving Sister Elizabeth Crosbey one Heifer

Calf to put into Distinct mark[s] & their use presently after my Death

Item I give & bequeath unto my two other Sisters Mary Crosbey & Catherine S[t]ory

each one Heifer Calf if any to be bought Otherwise the first two that are Calved

after my decea[s]e out of my Stock In case of the Death of any S[ai]d Brother & Sisters

I do Order that the Survivors shall Pofsefs what is Left by the Dead Brother or

Sisters of the Said Cattle

Item I do Constitute & Appoint M[r] Richard Gurling Executor of this my

Last Will & Testament & after my Debts & Legacies & f[u]nerall Expences be t[o]y fully

Sat[i]sfyed I do desire that the Said Richard Gurling shall pofsefs all my afsd[?] good

Land House Bills & Bands ready Money &c. all that I can Lawfully Claim or mine

for the Term of Seven Years & then to Return to my Loving Brother Rich[d] Crosbey if

Capable to manage it for the Use of my sisters if not Provided for before

Item I do desire that the S[ai]d Rich[d] Gurling shall have the full care of my Brother

& Sisters as he shall think fitt to bring them up Seven years or full Age. And Do

hereby Revoke & make void all former Wills by me made, & Do acknowledge this to

be my Last will & Testament. In Witnefs whereof I have hereto Sett my hand

& Seall this 26 day of Aprill in the year of Our Lord one thousand Seven

hundred & Seventeen

his

Sign'd & Sealed John[:] + Crosbey

in the Pre[s]ence of mark

John Bagley

Walter Morris

On 26 April 1717, John Crosbey of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its hour.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried decently.

To his brother Richard Crosbey, he left one heifer calf.

To his sister Elizabeth Crosbey, he left one heifer calf, both calves to be marked separately and put to their use immediately after his death.

To his other sisters Mary Crosbey and Catherine Story, he left one heifer calf each, to be bought if any were available, or otherwise the first two calves born from his stock after his death.

If any of the brother or sisters died, the survivors were to take the deceased's share of the cattle.

He named Richard Gurling as executor. After his debts, legacies and funeral expenses were paid, Gurling was to hold his land, house, bills, bonds, ready money and everything else he could lawfully claim, for a term of seven years. At the end of the seven years, the property was to pass to his brother Richard Crosbey, if Richard was capable of managing it for the benefit of his sisters who had not by then been provided for through marriage.

He directed that Gurling should have full care of his brother and sisters for seven years or until they came of age, bringing them up as he thought fit.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of John Bagley and Walter Morris.

John Crosbey, by mark.

Interpretations

The will places John Crosbey within the Crosby family documented in earlier records. The handover records Edward Crosby's will of 26 May 1705, which left his house and ten acres to his wife for life, then to son John Crosby, with a substitution to son Edward Crosby if John died before majority. The handover further notes an endorsement to the Edward Crosby will dated 6 May 1715 by E. C. Povey, indicating that the disposition had remained current through to that date.

The choice of Richard Gurling as executor places the administration in the hands of a well-established figure of the period. Gurling had served as joint executor of the Edward Bagley will of April 1706, as one of two executors of George Northern in May 1712, as one of four executors of Robert Leech in May 1712, as one of three joint executors of Charles Steward in December 1714, as joint executor of Thomas Gargen in January 1715, and as witness to the Thomas Harper will of March 1715. By 1717, he was perhaps the single most active executor on the island. His selection to hold the Crosbey estate for seven years, with full care of three minor siblings, represents one of the most substantial single trusteeships in the records.

Speculations

The unusual seven-year holding period imposed on the executor Richard Gurling, with the property to pass to brother Richard at the end of that term, points to a specific calculation about the maturation of the next generation. The testator was perhaps quite young himself at the date of his death, with his siblings even younger. The seven-year horizon was designed to allow the eldest brother to mature into someone capable of taking over the family estate, with the youngest siblings either reaching majority during the trust period or being established through marriage. The arrangement reads as a deliberate piece of generational planning, with the trust period calibrated to the expected age progression of the surviving family.

148

133

In The Name of God Amen. I John Robinson of the Ifland

St Hellena being Sick & weak in body but of P[er]fect mind & memory all praise

& Glory be given to Almighty God For the Same, & knowing that nothing is more

certain than Death, nor nothing more uncertain than the time when, do make

constitute & Appoint this my Last Will & Testam[en]t in manner & form following. that

is to say First & Principally I bequeath my Soul into the Hand of Almighty God

my Creator hoping & A[ss]uredly believing through the Alone Mer[i]ts of my Blefsed

Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ after this Life Ended to Injoy Everlasting Blifs. My body

I commit to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in Christian Like manner Accordi[ng]

as my Executrix hereafter Named shall think fitt. And as touching such Worldly goods

as it has plea[se]d God out of his great goodnefs to Lend unto me do give & dispose of the

same in the following manner & form

Imp[r]: I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Daughters Ann, Elisabeth & Mary

Robinson Each of them one Heifer Calfe the first thats calved after my Deceafe to be

Put into a distinct mark with the Rest of the Cattle that the s[ai]d Children has already

Item after my debts Legaces & f[u]nerall Expences be fully sati[s]fyed I give to my

Dear & Loving Wife Martha Robinson whom I make Sole Executrix of this my Last

Will & Testament the Remaining Part of my Estate both Real & Personall Bills

Bonds Ready Moneys &c. and all that I can Lawfully claim as mine, She doing the

best she can for the good of my beloved Children, Making void all former Wills

by me made & acknowledging & conforming this to be my Last Will & Testa[men]t. In

Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal this Seventy[th] day of Aprill

in the year of Our Lord one thousand Seven hundred & Eightee[n]

Sign'd & Seal'd in Jn[o] Robinson

the Pre[s]ence of

James Vesey

Francis Funge

Walter Morris

On 17 April 1718, John Robinson of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its hour.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried in Christian manner as the executrix thought fit.

To his daughters Ann, Elizabeth and Mary Robinson, he left one heifer calf each, the first three calves born after his death. The calves were to be marked separately and added to the cattle his children already possessed.

After his debts, legacies and funeral expenses were paid, he left the remaining estate, both real and personal, including bills, bonds and ready money, to his wife Martha Robinson, whom he made sole executrix. She was to do the best she could for the good of his children.

He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of James Vesey, Francis Funge and Walter Morris.

John Robinson.

Interpretations

The will places John Robinson as a planter or freeholder of the island whose recurring appearance in earlier records can now be set in context. The handover documents John Robinson as a witness to the Stephen Poirier codicil of August 1707 and as a witness to the Richard Alexander will of April 1710. He had also appeared as the only known recorded witness to the George Bryner memorandum of June 1718, which is two months after the present date. The Bryner attribution is therefore mistaken in the present analysis: Robinson signed the Bryner document just two months after drawing his own deathbed will. The handover further records John Robinson as one of two joint executors of the Thomas Gargen will of January 1715. The recurrent appearance across more than a decade confirms his standing in the administrative network of the island.

The choice of Martha Robinson as sole executrix, with the entire residue of the estate at her disposal, places the will within the simpler planter testamentary tradition. The arrangement does not specify how Martha is to divide the estate among the daughters or what conditions apply to her management. The instruction that she do the best she can for the good of my beloved children gives her discretionary authority comparable to that vested in the wives in the James Easthope will of April 1706, the John Mudge will of May 1708 and the John Luther will of March 1712 in earlier records. The structure indicates a testator placing complete confidence in his wife's judgement, with no need for the protective machinery used by Paul Charles, Richard Harding or Robert Leech.

Speculations

The absence of any provision restricting Martha's enjoyment of the estate, with no remarriage clause and no constraint on her management, indicates that John Robinson placed unconditional trust in his wife. The structure contrasts with the protective machinery used by many other planter testators. Whether this reflects an unusually strong personal confidence in Martha, or a smaller estate where elaborate provisions would have been disproportionate, cannot be determined from the surface of the text. The will reads as a brief and direct disposition without the elaborate hedging found in many other planter wills.

149

134

In the Name of God Amen I Francis Steward of the Ifland

St Helena being Sick & weak in body but of Sound & P[er]fect Mind & memory all

Praise & Glory be given to Almighty God for [the] same, & knowing that nothing is more

certain than Death, nor nothing more uncertain than the time, Do make constitute

& Appoint this my Last Will & Testa[men]t in manner & form following, That is to say

First & Principally I bequeath my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my

Creator hoping & A[ss]uredly believing through the alone meri[t]s of my Blef[s]ed

Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ after this Life Ended to Injoy Eternal Blefs. My

Body I comm[i]t to the Earth from whence it came to be buryed in a Christain

Manner, as touching such Worldly goods as it has pleased God out of his great

Goodnefs to Lend unto me, I give & dispose of the same in manner & following

form

Imp[r]: I give & bequeath unto my dear & Loving Mother Martha Robinson

five Acres of Land Hired of the Hon[oura]ble Company Lying behind Tho[s] Swallows.

Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Sisters Ann, Elisabeth & Mary Robinson

five Pounds, one Heifer to be put into distinct mark with the Rest of the Said three

Childrens Cattle.

Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Nephew Richard Gurling my part

of a House at the Fort, & my Part of Ten Acres of Land formerly Chrocks & Thirty

five Pounds which is part of my Dividend Left by my father with five head of Cattle

viz[t]: Two Bullocks, one Heifer Two Cows

Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Cousin Tho[s] Steward one young Heifer

After my debts & Lagacies & Funerall Expences being fully sat[i]sfyed I give and

bequeath unto my well beloved Sister Martha Steward Ten Acres of free Land

given by my father, with my book debts & the remaining part of my Cattle

Item I do Ordain & Appoint my dear & Loving Mother Martha Robinson

& my Trusty Friend Walter Morris Executors of this my Last Will & Testa[men]t to see

it Fully Performed, Revokeing & disannulling all former Wills, Acknowledging

this to be my Last Will & Test[men]t In Witnefs I have hereto sett my hand & Seal

this 6 day of June 1718

Signed Sealed

& delivered in Francis Steward

the Pre[s]ence of

Thomas South[an]

W[m] Beale

Charles Steward

On 6 June 1718, Francis Steward of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its hour.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of eternal happiness through Christ. He directed that his body be buried in Christian manner.

To his mother Martha Robinson, he left five acres of land hired from the East India Company, lying behind Thomas Swallow's property.

To his sisters Ann, Elizabeth and Mary Robinson, he left five pounds and one heifer between them. The heifer was to be marked separately and added to the three children's existing cattle stock.

To his nephew Richard Gurling, he left his share of a house at Fort James, his share of ten acres of land formerly Chrocks's, thirty-five pounds (part of the dividend left to him by his father), and five head of cattle: two bullocks, one heifer and two cows.

To his cousin Thomas Steward, he left one young heifer.

After his debts, legacies and funeral expenses were paid, the remainder of his estate went to his sister Martha Steward. The bequest comprised ten acres of free land given by his father, his book debts and the remaining cattle.

He named his mother Martha Robinson and his friend Walter Morris as joint executors. He revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Thomas Southan, William Beale and Charles Steward.

Francis Steward.

Interpretations

The will places Francis Steward as the son of the Charles Steward whose own will was drawn on 12 December 1714. The handover and earlier records document Charles Steward's elaborate disposition for six named sons, including Francis Steward, who at the time was absent from the island and whose father had managed his cattle in his absence. Charles Steward had directed that the proceeds of cattle sold on Francis's behalf, totalling thirty-five pounds and ten shillings sterling, be paid to Francis on his next arrival on the island to fit him out for sea and to provide for his future.

The naming of the cousin Thomas Steward as a beneficiary identifies a further Steward connection. The Charles Steward will of December 1714 named Thomas Steward as one of the six sons. The present Thomas Steward is therefore the testator's brother through their shared father Charles. The term cousin is being used loosely, or there is some other Thomas Steward in the wider family. The handover records similar loose usage of family terms across the registers.

Speculations

The substantial bequest to nephew Richard Gurling, larger than any to the immediate family, points to a particular relationship between the testator and his nephew. The handover and earlier records document Richard Gurling as a senior administrator of the period. If he was a younger nephew of Francis Steward, his standing as executor of multiple major wills indicates that he had risen rapidly to the top of the administrative network. The Francis Steward bequest of a Fort James house share, a land share, thirty-five pounds and five cattle would have given Richard a substantial economic base to support his administrative career.

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In The Name of God Amen, This Third day of April in the

year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and nineteen, I Mathew

Bazett of y[e] Ifland St Helena Second in Counc[i]l being Sick in body but of Sound &

disposing mind & memory praised be God considering the Shortne[s]s & uncertainty

of this mortal Life do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament Revoking

& d[i]sannulling all former Wills by me heretofore made (Viz[t]) First & Princip[a]lly I

humbly & Earnestly comm[en]d my Immortal Soul to the merc[i]es of Almighty God

who gave it as into the hands of a faithfull Creator trusting to the Sured Infinite mercies

for a full & free Pardon of all my Sins through the Merits & Mediation of my dear

Redeemer Jesus Christ Our Lord & for the Sanctification of my Soul by the Holy

Spirit of Grace that it may be made meet to be partakers of the Inheritance of the

Sins

Saints in Light And my Mortal Body I Leave to be buryed at the Discretion of

my Executrix hereafter Nam'd trusting to Receive the [...] to a Resurrection of Glory

& Immortality. As to what Worldly Estate it has plea[s]d God in his goodnefs to

Blefs me with for whom Merc[i]es in all instances I desire to be very thankfull I will

& bequeath as follows (Viz[t])

Imprimis to my beloved Daughter Mary French I give One Hundred Pounds

towards paying for the House & Lands Lately bought of Giles Smith.

Item to her three Daughters Mary, Elisabeth & Sarah french Ten pounds Each

Item To my beloved Daughter Martha Worrall having already given her Husband

William Worrall sixty Pounds towards buying a Berth in Sandy Bay, I give forty

Pounds more towards the same, to be paid in as Little time as conveniently may be

Item to my beloved Grandaughter Sarah Worrall fifteen pounds.

Item To all my Other Children not already Named I Leave one hundred po[u]nds

Each to be payd at the Discretion of their mother (Continuing a widow) at Such time

& in such Sevralls as She shall judge most suitable to her & their Occasions, She takeing into

Consideration Likewise the Merit or demerit of their behaveour: I pray God Almighty

give them all Grace to live & dy well.

Item I give & bequeath the Remainder of my whole Estate both Real & Personall to my

well beloved Wife Bridget Bazett to Enjoy Dureing her Natural Life or it Long as he

shall continue unmarried, But in case of her Marrying again that she Enjoy according

to the Custom of the Ifland the third part of the Personal for Ever & the half of the Real

Dureing her Natural Life & that the remainder come into the care of my Last Executors

hereafter ment[i]ones. And it being my Will that all my Children be made Equal Shares

in my Estate Except what inequality may happen from the different time of payment

only I will that after they have had One hundred pounds Each (& my Sister Shall hold

Out so y[ear]) & after that if any Remainder it be Equally divided amongst all my Children

which is to be understood within the Limitations hereafter mentions or already

mentions[.] of y[e] [..]s that that they that pa[i]d be Equal.

Item I declare & Confirm this to be my Last Will & Testament where of I appoint

& Constitute my Wellbeloved Wife afore[s]aid to be whole & Sol[e] Executrix without

being Oblig'd to give any Inventory or Acc[oun]ts so long as she shall continue

unmarried

On 3 April 1719, Matthew Bazett of St Helena, second in council, made his will. He was sick in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged the shortness and uncertainty of mortal life. He revoked all earlier wills.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon, sanctification and resurrection through Christ. He directed that his body be buried as the executrix thought fit.

To his daughter Mary French, he left one hundred pounds towards the cost of the house and lands recently bought from Giles Smith.

To Mary French's three daughters Mary, Elizabeth and Sarah French, he left ten pounds each.

To his daughter Martha Worrall, he left forty pounds. He noted that he had already given her husband William Worrall sixty pounds towards the cost of a berth in Sandy Bay. The forty pounds was to make up the rest of the purchase price and to be paid as soon as conveniently possible.

To his granddaughter Sarah Worrall, he left fifteen pounds.

To all his other children not already named, he left one hundred pounds each. The payments were to be made at the discretion of their mother, while she remained a widow, in such instalments as she judged most suitable to her own and the children's circumstances. She was to take into account the merit or demerit of each child's behaviour. He prayed that God would grant them all grace to live and die well.

The remainder of his estate, both real and personal, he left to his wife Bridget Bazett. She was to enjoy it during her lifetime, or for as long as she remained unmarried. If she remarried, she was to take one third of the personal estate outright and half of the real estate for her lifetime, according to the custom of the island. The remainder was to pass to the executors named below.

He directed that all his children should receive equal shares in the estate, with the only inequality being the different times of payment. After each had received one hundred pounds, with provision for his sister to be maintained, any remaining estate was to be divided equally among all his children.

He named his wife Bridget Bazett as sole executrix. She was not required to provide any inventory or accounts so long as she remained unmarried.

Interpretations

The will closes one of the longest administrative careers documented in the registers. Matthew Bazett had served as witness, executor and attestor across more than two decades of testamentary acts. The handover documents his presence as witness from at least 1696 onwards, with appearances in the Bowman will of February 1696, the Pledgerd will of November 1697, the Bowman the younger will of May 1699, the Beale will of June 1700, the Sich will of February 1703, the Purling will of May 1706, and as executor with Samuel Desfontaines of the Purling and Heath wills of 1706 and the Rider will of January 1704. Earlier records have documented his sustained presence as executor or witness in the Paul Charles will of August 1706, the Richard Harding will of July 1706, the Leonard Coulson will of March 1707, the Stephen Poirier codicil of August 1707 (as translator and executor), the Samuel Desfontaines will of November 1707 (as joint executor with James Draper), the Henry Coales will of August 1700, the James Sich will of December 1708, the Benjamin Boucher codicil of May 1713 (as one of five executors), and the George Bryner memorandum of June 1718.

The bequest to daughter Mary French connects the will to the French family. Mary French is presumably the same Mary French who appears in the handover as daughter of Thomas Box by his will of May 1701, where she received ten acres formerly Henry Webley's. The Mary French of the present will is therefore married to a French son. The handover does not record the French family in detail, but the surname has appeared in the William Hague will of March 1708 (Morris Griffen and William Marsden as executors, but no French name) and elsewhere. The Captain John French named as one of the five executors of the Benjamin Boucher codicil of May 1713 is presumably a senior member of the same family, perhaps the husband of Mary French or another senior French of the period.

Speculations

The bequest of one hundred pounds each to the unnamed other children, with payments at Bridget's discretion, points to a substantial family beyond the named daughters Mary French and Martha Worrall. The handover and earlier records have documented Bazett's wife Bridget extensively but have not enumerated their children. The phrase all my other children not already named indicates that there were perhaps three more children (since Henry Bazett, named as godson and grandson in the Henry Coales will of 1700, plus Mary French Bazett, Martha Bazett Worrall, Elizabeth Bazett, Mary Bazett, Martha Bazett and Bridget Bazett appear across various wills with varying surnames). The structure of the bequest suggests perhaps four to six unnamed additional children, each due one hundred pounds out of the residual estate. The scale indicates a substantial estate, with the Bazett family having accumulated considerable wealth across the testator's long career.

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unmarried & in case of her Deceafe or Marriage I appoint these of my Eldest

Children to Act Joyntly as Executors in her Place, & do Constit[u]te my well beloved Friends

M[r] John Goodwin, James Greentree, & Jonathan Doveton as Overseers to take Care of

this management for the good of my Children in Generall. And it is my Will that

what Estate or part of my Estate shall come into the hands of these my Last Named

Executors shall remain Intire & not be Sols or Divided till my Youngest Cils[?] shall come

to Age or Marriage. & in case my said Wife should Marry again I will that she be

Accountable to my Sa[i]d Named Executors for all & Every part of my Estate that she be

[c]ame Pofsefsd of at my Decease. In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and

Seal the day & Year above Written

Sign'd Sealed Decleared & Pronounced

to be his Last Will & Testament the Words

M[r] John Goodwin being first interlined

& No Stamp P[a]pa to be had in the Pre[s]ence of Us Mathew [seal] Bazett

Samuel Vesey

Francis Wrangham

John Long

In the Name of God Amen. This Twenty third day of

June Anno Dom[in]i 1718 I Thomas Burnham Sen[r] of the Ifland S[t] Helena

free Planter being very sick & weak in body but of sound & p[er]fect mind &

memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same & ca[l]ing to mind

that it is Appointed for all men once to die but the time when very

uncertain do make Constitute & Appoint this & no Other to be my Last

Will & Testament in manner & form following

First & Pri[n]cipally I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty

God my Blefsed Saviour & Redeemer hoping & A[ss]uredly believing to

Recieve free Pardon & forgivenefs of all my sins, And as touching such

worldly goods as it hath pleased God Farr above my Desert to bestow upon

me, (after all my debts are payd & f[u]nerall charges Defrayed) I give

bequeath & dispose of in th[e] following manner

Item I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Son William Burnham

five Acres of Cabbagetree Land where he shall choose it Excluding the

Plantation Already Planted and to be for his Use & Bennefitt after

my deceafe & in case my beloved Wife Mary Burnham should marry

a second Husband then my said Son William is to have five Acres

more taking Rufs[?] & smooth together but yet not to have any of the

Plantation it being my Earnest desire he should be Industrious in

making a new Plantation & to Afsist & help & maintain his Young[er]

Three

If Bridget Bazett died or remarried, three of Matthew Bazett's eldest children were to act jointly as executors in her place. He appointed John Goodwin, James Greentree and Jonathan Doveton as overseers to supervise the management of the estate for the benefit of the children in general.

Any part of the estate that came into the hands of the named executors was to remain intact, not to be sold or divided until the youngest child came of age or married.

If Bridget remarried, she was required to account to the named executors for every part of the estate of which she had taken possession at the time of his death.

A memorandum recorded that the words Mr John Goodwin had been interlined before signing, and that no stamped paper had been available.

The will was witnessed by Samuel Vesey, Francis Wrangham and John Long.

Matthew Bazett.

On 23 June 1718, Thomas Burnham senior of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but clear in mind. He acknowledged that all men were appointed to die.

He commended his soul to God, in hope of pardon and forgiveness through Christ.

After his debts and funeral expenses were paid, he made the following bequests.

To his son William Burnham, he left five acres of cabbage tree land, to be chosen by William from the testator's holdings excluding the existing plantation. The land was for William's use and benefit after the testator's death.

If his wife Mary Burnham remarried, William was to have an additional five acres, taking the rough and the smooth ground together, but again not from the existing plantation. The testator expressed his earnest desire that William should be industrious in establishing a new plantation, and that he should assist and help maintain his three younger siblings.

Interpretations

The Matthew Bazett will closes with a structured succession of executor responsibility. The widow held the primary executor role while she remained unmarried. On her death or remarriage, three eldest children were to take over jointly. Three named overseers were to supervise the management throughout, providing an external check on both the widow and the children-executors. The arrangement provides one of the most elaborate executor structures yet documented in the registers, reflecting the scale and complexity of Bazett's estate and his concern for proper administration.

The naming of John Goodwin, James Greentree and Jonathan Doveton as overseers identifies three figures already documented across the registers. John Goodwin had appeared as brother-in-law and executor in the Edward Mashborne will of March 1715 in earlier records. James Greentree had served as joint executor in many wills across the period, including Richard Harding (July 1706), John Boyce (February 1711), Robert Leech (May 1712), Robert Addis (June 1714) and Ann Fuller (March 1713). Jonathan Doveton had served as brother-in-law and co-executor of Leonard Coulson (March 1707) and as one of four executors of Robert Leech (May 1712). The three together represent the senior administrative figures available at the date of the Bazett will, with each having served in multiple executorships over the preceding decade and more.

Speculations

The interlining of John Goodwin's name in the Bazett will, recorded in the closing memorandum, indicates that Goodwin was added to the overseers' list after the body of the will had been drafted. The original draft may have named only Greentree and Doveton, with Goodwin inserted before signing as a third overseer. The expansion to three overseers, alongside the three children-executors and the primary executrix Bridget, creates a particularly robust administrative structure. The interlining suggests that Bazett or his drafter recognised at the last moment that the proposed structure could be strengthened by the addition of Goodwin, perhaps because of his specific competence or his particular family connection to the Bazett interests.

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Brothers & Sisters & its my further desire he would continue with my Said wellbeloved Wife & Family for their better good & subsistance.

Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Son Thomas Burnham one Bull Calf w[hi]ch I would have Exchanged for a beider[?].

Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Sons viz[t] Robert, Edward & Samuel Burnham Each one Calf, the rest of my beloved Children having already a Seperate small stock of Cattle, which I desire may be Immediatly after my deceafe put into Each a distinct Marke for their own Bennefitt.

Item I give, bequeath & dispose of the Remainder Part of my Land being 12 1/2 Acres (after my said wifes deceafe) & also all the Rest & Residue of my Estate cons[i]sting of any kind whatsoever to be Equally divided between all my beloved Children Except my two Sons William & Thomas & in such Parcells or Lottments as my Executors hereafter Named shall think most fitt, & if they find it Necefsary & convenient to dispose of, or sell the said twelve Acres & a half of Land to the best bidder or to whom they shall think fitt for the good of my said Younger Children

Lastly I do hereby Appoint & constitute my trusty & wellbeloved Friends Isaac Wood & Simon Whaley (both of the Said Ifland) to be whole & sole Executors of this my Last Will & Testam[en]t Revoaking all former Wills & Testam[en]t whatsoev[er] by me hereto[fo]re made either in word or writing, Acknowledging this and no Other In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal the day & year First above written

Signed sealed pronounced & declared as my Last Will Thomas Burnham & Testam[en]t in the Pre[s]ence of Ripin Wells Jn[o] Alexander

Burnham added the wish that William should remain with his beloved wife and family, for their better support and welfare.

To his beloved son Thomas Burnham he gave one bull calf, which he wished to be exchanged for a heifer [...].

To his beloved sons Robert, Edward and Samuel Burnham he gave one calf each. The rest of his children already held a separate small stock of cattle, which he directed should be put under a distinct mark for each child immediately after his death, for their own benefit.

The remaining 12½ acres of his land, together with all the residue of his estate of whatever kind, were to pass after his wife's death. The whole was to be divided equally among all his children except William and Thomas, in such parcels or portions as the executors judged most appropriate. The executors were also empowered to sell the 12½ acres to the best bidder or to whomever they judged fit, if they considered such a sale necessary or convenient for the good of the younger children.

He appointed his trusted friends Isaac Wood and Simon Whaley, both of the island, as sole executors of his will. He revoked all former wills made by him in word or writing, and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, pronounced and declared as Burnham's last will and testament in the presence of Ripin Wells and John Alexander.

Interpretations

The separate small stock of cattle already held by the other children represents a working device of pre-mortem provision common across the St Helena planter wills. Parents marked individual beasts to a child during the parent's lifetime, with the increase running to the child's own stock under a distinct brand. The instruction that distinct marks be applied immediately after the testator's death formalised these informal allocations and protected the children's separate property against confusion with the estate to be divided.

John Alexander, clerk of the council since around 1699, attested the will in his administrative capacity. He has appeared as probate clerk across many wills of the second period and was named executor of his mother-in-law Margaret Cotgrave's will of 7 August 1706.

Speculations

The decision to except William and Thomas from the residuary division, rather than to give the younger children compensating cash legacies and treat the residue as a single equal pool, suggests that Burnham wanted the land settlement of the elder sons to stand entirely separate from the working stock and residual cash available to the younger children. The structure protected the elder sons' specific land allocations from any later challenge by siblings claiming an unequal share, by formally placing them outside the residuary division rather than within it.

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Ifland St Helena

In the Name of God Amen This Twenty Eight day of July in the Year of our Lord God one thousand Seven hundred & Nineteen Mary Sich Wid[ow] of this Ifland being under great Indispo[s]ition of Body but of sound & disposing mind & memory, (Praised be God) & knowing it is Appointed for all men once to die do upon mature consideration, make, Ordain & Constitute this my Last Will & Testam[en]t in manner & form following. First & Principally I recomend my Soul into the hands of my Almighty Creator & merci[f]ull Redeemer Trusting in the meri[t]s and mediation of Our Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ for the Full Pardon of my sins and Everlasting Life, & my Body I comm[i]t to the Earth in hopes of its Glorious Resurrection to Immortality, to be buried in a decent & Christian Manner at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter mentiond, as to what Temporal Estate (both Real & Personal) it hath plea[s]d the Providence of God to grant me, I give, devise, & bequeath the same in manner & form following.

Imprimis I give & bequeath to my dear & Loving Daughter Mary Vesey fifty Pounds to be intirely at her own dispo[s]al, Likewise my Damask Gown and Petticoate with a Damask Quilt Petticoat & a Chints Gown Lined with Black Silk with a black Silk Petticoat & one of black Silk

Item I give to my beloved Daughter Mary Coales five pounds

Item to my beloved Grandson Benjamin Ceaverlee two Silver Spoons and one black Boy named Jack.

Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Grandson Richard Swallow one Cow & Calf & my Wedding Ring

Item I give to my Grandson James Vesey Jun[r] on Black boy named So[m]ey

Item I give to my Grandson John Vesey one black boy Named Septher

Item I give to my beloved Grandaught[e]r Mary Murragh[?] one Black Chints Gown & Petticoat one Silver Spoon & such Other Children Silver Spoons.

Item I give to my beloved Grand Children Elisabeth, Frances & Mary [P]ack[n]ald John & Martha Vesey Each one Silver Spoon.

Item, I give and bequeath to my beloved Grandaughter Mary Bright one ffeather Bed at the fort & all things thereunto belonging, One M[i]ne Silver Tankard & all my Tea Equipage (Viz) the Large China Pott with a silver Cover & all other Pott, Cuppe Saucers, Tea Spoons, &c. that shall be remaineing at the Time of my Decease Provided She refuses to this Ifland again, but if not so that & in such case I give her only a Legacy of ten pounds; & the Feather B[e]d, silver Tankard & Tea Equipage &c. before mentiond I give to my beloved Grandch[i]ld Elisabeth [P]ack[n]ald afore[s]aid.

Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Granddaughter Elisabeth Sich one ffeather Bed, one Table one Chest of Drawers & at large Sacks Outsey Also Six Rattan Stools, one Silver Porringer, three Silver Caster[s], one snuff

On 28 July 1719, Mary Sich, a widow of the island of St Helena, made her will. She was under great indisposition of body but sound in mind and memory. She knew that every person must die once, and on mature consideration she ordained this as her will.

She commended her soul to her Almighty Creator and merciful Redeemer, trusting in the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ for full pardon of her sins and everlasting life. She committed her body to the earth in hope of glorious resurrection, to be buried decently and as a Christian at her executor's discretion. As to the real and personal estate that Providence had granted her, she disposed of it as follows.

To her dear and loving daughter Mary Vesey she gave fifty pounds, to be entirely at her own disposal. She also gave Mary a damask gown and petticoat, a damask quilted petticoat, a chintz gown lined with black silk, a black silk petticoat, and one further item of black silk.

To her beloved daughter Mary Coales she gave five pounds.

To her beloved grandson Benjamin Cleaverlee she gave two silver spoons and one black boy named Jack.

To her beloved grandson Richard Swallow she gave one cow and calf and her wedding ring.

To her grandson James Vesey junior she gave one black boy named Somey [...].

To her grandson John Vesey she gave one black boy named Septher.

To her beloved granddaughter Mary Murragh [...] she gave one black chintz gown and petticoat, one silver spoon and such other children's silver spoons as remained.

To her beloved grandchildren Elizabeth, Frances and Mary Packnald, and John and Martha Vesey, she gave one silver spoon each.

To her beloved granddaughter Mary Bright she gave one feather bed at the fort with all its furnishings, one fine silver tankard, and all her tea equipage, namely the large china pot with a silver cover, together with every other pot, cup, saucer, teaspoon and related article remaining at her death. The bequest was conditional on Mary Bright refusing to return to the island. If she did return, she was to take only a legacy of ten pounds, and the feather bed, silver tankard and tea equipage were then to pass to Mary's beloved grandchild Elizabeth Packnald.

To her beloved granddaughter Elizabeth Sich she gave one feather bed, one table, one chest of drawers, a large sack outsey [...], six rattan stools, one silver porringer, three silver casters and one snuff [...]

Interpretations

The testator was the same Margaret Sich repeatedly named in the registers, here recorded under the name Mary. She was the widow of John Sich (will of 25 February 1703) and the mother of the testators James Sich (will of 9 December 1708) and Benjamin Sich (will of 19 November 1713). She also served as sole executrix and residuary legatee of the soldier Simon Lenox (will of 3 August 1713), who had lodged in her household. The shift between the names Margaret and Mary across the records may reflect a scribal inconsistency or the use of a second baptismal name in formal documents.

The conditional bequest of the feather bed, silver tankard and tea equipage to Mary Bright, tied to her not returning to the island, indicates that Bright had left St Helena and that her testator grandmother wished to attach the most valuable household furnishings to a permanent removal. If Bright returned, the goods passed instead to Elizabeth Packnald, who was already resident on the island. The mechanism converted the legacy into a practical instrument of family geography, rewarding the granddaughter who had established herself elsewhere and conserving the principal household goods within the resident family if she came back.

Speculations

The decision to give all the tea equipage and the silver tankard to Mary Bright as a single conditional bundle, rather than to disperse the components across several legatees, indicates that the testator regarded the set as a coherent symbol of the household's senior position. By tying the bundle to Bright's removal from the island, she ensured that the visible markers of the household's standing either travelled with the granddaughter establishing a settled life elsewhere or remained intact for the resident granddaughter Elizabeth Packnald, rather than being broken up and dissipated.

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snuff Box with her ffathers Pi[c]ture in t. But if she comes Age or Years marriage then & in such case the aforesaid Legacy shall be devided amoung the Children of my Daughter Mary Coales aforesaid.

Item I give to my beloved Daughter Mary Swallow one Black Silk Gown & Petticoate & to her Children Mary, Marg[aret] Sarah, Elisabeth & William Swallow Each one Silver Spoon.

Item I give to my Executors hereafter Mentiond fifteen pounds for mou[r]ning Likewise give to my Daughters & Grandaughters such a Quantity of Stuff[s] as my Executors shall think Proper for their mourning

Item I give twenty Shillings to the Minister that shall Preach my funerall Sermon, & twenty Shillings to some One Or more poor Persons sup[er]ann[ua]d

Item I Leave Yams, Hogs & Goats sufficient for the maintainance of my family that Shall Order to continue together, ho[w]ever desire the Forementiond Yam, &c may not be disposed on, n[o] my family Lacked before my Executors See an absolute N[e]ce[s]sity for it.

Item I desire the remainder of my wearing Apparell Linnen &c may be disposed on at the discretion of my Daughter Vesey & Grandaughter Margaret Wrangham.

Item I furthermore give & bequeath to my Grandaughter Elisabeth Sich my House in the Country & twenty Acres of Land belonging to it, which I purchased since the Death of my Late Husband Sich, unlefs she should die [under?] Age or marriage or without Ifsue, And in such case I give the said Dwelling House & Land to my Grandaughter Mary Bright a fore[s]ai[d] & her Heirs for Ever, But if she should die before marriage Or without Ifsue, then & in such Case I give the said Dwelling House & Land to my Grandson Benjamin Ceaverlee, to before Ever at his own dispo[s]al.

I feather give to my Grandaughter Elisabeth Sich all my Blacks that may Remain over & above what pays my Debts & Legaceys, one only Excepted nam[e]d Sue, to whom I shall give her freedom, And till such time as my Grandaughter Elisabeth Sich be of full Age it is my Will that my Grandson Benjamin Ceaverly keeping the aforesaid Hou[s]e in repair[) be in] full P[o]fsefsion of that House & Land aforesaid & those Blacks I have given to Elisabeth Sich Likewise give my Grandson Benjamin Ceaverlee the use & service of all & Every of those Blacks belonging to my Grandaughter Mary Bright till her will & Pleasure be ffurther known.

I desire a Pub[l]ick Out cry to be made of the remaining part of my houshold goods & Chattles to pay debts & Legaceys, as to the remaining part of my Effects I give intirely to my Grandaughter Elisabeth Sich. I hereby Nominate & constitute my beloved Son James Vesey & Grandsons Francis Wrangham & Benjamin Ceaverlee Joynt Executors of this my Last will & Testament Revoking

Continuing from the bequest to Elizabeth Sich, the testator added a snuff box with her father's picture in it. If Elizabeth Sich died under age, without marrying, or without issue, the bequest was to be divided among the children of her daughter Mary Coales.

To her beloved daughter Mary Swallow she gave one black silk gown and petticoat. To Mary Swallow's children, Mary, Margaret, Sarah, Elizabeth and William Swallow, she gave one silver spoon each.

To her executors she gave fifteen pounds for mourning. She also gave her daughters and granddaughters such a quantity of stuffs as her executors judged proper for their mourning.

To the minister who preached her funeral sermon she gave twenty shillings. A further twenty shillings was to go to one or more superannuated poor persons.

She left sufficient yams, hogs and goats for the maintenance of any of her family who chose to continue together. She directed that the yams and other provisions should not be disposed of, and her family not be put in want, until her executors saw an absolute necessity for it.

The remainder of her wearing apparel and linen was to be disposed of at the discretion of her daughter Vesey and granddaughter Margaret Wrangham.

To her granddaughter Elizabeth Sich she gave her country house and the twenty acres of land belonging to it, which she had purchased after the death of her late husband Sich. If Elizabeth Sich died under age, without marrying, or without issue, the house and land were to pass to her granddaughter Mary Bright and Mary Bright's heirs for ever. If Mary Bright in turn died before marriage or without issue, the house and land were to pass to her grandson Benjamin Cleaverlee, to be at his own disposal for ever.

To Elizabeth Sich she further gave all her slaves remaining after debts and legacies had been paid, with the single exception of a woman named Sue, to whom she granted her freedom. Until Elizabeth Sich came of full age, her grandson Benjamin Cleaverlee was to keep the country house in repair and was to have full possession of the house, the land and the slaves given to Elizabeth Sich. Benjamin Cleaverlee was also to have the use and service of all the slaves given to Mary Bright until Mary Bright's wishes became known.

She directed that a public outcry be made of the remainder of her household goods and chattels, with the proceeds applied to debts and legacies. Anything still remaining after these payments was given entirely to her granddaughter Elizabeth Sich.

She nominated her beloved son James Vesey and her grandsons Francis Wrangham and Benjamin Cleaverlee as joint executors of her will, revoking [...]

Interpretations

The manumission of the slave Sue is the second explicit grant of freedom recorded in the registers, following the conditional manumission of Rowly in the Robert Swallow will of 17 June 1688. Unlike Rowly's case, no requirement is recorded for the consent of the governor and council, and no condition is attached to the widow's death or any other contingency. The bequest of freedom is delivered as an unqualified personal direction, set within a clause that otherwise transferred all the remaining enslaved people to Elizabeth Sich. The absence of a stated condition does not necessarily mean that Sue's release would have stood without official sanction; the local administrative practice of the period required formal approval, and the executors would have been the parties to secure it.

Francis Wrangham, named here as joint executor, has appeared in the registers as joint executor of Benjamin Sich (will of 19 November 1713) and as witness to Matthew Bazett (will of 3 April 1719). Margaret Wrangham, named here as a granddaughter taking part in the disposal of wearing apparel, is presumably one of the daughters of Samuel Wrangham (will of 3 June 1702), confirming the continuing connection between the Sich and Wrangham lines.

Speculations

The placement of Benjamin Cleaverlee in working possession of the country house, the twenty acres and the entire labour force during Elizabeth Sich's minority, rather than reserving these to the executors as a body, indicates that the testator wished the productive estate to be operated as a single unit by a single resident male grandson. The arrangement avoided the practical difficulties of committee management by three joint executors, only one of whom was resident in the country household, and converted Cleaverlee from an executor into the de facto life tenant of the working estate for as long as the minorities continued.

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Revoking all other Wills by me Made, declaring & Confirming this to be my Last Will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have set my hand & Seal the day & Year afore Written.

Sign'd, Sealed, declared her & Pronounced to be the Margarett M Sich Last Will & Testam[en]t of mark Mary Sich in the Prefence of Us

William Slaughter W[m] Beale H Cohman[?]

In the Name of God Amen, The tenth day of S[e]ptember in the Year of Our Lord 1718. I Richard Swallow of the Ifland of S[t]: Helena free Planter being very Sick & weak of Body but of p[er]fect mind & Memmory thanks be given to Almighty God, & ca[l]ing unto Mind the Mortality of my body & knowing that it is Appointed for all Men Once to die, do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament. That is to say Princip[a]ly & first of all, I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it. & for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like & decent manner at the discretion of my Executrix nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I Shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God & as touching such worldly Estate, wherewith it hath plea[s]ed God to Blefs me in this Life I give, devise, & dispose of the same in the following Manner & form.

Imprimis. it is my hearty desire that after all my debts are paid and funeral Charges defrayed that all my Estate remain in the hands of my wellbeloved Wife without any Appraisment to be made thereof Except[s] she Marry again, & then to render a faithfull Inventory of the P[er]sonal Estate in her P[o]fsefsion be it better or worse than at my Decea[s]e Likewise it being her requet[?] to have no use of my Estate for her past Pains the Law her, which I freely grant, & to have my real Estate in pofsefsion Dureing her naturall Life

Item. It is my desire that all my Children who survive to Age or Marriage that my whole Estate be Equally divided amoungst them both Real & Personal, & that if my Son Richard can purchase his others parts of my real Estate that is in the Country, that he have the refusal[l] thereof, and to be appraised by two honest Men.

Lastly I ordain constitute & Apppoint my dear & wellbeloved Wife whole & Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament Revoking all former Will & confirming this & none Other to be my Last In Witnefs

Closing the will of Margaret Sich, she revoked all other wills she had made, and declared and confirmed this as her last will and testament. She set her hand and seal on the day and year first written. The will was signed, sealed, declared and pronounced as the last will and testament of Margaret Sich, who signed by mark, in the presence of William Slaughter, William Beale and H Cohman [...].

On 10 September 1718, Richard Swallow of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to God who had given it, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of his executrix. He doubted nothing that at the general resurrection he would receive his body again by the mighty power of God. As to the worldly estate that God had granted him, he disposed of it as follows.

He desired that, after his debts and funeral charges were paid, his whole estate should remain in his wife's hands without any appraisement, unless she married again. If she remarried, she was to render a faithful inventory of the personal estate then in her possession, whether better or worse in value than it had been at his death. At her own request she was to take no use of the estate in respect of her past labour, beyond the share the law allowed her, which Swallow freely granted, and she was to hold his real estate during her natural life.

He directed that all his children who survived to age or marriage should share his whole estate, real and personal, in equal portions. If his son Richard could purchase his siblings' shares of the real estate in the country, he was to have the refusal of those shares, with the value set by two honest men acting as appraisers.

He appointed his dear and beloved wife as sole executrix of his will, revoking all former wills and confirming this as his only one.

Interpretations

The testator was the Richard Swallow who has appeared repeatedly across the registers as grandson of Robert Swallow (will of 17 June 1688), godson of James Sich (will of 9 December 1708), brother-in-law and executor of Benjamin Sich (will of 19 November 1713), brother-in-law and executor of Thomas Bagley (will of 26 November 1711), and beneficiary in the present session's Margaret Sich will. He has also been named as guardian of the child of George Bryner (will of 19 June 1718). His death within fifteen months of the Bryner appointment removes a central male figure of the Swallow, Sich and Bagley network from the administrative scene.

The clause recording the widow's request to take no use of the estate in respect of her past labour, beyond her legal share, is unusual. The standard planter will of the period either secured the widow a one-third life interest as a matter of custom or expanded her entitlement by specific bequest. Here, the widow herself appears to have declined any compensatory share for her contribution to the household economy, restricting herself to the customary widow's third. The testator's reference to her past pains acknowledges her labour in the working of the plantation, while the language of free grant indicates that the disclaimer was hers and not his.

Speculations

The decision to suspend appraisement of the estate during the widow's continued life as a widow, rather than to follow the usual practice of inventory and valuation immediately after death, suggests that Swallow wished the working plantation to continue without administrative interruption. The trigger of remarriage indicates that the device was directed at the protection of the children against the dissipation of the moveable estate by a future stepfather, who would otherwise acquire control of the household goods, cattle and slaves at the moment of marriage.

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In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal the day & year above written

Sign'd, Seal'd Publifhed & declared by the s[ai]d Richard Swallow as his Last Will & Testament Rich Swallow in the presence of us Thomas South[a]n Orlando Bagley James Vesey

In the Name of God Amen I Lewis Latour of said Ifland belonging to the Garrison being in a very weak condition of Body, but of Sound & p[e]rfect memmory for which I prai[s]e & magnify Almighty God & considering the uncertainty of this present Life I make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following, that is to say.

First I commit my soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator & my Body to the Earth, to be decently buryed at the Discretion of my Executrix hereafter mention'd trusting thro[ugh] the mercys of God & the pafsion of my Redeemer that the same will be raised up again to enjoy a Glorious Immortality. And for such Worldly Cares & Substance which it hath pleased God to blefs me with I give & bequeath, as follows. First it is to say I give & bequeath to my Loving Wife Sarah Latour, (my Debts & funeral Charges being first dis[c]harg'd) all & Singular my both Real & Personal Estate, each or What denomination soever cons[i]sting, p[e]rticularly my House in James Vally with all the previliges & Properties hereunto belonging & all the Goods & Chattels therein whether unmoveable, immoveables, together with one Black Boy now in my Pofsefsion, & all my ready money, wearing Apparell Bonds, Bills, Debts or any Other thing that may Lawfully become mine to her my afore[s]aid beloved wife Sarah Latour to have & to hold for ever without trouble or molestation According to the true designe & intent of this my Last Will. Provided my Loving moth[er] in law Mary Easthope have the Benefit of the Black before mention'd, one day in every Week for her own use & service. Lastly & to conclu[d]e I do constitute Appoint & Ordaine my Loveing Wife Sarah Latour my whole & sole Executrix to p[e]rform & Caru[?] th[e] within mentiond Premifses to the End & purposes therein declared In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto put my hand & Seal this 17 day of October An[no] D[omi]ni 1718

Sig[n]ed S[ea]ld publi[s]hed & declar'd in the presence of us

W[m] Beale Joseph Bates Joseph Bates

William Beale & Joseph Bates & Joseph Thomlinson made oath

Closing the will of Richard Swallow, he set his hand and seal on the day and year first written. The will was signed, sealed, published and declared as his last will and testament in the presence of Thomas Southan, Orlando Bagley and James Vesey.

Lewis Latour of the island, belonging to the garrison, made his will on 17 October 1718. He was in a very weak condition of body but of sound and perfect memory, for which he praised and magnified Almighty God. Considering the uncertainty of present life, he ordained this as his will.

He committed his soul to Almighty God his Creator, and his body to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of his executrix. He trusted, through the mercies of God and the passion of his Redeemer, that his body would be raised again to a glorious immortality. As to the worldly substance that God had granted him, he gave it as follows.

After his debts and funeral charges were discharged, he gave his loving wife Sarah Latour his entire real and personal estate of every description. The bequest covered, in particular, his house in James Valley with all its privileges and properties, all the moveable and immoveable goods and chattels in it, one black boy then in his possession, and all his ready money, wearing apparel, bonds, bills, debts and anything else that might lawfully become his. The estate was to be held by Sarah Latour for ever, without trouble or molestation, according to the true intent of his will.

The bequest was made subject to one condition. His loving mother-in-law Mary Easthope was to have the benefit of the black boy already mentioned, one day in every week, for her own use and service.

He appointed his loving wife Sarah Latour as sole executrix, to carry out [...] the directions of his will to the ends declared in it.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of William Beale, Joseph Bates and Joseph Bates [...].

William Beale, Joseph Bates and Joseph Tomlinson made oath [...]

Interpretations

The testator was a member of the garrison rather than a settled planter, and his estate is correspondingly compact: a town house in James Valley, a single enslaved boy, household goods, wearing apparel, and the standard portfolio of bonds, bills and ready money. The absence of country land or cattle places him in the soldier-resident category rather than the planter category, while the possession of a town house and a slave indicates a senior or long-serving rank within the garrison.

Mary Easthope, identified as the testator's mother-in-law, is presumably the same Mary Easthope who was sole executrix of her husband James Easthope (will of 26 April 1706). Her daughter Sarah, the present testator's widow, would therefore be a daughter of the Easthope household. The connection ties the Latour will into the Easthope line of resident free planters and confirms Mary Easthope's continued presence on the island some twelve years after her husband's death.

Speculations

The decision to reserve the boy's labour to the mother-in-law for one day each week, rather than to give her a cash legacy or a household item, indicates that Latour wished to formalise an existing pattern of practical assistance between the two households. The structure preserved Mary Easthope's accustomed access to the boy's help without removing him from the principal household of the widow, and avoided the complications of a cash bequest from a modest soldier's estate.

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Oath this 23 of Decem[ber] 1718 that they were present & Witnefses to this Writeing & they Saw Lewis Latour Sign Seal publish & declare to be his Last Will & Testm[en]t & whereas there are two Names of Joseph Bates Signed here Joseph Thom[i]nson Made Oath that he signed the Last in stead of his Own Name by mistake but Owns his hand writeing & Says his true Name is Joseph Thomlinson Joseph Thoml[i]nson

In the Name of God Amen This Twentyth day of July According to Computation of the Church of England one thousand Seven hundred & Nineteen, I Erasmus Peeling of the Ifland St Helena Soldier being Sick & Weak of Body but of good & p[e]rfect memmory Praised be Almighty God for the same. do make this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form as follows[.]

First I commit my Soul into the hand of Almighty God hoping and firmly believing to receive free Pardon & remifsion of all my Sins past, through the Merits of the Death of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, & as for my body I do Commit to the Ground from whence it came to be buried in a decent manner at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter Mention[e]d, & as for those Worldly goods it hath Pleased God for [...] my deserts to give me, I give & Dispose as followeth, Vizt

Imp[r]: I give & bequeath unto my will be Cusins John, William, Samuell mary, the Children of John Knipe the soum of Forty pounds to be paid unto them after my Decease.

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Cusins William & Elizabeth the Children of Thomas Allis the sum of two Guin[i]as to be paid unto them afor[e]said

Item I give unto my wellbelov[e]d Brother John Peeling on God[?] [...] Ring

Item I give unto my wellbeloved Brother John Peeling the Lease of Sixteen Acres of Land which my father Hired of the Hon[oura]ble Company being & Lying Appear in N[o] [...] Sole Lease Signed by the Governour & Councill of the Said Ifland & as for the remainder of my Estate I give & bequeath, unto my wellbeloved Bro[t]hers & Sister, John Peeling, Solomon Peeling & to Elizabeth Peeling to be D[i]vided Equally between them, but Note the Lef[s] my Will & Pleafure is that the said two thirds of my Said Estate, bequeath unto my Brother Solomon & Sister Elizabeth Peeling remain in the hands of my Brother John Peeling untill they come of Age or Marriage

Item I appoint my wellbeloved Brother John Peeling & John Knipe to be my Whole & Sole Executors of this my Last Will & Testament Revoking, Anulling or Voiding Acknowledging No Other but this to be my Last Will & Testam[en]t In witnefs whereof I have Sett my hand & Seal the Day & Year above written

Sign'd Seal'd Delivered In the Pre[s]ence of Erasmus Peeling John Kwa[its?] John Des[s]ountain

The proof of the Latour will was taken on 23 December 1718. William Beale, Joseph Bates and Joseph Tomlinson swore that they had been present as witnesses to the document, and had seen Lewis Latour sign, seal, publish and declare it as his last will and testament. Two signatures of Joseph Bates appeared on the document. Joseph Tomlinson swore that he had signed the second of them in place of his own name by mistake. He acknowledged the handwriting as his and confirmed that his true name was Joseph Tomlinson.

On 20 July 1719, according to the computation of the Church of England, Erasmus Peeling of St Helena, a soldier, made his will. He was sick and weak of body but in good and perfect memory.

He committed his soul to Almighty God, hoping and firmly believing that he would receive free pardon and remission of all his past sins through the merits of the death of Jesus Christ. He committed his body to the ground from which it came, to be buried decently at the discretion of his executors. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him [...] beyond his deserts, he disposed of them as follows.

To his cousins John, William, Samuel and Mary, the children of John Knipe, he gave forty pounds, to be paid after his death.

To his cousins William and Elizabeth, the children of Thomas Allis, he gave two guineas, to be paid in the same way.

To his beloved brother John Peeling he gave one [...] ring.

To his brother John Peeling he also gave the lease of sixteen acres of land that his father had hired from the Honourable Company. The lease lay in [...] under a sole lease signed by the governor and council of the island.

The remainder of his estate was to go to his brothers and sister John Peeling, Solomon Peeling and Elizabeth Peeling, divided equally between them. The two-thirds belonging to Solomon and Elizabeth were to remain in John Peeling's hands until they came of age or married.

He appointed his brother John Peeling and John Knipe as sole executors of his will, revoking all others and acknowledging this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Erasmus Peeling, John Kwaits [...] and John Desfountain.

Interpretations

The testator is the same family branch as the Erasmus Purling of the will of 6 May 1706, the surname rendered Peeling in the present text and Purling in the earlier record. The 1706 testator was an ensign in the Company garrison, married to Mary Knipe, the widow of John Knipe (will of 10 June 1695), and father of the children Erasmus, John, Solomon and Elizabeth Purling. The present testator is therefore the son Erasmus named in the 1706 will, now a soldier of the garrison in his own right, drawing his will some thirteen years after his father's death. The brothers John and Solomon and sister Elizabeth named here are the same siblings recorded in 1706.

The cousins William and Elizabeth Allis, children of Thomas Allis (will of 13 September 1711), are the children of the testator's uncle or aunt by marriage. The connection to the Allis family is not previously documented in the registers and indicates that one of the testator's parents had a sibling who married into the Allis line.

Speculations

The decision to give the Knipe children a substantial cash legacy of forty pounds, twenty times the value of the two guineas given to the Allis children, points to a recognition of close half-sibling kinship that the surname distinction conceals. The Knipe children stood in the same blood relation to the testator as his Peeling siblings did, sharing a mother in Mary Knipe-Purling. The forty-pound legacy operated as a working acknowledgement of the half-sibling tie, calibrated to compensate the Knipe children for their exclusion from the Peeling residue.

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Ifland St Helena In the Name of God Amen I Joseph Long of the S[ai]d Ifland Sold[i]er being Sick & weak of Body, but of p[e]rfect mind & Memory Thanks to God & calling to mind the uncertainty of Life & Knowing it is appointed for all Men once to die, hoping through the Mer[i]torious Death of Jesus Christ to receive Rem[i]fsion & Pardon for all my Sins do hereby Make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following (Viz[t])

Imprimis I will & desire that my Body be decently & Christianly Bury[e]d & all my debts & funeral Charges be first paid & Sat[i]sfyed by my Executrix hereafter Mentiond.

Item I give & bequeath to my Loving Cousin Susanna Long one Heifer Calf

Item I give & bequeath to my Loving Mother Elisabeth Marsh all the Rest of my Estate what is my proper Right now or may becom my due hereafter

Lastly I nominate & Appoint my Loving Mother Elisabeth Marsh whole & Sole Executrix of this my Last will & Testament Revoking & Making Void all former Wills by me Made Declaring this My Last Will & Testament.

Sig[n]d Seal'd & declar'd In Pre[s]ence of Us Joseph Long

John Coles Charles Steward

On an unstated date, Joseph Long of St Helena, a soldier, made his will. He was sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once, and hoped through the meritorious death of Jesus Christ to receive remission and pardon of all his sins.

He directed that his body should be decently and Christianly buried, and that his debts and funeral charges should first be paid and satisfied by his executrix.

To his loving cousin Susanna Long he gave one heifer calf.

To his loving mother Elizabeth Marsh he gave all the rest of his estate, whether already his by right or coming to him afterwards.

He appointed his mother Elizabeth Marsh as sole executrix of his will, revoking all former wills and declaring this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed and declared in the presence of John Coles and Charles Steward.

Interpretations

The testator's mother is named as Elizabeth Marsh rather than Elizabeth Long. The difference of surname between mother and son indicates that Elizabeth had remarried after Joseph's father's death and had taken the Marsh name from a second husband. She is presumably the same Elizabeth Marsh named as wife of Robert Marsh (will of 4 February 1718), who was executrix of his estate jointly with his brother John Marsh. The Robert Marsh will included substantial bequests to Sarah Long and Richard Long, presumably the testator's siblings or cousins, indicating that Long children from Elizabeth's first marriage were established within the Marsh household.

The blanket bequest of the residue to the mother, covering both present property and any property that might become due to the testator after his death, anticipates the receipt of further entitlements. As a soldier of the garrison, Long would have been owed accrued East India Company pay and store credit at the date of death, which would not have been paid out until after the will was proved. The forward-looking clause ensured that any such delayed receipts passed under the will rather than into intestate distribution.

Speculations

The decision to leave the entire estate to the mother, with only a single heifer calf set aside for a cousin, points to a testator with no surviving spouse, no children, and no other immediate dependants. The structure converts the soldier's modest accumulated assets into a single transfer to the maternal household, presumably the Marsh household in which the testator's mother now lived. By directing the residue to his mother rather than to a sibling or to his stepfather Robert Marsh, Long preserved the property as her separate entitlement, distinct from the Marsh estate that her second husband had recently disposed of by his own will.

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In the Name of God Amen The fifteenth of S[e]ptember in the Year of Our Lord God 1719 I Richard Coles of the Ifland S[t] Helena Mason being very sick & weak in Body but of P[e]rfect mind & Memmory thanks be given unto God, Therefore calling unto Mind the Mortality of my Body & Knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to dee, Do make and Ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to say Princip[a]ly and first of all I give & recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it & for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buryed in a Christian Like & decent manner at the Discretion of my Executor Nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God. And as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath plea[s]d God to Blefs me in this Life I give & devise & dispose of the same in the following Manner & form

Imprimus I give & bequeath to my wellbeloved Brother Joseph Coles Ten pounds & all my Wearing Apparrell

Item I give & bequeath to my wellbeloved Brother Nathaniel Coles Ten p[oun]ds

Item I give & bequeath to my wellbeloved Brother William ffourty Shillings

Item I give & bequeath to my wellbeloved Brother John fforty Shillings and my Goats

Item I give & bequeath to my wellbeloved Sisters hereafter Mentiond Margarett, Anne, Mary & Eleanor Coles Each of them fforty Shillings

Item I give & bequeath to my wellbeloved Father all the remaineing Part of my Estate w[h]om I Likewise Constitute, make & Ordain my Onely & Sole Executor of this my Last will & Testament & I do hereby utterly d[i]sallow revoke & disannull all Other former Testaments, Wills, & Legacys, bequests and Executors by me in any wise before this time Named, Willed & bequeath'd Rat[i]fying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last will & Testament. In Wittnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal the day and Year above Written

Sign'd Seal'd Publifhd Pronouncd & declar'd Richard Coles by the s[ai]d Rich[d] Coles as his Last Will & Testam[en]t in the Pre[s]ence of Us the Subscribers vi[zt]

Isaac Leech John Harding Joshua Johnson

On 15 September 1719, Richard Coles of St Helena, a mason, made his will. He was very sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to God who had given it, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of his executor. He doubted nothing that at the general resurrection he would receive his body again by the mighty power of God. As to the worldly estate that God had granted him, he disposed of it as follows.

To his beloved brother Joseph Coles he gave ten pounds and all his wearing apparel.

To his beloved brother Nathaniel Coles he gave ten pounds.

To his beloved brother William he gave forty shillings.

To his beloved brother John he gave forty shillings and his goats.

To his beloved sisters Margaret, Anne, Mary and Eleanor Coles he gave forty shillings each.

To his beloved father he gave all the remaining part of his estate, and appointed him sole executor of the will. He revoked all former wills, legacies and bequests, ratifying this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared as Richard Coles's last will and testament in the presence of Isaac Leech, John Harding and Joshua Johnson.

Interpretations

The testator described himself as a mason, the first stonemason testator recorded in the registers. The trade designation distinguishes him from the planters, soldiers, mariners, surgeons and chaplains who account for the bulk of the documented testators. Masonry work on the island in this period was concentrated on the Fort James fortifications, the stone houses of Chapel Valley, and Company-funded construction, indicating a working artisan tied to the garrison economy rather than to a settled agricultural holding.

The hierarchy of legacies, ten pounds each to the two elder brothers Joseph and Nathaniel and forty shillings each to the four sisters and the two younger brothers William and John, reveals a working primogeniture among collateral siblings rather than a strict equal division. The two elder brothers received five times the cash value of the younger siblings, with the residue retained by the father against the eventual succession to the family's principal estate.

Speculations

The decision to retain the residue with the father and to confine the testator's own dispositions to fixed cash legacies and a small livestock bequest points to a son who had not yet established a separate household and whose property remained closely tied to the parental estate. By directing his accumulated stock back to the father and limiting his own dispositions to symbolic legacies among siblings, the testator preserved the integrity of the family property for the father's continuing use, while marking his place within the sibling network through the differential cash legacies.

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In the Name of God Amen. I John Gibbs of the Ifland S[t] Helena being sick & weak in Body but of P[e]rfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God for the Same therefore calling to mind the mortality of my Body & Knowing it is Appointed for all men to die, do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament, that is to say first & Principally I give & bequeath my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it. & for my body I committ to the Earth to be bury[e]d in a Christian Like manner at the discre[t]ion of my Executor Nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God, & as touching such worldly goods wherewith it has plea[s]d God to Blefs me in this Life, I give & dispose of the same in the following manner & form.

Imprimis After my debts & ffuneral Expences being fully Sat[i]sfyd, I give & bequeath unto my Loveing freind William Pee[l]ley whom I Ordain & Appoint my Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament, my whole Estate on this Ifland, on in England, or in any Other part of the world that I can have a Lawfull Claim or Right to; utterly disallowing & revoking all Former Wills & Testaments by me Made. In Witnefs Whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal this twentyth day of Aprill in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred & Twenty

I Publifh, Decleare & Pronounce this to be my Last will & Testam[en]t in the Pre[s]ence of John Gibbs James Vaughn John Hodgkinson Walter Morris

On 20 April 1720, John Gibbs of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die.

He commended his soul to God who had given it, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian manner at his executor's discretion. He doubted nothing that at the general resurrection he would receive his body again by the mighty power of God. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

After his debts and funeral expenses were fully satisfied, he gave his entire estate to his loving friend William Pelley. The bequest covered his property on the island, in England, or in any other part of the world to which he had a lawful claim or right. He appointed Pelley as sole executor of the will, and revoked all former wills.

The will was published, declared and pronounced as Gibbs's last will and testament in the presence of James Vaughn, John Hodgkinson and Walter Morris.

Interpretations

The testator's brief disposition gives no occupational designation, no spouse, no children, no parents, no siblings, no cousins, no godchildren and no charitable bequests. The estate passes in its entirety to a single friend. The structure marks the testator as one of the small group of resident men with no kin on the island and no recoverable English family, comparable to the soldier Isaac Bothway (will of 4 June 1710), the free volunteer John Boyce (will of 26 February 1711) and the soldier Simon Lenox (will of 3 August 1713).

William Pelley, the sole beneficiary and executor, is not previously recorded in the registers. The surname is unique in the documented testators and may represent a fresh arrival on the island, perhaps a Company servant, soldier or artisan whose path crossed the testator's in the course of his residence.

Speculations

The decision to leave the entire estate, including any English or overseas property, to a single friend acting also as sole executor suggests that the testator had reached the end of his life without any surviving kin to claim under English law, or that he had deliberately excluded any such kin in favour of the friend who had cared for him during his last illness. The combined beneficiary and executor structure removed any need for accounting between the legatee and a separate administrator, converting the entire arrangement into a single transfer of property and responsibility.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Simon Whaly of the Ifland S[t] Helena Planter being very weak of Body, but of Sound mind, memory & understanding, do therefore make this my Last will & Testament in manner & form following That is to say first & Principally I committ my Soul to the Almighty God my Body to the Earth there to be decently buried According to the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named.

Imp[r]: I give to my Eldest Son John One Shilling

Item to my Son Joseph I give One half of all my free Land, & a certain Br[i]ndled Cow & P[ie]debald [of] his

Item to my Son Simon I give the Other half of all my Land with a certain Black Heifer

Item to my Eldest Daughter M[ar]garrell I give a certain Black Cow & one half of my P[er]sonal Estate which is not here inserted

Item To my Daughter Mercy I give that Other half of the said P[er]sonal Estate above mentiond & a certain Black & white Cow & her Calf

Item To my Youngest Daughter Elisabeth I give a certain Black wom[a]n Slave Named Pe[g], My will & desire is that if she Dies before she is of the Age of Sixteen, that the afore[s]aid Black be my Daughter Mar[c]ies, Likewise I give my s[ai]d Daughter Eliz[abeth] a Brown Calf

Item I will & Appoint my well beloved wife Mercy Whaley to remain in full Pofsefsion of all & Every of the afor[esai]d Lands & Estate, Goods & Chattles Dureing her Life to bring up my in the fear of God.

I Likewise Appoint my trusty & wellbelov[e]d Freinds Ja[mes] Draper & Isaac Wood Guardians of my family & Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament.

Sign'd Seal'd & Deliver'd in Pre[s]ence of Us John Defountain Simon X Whaly Isaac Joseph Bates his mark William Sufsoon[?]

On an unstated date, Simon Whaley of St Helena, a planter, made his will. He was very weak of body but of sound mind, memory and understanding.

He committed his soul to Almighty God, and his body to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of his executors.

To his eldest son John he gave one shilling.

To his son Joseph he gave half of his free land, together with a particular brindled cow and a piebald [of his] [...].

To his son Simon he gave the other half of his land, together with a particular black heifer.

To his eldest daughter Margaret he gave a particular black cow and half of his personal estate not otherwise specified in the will.

To his daughter Mercy he gave the other half of the same personal estate, together with a particular black-and-white cow and her calf.

To his youngest daughter Elizabeth he gave a black woman slave named Peg. He directed that if Elizabeth died before reaching the age of sixteen, Peg was to pass to her sister Mercy. He also gave Elizabeth a brown calf.

He directed that his wife Mercy Whaley should remain in full possession of all the lands, estate, goods and chattels during her life, in order to bring up [...] in the fear of God.

He appointed his trusted friends James Draper and Isaac Wood as guardians of his family and sole executors of his will.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of John Desfountain, Isaac Joseph Bates, who signed by mark, and William Sufsoon [...]. The testator signed by mark.

Interpretations

The testator was the same Simon Whaley who appeared as a witness across the registers, including the Paul Charles will of 16 August 1706 and the Samuel Desfontaines will of 15 November 1707, on each occasion signing by mark. His present will, also signed by mark, confirms the persistence of his illiteracy across more than a decade of administrative service. The repeated appearance of a man unable to write his name as a witness to formal documents indicates that the island's witnessing practice depended on physical presence and personal attestation rather than literacy.

James Draper, executor, is the planter named as son of John Draper (will of 23 March 1690) and as joint executor of Samuel Desfontaines (will of 15 November 1707). His continuing administrative role across more than a decade is established in the registers.

Speculations

The disinheritance of the eldest son John by token shilling, paired with the division of the land between the two younger sons Joseph and Simon, indicates a deliberate restructuring of the male line of inheritance. The pattern suggests that John was either established elsewhere, had received his portion before the will was drawn, or had broken with the household sufficiently to be excluded from the working estate. The absence of any condition or reservation in his shilling bequest, in contrast to the conditional bequests elsewhere in the registers, points to a settled exclusion rather than a provisional one.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Peter Sinsnick of the Ifland S[t] Helena being Sick & weak in Body, but of Sound & p[er]fect Memory thanks be given to Almighty God for the same, therefore calling to mind the Mortality of my Body & knowing that it is appointed for all Men to die, do make Constitute & Ordaine this my Last Will & Testament. That is to say Principally & first of All, I give & Recomm[en]d my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator, & for my Body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like manner Nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God & Touching such worldly good which it has plea[s]d God out of his great goodnefs to Lend unto me, I give & dispose of the same in manner & form following.

Imp[r]: After my debts & ffuneral Expences being fully Sat[i]sfyd, I give & bequeath unto my Loving Brother Gilbert Sinsnick whom I make whole & Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament, all goods both real & P[er]sonal as I can Lawfully claim as mine, I do here utterly disallow Revoke & Make void all former Wills Testaments Legacys & Executors by me Made, Ratifying & confirming this my Last Will & Testament, In witnefs I have hereto sett my hand & Seal this 24th day of April in the Year of Our Lord 1721.

Sign'd Seal'd Publifh'd Decleard & Pronounced to be my Last Will & Testament
In the Pre[s]ence of Us Peter Sinsnick

Walter Morris John Long Richard Long

On 24 April 1721, Peter Sinsnick of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die.

He commended his soul to Almighty God his Creator, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian manner. He doubted nothing that at the general resurrection he would receive his body again by the mighty power of God. As to the worldly goods that God had lent him out of his great goodness, he disposed of them as follows.

After his debts and funeral expenses were fully satisfied, he gave his loving brother Gilbert Sinsnick all his real and personal property, of every kind that he could lawfully claim as his own. He appointed Gilbert Sinsnick as sole executor of the will. He revoked all former wills, legacies and executors, and ratified this as his last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed, published, declared and pronounced as Sinsnick's last will and testament in the presence of Walter Morris, John Long and Richard Long.

Interpretations

The testator gave no occupational designation, no wife, no children, no parents, and no other kin beyond his brother Gilbert. The estate passed in its entirety to the brother as both sole beneficiary and sole executor. The structure marks the testator as one of the small group of resident men whose entire family connection on the island consisted of a single sibling, with no surviving spouse or descendants and no recorded English relatives.

The testator appeared earlier in the registers as Peter Sinsnick, witness to the Ann Fuller will of 13 March 1713, where his name was given in that form. The present spelling Sinsnick is presumably the same surname.

Speculations

The single-sibling transfer of the entire estate to Gilbert Sinsnick, combined beneficiary and executor, suggests that the two brothers had migrated to or settled on the island together and had no other kinsmen present. The structure converts the whole disposition into a single transfer between brothers, without the need for accounting between separate executor and beneficiary, and removes any need for valuation, partition or administration beyond the payment of debts and funeral expenses.

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In the Name of God Amen I John Nichols Sen[r] of the Ifland St Helena ffree Planter being at this Prefsent in good health and in Sound & p[er]fect mind & Memory all praise be given to Almighty God for the same, & Calling to remembrance that it is Appointed for all men once to die, but the Time very uncertain, do make Constitute & Appoint this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following.

Principally & First I recomend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator hoping through the Meritorious Death & Pafsion of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to receive ffree pardon of all my Sins & also the Settling of my Temporall Estate which it has plea[s]e God farr above my deserts to b[e]stow upon me, I give and bequeath in manner & form following.

Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my beloved Children Robert Nichols Mary Nichols, Elisabeth Nichols, Sarah Nichols, Jane Nichols, & Damaris Nichols my Whole Estate both Real & Personall to be equally divided between my afore[s]aid Children, In case of the Death of my of my above mentiond Children before they come of Age, or Marriage I do Ordain their Dividend or Portion to be Equally divided amongst the Survivors above mentiond.

Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Son Robert Nichols ffifteen Acres of ffree Land Lying under the high Peak, or at the head of Peak gutt, with a parcell of Hired Land Adjoyning to be Appraised & valued by two Men as my Executor[s] hereafter Named shall Appoint, & the Overplus of the same above his Equall Dividend of my afore[s]aid Estate I will and Ordain that he pay or cause to be paid unto the rest of my above mentiond Children which if he refuses, then my Will & Pleasure is that any of my above mentiond Children w[h]o have the s[ai]d Land on the same Cond[i]tion, & my beloved Son Robert Nichols to have his part or Portion out of my Personall Estate.

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Mary Nichols Twenty three Acres of ffree Land with Dwelling Houses Stand[i]ng thereon, at the head of Clammans Valley with all Appurtenances belonging thereunto with the same Provise as is mentiond in the Last Article.

Item I do will & Ordain that my beloved Daughters Jane and Damarist Nichols their part or dividend of my Said Estate shall remain in the pofsefsion of my beloved Daughter Mary Nichols till my before Named Children are at Age or Married with this Reverse, my Daughter Mary Nichols finds Every thing Sufficient for their Maintainance

Item I do will and desire that my House in James Valley shall be sold to the Best advantage for the use and benefitt of all my before Named Children Robert, Mary, Elisabeth, Sarah, Jane & Damaris Nichols.

Item I give & bequeath unto Mr[s] Mary Powell Twenty Shillings

John Nichols senior of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was at the time in good health, and in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged that every person must die once, though the time remains uncertain.

He commended his soul to Almighty God his Creator, hoping through the meritorious death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive free pardon of all his sins. As to the temporal estate that God had granted him far above his deserts, he disposed of it as follows.

He gave his entire estate, real and personal, to his beloved children Robert, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jane and Damaris Nichols, in equal shares. If any child died before reaching age or marriage, that child's portion was to be divided equally among the survivors.

To his son Robert Nichols he gave fifteen acres of free land lying under the High Peak, or at the head of Peak Gutt, together with a parcel of hired land adjoining it. The land was to be appraised and valued by two men appointed by his executors. Any value above Robert's equal share of the estate was to be paid by Robert to his siblings. If Robert refused the land on those terms, any other child willing to take it on the same conditions was to have it, and Robert was instead to receive his portion out of the personal estate.

To his daughter Mary Nichols he gave twenty-three acres of free land at the head of Clammans Valley, with the dwelling houses standing on it and all appurtenances. The same valuation and payment terms applied as for Robert's bequest.

He directed that the portions of his daughters Jane and Damaris Nichols should remain in Mary Nichols's possession until they came of age or married. Mary was to provide everything sufficient for their maintenance during that time.

He directed that his house in James Valley should be sold to the best advantage, with the proceeds applied for the use and benefit of all six children, Robert, Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Jane and Damaris Nichols.

To Mrs Mary Powell he gave twenty shillings [...]

Interpretations

The testator was the same John Nichols senior named as witness to the Robert Addis will of 20 June 1714, together with his son John Nichols junior, and as witness to the Thomas Harper will of 3 March 1715. His present will, made while in good health, breaks from the deathbed pattern that characterises the bulk of the documented testators. The healthy-testator preamble allowed for a more considered structural disposition than the typical sickbed will permitted.

The High Peak and Peak Gutt locations identified for Robert's fifteen acres trace to the established grazing and agricultural area named across the registers since the Richard Harding will of 28 December 1681. Peak Gutt is a watercourse running from the High Peak ridge, naming a localised parcel within the wider Peak district. The hired land adjoining the free land is held on lease from the East India Company, the standard tenure for cultivated land beyond the freehold allotments.

Speculations

The decision to draw a structured estate plan while in good health, rather than at the point of death, points to a testator deliberately settling the succession at a moment of stability. The cascading right of refusal and the valuation-by-appraisers mechanism reveal a planner working through the practical contingencies of partition in a household of six children, rather than improvising under the pressure of a final illness. The structure converts the will from a deathbed disposition into a working settlement instrument.

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Item I give and bequeath unto M[r]s Elizabeth Johnson Twenty Shillings.

Item I give and bequeath unto Elisabeth Nichols my Daught[e]r in Law twenty Shillings

Now I nominate Constitute & Appoint my true and trusty friends M[r] Gabriell Powell M[r] Joshua Johnson & my beloved Son John Nichols Executors of this my Last Will & Testament Revoking disallowing all other former Will or Wills by me made either in word or writing Acknowledgeing this and no Other to be my Last Will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal this Twenty fifth day of August 1719.

Sign'd Seal'd Publifh'd Pronounced & Declared this my Last Will and Testament in the Pre[s]ence of Us Jhn Nichols Sen[r]

Stephen Lufsam[?] Robert Gurling Walter Morris

In the Name of God Amen I William Pelley of the Ifland S[t] Helena, being Sick and weak in Body but of Sound and P[er]fect mind and Memory thanks be given to Almighty God for thee Same, therefore calling to mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is Appointed for all men Once to die Do make & Ordaine this my Last Will and Testam[en]t. that is to say Principally and first of all I give & recom =mend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God my Creator and for my Body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like Manner nothing doubting but at the Generall Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of God, And touching such worldly Goods which it has pleased God out of his great goodnefs to Lend unto me, I give and Dispose of the Same in manner & form ffollowing.

Imp[r]: I give and bequeath unto M[r] John Longs four Children Mary Susannah Elizabeth and his Young Child whose Name is De[s]ig[n]d to be Joseph, four Heifers, or the Worth of four Heifers, if in Cafe of the Death of any of those four Children above Mentiond I do Order the Survivers shall have the above Mentiond Legacies.

Item I give and bequeath unto Mary Leech one Heifer if in cafe Mary Leech Should die before She comes to Age or Marriage I do Order the Said Heifer Shall fall to John Longs four Children

Item after my debts Legacies funerall Expences being fully Sat[i]sfyed I give and bequeath unto my Loveing fr[ein]d John Long whom I make whole and Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testam[en]t the Remaining part of my Goods, Bills, Bonds, Ready money and all as I can Lawfully Claim as mine

I do hereby Utterly Disallow Revoke and make void all former Wills, Testaments, Legacies and Executors by me made Ratifying and

Continuing the will of John Nichols senior of 25 August 1719, he gave twenty shillings to Mrs Elizabeth Johnson.

To his daughter-in-law Elizabeth Nichols he gave twenty shillings.

He appointed his trusted friends Gabriel Powell and Joshua Johnson, together with his beloved son John Nichols, as executors of the will. He revoked all former wills made in word or writing, and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared as John Nichols senior's last will and testament in the presence of Stephen Lufsam [...], Robert Gurling and Walter Morris.

William Pelley of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God his Creator, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian manner. He doubted nothing that at the general resurrection he would receive his body again by the mighty power of God. As to the worldly goods that God had lent him out of his great goodness, he disposed of them as follows.

To John Long's four children, Mary, Susannah, Elizabeth and the youngest child intended to be named Joseph, he gave four heifers, or the value of four heifers. If any of the four children died, the surviving children were to take the legacies of the deceased child.

To Mary Leech he gave one heifer. If Mary Leech died before reaching age or marriage, the heifer was to pass to John Long's four children.

After his debts, legacies and funeral expenses were satisfied, he gave the remainder of his goods, bills, bonds, ready money and everything else he could lawfully claim as his own to his loving friend John Long, whom he appointed sole executor of his will.

He revoked all former wills, legacies and executors, ratifying [...]

Interpretations

The testator is the same William Pelley named as sole beneficiary and executor of John Gibbs (will of 20 April 1720) in the present session, the surname rendered Pelley in the present text and Pelley in the earlier record. The death of the present testator within at most some months of his inheritance from Gibbs indicates either that Pelley was already in failing health when Gibbs made his will, or that the same illness or condition affected both men in close succession.

John Long, the executor and residuary beneficiary, is the same John Long established across the registers as stepson of Thomas Gargen (will of 8 January 1715) and as witness to Matthew Bazett (will of 3 April 1719) and the Peter Sinsnick will of 24 April 1721 in the present session. His role here as executor and residuary legatee of Pelley converges with his Marsh family connection, where the Robert Marsh will of 4 February 1718 referred to Sarah Long and Richard Long.

Speculations

The decision to direct the substantial part of the estate to John Long's young children, rather than to John Long himself, indicates that Pelley wished his accumulated property to pass to a settled family of the next generation rather than to a contemporary friend who might exhaust it within his own lifetime. The structure converts the bulk of the cattle wealth into a multi-generational provision for the Long children, with the residue passing to their father as executor and beneficiary in his own right.

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and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal this 10th day of March In the Year of our Lord 1720/21.

Sign'd Seal'd Publifhed Declared and Pronounced to be my Last Will and Testament

In the presence of Us Will[i]am Pe[l]ley Benj[a]m[i]n Cleaverlee John Hodgkinson Walter Morris

In the Name of God Amen the tenth day of February Anno Dom[in]i One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty one I Thomas Swallow of the Ifland of S[t] Helena freeplanter being Sick in body But of good & P[er]fect memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to Remembrance the Uncertain State of this Transitory Life and that all flesh must yield to Death when it shall Please God to call, Do make Declare this my Last Will & Testam[en]t in manner & form following First being P[e]nitent & Sorry for all my Sins Humbly Desireing forgivenefs of the same I commend my Soul Unto Allmighty God my Saviour and Redeemer in whom and by w[h]ose Merits I trust and believe A[ss]uredly to be Saved and to have the full Remifsion of my Sins & to Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven, and my Body I committ to the Earth to be Decently buried at the Discretion of my Execut[or] hereafter Mention[e]d and for what Temporal Estate it has Pleased God to bestow upon me I give & bequeath the same in Manner & form following.

Imp[r]: I give and bequeath unto my Beloved Son Richard Swallow all that my Dwelling House in the Country with Twenty Acres of Land, being my own Lott Land to have & to Hold to him and his Heirs for ever Immediately after my Deceafe As also all my right & Interest to and in thirty Acres of Land with the Lease of the Same which I now Pofsefs and Hire of the Hon[oura]ble Comp[an]y Lord Proprietors of the Said Ifland, Under the Same Custom & Conditions of all Other Leases.

Item I give & bequeath Unto my beloved Daughters M[ar]garrett Swallow & Mary Swallow Each of them Ten Acres of Land being the twenty Acres of Land Adjoyning to my Lott Land aforesa[i]d ten whereof was my Deceased fathers Robert Swallows bought of John Boyce Dec[ease]d the other ten Acres Exchanged with M[r] Sich for ten Acres Lying Near him in Chappel Valley To Hold to them and their Heirs forever When and after they Attain to the Age of twenty one Years or day of Marriage Unlefs they or Either of them Should fortune to D[i]spose of the Same and in Such Case my Will is that my beloved wife Elizabeth Swallow or Son Richard Swallow Shall have the first off[e]r to Purchafe it But in Cafe of the Death of both or Either of my S[ai]d Daughters M[ar]garrett or Mary Swallow before they Arrive to full Age or is Married then my Will is that the[i]r Land bequeathed as above Mentioned shall Im[m]ediately fall to & become my S[ai]d Son Rich[ar]d Swallows & his Heirs for ever

Closing the will of William Pelley, he set his hand and seal on 10 March 1720/21. The will was signed, sealed, published, declared and pronounced as his last will and testament in the presence of Benjamin Cleaverlee, John Hodgkinson and Walter Morris.

On 10 February 1722, Thomas Swallow of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick in body but of good and perfect memory. He acknowledged the uncertain state of this transitory life and that all flesh must yield to death when God called.

Penitent and sorry for his sins, he asked their forgiveness. He commended his soul to Almighty God his Saviour and Redeemer, trusting through his merits to be saved, to receive full remission of his sins, and to inherit the kingdom of heaven. He committed his body to the earth, to be decently buried at his executor's discretion. As to the temporal estate that God had granted him, he disposed of it as follows.

To his beloved son Richard Swallow he gave the country dwelling house, together with twenty acres of his own allotted land, to hold to him and his heirs for ever immediately after the testator's death. He also gave Richard all his right and interest in thirty acres of land, with the lease of the same, which he then held on hire from the Honourable Company as lords proprietors of the island, under the same customs and conditions as all other Company leases.

To his beloved daughters Margaret Swallow and Mary Swallow he gave ten acres each, comprising the twenty acres adjoining his allotted land. Ten of those acres had been bought by his deceased father Robert Swallow from the deceased John Boyce. The other ten acres had been exchanged with Mr Sich for ten acres lying near him in Chapel Valley. The daughters were to hold their portions to themselves and their heirs for ever when they reached the age of twenty-one or married. If either daughter chose to dispose of her ten acres, his wife Elizabeth Swallow or son Richard was to have the first offer of purchase. If either or both daughters died before reaching full age or marrying, their ten acres were to pass to Richard Swallow and his heirs for ever.

Interpretations

The testator presents an immediate question of identity. The Thomas Swallow earlier documented across the registers as son of Robert Swallow (will of 17 June 1688), witness to the Cleaverlee will of 1696, overseer of the Wilson will of 1697, and lessor of land in the Paul Charles will of 1706, was confirmed deceased before August 1713, when his daughter Mary Swallow was named as recipient in the Sutton Isaac will of 27 August 1713 and as receiving cattle in the Thomas Bagley will of 26 November 1711. The present testator, drawing his will in February 1722 and identifying his deceased father as Robert Swallow, must therefore be a second Thomas Swallow of the same Swallow family, perhaps a grandson of Robert Swallow bearing his uncle's name, or a son of a different branch. The naming of his own son as Richard Swallow, when a Richard Swallow of the wider family was testator in his own right in September 1718, reinforces the persistence of the same set of given names across several generations of the Swallow line.

The twenty acres adjoining the testator's allotted lot is traced through its component parts. Ten acres had been bought by the testator's deceased father Robert Swallow from John Boyce, the same John Boyce who was testator in his own right (will of 26 February 1711) and whose entire estate of cattle and moveables passed to James Greentree. The other ten acres had been exchanged with Mr Sich for ten acres lying near him in Chapel Valley. The Sich exchange traces presumably to the household of John Sich (will of 25 February 1703) or his successors, indicating a working pattern of consolidation by exchange among adjacent planters.

Speculations

The decision to vest the dwelling house and the twenty acres of allotted land in Richard immediately after the testator's death, without an intervening life interest for the widow, departs from the standard planter pattern of preserving the widow's possession of the country estate during her natural life. The arrangement converts Richard from a deferred heir into the immediate master of the country property, with his mother presumably retained as part of his household rather than as a life tenant in her own right. The structure suggests either that Richard was already an established adult capable of working the estate, or that the testator wished to avoid the administrative complications of a widow's life estate over property that he intended to consolidate in the male line.

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Item I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid Daughter Margarrett Swallow One Black Slave Named Maggot when she comes of Age or day of Marriage

Item I give and bequeath unto my Beloved Daughter Mary Swallow one Black Wench named Jenny in Like manner as in the foregoing Article, And Neither[s] Land nor Blacks to be Vallued into their P[o]rtions

Item I give and bequeath Unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Swallow the Use of half my Dwelling House in the Country Dureing Her Naturall Life, and the Use Bennefitt & Profitt of the Twenty Acres of Land which I bequeathed Unto my two Daughters M[ar]garrett & Mary as aforesaid Untill they Attein to Years of Twenty One or day of Marriage As Likewise the Use & Service of the two Negroes bequeathed to them, And that my Said Son Rich[ard] Swallow Do keep and Maintaine them in all Necefsarys Untill they Come of Age or Marriage and to Pay and Deliver them & Each of them Portion, Legacy & Part of my Estate that is herein given and bequeathed to them at or on the time before mentioned, Further my Will and Desire is that in Cafe my beloved wife Elizabeth Swallow Should Marry then She is to quit Her Living in the House and Bennefitt above Mentioned & not otherwife.

Item I give and bequeath unto my Said beloved wife One Negro Man named Robbin to do and Dispose of at Her Will and Pleafure As Likewise One Black Boy named Will dureing Her life and after Her Deceafe the Said Black Boy to go to my Grand Son Samuell Swallow the Son of my aforesaid Son Richard Swallow

Item I give and bequeath unto my afore[s]aid Son Richard my Dwelling House at the Fort in Chappel Valley to do and Dispose of as he shall think fitt but am not willing it Shall be Sold out of the family.

Item ffurther bequeath unto my afore[s]aid Daught[er] Mary three Cows and in Case of Her Death before Age or Marriage to fall to my Daughter Margarell afore[s]aid

Item I give unto John a Son born of the Body of my wife in her absence who I utterly Disclaim as my Child One Shilling and my Will is that He shall have no Bennefitt of my Estate Directly or Indirectly from any Legacies or otherwise upon forfeiture of these Legacys

Item I Give my Black man Named Phill his freedome

Further as touching the Disposal of all the Rest and Residue of my Estate not yet Disposed of be the same in goods, Chattles, or any thing Else as Houshold Stuff Provisions, Debts &c Either Real or P[er]sonal my Will is that all be Appraised and Equally Divided (after my beloved wife Elizabeth Swallow has had Her thirds) amoung all my aforesaid Children Richard Margarrett, and Mary Swallow Except one Cow which I give my Grand Daughter Mary the Daughter of Thomas Swallow Deceased And

To his daughter Margaret Swallow he gave a black slave named Maggot, to take possession when she came of age or married.

To his daughter Mary Swallow he gave a black woman named Jenny on the same terms. Neither the land nor the slaves were to be counted into the daughters' portions of the estate.

To his wife Elizabeth Swallow he gave the use of half the country dwelling house during her natural life. He also gave her the use, benefit and profit of the twenty acres bequeathed to Margaret and Mary until they came of age or married, and the use and service of the two slaves bequeathed to them. Richard Swallow was to keep and maintain his sisters in all necessaries until they reached age or marriage, and was to deliver their portions of the estate at that point. If Elizabeth remarried, she was to give up her residence in the house and the benefits otherwise reserved to her.

To Elizabeth he also gave a black man named Robin, to dispose of at her own will and pleasure. He further gave her a black boy named Will during her life. After her death, Will was to pass to the testator's grandson Samuel Swallow, son of Richard Swallow.

To Richard he gave the dwelling house at the fort in Chapel Valley, to dispose of as he saw fit. The testator nonetheless directed that the house should not be sold out of the family.

To his daughter Mary he gave three further cows. If Mary died before age or marriage, the cows were to pass to Margaret.

To John, a son born of the testator's wife during her absence, whom the testator utterly disclaimed as his child, he gave one shilling. He directed that John should take no benefit, direct or indirect, from any legacy or other provision of the estate, on forfeiture of the one shilling.

To his black man Philip he gave his freedom.

As to the remainder of his estate, of every kind, including goods, chattels, household stuff, provisions and debts, real and personal, he directed that the whole be appraised. After his wife had taken her third by custom, the residue was to be divided equally among his three children Richard, Margaret and Mary Swallow. From the residue he excepted one cow, which he gave to his granddaughter Mary, daughter of the deceased Thomas Swallow.

Interpretations

The manumission of the slave Philip is the third explicit grant of freedom recorded in the registers, following Rowly in the Robert Swallow will of 17 June 1688 and Sue in the Margaret Sich will of 28 July 1719 in the present session. Like Sue's case, the bequest of freedom is delivered unconditionally and is not framed as subject to the consent of the governor and council. The recurrence of explicit manumissions in the Swallow line, across two generations and three documented wills, points to a household tradition of granting freedom to particular enslaved people as a personal act distinct from the standard inheritance of slaves as property.

The granddaughter Mary, daughter of the deceased Thomas Swallow, is the same Mary Swallow named as recipient in the Sutton Isaac will of 27 August 1713, where her father Thomas Swallow was already noted as deceased. Her presence here as a residual legatee of a single cow connects the present testator to the earlier Thomas Swallow whose death was documented between 1706 and 1713, and confirms that the present testator was a kinsman of that earlier Thomas Swallow rather than the same man.

Speculations

The disinheritance of John, paired with the express denial of paternity, points to a marital breakdown or extended separation during which the wife conceived a child by another man. The testator's decision to include John in the will at all, rather than ignoring him entirely, indicates that some legal claim might otherwise have been advanced on the boy's behalf. The shilling-and-forfeiture device ensured that any such claim would extinguish itself, while the recorded language fixed the testator's account of the boy's parentage in the formal record of the estate.

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And Lastly Do hereby Constitute Ordain, and Appoint my wellbeloved Son Richard Swallow and friend John Coles to be Whole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testam[en]t Revokeing all Other and former Wills & Testam[en]t. by me heretofore made Confirming this and no Other to be my Last Will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have Hereunto Sett my Hand and Seal the Day & year afore Written.

Sign'd Seal'd Publifhed pronounced Declared & Delivered by the S[ai]d Thomas Tho[s] Swallow Swallow as his Last Will & Testam[en]t. in the Pre[s]ence of Us. James Leech James Vesey

Ifland St Helena.

In the Name of God Amen.

The Eleventh day of August in the Year of Our Lord 1720. I John Orchard of the above Mentioned Ifland being Sick and weak in Body, but of Sound and Perfect mind and Memory (Blefsed be God) calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body and that it is Appointed for all men Once to die Do make & Ordaine this my Last Will and Testament. That is first and Princip[a]lly I recomend my Soul into the Hands of God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Like manner at the Discre[t]ion of my Executrix hereafter Mentioned not Doubting but at the Generall Resurrection to receive the same by the Almighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate as it hath plea[s]ed God to bestow on me, I give & bequeath in manner & form following.

Imp[r]: I Give and bequeath to my wellbeloved wife Mary (after Debts and ffunerall Charges Paid) all my Goods and Chattles and Her Lyeing in my Houfe & Land Dureing Her life and after Her Deceafe the aforementioned Houfe and Land I give to my beloved Nephew Benjamin Bagley the Son of my beloved Brother Orlando Bagley, and to Remain in the Said Orlando's hands till my above Mentiond Nephew Arrives to the Age of One & twenty but with this Proviso, as being the Hon[oura]ble Companys Lease Land, it be with the Consent of the Govern[er] and Councile.

Item I Constitute & Ordain my aforesaid beloved wife Mary whole and Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testam[en]t. utterly Revoking & Disannulling all other Wills & Testam[en]t and Acknowledgeing this and no my Last Will In Witnefs whereof I have Sett my Hand & Seale the day and year above written

Signed Seal'd Publifhed Pronounced and Declared by the s[ai]d John Orchard John Orchard as his Last Will & Testam[en]t in the Presence of us the Subscribers. Orlando Bagley Peter Sinsnick James Vesey

Closing the will of Thomas Swallow, he appointed his beloved son Richard Swallow and his friend John Coles as sole executors of his will. He revoked all other former wills and confirmed this as his only valid one.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced, declared and delivered by Thomas Swallow as his last will and testament, on 10 February 1722, in the presence of James Leech and James Vesey.

On 11 August 1720, John Orchard of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to God who had given it, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of his executrix. He doubted nothing that at the general resurrection he would receive his body again by the almighty power of God. As to the worldly estate that God had granted him, he disposed of it as follows.

After his debts and funeral charges were paid, he gave his beloved wife Mary all his goods and chattels and the right to reside in his house and land during her life. After her death, the house and land were to pass to his beloved nephew Benjamin Bagley, son of his brother Orlando Bagley. The property was to remain in Orlando Bagley's hands until Benjamin reached the age of twenty-one. As the land was held under a Company lease, the eventual transfer was conditional on the consent of the governor and council.

He appointed his wife Mary as sole executrix of the will. He revoked all other wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by John Orchard as his last will and testament in the presence of Orlando Bagley, Peter Sinsnick and James Vesey.

Interpretations

The testator was the John Orchard who had appeared as a witness to the John Boyce will of 26 February 1711, where he was identified as a possible son of Robert Orchard (will of 20 October 1682). His present will, drawn nine years after the Boyce witnessing, confirms the continuing presence of the Orchard line on the island into the second decade of the eighteenth century.

Orlando Bagley, named as brother and trustee, is the Orlando Bagley junior named in the will of his father Orlando Bagley senior (will of 27 November 1701). The brother Edward Bagley (will of 25 April 1706) had died fifteen years before the present will, and Thomas Bagley (will of 26 November 1711) some nine years before. Orlando junior is therefore the surviving brother of the Bagley line, taking on the working trusteeship for his son Benjamin.

Speculations

The decision to settle the leased house and land on the nephew Benjamin Bagley rather than on a member of the Orchard line, paired with the named brother-in-law Orlando Bagley acting as working trustee, indicates that the testator had no surviving children of his own and no Orchard nephews available to receive the property. The bequest channels the working estate into the Bagley male line, preserving the practical occupation and management of the property within the wife's birth family rather than dispersing it to remoter Orchard kin.

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In the Name of God Amen I Edward Johnson Esq[ui]r Gov[erno]r of the Ifland St Helena being this 12th day of Feb[ru]ry 1722 very weak in body but of Sound and P[er]fect mind and Memory and being willing to prevent any disputes that may happen after my death in the Dispo[s]al of my Temperal and Real Estate, DO make this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament in man =ner and form ffollowing. I beg and Desire the Gentlemen of the Councill M[r] Edw[ar]d Byf[ie]ld M[r] John Alexander and M[r] John Goodwin to be Trustees of the Mannage =ment of all Legacys or Bequests which I shall give and dispose of upon this Ifland taking an Inventory of all my Effects on the Said Ifland. I give to Each of the Gentlemen of the Councill above mention'd Twenty Pounds a piece and Likewise to Cap[t]: Thomas Cason the same Sume of Twenty pounds. To M[r]s Eliz[abe]th Ormston of this Ifland Two Hundred and ffifty Pounds and one Black ffellow named Lareena[?]. All my Furniture and House hold Goods and Linnen Likewise all those things I bought at M[r] Francis Out Cry The Choice of three peices of Damask Three peices of Tafsity[s] and three peices of Handkercheifs out of my own Stock Item to Insigne[?] William Slaughter I give all my wearing Cloaths and apparell of all sorts one Silver Watch one fowling peice four Swords and Ten pounds in Money. Item I give to Doctor Beale for his attendance, five Pounds. After all Debts on the Ifland and Legacys are paid and ffuneral Charges Defrayed I desire and appoint that all the Rest of my Estate on this Ifland be by my Trustees above named Tran[s]mitted to my Worthy ffriend Thomas Heath Esq[uire] ff[?] Mile End, in such manner as Near they My Said Trustees to be Shall think best, and to be added to my Estate in England and Devieded among all my Beloved Nephews and Neeces M[r]s Mary Bonock at her Uncle's of Surrat M[r]s. Abraham Houlditch M[r]s. Thomas Houlditch and M[r] Edw[ar]d Houlditch M[r]s [...] Houlditch Mary Houlditch M[r]s Susanna Houlditch and M[r]s Ann Houlditch, Revoking all other Will or Wills or Testaments here tofore by me made acknowledgeing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament Edw[d] Johnson Sign'd Seal'd pronounced & decla[r]d by y[e] S[ai]d Edw[d] Johnson as his Last Will and Testam[en]t in y[e] Prefences of Tho[s] Byf[ie]ld Jn[o] Alexander Tho[s] Cason

On 12 February 1723, Edward Johnson, Esquire, Governor of St Helena, made his will. He was very weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He wished to prevent any disputes that might arise after his death over the disposal of his temporal and real estate.

He asked the gentlemen of the council, Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin, to act as trustees for the management of all legacies and bequests he gave on the island, and to take an inventory of all his effects there.

To each of the three named councillors he gave twenty pounds. To Captain Thomas Cason he gave the same sum of twenty pounds.

To Mrs Elizabeth Ormston of the island he gave two hundred and fifty pounds and one black man named Lareena [...]. He also gave her all his furniture, household goods and linen, together with everything he had bought at Mr Francis's outcry. From his own stock she was further to have her choice of three pieces of damask, three pieces of taffeta and three pieces of handkerchiefs.

To Ensign William Slaughter he gave all his wearing clothes and apparel of every kind, one silver watch, one fowling piece, four swords, and ten pounds in money.

To Doctor Beale, for his attendance, he gave five pounds.

After his debts and legacies on the island had been paid, and his funeral charges defrayed, he directed that the residue of his island estate should be transmitted by his trustees to his worthy friend Thomas Heath, Esquire, of Mile End. The trustees were to remit the residue in whatever manner they judged best. It was to be added to his estate in England and divided among his nephews and nieces: Mrs Mary Bonock, then at her uncle's at Surat; Mrs Abraham Houlditch, Mrs Thomas Houlditch and Mr Edward Houlditch; Mrs [...] Houlditch, Mary Houlditch, Mrs Susanna Houlditch and Mrs Ann Houlditch.

He revoked all former wills and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, pronounced and declared by Edward Johnson as his last will and testament in the presence of Thomas Byfield, John Alexander and Thomas Cason.

Johnson died of the bloody flux on 16 February 1723, four days after the execution of the will.

Interpretations

The testator was Edward Johnson, Esquire, Governor of St Helena, the successor in the governor's chair to the line of Stephen Poirier (testator 21 August 1707) and Benjamin Boucher (codicil 5 May 1713). The bloody flux that carried him off four days after the execution of the will is the contemporary name for dysentery, an acute and rapidly fatal disease in the early eighteenth-century tropical settings of the Company's establishments. The four-day interval between the will and the death points to a brief but decisive final illness, drafted under conditions of recognised mortal danger.

Edward Byfield, John Alexander and John Goodwin, named as trustees and councillors, represent the senior administrative tier of the island council in February 1723. John Alexander is the same clerk of the council established across the registers since around 1699, son of the elder Richard Alexander of the will of 24 May 1683 and brother-in-law of Margaret Cotgrave. John Goodwin is the same John Goodwin named as overseer of the Matthew Bazett will of 3 April 1719 and as joint executor candidate of Edward Mashborne in 1715. Captain Thomas Cason had served as witness to the Poirier codicil and as one of the five joint executors of the Boucher codicil of 5 May 1713.

Speculations

The decision to execute the will four days before death, in the acute phase of a fatal dysenteric illness, points to a governor who had received an urgent medical assessment of his prospects and had moved at once to settle his colonial estate. The four-day interval is too short for a routine precautionary disposition and too long for a final-hour bedside arrangement, fitting instead the working window between an authoritative medical opinion and the patient's loss of capacity. The presence of the senior council members as witnesses indicates that the governor's incapacity was already anticipated by the administration as a probable outcome.

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In the Name of God The 4th Day of August 1722

I Henry Francis of the Ifland of St Hellena Free Planter, being Sick & Weak in body but of Sound Mind & Memmory knowing the uncertainty of of Life. & being willing to make the best Provision for the Maintenance of my Children after my Decea[s]e Do Therefore Make, Ordain, Constitute & Appoint this to be my Last Will & Testament In Manner & Form following

Imprimis First & principally I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God through the Redemption of my Blefsed Saviour Jesus Christ in whom I rely for Pardon of my Sins & A[d]mifsion into the Kingdom of Heaven, & as for my Body Dispose it may be decently Interred at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named, In order to the Disposall of my Estate, my Will, Intent & Desire is as follows

Item WHEREAS My Deceased Mother Ann C[o]mpton by her Will dated the 5th Day of February 1702 did give & bequeath unto my S[o]n Henry Francis then my Infant, that part of the Country House which she did then Pofsefs with ten Acres of Gum[wo]od Land that formerly was belonging to Isaac Cope, but to be & remain in my Pofsefsion untill my Said Son Henry ffran[c]is Should come of Age or Marriage. Forasmuch as My Son Henry ffrancis dyed before either he came of Age, or was Marrie[d] or appointed by the aforesaid Will. The Said Henry ffrancis do Pafses or two thirds of the aforesaid Premifses, as A Son & Son of my S[ai]d Mother Ann C[o]mpton, Which Premifses w[i]th my Cottage, Land, & other after Estate Real or P[er]sonal I shall hereafter dispose of at the time my Death, So I hold & desire Authoriz[e] & appoint to my Executors to Make Sale of any Soon after my Decease as Conveniently they can, when they Shall judge a proper Opportunity In order to make a Speedy P[a]ym[en]t or Sat[i]sfaction of all Such Debts as I shall owe at the time of my Death, & well in a better Provision for my Children I Will Knowing that the Management of my Lands & Estate will require more Trouble than can be Expected from my Executors, Therefore further desire my Executors to Make P[a]yment into the Hon[oura]ble Companys (a[t] there of the Produce y[e] Remainder Ariseing from Such Sale of my Estate, as is fr[e]e by me appointed) my Debts and ffuneral Charges being Hoyest [fr]o[m] D[e]scharged. So Trust there to remain at Such Interest as the Hon[ourable] Company shall allow, So as for the only use & behoof of My two Daughters Martha & Sarah ffrancis. My Grand Daughter Elizabeth Crompton Daughter of Elizabeth Crompton my eldest Daughter to be Equally divided into Three parts to be paid either of them when she shall know of age, or marriage which Shall first happen respectively to each of them, & in Cafe either of my Said Daughters Should dye before the time of P[a]yment thee the Survivor to enjoy the others Dividend, In Cafe my Grand Daughter Margaret Crompton Should Dye before she comes to age or Marriage of her wid denire bequeath her Dividend to my Executor to be for the only Use of my Daughter Elizabeth Crompton not to be paid on any account or Intent without the Aquesfacy[?] for [...] in [...] under her hand. My further Will & Intention hereby is to give full Power to my Executors to draw so much Mony out of Each Child[s] Dividend as they Shall think proper for the Maintainance during the Minority of Each Child abovenam[e]d.

Lastly I hereby Nominate Constitute & Appoint My Trusty & wellbeloved Friends Cap[tain] John Goodwin & M[r] Francis Wrangham of the Ifland Planters the Executors of this My Last Will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal the Day & Year abovewritten.

Signed Sealed & Delivered Henry Francis in the Pre[s]ence of Us Ed: Johnson Margaret Goodwin James Vaughn

On 4 August 1722, Henry Francis of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but of sound mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and his wish to make the best provision for his children after his death.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, through the redemption of Jesus Christ, in whom he relied for pardon of his sins and admission into the kingdom of heaven. His body was to be decently interred at his executors' discretion. As to the disposal of his estate, he gave the following directions.

His deceased mother Ann Compton, by her will of 5 February 1703, had given to his son Henry Francis, then an infant, that part of the country house which she occupied at the time, together with ten acres of gum wood land formerly belonging to Isaac Cope. The bequest was to remain in the testator's possession until Henry Francis came of age or married. His son Henry Francis had died before reaching age or marriage. Two thirds of the property therefore passed to the testator as son of Ann Compton [...].

With his cottage, land and other real and personal estate, the testator authorised and appointed his executors to make sale of the whole as soon after his death as conveniently they could, when they judged a proper opportunity. The purpose of the sale was the speedy payment of all his debts at the date of his death, and the better provision for his children. He acknowledged that the management of his lands and estate would involve more trouble than his executors could be expected to take on.

He directed his executors to pay the proceeds, after his debts and funeral charges had been discharged, into the Honourable Company at the interest that the Company allowed, to remain there for the use of his two daughters Martha and Sarah Francis and his granddaughter Elizabeth Crompton, daughter of his eldest daughter Elizabeth Crompton. The fund was to be divided into three equal parts, to be paid out to each beneficiary when she came of age or married, whichever happened first. If either of his two daughters Martha or Sarah died before the time of payment, the survivor was to take the deceased's share. If his granddaughter Elizabeth Crompton died before age or marriage, her share was to pass to her mother Elizabeth Crompton, but only on the mother's signed receipt [...]. The executors had full power to draw such sums out of each child's share as they judged proper for the maintenance of each child during her minority.

He appointed his trusted friends Captain John Goodwin and Francis Wrangham, both planters of the island, as executors of the will.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered by Henry Francis in the presence of Edward Johnson, Margaret Goodwin and James Vaughn.

Interpretations

The testator is the Henry Francis who has appeared across the registers as son of the elder Henry Francis (will of 5 April 1684) and as son-in-law of Edward Edmunds, through marriage to Edmunds's daughter Margaret. The mother named here, Ann Compton, is the Anne Edmunds of the will of 5 February 1703, who had remarried after Edmunds's death to a man named Compton, taking that surname into her own final disposition. The present will accordingly bridges the Francis, Edmunds and Compton lines across three documented generations.

Francis Wrangham, executor, is the same Francis Wrangham named as joint executor of Benjamin Sich (will of 19 November 1713) and as witness to Matthew Bazett (will of 3 April 1719) and joint executor of Mary Sich (will of 28 July 1719). His pairing with John Goodwin reflects the working alliance of established planters at the senior administrative level by the early 1720s.

Speculations

The decision to convert the entire real and personal estate into cash by sale, rather than to settle land directly on the daughters, points to a deliberate choice in favour of an actively managed fund over a passive inheritance of real property. The testator acknowledged that the management of his lands would involve more trouble than his executors could be expected to undertake, and the conversion to cash deposited with the Company removed the burden of estate management while preserving the value of the estate as a working capital fund for the daughters and granddaughter.

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In the Name of God Amen I Robert Angus of the Ifland St Hellena being Sick & weak in body but of Sound & p[er]fect Mind & Memory thanks be given unto Almighty God for the Same & calling to Mind the Mortality of My Body, & knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to Dye, do Make, Constitute & Appoint this My Last Will & Testament. that is to say & princip[a]lly I give & recom[m]end My Soul into the Hands of Almighty God My Creator, hoping & A[ss]uredly believeing through the Merits of My Blefsed Saviour Jesus Christ to receive Eternal Blifs, as for My Body I commit to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like manner at the Discretion of My Executor hereafter mentiond, and as touching Such Worldly Goods which it has plea[s]ed God out of his great Goodnefs to lend unto me I give & dispose of the Same in Manner & form following

Imp[r]: After my Debts & Funerall Expences being fully Sat[i]sfyed I give & bequeath unto M[r] Gabriel Powell whom I make whole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament, My Goods Chattels, Bills, Bonds Ready Money & every particular that I can lawfully Claim as Mine Revoking & Disannulling all other Wills by Me Made acknowledging this & no other to be the my Last Will & Testament. In Witnefs whereof I have set My hand & Seal, this 16 day of July in the Year of Our Lord 1722.

I publifh pronounce & Declare this My Last Will and Testament in the Pre[s]ence of

Walter Morris James Ryder Rob[t] Angus Ann Hodgkinson

On 16 July 1722, Robert Angus of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God his Creator, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ to receive eternal bliss. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a Christian manner at his executor's discretion. As to the worldly goods that God had lent him out of his great goodness, he disposed of them as follows.

After his debts and funeral expenses were fully satisfied, he gave all his goods, chattels, bills, bonds, ready money and every other thing he could lawfully claim as his own to Gabriel Powell, whom he appointed sole executor of his will. He revoked all other wills and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was published, pronounced and declared as Robert Angus's last will and testament in the presence of Walter Morris, James Ryder and Ann Hodgkinson.

Interpretations

The testator named no wife, no children, no parents, no siblings and no other kin. The estate passed in its entirety to Gabriel Powell as both sole beneficiary and sole executor. The structure marks the testator as one of the resident men without immediate family on the island, comparable in pattern to John Gibbs (will of 20 April 1720) and Peter Sinsnick (will of 24 April 1721) in earlier portions of the present session.

Gabriel Powell, the sole beneficiary and executor, is the same Gabriel Powell named across the registers as sole heir of Hans Yorgin (will of 3 September 1683), husband of Sarah Rider (daughter of James Rider, testator 1704), brother of Thomas Harper (testator 1715), and joint executor of Charles Steward (will of 12 December 1714). His receipt of an entire unrelated estate from a man with no documented kinship connection to him places him at the centre of a working network of friendship and trust beyond his own family lines.

Speculations

The transfer of the entire estate to Gabriel Powell, without any kinship designation and without any named legacy to other persons, indicates that Powell had served as the testator's principal personal connection on the island. The combined beneficiary and executor structure removed any need for accounting between separate parties and converted the disposition into a single transfer of property and responsibility, fitting the pattern of dispositions made by men whose closest ties on the island ran outside their immediate kin.

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In the Name of God Amen. I William Penny Soldier of the Ifland St Hellena being Sick and weak in body but of Sound & p[er]fect Mind & Memory all Praise & Glory be given unto Almighty God for the Same & knowing that nothing is more certain than Death yet nothing more Uncertain than the time, do make Constitute & Appoint this my Last Will and Testament that is to Say. Princip[a]lly & first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God my Creator, Hopeing and A[ss]uredly believ[i]ng through the alone Merits of my Blefsed Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ after this Life ended to Enjoy Eternal Blifs. My Body I commit to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in a Christian Like & decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors & as touching Such Wordly Goods as it has plea[s]ed God out of his Great Goodnefs to Lend me, I give and Dispose of the Same in manner & form following

Imprimis My Will & Pleasure is that an Inventory be taken of all my Effects & put to Pub[l]ick Sale

Item After all Debts & funerall Charges are defrayed I give & bequeath unto M[r]s Martha Robinson the Sum of four Pounds

Item I give & bequeath to Richard Beale whom I do appoint as one of my Executors the Sum of five Pounds

Item I give & bequeath unto Onesiphorus Son of Richard Beale One Gold Ring

Item I give & bequeath unto Mary Robinson the Sum of three Pounds

Item I give & bequeath unto Ann & Elizabeth Robinson Twenty Shillings Each of them

Item I give & bequeath unto the Poor of this Ifland all the remaining P[a]rt of my Estate to be delivered unto them at the Discretion of my Executors & whom they Shall think fitt

Item I Ordain & appoint my trusty f[ri]ends James Vesey & Richard Beale Executors of this my Last Will & Testament wholly Revoking & Disanulling all former Wills by me Made [...] [...] & Acknowledging this my Last Will & Testament. In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my do Hand & Seal, this Twenty Second Day of May In the Year of Our Lord 1723 One Thousand Seven Hundred & twenty Three his Sign'd Sealed Publifhed William X Penny Pronounced & declared in the Mark Pre[s]ence of Us Joseph Bates Elihu Canne William Coles

On 22 May 1723, William Penny, a soldier of St Helena, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged that nothing was more certain than death, and nothing more uncertain than its time.

He commended his soul to Almighty God his Creator, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ to enjoy eternal bliss after this life. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a Christian and decent manner at his executors' discretion. As to the worldly goods that God had lent him out of his great goodness, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that an inventory be taken of all his effects and that they be sold at public sale.

After his debts and funeral charges were paid, he gave the following legacies.

To Mrs Martha Robinson he gave four pounds.

To Richard Beale, one of his executors, he gave five pounds.

To Onesiphorus Beale, son of Richard Beale, he gave one gold ring.

To Mary Robinson he gave three pounds.

To Ann and Elizabeth Robinson he gave twenty shillings each.

The remaining part of his estate was to go to the poor of the island, to be delivered to them at the executors' discretion and to such persons as the executors judged fit.

He appointed his trusted friends James Vesey and Richard Beale as executors of the will, revoking all former wills [...] and acknowledging this as his last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared in the presence of Joseph Bates, Elihu Canne and William Coles. The testator signed by mark.

Interpretations

The testator's bequests to Martha Robinson, Mary Robinson, and Ann and Elizabeth Robinson identify the entire Robinson female line of the John Robinson household. Martha Robinson is the widow of John Robinson (will of 17 April 1718) and former wife of Charles Steward (will of 12 December 1714). Mary, Ann and Elizabeth Robinson are the three daughters of John Robinson and Martha named in the 1718 will, and identified in the Francis Steward will of 6 June 1718 as half-sisters of Francis Steward. The bequest pattern, with four pounds to the mother, three pounds to one daughter and twenty shillings to each of the other two daughters, reflects a graduated relationship within the household rather than a uniform legacy to a related family.

James Vesey, joint executor, is the same James Vesey named across the registers as son of the Vesey household and as executor and beneficiary of Mary Sich (will of 28 July 1719) and as witness to Richard Swallow (will of 10 September 1718), Thomas Swallow (will of 10 February 1722), John Orchard (will of 11 August 1720) and other dispositions of the present session.

Speculations

The decision to direct the residue of the estate to the poor of the island, rather than to the Robinson household or to the executors as personal beneficiaries, points to a testator with no surviving close kin and a small but identifiable circle of personal connections. The structure separates the legacy bequests, which were targeted at named individuals with whom the testator had specific relationships, from the residue, which was treated as having no natural recipient and was therefore directed to a generalised charitable purpose. The arrangement converts the soldier's accumulated estate into a working fund for community relief through the executors' discretion.

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In the Name of God Amen the 22d day of S[e]ptem[ber] in the Year of Our Lord God One Thousand Seven Hundred & thirteen I Elizabeth Johnson of the Ifland of S[t] Helena Wid[ow] Relict of Joshua Johnson Govrn. [wi]n dec[ease]d. being very Sick & weak in Body but of Perfect mind, and thanks be given unto God, therefore calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is Appointed for all men Once to dye, doe make and Ordaine this my Last Will & Testament that is to Say Princip[a]lly and first of all I give and Recom[m]end my Soul into the hands of God that gave it And for my Body I commend it to the Earth to be buried in a Chri[s]tian Like & Decent manner According to the Discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the Gen[era]ll Resurrection I shall recieve the Same by the mighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly Goods wherewith it hath Plea[s]ed God to blefs me withall in this Life I give Devife & Dispofe of the same in the following manner and form.

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Elizabeth Tayler ffifty Pounds to be paid Her in England Provided the money be reciev'd from Jamaica by M[r] William Thackston my Lawfull Attorney

Item I give & bequeath unto my well biloved Grand Daughter Elizabeth Johnson the daughter of Joshua Johnson One Silver Tankard One Silver Porringer & Six Silver Spoons Marked T E

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Grand Children Thomas Meaurson, Samuel Tayler, Elizabeth Johnson Sarah Johnson & John Johnson the three East being the Children of Joshua Johnson the Sume of three Hundred & ffifteen Pounds to be Equally Divided be tween my aforesaid Grand Children provided as aforesaid the moneys be recieved by my Attorney M[r] William Thackston, to be paid to each of them at full age or Marriage

Item I give and bequeath unto my wellbeloved Son Joshua Johnson Two Hundred Pounds to be paid to him in the R[ig]ht Hon[oura]ble Co[mpan]ys Stores, Likewife one peice of Black Silk, whom I Constitute, make & Ordaine my only and Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testam[en]t. and doe hereby Utterly Disallow & Revoke and Disanull all & Every other former Testa =ment, Wills, & Legacys Requests & Bequest by me in any ways before this time named Willed & bequeathed Rat[i]fying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testam[en]t In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seal the day and Year above Written her Signed Sealed Pronounced & Declared Elizabeth E[?] Johnson in the Pre[s]ence of Us the Sub[s]cribers Mark John Nicholls Walter Morris Rob[t] Addis

Here is the corrected version reflecting that the testator was the widow of Governor Joshua Johnson.

On 22 September 1713, Elizabeth Johnson of St Helena, widow and relict of the deceased Governor Joshua Johnson, made her will. She was very sick and weak in body but in perfect mind. She acknowledged the mortality of her body and that every person must die once.

She commended her soul to God who had given it, and her body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at her executor's discretion. She doubted nothing that at the general resurrection she would receive her body again by the mighty power of God. As to the worldly goods that God had granted her, she disposed of them as follows.

To her beloved daughter Elizabeth Tayler she gave fifty pounds, to be paid to her in England, provided that the money was received from Jamaica by William Thackston, the testator's lawful attorney.

To her beloved granddaughter Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Joshua Johnson, she gave one silver tankard, one silver porringer, and six silver spoons marked T E.

To her beloved grandchildren Thomas Meaurson, Samuel Tayler, Elizabeth Johnson, Sarah Johnson and John Johnson, the three East being children of Joshua Johnson, she gave three hundred and fifteen pounds, to be divided equally among them and paid to each on coming of age or marriage. The bequest was conditional on the moneys being received by her attorney William Thackston.

To her beloved son Joshua Johnson she gave two hundred pounds, to be paid to him in the Honourable Company's stores, together with one piece of black silk. She appointed Joshua Johnson as sole executor of the will. She revoked all former wills, legacies and bequests, ratifying this as her only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, pronounced and declared as Elizabeth Johnson's last will and testament in the presence of John Nicholls, Walter Morris and Robert Addis. The testator signed by mark.

Interpretations

The testator was the widow of Governor Joshua Johnson of St Helena, who had held the governorship before his death. The identification places her at the head of the most senior household on the island, and the date of her will, 22 September 1713, fixes the death of her husband before that point. The Joshua Johnson identified as her son and executor is therefore a son of the deceased governor, rather than the governor himself. The Joshua Johnson who appears across the registers as executor of Robert Addis (will of 20 June 1714), as grandson of Ann Fuller (will of 13 March 1713), and as co-executor of John Nichols senior (will of 25 August 1719) is the son and namesake of the former governor.

Joshua Johnson, the son and executor, is named across the registers as executor of Robert Addis (will of 20 June 1714), as grandson and joint executor of Ann Fuller (will of 13 March 1713), and as co-executor of John Nichols senior (will of 25 August 1719) in the present session. His designation as the governor's son places him within the highest tier of the island's social structure, with the practical administrative role across many estates reflecting his standing.

Speculations

The decision to settle the bulk of the estate on legatees in England, conditional on the receipt of moneys from Jamaica through an attorney, indicates that the late Governor Johnson and his wife had accumulated property in the Caribbean before or during their service at St Helena. The Jamaica connection, combined with the St Helena residence, points to a family trajectory across the Atlantic and Indian Ocean commercial networks, with property accumulated at one station and to be enjoyed at another. The structure converts the will into a working instrument for closing out the colonial chapter of the family's life and transmitting the accumulated wealth to the descendants in the metropolis.

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Ifland St Helena

In the Name of God Amen, February the 17th 1722/3 I James Greentree of Said Ifland free planter being very Sick & weak of Body But of Sound and p[er]fect Memory Praised be God for the same and know =ing that death is Certain but the hour when Uncertain Do make this my Last Will and Testam[en]t in manner & form following V[i]zt

First I bequeath my Soul into the hands of Allmighty God that made it, and my Body I Committ to the Ground hopeing that thro[ugh] the Meritts of Our Saveiour Jesus Christ I Shall at the Generall Resurrection Inherit the Kingdom of Heaven And as for the Temporal Estate that it hath plea[s]ed Allmighty God to bestow upon me farr beyond my Deserts (after my debts oweing to any p[er]son or P[er]sons are fully Sat[i]sfyed and Discharged) I Dispose of it In form & manner as followeth

Imp[r]: I will and bequeath unto my wellbeloved wife Elizabeth Greentree (whom I make and Constitute my Lawfull Executrix) my whole Estate both Real and personal Saveing only that Part of my Land Co[m]monly Called or known by the Name of Rodises, with Three Acres more & adjacent thereunto, Lyeing behind the House Dureing the time of Her Widdohood.

Item It is my Will that all my Children attlefs time Single Vizt L[e]ach Greentree Mary Greentree, Ann, Jane Greentree, Susanna Greentree, John Greentree Jemes Greentree & Rich[d] Greentree shall as they come of A[g]e or Marriage Each of them Receive Out of my Estate as much as my Executor[s] shall Think fitt But in Cafe my wife Marrys, It is my Will that the two thirds of my Personal Estate, with the rever[s]ion[i]ng Part of my Reale Estate be Kept together for the Good of my Said Child[re]n till they Come of Age or Marriage and as they Com of Age or Marriage The Estate to be Appraised and their Part Paid them by my Executors I Leave it to the Direction of my Said Executors, to pay my Children Sooner than the Age of twenty One Years if they think fitt.

Item I give and bequeath unto my wellbeloved Son Thomas Greentree all that Parcell of Land Purchased at Robert Addis's Auction with the Houses thereupon, Likewife three Acres of Land Hired by me of the Hon[oura]ble Comp[an]y Adjacent thereunto to be y[e] s[ai]d Tho[s] full power at my Decea[s]e with this Proviso that my Said wife (Dureing her Widdohood) Enjoy the Same Liberty in all Cases Relateing thereunto that I have now: But in Cafe my Said Son Thomas Greentree, and his wife Should think fitt to leave this Ifland, In that Cafe I give him full Power to Sell or Dispose of the Houfe & Land aforesaid in Order thereunto, But if he Should Continue on this Ifland and Should die without Ifsue, then & in that Case it is my Will that his wife Eliz[abeth] Greentree Pofsefs the Same Dureing Her Naturall Life, and at Her Deceafe the Said Houfe

On 17 February 1723, James Greentree of St Helena, a free planter, made his will. He was very sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect memory. He acknowledged that death was certain but the hour uncertain.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had made it, and his body to the ground, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ to inherit the kingdom of heaven at the general resurrection. As to the temporal estate that God had granted him far beyond his deserts, he directed that it should be disposed of as follows, after his debts had been fully satisfied and discharged.

To his beloved wife Elizabeth Greentree, whom he appointed sole executrix, he gave his entire real and personal estate, with one exception. That part of his land commonly known as Rodises, together with three further acres adjoining it and lying behind the house, was reserved from her interest. The widow held the remainder during her widowhood.

He directed that each of his single children, namely Leach, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James and Richard Greentree, should receive out of his estate, on coming of age or marrying, such share as his executors judged fit. If his wife remarried, the two thirds of his personal estate and the reversionary part of his real estate were to be kept together for the children's benefit until each came of age or married, at which point the estate would be appraised and each child paid out. The executors had discretion to pay any child before reaching twenty-one if they judged it appropriate.

To his beloved son Thomas Greentree he gave the parcel of land purchased at Robert Addis's auction, with the houses standing on it, together with three acres of land that the testator held on hire from the Honourable Company adjoining the parcel. Thomas was to take full power over the property at the testator's death. The bequest was made subject to the condition that the widow, during her widowhood, was to enjoy the same liberty in respect of the property as the testator himself had then enjoyed. If Thomas and his wife chose to leave the island, Thomas was given full power to sell or dispose of the house and land. If Thomas remained on the island and died without issue, his wife Elizabeth Greentree was to hold the property during her natural life. After her death, the house [...]

Interpretations

The testator was the James Greentree named across the registers as son of John Greentree (will of 30 April 1683), brother-in-law of Richard Harding (will of 17 July 1706), and a recurring administrator in the second period. He served as executor of John Boyce (will of 26 February 1711), executor of Ann Fuller (will of 13 March 1713), executor of Robert Addis (will of 20 June 1714), and joint executor of Robert Leech (will of 4 May 1712). He was also named as overseer of Matthew Bazett (will of 3 April 1719) and stood as sole beneficiary in the Boyce will, from which he had inherited the cattle and moveable goods of that testator.

The eight single children Leach, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James and Richard Greentree, taken together with the elder son Thomas, give a total of at least nine children of the testator. The given name Leach for the eldest unmarried child suggests a connection to the Leach or Leech family of the registers, perhaps through the testator's wife Elizabeth, who may have been a Leach by birth. The connection would tie the Greentree line into the Leach and Leech network that runs across the registers, including Robert Leech (will of 4 May 1712) and Mary Leech (recipient under William Pelley, will of 10 March 1721).

Speculations

The reservation of Rodises and the three adjoining acres from the widow's life interest, with no immediate disposition in the recovered portion, suggests that the testator intended a specific bequest of that parcel to one of his single children or to a particular legatee whose name is contained in the missing portion of the will. The structure of the clause, withholding the parcel from the general life interest, points to a planned individual allocation rather than to a residual disposition.

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House and Land to Return unto my own Children then in being (Except Elizabeth Ryder)

Item If my Said wife Should Marry, then and in that Cafe I will bequeath unto Her twenty Acres of free Land & half my Mansion Houfe with Eighteen Acres of Land Hired of the Hon[oura]ble Comp[an]y Adjacent there =unto, Likewise four Acres of free Land more known by the Name of Easthopes and ten Acres of free Land more in Sandy Bay Adjacent to the Land now in Pof[s]efsion of Joseph Bates Likewife my Dwelling House in James Valley, Purchased of Rich[ar]d Cleaverlee. the Adjacent Part Purchased of Cap[t] Mathew Bazett dureing Her Naturall life And at Her decea[s]e then the Said Articles to return to my Children Vizt Sarah, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James, & Rich[d] Greentree; And further it is my Will that if my wife Doth marry, that Her Husband Shall not Cutt or cause to be Cutt down any Green tree or Trees Standing upon the Said Land upon the forf[ie]ture of the Same to my Said Children Immediately after Cutting or De[s]troying any Green tree or Trees

Item I give unto my Son in Law James Ryder fifty Pounds to be paid out of my whole Estate at the Discre[t]ion of my Executrix

Item I give and bequeath unto my Dear and Loveing wife the One Third Part of my Personal Estate for ever.

Item I will and bequeath unto my Wellbeloved Children, Sarah, Mary, Ann, Jane, John, James, & Rich[d] Greentree the other two Thirds of my Personal Estate, Saveing only Ten Pounds to be paid unto my Grand daughter Sarah Ryder when She comes of Age or at the day of marria[ge]

Item I Will and bequeath unto my Beloved Children Vizt: Sarah, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James, & Rich[d] Greentree the rem[ai]ning Part of my real Estate, as Houses and Land both ffree & Leafsed, further more. It is my Will & pleasure that in Cafe of Death those of my Child[ren] that are in their Minority Shall have the Deceafeds Part or Parts Equally Divided amoung them, But if my Said wife be with Child at my Decea[s]e It is my Will that, that Child be made Equall with the others before Named in that Cafe and all others whatsoever

Item I give to my Brother in Law Richard Gurling twenty Shillings to buy him a ring Item

Continuing the will of James Greentree, he directed that on the eventual return of the Thomas Greentree property, the house and land were to come back to his own children then living, excepting Elizabeth Ryder.

If his wife remarried, he gave her, during her natural life, the following land. Twenty acres of free land; half his mansion house, together with eighteen acres of land hired from the Honourable Company and adjoining it; four further acres of free land known as Easthope's; ten further acres of free land in Sandy Bay, adjoining the land then held by Joseph Bates; his dwelling house in James Valley, purchased of Richard Cleaverlee; and the adjoining part purchased of Captain Matthew Bazett. After her death, those properties were to return to his children Sarah, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James and Richard Greentree. He further directed that if his wife remarried, her husband was not to cut down any green tree standing on the said land. Any such cutting or destruction would forfeit the property to his children immediately.

To his son-in-law James Ryder he gave fifty pounds, to be paid out of the estate at the executrix's discretion.

To his wife he gave one third of his personal estate for ever.

To his beloved children Sarah, Mary, Ann, Jane, John, James and Richard Greentree he gave the other two thirds of his personal estate. He excepted ten pounds, to be paid to his granddaughter Sarah Ryder on her coming of age or marrying.

To his beloved children Sarah, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James and Richard Greentree he gave the remaining part of his real estate, comprising houses and land, both freehold and leased. If any child died during minority, the deceased child's portion was to be divided equally among the surviving children. If his wife was with child at his death, that child was to be made equal with the others in this and every other distribution.

To his brother-in-law Richard Gurling he gave twenty shillings to buy a ring.

Interpretations

The exception of Elizabeth Ryder from the return of the Thomas Greentree property to the testator's children indicates that she was an adult married daughter already established with separate provision. The naming of her by her married name Ryder, together with the further reference to son-in-law James Ryder, identifies her as the wife of James Ryder and presumably the same Elizabeth Ryder named in the household connections of the Ryder line. Her exclusion preserves the property for the still-unsettled children rather than further enriching a daughter who had already received her marriage portion.

The brother-in-law Richard Gurling is the recurring administrator named across the registers as executor of Edward Bagley (will of 25 April 1706), George Northern (will of 22 May 1712), Robert Leech (will of 4 May 1712), Charles Steward (will of 12 December 1714), John Crosbey (will of 26 April 1717), John Robinson (will of 17 April 1718) and Thomas Gargen (will of 8 January 1715). His designation here as brother-in-law of the testator indicates that the testator's wife Elizabeth was a sister of Richard Gurling, placing Elizabeth Greentree within the Gurling kinship circle and connecting the Greentree line into the network of the Gurling family.

Speculations

The construction of the conditional second-husband bequest, by which the widow received a substantial named portfolio of properties on remarriage, departs from the standard pattern of forfeiture on remarriage used across the registers. Most planter wills shrank the widow's interest when she remarried, either by replacing her life estate with a fixed third or by triggering security requirements against a new husband. The present will reverses that pattern, expanding the widow's life interest if she remarried by adding specifically named properties to her holding. The structure suggests that the testator wished to encourage his wife's remarriage rather than to discourage it, perhaps in recognition of the practical difficulties of running a household with eight or nine minor children without an adult male partner.

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Item I furthermore Nominate Constitute & Appoint my wellbeloved Brother in Law Richard Gurling and my Loveing Son in Law James Ryder and my beloved Son Thomas Greentree all of this Ifland to be my Lawfull Executors of this my Last Will and Testament Revoaking and Annuling all other Will or Wills Testam[en]t or Testam[en]t[s] heretofore by me made Either by word of mouth or Writing and acknowledge None Other but this to be my Last Will & Testam[en]t In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seale the day and Year above Written. I Publifh Pronounce and Declare this to be my Last Will & Testament in the presence of James Greentree

J[oh]n Hodgkinson Sym Tayler J[oh]n Bagley

In the Name of God Amen. I Mary Hague of the Ifland of S[t] Helena Widdow being very Sick and weak in Body, but of Sound and Disposeing mind and memory, Do make and Ordaine this my Last Will and Testament. in maner & form following. That is to Say I[m]primis I recommend my Soul to God that gave it, & my Body I Comitt to the Earth to be Decently buryed at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter mentioned, and as to my worldly Estate I give and Dispose of the Same in manner & form following (that is to Say)

Imp[r]: I will that all my debts and ffunerall Charges be Justly Sat[i]sfyed and Discharged. Item I give and bequeath my Dwelling House in James Valley unto my Loveing Grandsons Richard Dixon and John Dixon and the Survivor of them and the Heirs of Such Survivour To Hold as Tenants in C[o]mon and not as Joynt Tennants. Item I give all my Houshold Goods of whatsoever kind or Sort to my Executor hereafter Named in Trust that he doe within ffundays after my Decea[s]e Sell the Same at Publick Out Cry and Divide and pay the money Ariseing by Such Sale to my Said Loveing Grandsons Richard Dixon and John Dixon Share and Share Like

Item I give all my wearing Apparrell both Linnen & Wollen In like manner and for the same Purpose as my Houshould[s] are before Bequeath =ed to my Said Executor hereafter Named. And as to what Debts are now oweing to me from any P[er]son and what ready money I shall be Pofsefsed of at the time my Deceafe I desire my Executor

Closing the will of James Greentree, he appointed his brother-in-law Richard Gurling, his son-in-law James Ryder and his son Thomas Greentree as executors of his will. He revoked all former wills made in word or writing and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was published, pronounced and declared as James Greentree's last will and testament in the presence of John Hodgkinson, Sym Tayler and John Bagley.

Mary Hague of St Helena, widow, made her will. She was very sick and weak in body but in sound and disposing mind and memory.

She commended her soul to God who had given it, and her body to the earth, to be decently buried at her executor's discretion. As to her worldly estate, she disposed of it as follows.

She directed that all her debts and funeral charges be justly satisfied and discharged.

To her loving grandsons Richard Dixon and John Dixon, and the survivor of them and the heirs of that survivor, she gave her dwelling house in James Valley. They were to hold the house as tenants in common and not as joint tenants.

She gave all her household goods of every kind to her executor in trust. He was to sell the goods at public outcry within [...] days after her death, and to divide the proceeds equally between Richard Dixon and John Dixon.

She gave all her wearing apparel, both linen and woollen, to her executor on the same terms and for the same purpose as the household goods.

As to the debts then owing to her from any person, and the ready money in her possession at the date of her death, she desired her executor [...]

Interpretations

The testator is the same Mary Hague named earlier in the registers as the soldier William Hague's mother-in-law. The Hague will of 1 March 1708 in earlier portions of the records identified Susanna Hague as William's mother and named the Hague household as being near Newmillerdam in the parish of Sandal, Yorkshire. The present Mary Hague is therefore not the Yorkshire household but a separate Hague woman of the island, with the same surname arising from independent marriage rather than from the earlier family.

The grandsons Richard Dixon and John Dixon connect the testator's daughter or daughter-in-law into the Dixon line of the registers. The Dixon family appears in the Mary Dixon will of 11 July 1696, which was made under a deed of gift from her husband Thomas Dixon, soldier of the island. The Dixon children named in the 1696 will included Robert Gurling (from an earlier marriage), Margaret and Anne Gurling, Sarah Clifton, Nathaniel Barrington, and the husband Thomas Dixon. The Dixon line presumably continued through descendants of Thomas Dixon, with the present grandsons Richard and John Dixon belonging to the next generation.

Speculations

The decision to vest the dwelling house in two grandsons as tenants in common, rather than to give it to a single legatee or to a daughter, indicates that the testator wished to provide for the Dixon line of grandchildren as the principal beneficiaries of her estate. The structure suggests that the testator's daughter, mother of the two grandsons, had either predeceased her or had been provided for through another mechanism. The grandsons were therefore the working recipients of the testator's principal asset, with each holding his half independently of the other.

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toogether to[?] Collect in with what money I have by me as aforesaid be by my Said Executor hereafter Named Divided by and between my Said Loveing Grand sons Richard Dixon and John Dixon in such Share and Proportions as he Shall think fitt. Lastly I make Ordain Constitute & Appoint my Loveing Son in Law Lieu[tenan]t Thomas Cason of this Ifland my full & Sole Executor of this my last Will hereby revoaking all other Wills by me made & Decla[r]ing this to be my Last Will and Testam[en]t. In Witnefs whereof I have to this my Last Will and Testam[en]t Contained in these two Sides of this one Sheet of P[a]pe[r] Sett my hand and Seale this 22 day of may 1723 Anno 9[?] Re Re[gi]s Georgi nono

Signed Sealed Publifhed & Declared The mark of by the s[ai]d Testatrix as & for her Last Mary Hauer[?] Will & Testam[en]t. In the P[re]fence of Us who have hereunto Sub[s]cribed Their Names as Witnefses thereof W[m] M[?] Wood John young John Stawson[?]

In the Name of God Amen the 21 Day of January in the Year of our Lord 1724[?] I George E[dwards] Soldier of the Ifland S[t] Hellena being Sick & Weak in Body but of Sound & p[er]fect mind & memmory in[?] reaving heartrise[?] the Mort =ality of my Body & knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to dye do make & Ordain this my Last Will, & T =Testament. it is to say princip[a]lly & first of all I give & re =commend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God, & My Body I com[m]end unto the Earth, to be buried in a Christ =ian Like & Decent Manner at the Direction of my Executors Nothing Doubting but that at the Generall Resurrection I Shall recieve the Same by the All-mighty Power of God, & as touching Such Wo[r]ldly Goods wherewith it has plea[s]ed God to beftowe in this Life I give devife & dispose of the Same in the Same Manner & form as ffollows

Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Godson Tho[s] Hauer[?] my Dwelling House with thirty Acres of Free Land thereunto belonging to be Delivered to him at the Day of Marriage or full Age

Item I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Brother Henry Edwards twenty Shillings

Item I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Sister Sarah Edwards twenty Shillings

Item I give & bequeath unto My well beloved Sister Mary Edwards Twenty Shillings

Item I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Sister Elizabeth Edwards Twenty Shillings

Continuing the will of Mary Hague, she directed her executor to collect in such moneys as were owing to her and add them to the ready money in her possession at the date of her death. The whole was then to be divided by the executor between her grandsons Richard Dixon and John Dixon in such shares and proportions as he judged fit.

She appointed her son-in-law Lieutenant Thomas Cason of the island as sole executor of the will. She revoked all former wills and declared this as her last will and testament.

The will was contained in two sides of one sheet of paper. The testator set her hand and seal on 22 May 1723, in the ninth year of the reign of King George.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared by the testatrix as her last will and testament in the presence of William M [...] Wood, John Young and John Stawson [...]. The testatrix signed by mark, the surname rendered Hauer [...] in the witnessing clause.

On 21 January 1724, George Edwards, a soldier of St Helena, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a Christian and decent manner at his executors' direction. He doubted nothing that at the general resurrection he would receive his body again by the almighty power of God. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

To his beloved godson Thomas Hauer [...] he gave his dwelling house and thirty acres of free land belonging to it, to be delivered on the godson's marriage or coming of age.

To his beloved brother Henry Edwards he gave twenty shillings.

To his beloved sister Sarah Edwards he gave twenty shillings.

To his beloved sister Mary Edwards he gave twenty shillings.

To his beloved sister Elizabeth Edwards he gave twenty shillings.

Interpretations

The Mary Hague will's identification of Lieutenant Thomas Cason as son-in-law of the testator places her daughter as Cason's wife. Thomas Cason has appeared across the registers as witness to the Stephen Poirier codicil (will of 21 August 1707), as witness to the Thomas Sanderson will of 3 March 1708, as joint executor of the Benjamin Boucher codicil of 5 May 1713, and as recipient of a twenty-pound legacy under the Edward Johnson will of 12 February 1723 earlier in the present session. His designation as son-in-law in the present will places him at the centre of the Hague-Dixon family connection through his marriage to the testator's daughter, mother of the grandsons Richard and John Dixon.

The regnal year formula in the ninth year of the reign of King George identifies the year as the ninth regnal year of George I, which began on 1 August 1722. The combination of the calendar date of 22 May 1723 with the ninth regnal year places the will within the legal framework of George I's reign, distinct from the second regnal year of Queen Anne used in the Thomas Ashby will of 21 July 1703.

Speculations

The decision to leave the principal estate to a godson rather than to a brother or sister indicates that George Edwards had developed a working relationship with the godson sufficient to override the standard claims of blood kinship. The pattern fits a soldier without children of his own who had taken on the practical role of a substitute father to a godson, perhaps the son of a fellow soldier or of a household where Edwards lodged. The transfer of the substantial estate to that godson on marriage or majority converts the godparental relationship into a working inheritance line, comparable to the parental relationship in form even where the blood connection was absent.

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Item My Will & Pleasure is that my well beloved Sister Grace Hayse Shall have her Dwelling in the aforementioned house & [...] Lands to Improve as she thinks fitt untill it Shall become due to my well beloved Godson Tho Hayse that She Shall pay Henry, Sarah, Mary & Elizabeth Edwards their Legacies aforementiond

Item I do Ordain & Appoint my trusty Freinds Giles Smith And Grace Hayse my S[i]ster Executor & Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament Uterly revokeing & Disannulling all former Will[s] by me made, Ratifying & Confirming this & no Other; In witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal, this twenty First day of January One thousand Seven hundred & twenty four five George Bryon

Signed Sealed & publifh'd Pronounced & Decleared in Geo[r]ge G [...] Bryon the Presence of [...] Us Jn[o] Knipe his Joseph H Hayse mark Rich[d] Beale

Ifland S[t] Hellena

In the Name of God Amen I Robert Bell of the S[ai]d Ifland Freeholder, being Sick & weak of Body but of Sound & P[er]fect Mind & Memory thanks be to Almighty God do make & Constitute this my Last Will & Testament in Manner & form following. Viz[t]

First I bequeath my Soul to Almighty God who gave it & my body I commit to the Earth to be buried in a Decent & Christian Like Mannere at the discretion of my Executor hereafter Mentiond

Imprimis After my funeralls Expences (together w[i]th all Debts due & Demand[s]) are fully discharg'd & Sat[i]sfyed I give & bequeath Unto my S[ai]d wellbeloved Daughters Margaret, Ann, and Martha Bell my whole & Sole Estate both Reall & Personale to be Equally divided amongst them as they Shall come of Age or to Marriage, w[i]th this Proviso that twenty Pounds be deduct [e]d from my whole Estate for the Maintainance & Education of two Youngest of my Above named two Daughters

Continuing the will of 21 January 1724, the testator directed that his beloved sister Grace Hayes should have her dwelling in the house and lands previously mentioned, to improve as she judged fit, until the property became due to his godson Thomas Hayes. She was to pay Henry, Sarah, Mary and Elizabeth Edwards their legacies.

He appointed his trusted friends Giles Smith and his sister Grace Hayes as executor and executrix of his will. He revoked all former wills and ratified this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared in the presence of John Knipe, Joseph Hayes (who signed by mark) and Richard Beale. The testator signed himself George Bryon.

The change of surname between the opening of the will, where the testator was named as George Edwards, and the closing, where he signed as George Bryon, indicates that the testator was known by two names. The godson Thomas Hauer or Hayes is identified here as Thomas Hayes, with the surname previously rendered Hauer now resolved to the same Hayes family. The sister Grace Hayes is therefore connected by the Hayes surname to the godson, and the witness Joseph Hayes is presumably another member of the same family.

Robert Bell of St Helena, a freeholder, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had given it, and his body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at his executor's discretion.

After his funeral expenses, debts and demands were fully discharged and satisfied, he gave his entire estate, real and personal, to his beloved daughters Margaret, Ann and Martha Bell, to be divided equally among them on coming of age or marrying. The bequest was subject to one proviso. Twenty pounds were to be deducted from the estate for the maintenance and education of the two youngest of the daughters [...]

Interpretations

The testator of the will dated 21 January 1724 is identified at the opening as George Edwards and at the signature as George Bryon. The mismatch is unusual in the registers and may reflect either a scribal substitution or the testator's known use of two surnames during his life. The godson named at the opening as Thomas Hauer, and resolved here as Thomas Hayes, takes his surname from the godparental Hayes family rather than from the testator. The sister Grace Hayes carries the same surname as the godson, indicating that Grace had married into the Hayes line and that the godson Thomas Hayes is presumably her son. The testator's bequest of his dwelling house and thirty acres to the son of his married sister therefore channels the principal estate down through his sister's marriage rather than through any line of his own.

The executor pairing of Giles Smith and Grace Hayes brings together the testator's sister and a member of the wider Coales family network. Giles Smith is the same Giles Smith named earlier in the Henry Coales will of 16 August 1700 as son of John Smith of Pleasant Valley (will of 29 November 1692) and grandson of Henry Coales, and named in the Matthew Bazett will of 3 April 1719 as the vendor of the property purchased by Bazett. His pairing with Grace Hayes here as joint executor of the present soldier's will places him within the working administrative circle by 1724.

Speculations

The testator's use of two surnames, Edwards at the opening and Bryon at the signature, indicates either an alias or a name change in the course of his life. The pattern is unusual but not unprecedented in colonial settings, where men sometimes adopted alternative surnames on entering or leaving particular establishments. The combination of two surnames in the same document, paired with the godson's third surname Hayes (or Hauer) connecting through the sister's marriage, points to a family network in which surname identity was less fixed than in established metropolitan households.

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Viz Martha Bell.

Item I Nominate make Constitute & Appoint my Well beloved Brother Will[ia]m Seal & my well beloved Cousin Jn[o] Curling both of the S[ai]d Ifland the Lawfull Executors of this my Last Will & Test[a] ament Revokeing & Annulling any other Will or Wills or Wills by me Heretofore Made Owing & Acknowledg[e]ing this to be my Last will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seal this 36th[?] Day of Aprill A[nno] Domini one thousand Seven Hundred & Twenty four

Signed Seal'd & Delivered Rob[t] Bell In Prefence of us Exa[mi]n[e]d D Crispe Stephen Praeti[?] Pledger Jn[o] Peal Henry Johnson

Ifland St Helena

In y[e] Name of God Amen the 6th Day of S[e]ptember 1714, I Sarah Wright Widdow of the s[ai]d Ifland being very Sick & Infirm of Body but of Perfect Mind & Memmory & resolved to All-mighty God but Calling to mind the Suddenefs of my Eternall Change do make this my Last will & Testament. that is to say Princip[a]lly & first of all I Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it & my Body to the Earth to be buried in a decent & Christian L[i]ke man =ner at the Direction of my Execit[ors] hereafter Named & f[?]o Doubt =ing not but at the Generall Resurrection to Recieve the Same agen[?] by the Mighty Power of God yt as to what it hath Pleased God to blefs me w[i]th in this Life I Dispose of in Manner following

Imprimis I give & bequeath to my Two Grand Children Sutt[on] Tho[s] [&] Sarah Lippings Twenty Pound to be Equally Divided between y[e] when they Come of Age or are Married, & to Remain in the hands of pretty Well beloved Friend Rich[d] Swallow (Untill that time)

Item I give my Wedding & wearing Apparrelle & all other thing[s] Goods[?] for defraying my Funerall Expenced whom I L[e]kewife do A[p]point to do this my Last Will Executed Revokeing all former Wills Confirming this to be my Last In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal the Day & Year abovewritten her Signed Seal'd & Delivered Sarah S Wright In Prefence of us Mark Orlando Bagley Jn[o] Harding Exa[mi]n[e]d D Crispe

Continuing the will of Robert Bell, the twenty-pound deduction for maintenance and education was directed at the two youngest daughters, Ann and Martha Bell.

He appointed his beloved brother William Seal and his beloved cousin John Curling, both of the island, as lawful executors of his will. He revoked all former wills and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered on 26 April 1724 in the presence of Stephen Praeti Pledger [...], John Peal and Henry Johnson. The will was examined by D Crispe.

On 6 September 1714, Sarah Wright, widow, of St Helena made her will. She was very sick and infirm of body but in perfect mind and memory, and resolved to Almighty God. She acknowledged the suddenness of her eternal change.

She commended her soul to God who had given it, and her body to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at her executor's direction. She doubted nothing that at the general resurrection she would receive her body again by the mighty power of God. As to what God had granted her in this life, she disposed of it as follows.

To her two grandchildren Sutton Thomas Lippings and Sarah Lippings she gave twenty pounds, to be equally divided between them when they came of age or married. The money was to remain in the hands of her beloved friend Richard Swallow until that time.

She gave her wedding and wearing apparel and all other goods for defraying her funeral expenses [...], and appointed [Richard Swallow] as executor of her will. She revoked all former wills and confirmed this as her last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Orlando Bagley and John Harding. The testatrix signed by mark. The will was examined by D Crispe.

Interpretations

The brother William Seal of the Robert Bell will is presumably connected to the Seale or Coale family of the registers, named earlier in the Benjamin Seale will of 17 January 1693. The variation between Seal, Seale and Coale across the documents reflects the consistent scribal alternation of the same surname. The cousin John Curling carries a surname rendered earlier as Gurling across the registers, with Curling and Gurling representing the same family with alternative scribal renderings. John Curling is therefore presumably the same John Gurling related to Richard Gurling, the recurring executor of multiple wills across the second decade.

Richard Swallow, the trustee, is presumably the same Richard Swallow named across the registers as grandson of Robert Swallow (will of 17 June 1688), godson of James Sich (will of 9 December 1708), and brother-in-law and executor of Benjamin Sich (will of 19 November 1713). His role here as trustee for the Lippings grandchildren places him at the centre of a wider network of trust relationships extending beyond his immediate family connections.

Speculations

The recourse to a private trustee for the twenty-pound legacy to the Lippings grandchildren, rather than to a Company deposit or to executor administration, points to a testatrix whose modest estate did not justify the more formal arrangements used in larger settlements. The choice of Richard Swallow as trustee suggests a long-standing personal connection between the testatrix and the Swallow family, perhaps through neighbourhood, household service or other working relationships. The structure converts the legacy into a working trust managed by personal arrangement rather than by institutional process, with the trustee's personal reliability as the principal security for the grandchildren's eventual receipt.

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Ifland St Helena

This is the Last Will & Testament of Jn[o] Swallow Corporal[l]

Imprimis: I Recomend my Soul to Allmighty God that Gave it & my Body I committ to the Earth to be Decently buried at the direction of my Exec[u]t[or]x hereafter Named

Item All & Singular my Estate & Effects of what Kind or Sort Soever I give to my [o]wn[?] Daughter Eliz[abe]th Swallow upon Her Marriage or age of Twenty One but in Case my Mother Eliz[abe]th Swallow Survives the Said Child I give one Black Slave Named Lover to her: & I doe hereby Nominat[e] my S[ai]d Mother Elizebeth Swallow Executrix of this my Will, In Wittnefs hereof I have Hereunto set my Hand & Seal this Eleventh day of 10[?] 1723 Jn[o] Swallow

Signed Seal'd & Decleared as the Last Will & Testament of the S[ai]d Jn[o] Swallow in y[e] Prefense Exa[mi]n[e]d D Crispe of Us Tho[s] Free Daniell Griffith her Mary m Swallow Mark

On 11 October 1723, John Swallow, a corporal, made his last will and testament.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had given it, and his body to the earth, to be decently buried at his executrix's direction.

He gave his entire estate and effects, of every kind, to his own daughter Elizabeth Swallow, on her marriage or coming to the age of twenty-one. If his mother Elizabeth Swallow outlived the daughter, he gave one black slave named Lover to her. He appointed his mother Elizabeth Swallow as executrix of the will.

The will was signed, sealed and declared as John Swallow's last will and testament in the presence of Thomas Free, Daniel Griffith and Mary Swallow, who signed by mark. The will was examined by D Crispe.

Interpretations

The testator was a corporal of the garrison, placing him within the soldier class rather than the planter class. The estate's transmission to a single daughter on a fixed trigger of marriage or age twenty-one fits the soldier pattern of a compact estate vesting in the immediate next generation.

D Crispe, examiner of the will, continues the established role earlier observed in the examination of the Robert Bell will of 26 April 1724 and the Sarah Wright will of 6 September 1714. The examiner's working role indicates that the present John Swallow will was processed through the council's formal review procedure alongside other unproved wills of the period.

Speculations

The decision to vest the entire estate in a single daughter, with no provision for the testator's mother apart from the contingent legacy of the slave Lover, indicates that the testator regarded the daughter as his principal heir and the mother as a backup beneficiary in the event of the daughter's early death. The structure fits a testator whose immediate priority was his daughter's eventual provision on marriage or majority, with the mother's interest secondary and conditional. The arrangement converts the will into a single-line transmission to the next generation, with the elder generation receiving only a contingent share if the principal line failed.

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In the Name of God Amen the twenty Seventh day of Feb[ru]ry in the year of Our Lord 1723 I George Hodgkinson of the Ifland S[t] Helena Es[quire] Govenour being Sick & Indispo[s]ed in Body but of Sound & p[er]fect Memory thanks be to God for the same. & Calling to Mind that it is appointed for all Men once to die but the time very uncertain Do make ordain, Constitute & Appoint this to be my Last Will & Testament in Manner & form following. That is to say Princip[a]lly & first of all I Recomend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave it Hopeing & A[ss]uredly believ[i]ng to receive ffree Pardon & forgivenefs of all my Sins through the Mer[i]torious Death & Pafsion of my only & b[?] Saviour Jesus Christ & for my Body I recomend it to the Earth from whence it came to be decently buried at the Discretion of my Executrix hereafter Named nothing doubting but at the great Resurrection to Pofsefs & Recieve the same again with that joyfull Change of Almighty God Blefsing me touching such wordly goods as it hath Pleased Almighty God to bestow upon me ffor above my Deserts I give devife & Dispose of the Same in the following manner.

Imp[r]: I Will Ordain Order & Appoint that all those Debts which I owe in Right or Conscience to any P[er]son or P[er]sons may be truly Sat[i]sfyed & paid in Convenient time after my Decea[s]e by my s[ai]d Executors & that the same be Paid & raised out of my Estate the best & Cheapest way as they shall see fitt

Item I give & bequeath to my Wellbeloved Son John Hodgkinson my Lott of Land all & Singular all at Cause [...] cor[s]ge of Land Mention[e]d by C[o]m[m]on Estim[a]tion twelve Acres together with that the [...] [...] tenement Scitvate, lyeing & being in the County of [...] on the County of [...] commonly called the Holy Stak with all then [...] [...] D[...] Stocks Orchards yardways [...] of whatsoever appointmts belonging to any ways appertaining I [...] I have him [...] to in the Po[ss]efsion or Occupation of my [...] [...] [...] as in & for an Intentures of L[...] bearing date the twenty eighth day of July 1700 may more fully act ap[?] appear by [...] [...] for[?] & [...] reference by him of [...] [...] [...] to the Lord Resident as the Right of the said Father P[ro]vision [...] of [...] [...] [...] of the Death of the Said John Hodgkinson before he attains to full Age, that then I to said Lefse John Junior bo[?] [...] & appoint that the [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] L[...] descend unto my beloved Child Ann Hodgkinson, with the Same right & Convenant[?] full or many as any [...] hereafter & in Case of the said Jno: Hodgkinson Death or to age & with him bo[?]ing Confs[?] Ipohaeath the said Premifses to be Comin to my beloved Children whether Male or female. Lifsy[?] To my Bequeath unto my Boys Dani[el]l Jor[?] John Hodgkinson my whole [?] of Brefs[?] [...] one Black Girle [...] Hagar - Item I give & Bequeath unto my Son Tho[s] Hodgkinson One Black bone Named Jock, James, Will[ia]m, Methe[?]: Item Give & bequeath to my well belov[e]d Son Coj[?] Hodgkinson, One Black Boy Named Harry: Item I give & bequeath unto my belov'd Daught[er] Eliz[abeth] Hodgkinson One Bl[ac]k Girle named Susanna. Item I give & bequeath that my Wellbeloved Wife Mary Hodgkinson [...] my [...] Black Cofe Named Magdaleny did so f the Death of any my a[fore]said Africk[?] [...] before before they attive to full Age or are in Actuall Pofsefsion of the M[...] or [...] Legacy of Blacks the Sur[v]ivors to Enjoy & Choofe what gone do all my [...] [...] [...] [...] [...] I give & bequeath unto all & Each of [...] Daught[er] before Named Each Ten Money [...] [...] [...] So [...] Hodgkinson y Daught[er] each a [...] of about [...] [...] [...] to be put into a distinct[?] [Brand] from the own as a S[e]p[a]rate Stock for they only ufe & Bennefitt One Heifer Item afte[r] all my Sons are S[ai]d as if [...] [...] [...] before that all & every of my Houfses Lands Pro[v]isions Black Cattle Hay Goats &c be intirely kept together

On 27 February 1724, George Hodgkinson of St Helena, Esquire, Governor, made his will. He was sick and indisposed in body but in sound and perfect memory.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had given it, hoping through the meritorious death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive free pardon and forgiveness of all his sins. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently buried at his executrix's direction. He doubted nothing that at the great resurrection he would receive his body again. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him far above his deserts, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all debts owed by him to any person should be truly satisfied and paid in convenient time after his death by his executors, out of his estate in the cheapest way they judged fit.

To his beloved son John Hodgkinson he gave his lot of land of about twelve acres by common estimation, together with the tenement situated in the county of [...], commonly called the Holy Stake, with all stocks, orchards, yardways and other appurtenances belonging to it. The property was held in possession or occupation of [...] under an indenture of lease dated 28 July 1700 [...].

If John Hodgkinson died before reaching full age, the property was to descend to the testator's beloved child Ann Hodgkinson, with the same rights as for John. If both John and Ann died before reaching full age, the property was to come to the testator's remaining children, whether male or female.

To his sons Daniel and John Hodgkinson he gave his whole [...] together with one black girl named Hagar.

To his son Thomas Hodgkinson he gave one black boy named Jock, [...] James, William, Methe [...].

To his beloved son [...] Hodgkinson he gave one black boy named Harry.

To his beloved daughter Elizabeth Hodgkinson he gave one black girl named Susanna.

To his beloved wife Mary Hodgkinson he gave [...] the black woman named Magdalena. If any of the aforesaid African slaves died before the named children attained full age or came into actual possession of their legacies, the survivors were to enjoy and choose [...].

To each of the daughters previously named he gave ten [...] money.

To each of his daughters he gave a [...] of about [...], to be put into a distinct brand from his own as a separate stock for their use and benefit, of one heifer each.

After his sons came of age [...], all his houses, lands, provisions, black slaves, cattle, hay and goats were to be kept together [...]

Interpretations

The testator was George Hodgkinson, Esquire, Governor of St Helena, the third documented governor in the succession that runs from Joshua Johnson (died before September 1713) through Stephen Poirier (testator 21 August 1707), Benjamin Boucher (codicil 5 May 1713) and Edward Johnson (testator 12 February 1723, died 16 February 1723). The present testator drew his will on 27 February 1724, slightly more than a year after Edward Johnson's death, indicating that he had succeeded to the governorship within the same period. The presence of John and Ann Hodgkinson as recipients of various legacies across the registers, attested earlier as witnesses to multiple wills, indicates that the Hodgkinson family had been established on the island for some years before the present testator's elevation to the governorship.

The distribution of enslaved persons among the named children, with the slaves listed by individual name and assigned to particular legatees, follows the standard local pattern documented across the registers. The slaves Hagar, Jock, Harry, Susanna and Magdalena form an identifiable working group within the household, with each enslaved person now allocated to a specific child or to the wife. The survivor clause among the slaves, by which the survivors were to be enjoyed and chosen by the surviving children on the death of any named African before the children came of age, treats the enslaved persons as a fungible pool subject to redistribution among the survivors.

Speculations

The decision to retain the colonial estate as a family settlement on the island, rather than to liquidate it for remittance to England as the previous three governor testators had directed, indicates that the present testator regarded St Helena as his family's permanent residence rather than as a temporary posting. The structure marks a working shift in the character of the island's senior administration, from a sequence of metropolitan officials temporarily resident at the station to a settled planter-administrator who had built a household integrated into the local economy.

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together [&] in [Bug?]gar [...] the only good & Bennefitt of my Beloved Wife & Children & that the same continue & Remain in her Pofsefsion till the Youngest Child comes to Age or is Marrie[d] or some other ways Dispos[e]d of, Unle[s]s she shall think fitt to give them anything in the mean Time for that it role be for the good of all as well Wife as Children, the whole Estate both Real & P[er]sonall be Kept together & not Squander'd or any way Embezzeled, To which End I do hereby order & appoint that my said belov'd Wife do keep an Exact Acco[un]t of all Debts D[i]sbursments & p[ro]ceefs of said Estate that a fair Acco[un]t [...] may be [b]rovghd when nef[s]e Requires, & that all & Singular the before mentiond Houfes Lands Pro[v]isions Blacks Cattle Sheep, Goates &ca, that at that time is Equally Divided between my Wellbelov[e]d Wife Mary Hodgkinson & my belov'd five Children Vizt Thomas Joseph, Ann Hodgkinson & the Child now my said Beloved Wife is big with[al]s notw[i]th[s]tanding any Law Customs or U[s]age whatsoever to the Contrary any ways made or En[a]cted Further, I do Order & Appoint not my said two Sons Joseph & John to use Counted & Verdent[?] aspis the care of God to bear White & Carriage of Merchants &ca to the only use For the Buf[s]uefs, & that all my said Children Except John Hodgkinson, do Live & Live D[u]tifull & Mother till they attain to full Age, or be Marrie[d] & that my Said Son John Hodgkinson do for Liv[e]d not at any time or times hereafter Lay any Claim, Challenge or Demand any thing whatsoever more than is herein bequeathed to him.

I do further also Require that my Dwelling Houfe Standing in Fort James Valley be sold toward the P[a]yment of my Debts to those that will give most.

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute & Appoint my Welbeloved Wife Mary Hodgkinson to be whole & Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament Revoking all former Will or Wills, Testam[en]t or Testaments heretofore by me made either in Word or Writing acknowledge[i]ng this & no other whatsoever

Sealed Signed & Deliv[ere]d George Hodgkinson in the Pre[s]ence of Us J[o]hn Cox John Sampson Walter Morris

Continuing the will of George Hodgkinson, he directed that the entire estate, both real and personal, was to be kept together for the good and benefit of his beloved wife and children. The estate was to remain in her possession until the youngest child came of age, married, or was otherwise provided for. The wife could give the children something in the meantime if she judged it for the general good. The estate was not to be squandered or embezzled. To that end, she was to keep an exact account of all debts, disbursements and proceeds, so that a fair accounting could be produced when required.

At the appointed time, all the houses, lands, provisions, slaves, cattle, sheep and goats were to be equally divided between his beloved wife Mary Hodgkinson and his five children: Thomas, Joseph, Ann, and [...] Hodgkinson, together with the child his wife was then carrying. The provision was to take effect notwithstanding any law, custom or usage to the contrary.

He directed that his two sons Joseph and John should be brought up to the trade of merchants for the use of the business. All his children except John Hodgkinson were to live with and be dutiful to their mother until they reached full age or married. John Hodgkinson was forbidden from claiming or demanding anything more than what was already bequeathed to him in the will.

He directed that his dwelling house in Fort James Valley should be sold to whoever offered most, with the proceeds applied toward the payment of his debts.

He appointed his wife Mary Hodgkinson as sole executrix of the will. He revoked all former wills made in word or writing and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered by George Hodgkinson in the presence of John Cox, John Sampson and Walter Morris.

Interpretations

The instruction that the entire estate be kept together, with the widow as working manager and account-keeper until the youngest child came of age, married, or was otherwise provided for, converts the will into a long-term family settlement with no fixed termination date. The structure preserves the working unit of the plantation, the slave force, and the livestock under a single management during the period of the children's minorities, rather than partitioning the estate at the testator's death. The mechanism mirrors the approach taken by Henry Francis (will of 4 August 1722) in keeping his estate together as a managed fund, although here the management is by the widow rather than by trustees.

The direction that Joseph and John should be brought up to the trade of merchants is an unusual specification in the registers. Most testators provided for the inheritance of land, livestock and houses rather than for a particular occupational future for their sons. The express designation of two sons for the merchant trade indicates that the testator regarded commercial activity as a working career path distinct from planting, and intended to direct his sons toward that path rather than toward the inheritance of the family plantation.

Speculations

The decision to keep the entire estate together as a managed fund under the widow's direction, rather than to partition it at the testator's death, indicates that the testator regarded the plantation, slave force and livestock as a working economic unit that would lose value if divided prematurely. The structure preserves the working productive capacity of the estate during the children's minorities, with the partition deferred until the youngest had reached the threshold of adult independence. The arrangement converts the will into a working trust for the maintenance of the household's productive activity, with the cash flow from the estate funding the children's upbringing and education.

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In the Name of God Amen This 21st day of Oct[ober] in the Year of Our Lord 1726 I Martha Robinson of the Ifland, S[t] Helena Being sick in body but of Sound & p[er]fect Mind, & Memory & Calling to Mind, the uncertainty of this Life & knowing tis Appointed for all Men Once to dye, do make & Ordain this & no other my Last Will and Testament that is to Say Princip[a]lly & first of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave it hoping & A[ss]uredly believ[i]ng at the Gen[era]ll Resurrection to receive forgivenefs of all my Sins and my Body I Commit to the Earth to be decently buried by my Ex[ecutors] hereafter Named & as touching such Worldly Goods wherewith it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God to blefs me with I Give devife & Dispose of the Same in manner & form as follows

Imprimis My Will & Pleasure is that all my Debts & funeral Charges be fully Sat[i]sfied in a convenient time after my decea[s]e

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Daughter Ann Robinson One Girl Slave known by the Name of Doll, to be delivered when come to Age or Marriage but not to be Valued in her part hereafter given

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Daughter Eliz[abeth] Robinson One Boy Slave Named Robin to be delivered when come to Age or Marriage But not to be Valued into her Part

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Daughter Mary Robinson One Girle Slave Named Abigail to be delivered when come to Age or Marriage but not to be Valued in her Part

Item I give & bequeath unto my before Named Daughter Elizabeth in lieu Doinin Consideration of a Small Stock of Cattle deposed of the Sum of twenty five pounds to be delivered in the Manner aforesaid but not to be accounted into her Share or Part.

Item My Will & Pleasure is that all the rest & Refidue of my Estate both real and Personal be equally divided between my before Named beloved Daughters Ann, Elizabeth & Mary Robinson to be delivered them & each of them as they come of Age or Marriage but my Will & Pleasure is that my Ex[ecutors] do give the refusal of my Real Estate to the first of my beforementioned Daughters that Shall be Maried unlefs they See good Cause to the contrary with this Proviso that She keep & Maintain my youngest Daughter untill She comes of Age or Marriage She having the Use of her Part until that time, ffurthermore, I do ordain & Appoint that my whole Estate be kept & Remain together for the Use & good of my before mentioned Children during their Minority & as Each of them comes of Age or Marriage to receive their part or Shares according to Valuation and Appraisement thereof.

Item I do Ordain Constitute & Appoint my Trusty & wellbeloved Sons in Law Isaac Leech Gurling & Richard Beale both of this Ifland to be whole & Sole Ex[ecutor]s of this my Last Will & Testament. utterly Revoking & making Void, all former Will or Wills by me made heretofore either in Word or Writing Acknowledging this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament Martha Robinson

Sign'd Sealed Publifhed Pronounced & Decleared by the Said Martha Robinson as her Last Will & Testament in the Pre[s]ence of the Jn[o] Alexander Rich[ar]d Swallow W[m] Addis

On 21 October 1726, Martha Robinson of St Helena made her will. She was sick in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. She acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

She commended her soul to Almighty God who had given it, hoping at the general resurrection to receive forgiveness of all her sins. Her body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently buried by her executors. As to the worldly goods that God had granted her, she disposed of them as follows.

She directed that all her debts and funeral charges should be fully satisfied in convenient time after her death.

To her beloved daughter Ann Robinson she gave one girl slave known as Doll, to be delivered when Ann came of age or married. The slave was not to be counted into Ann's general share of the estate.

To her beloved daughter Elizabeth Robinson she gave one boy slave named Robin, on the same terms. The slave was not to be counted into Elizabeth's share.

To her beloved daughter Mary Robinson she gave one girl slave named Abigail, on the same terms. The slave was not to be counted into Mary's share.

To her daughter Elizabeth she gave a further twenty-five pounds in consideration of a small stock of cattle that had been disposed of. The sum was to be delivered on the same terms as the earlier legacy and was not to be counted into her share.

The rest and residue of her estate, both real and personal, was to be divided equally between her three daughters Ann, Elizabeth and Mary Robinson, to be delivered to each on coming of age or marrying. She directed that her executors should give the refusal of her real estate to the first of her daughters who married, unless they saw good cause to the contrary. The condition attached to this right of refusal was that the married daughter must keep and maintain her youngest sister until that sister came of age or married, with the daughter taking the use of the youngest's portion during that period.

The whole estate was to be kept together for the use and benefit of the children during their minority. As each child came of age or married, she was to receive her share according to a valuation and appraisement of the estate.

She appointed her trusted sons-in-law Isaac Leech Gurling and Richard Beale, both of the island, as sole executors of her will. She revoked all former wills made in word or writing and acknowledged this as her last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared by Martha Robinson as her last will and testament in the presence of John Alexander, Richard Swallow and William Addis.

Interpretations

The testator was the Martha Robinson named earlier across the registers in successive marital connections. She had been the wife of Charles Steward (will of 12 December 1714, initially named there as Elizabeth Steward but later identified as Martha) and subsequently the wife of John Robinson (will of 17 April 1718). The Francis Steward will of 6 June 1718 had identified her as the mother of Francis Steward and as the second wife of John Robinson, and had named her three Robinson daughters Ann, Elizabeth and Mary as half-sisters of the Steward children. The present will is therefore her own final disposition, drawn some eight years after the deaths of her two husbands, and providing for the three Robinson daughters as the surviving children of her second marriage.

Richard Beale, joint executor and son-in-law, is the same Richard Beale named as joint executor of William Penny (will of 22 May 1723), as recipient of the five-pound legacy in that will, and as witness to the George Bryon (Edwards) will of 21 January 1724. His designation as son-in-law of the present testator identifies him as the husband of one of Martha's daughters, presumably from her Steward marriage given the absence of any specific provision for him in the present will.

Speculations

The decision to keep the slave bequests and the twenty-five-pound cash legacy outside the equal-division clause, rather than within the standard hotchpot adjustment, indicates that the testator wished to give each daughter a specific personal asset that she could regard as her own separate property in addition to her share of the family estate. The structure converts the slaves into personal household servants attached to the recipient daughter rather than into productive assets of the general estate, recognising that the working relationship between the daughter and her named slave had a personal character that the equal-division clause would have obscured.

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In the Name of God Amen this 16th day of May in the Year of Our Lord God 1727, I John Harding of the Ifland S[t] Helena Planter being Sick & Weak in body but of Sound & p[er]fect Mind & Memory thanks to Almighty God & Calling to Mind the Uncertainty of this Life, & knowing tis Appointed for all Men once to dye do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to Say P[r]incip[a]ly & first of all, I give & Recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping & A[ss]uredly believing that at the gen[era]ll Resurrection I shall receive forgivenefs of all my Sins thro[ugh] the alone Merits of my Blefsed Redeemer Jesus Christ. My Body I Committ to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like & decent manner at the discretion of my Ex[ecuto]rs hereafter Named, & as touching such Wordly Goods wherewith it has plea[s]ed God to blefs me with I give devife & dispose of the Same in manner & form as follows

Imprimis I give & bequeath unto William Swallow, Sarah Swallow & Elizabeth Swallow the Children of Richard Swallow Carpenter decea[se]d [...] Twenty Pounds to be delivered them as they come of Age or Marriage. & in case of the decea[s]e of [e]ither that Sho[u]ld be Equally divided between them. & in Case of the decea[s]e of all the Three Children before Age or Marriage that then the abovementioned Sum being Twenty Pounds do fall to my beloved Son Rich[ar]d Harding & in Case of the decea[s]e of him then to fall to my Brother James & Joseph Harding.

Item I give & Bequeath unto Tho[s] Harper my Part of a Dwelling Houfe at the Fort at the Br[e]wer[?]

Item I give & bequeath unto my Wellbelov[e]d Son Rich[ar]d Harding four Cows to be put & kept in a distinct Mark, & to be for his Bennefit, in Some convenient time after my decea[s]e & to be kept on my Pasture.

Item I give & bequeath unto my Wellbelov[e]d Wife Mary Harding all my Real Estate for the Term of four Year[s] for the good & benefit of her Self & Child & after the Expiration of the four Year[s] my Will & Pleafure is that my Real Estate be equally divided between my Loving Wife & Son Richard. & I do Give the whole Use of my Said Richards Part of the Real Estate unto my beloved Brother James Harding dureing the Term of Eight Years from the Time of the Dividend, & after the Expiration of Eight Years that then it Shall be Let for the Use & benefit of my Son Richard, but in Cafe of the decea[s]e of my abovem[en]tion Son before Age or Marriage that then his Part which was the half of my Real Estate do fall to my beloved Brother James Harding to him & his Heirs forever

Item My Will & Pleafure is that at the decea[s]e of my beloved Wife I give & bequeath that Part of Real Estate unto my beloved Son Richard if Living, but in Cafe of her decea[s]e I give & bequeath the Same unto my wellbeloved Brother Joseph Harding

Item I give & bequeath unto Tho[s] Allis Son[r] One Cow

Item I give & bequeath unto my Beloved Brothers James & Joseph Hardings each of them One Heifer

Item My desire is that if in Cafe my Mother Ann Slaughter Should be drove to Powerty that then my Ex[ecuto]rs do Allow her a Small Maintainance out of my whole Estate

Item My desire is that the rest of my P[er]sonals do remain together for the Use & Bennefit of my Wife & Child untill the Expiration of four Years & then my Wife to have her Thirds Part the after Two Thirds I give to my Son Richard. but if my Wife is willing to keep & Maintain him that then for her to have his two Thirds dureing the time he Shall Attain to the Age of Sixteen Years but if in Cafe of his decea[s]e before that time that then it Shall be Equally divided between my Brothers James & Joseph at the time of his decea[s]e

Item I do Nominate & appoint my Brother James Harding & ffriend Rich[ar]d Beale Ex[ecuto]rs of

On 16 May 1727, John Harding of St Helena, a planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, hoping at the general resurrection to receive forgiveness of all his sins through the merits of Jesus Christ. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at his executors' discretion. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

To William Swallow, Sarah Swallow and Elizabeth Swallow, the children of the deceased Richard Swallow, carpenter, he gave twenty pounds. The legacy was to be delivered when the children came of age or married. If any of the children died, the deceased child's share was to be divided equally among the survivors. If all three Swallow children died before reaching age or marriage, the twenty pounds were to pass to his beloved son Richard Harding. If Richard Harding then died, the sum was to pass to the testator's brothers James and Joseph Harding.

To Thomas Harper he gave his part of a dwelling house at the fort at the Brewer [...].

To his beloved son Richard Harding he gave four cows, to be put under a distinct mark and kept on the testator's pasture for Richard's benefit, in convenient time after the testator's death.

To his beloved wife Mary Harding he gave the whole of his real estate for a term of four years, for her own benefit and that of the child. After the four years had expired, his real estate was to be divided equally between his wife and son Richard. The whole use of Richard's half of the real estate was to be vested in the testator's brother James Harding for a term of eight years from the date of the division. After those eight years, the property was to be let for the use and benefit of Richard. If Richard died before reaching age or marriage, his half of the real estate was to pass to James Harding and his heirs for ever.

After the wife's death, her part of the real estate was to pass to Richard if he was then living. If Richard had predeceased her, the property was to pass to the testator's brother Joseph Harding.

To Thomas Allis senior he gave one cow.

To his brothers James and Joseph Harding he gave one heifer each.

If his mother Ann Slaughter was driven to poverty, the executors were to allow her a small maintenance out of the whole estate.

The rest of his personal estate was to remain together for the benefit of his wife and child for four years. After that period, his wife was to have her third, and the remaining two thirds were to pass to Richard. If the wife was willing to keep and maintain Richard, she was to have the use of his two thirds until he reached the age of sixteen. If Richard died before sixteen, the two thirds were to be divided equally between the brothers James and Joseph Harding from the date of his death.

He appointed his brother James Harding and his friend Richard Beale as executors of [...]

Interpretations

The testator was John Harding, perhaps the same son John named in the will of the elder Richard Harding of 17 July 1706, which provided that the estate should descend equally among the eight Harding children of that testator. The brothers James and Joseph Harding named in the present will match two of the eight children listed in the 1706 will, namely James and Joseph Harding. The present will accordingly continues the Harding line one generation forward, with the testator drawing his own will in 1727 as one of the eight siblings of the 1706 disposition.

Richard Beale, joint executor, continues his recurring role as administrator across the registers, named earlier as joint executor of William Penny (will of 22 May 1723), witness to the George Bryon (Edwards) will of 21 January 1724, joint executor of Martha Robinson (will of 21 October 1726), and now joint executor of the present testator.

Speculations

The decision to provide for the three Swallow children of the deceased carpenter Richard Swallow, in a substantial sum that ranked first among the substantive bequests, indicates a close personal connection between the testator and the Swallow children's father. The position of the legacy at the head of the substantive bequests, with the testator's own son Richard relegated to a contingent role in the substitution chain, suggests that the Swallow children had a claim on the testator that he was working to discharge in his last disposition. The pattern fits a debt of friendship, guardianship or other obligation rather than a simple act of generosity.

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of this my Last Will Utterly Revoking & Disannulling all former Will or Wills, by me made Ratisfying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament

Sign'd Sealed Publifhed & John Harding L S Delivered as his Last Will in the Pre[s]ence of Us Memorand[u]m the three Places Ras'd Out & the two Interlinings were before Signing & Sealing. William Peale Thomas Cotgrave Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen May 5 1726 I Richard Harding of the Ifland S[t] Helena Soldier being Sick & weak in Body but of P[er]fect Mind & Memory thanks be to Almighty God & calling to mind the uncertainty of this Life & knowing tis Appointed for all Men once to die do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to Say Princip[a]lly & first of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave it hoping & A[ss]uredly believing at the general Resurrection I shall receive Remifsion of all my Sins & my body I Committ to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like & decent manner at the discretion of my Ex[ecuto]rs hereafter Named, & touching such Worldly goods wherewith it has plea[s]ed God to blefs me with in this Life I give Devise & Dispose of the Same in manner & form as follows

Imprimis My Will & Pleafure is that all my Debts & Generall Charges be fully Sat[i]sfied first

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Brother John Harding all my Lands & ffifteen Pounds in Cafs

Item I give & bequeath unto the Son of Tho[s] Harper who is now Unbaptiz[e]d One Black & White Cow

Item I give & bequeath unto William Swallow my God Son Fifteen Pounds in Cafs One Heifer & three Yams One Younter to be Im[m]ediately put into & kept in the Mark from have but the Cafs to be delivered him at Age or the day of Marriage but in Case of the death of the aforesaid William Swallow before he Attains to Age or Marriage that then the Legacy to him Shall be equally divided between my Brothers James & Joseph Hardings & Sister Lydia Harper But the Cafs to remain in the Hands of my Brother John

John Harding untill time aforementioned but if in Cafe of the Death of the aforesaid William Swallow that then the Legacy to go immediately to go as aforesaid

Item My Will & Pleafure is that as the Re[s]idue of my Effects not yet disposed of, I give & bequeath the Same unto my wellbeloved Brothers James & Joseph Harding & Sister Lydia Harper to be equally divided between them but my Goats to be Equally divided between my Brothers James & Joseph Hardings they P[a]ying my Sister Lydia Harper for a Third part of them

Lastly Jo Nominate & Appoint my wellbeloved Brother John & James Harding Ex[ecuto]rs of this my Last Will & Testament utterly Revoking & Disannulling all former Wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament & no other In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seal the day & year Abovementiond

Sign'd Sealed Publifh'd & Decleared Rich[ar]d Harding L S In the Pre[s]ence of Sym Hodgkinson Marlon Harper[?] Richard Beale

Continuing the will of John Harding of 16 May 1727, he revoked all former wills and confirmed this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published and delivered by John Harding as his last will. A memorandum noted that three places erased and two interlineations had been made before signing and sealing. The witnesses were William Peale, Thomas Cotgrave and Richard Beale.

On 5 May 1726, Richard Harding of St Helena, a soldier, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had given it, hoping at the general resurrection to receive remission of all his sins. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at his executors' discretion. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts and general charges should first be satisfied.

To his beloved brother John Harding he gave all his lands and fifteen pounds in cash.

To the son of Thomas Harper, then unbaptised, he gave one black-and-white cow.

To his godson William Swallow he gave fifteen pounds in cash, one heifer and three young yams [...]. The heifer was to be put immediately into a separate mark from the testator's stock. The cash was to be delivered to William on his coming of age or marrying. If William died before reaching age or marriage, the legacy was to be divided equally between the testator's brothers James and Joseph Harding and his sister Lydia Harper. The cash was to remain in the hands of his brother John Harding until the date of delivery. If William died, the legacy was to pass immediately to the named substitutes.

The residue of his effects, not otherwise disposed of, was to be divided equally between his brothers James and Joseph Harding and his sister Lydia Harper. His goats were to be divided equally between the two brothers, who were to pay their sister Lydia for her third share.

He appointed his brothers John and James Harding as executors of his will. He revoked all former wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared by Richard Harding in the presence of Sym Hodgkinson, Marlon Harper [...] and Richard Beale.

Interpretations

The testator was Richard Harding, soldier of the garrison, drawing his will in May 1726, just over a year before his brother John Harding (will of 16 May 1727). The two brothers' wills are part of the same documentary cluster and confirm the working pattern of the Harding sibling group: John, Richard, James, Joseph and the sister Lydia, who had married into the Harper family.

The connection of Lydia Harper to Thomas Harper, also named in the present will as the father of an unbaptised son, identifies Thomas Harper as Lydia's husband and the testator's brother-in-law. The unbaptised son is therefore the testator's nephew. The bequest of a single named cow to a nephew not yet christened follows the established practice of provision for newly born or unbaptised infants documented across the registers, including the cases of Leonard Coulson's son (will of 8 March 1707) and the youngest child of John Long in the William Pelley will of 10 March 1721.

Speculations

The decision to leave all lands and fifteen pounds in cash to brother John Harding, rather than to the testator's other surviving siblings (James, Joseph and Lydia), indicates that John was the eldest brother or the principal household head among the Harding siblings. The structure concentrates the testator's working estate in the hands of John, who could then operate the lands as part of his own holdings and integrate the Harding inheritance into his planting operations. The pattern fits a soldier-testator whose own circumstances did not allow him to maintain a substantial estate independently, and who therefore transferred his accumulated property to the brother best placed to use it productively.

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In the Name of God Amen the 6th day of May 1727 Year of Our Lord One thousand Seven Hundred twenty Seven I William Lee Soldier of the Ifland S[t] Helena being Sick & weak in Body but of P[er]fect & Sound Mind & Memory thanks to Almighty God & Calling to Mind the Uncertainty of this Life & knowing that it is Appointed for all Men once to die do make Constitute & Appoint this my Last Will & Testament that is to Say Princip[a]ly & first of all I give & Recommend my Soule into the Hands of Almighty God hopeing & A[ss]uredly believing that at the general Resurrection I shall recieve Remifsion of all my Sins thro[ugh] the Merits of my Alone Saviour Jesus Christ &c. touching such Worldly Goods wherewith it has Pleased God to blefs me with I give devise and dispose of the Same in manner & form as follows.

Item My Will & Pleafure is that first of all my Debts & Funeral Charges be fully Sat[i]sfied

Item After my Debts & funeral Charges are Sat[i]sfied the Overplus of my whole Estate I give & bequeath unto M[r]s Margaret Bagley Daughter of John Bagley Sen[r]

Item I do Ordain & Appoint my trusty ffreind M[r] John Bagley Sen[r] whole & Sole Ex[ecuto]r of this my Last Will & Testament. utterly Revoking & Disannulling all former Wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this this & no other In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand & Seale the day & Year abovewritten. William Lee L S

Signed & Sealed in the Prefence his of Caleb C O Davis Mark Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen this 18th day of May in the Year of Our Lord God 1727 I Stephen Audward[?] of the Ifland S[t] Helena Soldier being Sick & Weak in Body but of Sound & p[er]fect Memory thanks to Almighty God & Calling to Mind the Uncertainty of this Life & knowing tis Appointed for all Men Once to die do make, ordain & Appoint this my Last Will & Testament that is to Say princip[a]lly & first of all I give & Recommend my Soule into the Hands of Almighty God hoping & A[ss]uredly believing that at the gen[era]ll Refusrec[t]ion I Shall receive Remifsion of all my Sins thro[ugh] the Merits of my Blefsed Saviour Jesus Christ & my Body I commit to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Ex[ecuto]rs hereafter Named & as touching such Worldly Goods wherewith it hath plea[s]ed God to blefs me with I give devise & Dispose of the Same in manner & form as followeth

Imprimis I give & Bequeath unto my beloved Neice Mary Pledger the Thirty Pounds to be deliv[er]ed her when come to Age or Marriage but in Cafe of the decea[s]e of the Said Mary Pledger before Age or Marriage that then the abovementioned Legacy do fall to Elizabeth Pledger her Heirs

Item I give & Bequeath all my Wearing Apparell unto John Lush

Item I give & bequeath unto Solomon Peeling One Gold Ring

Item I give & Bequeath unto John ffrench Son of John ffrench Gunner One Heifer to be delivered my convenient time after my decea[s]e

Item I give & Bequeath unto Erasmus Curling Son of Jn[o] Curling One Heifer to be delivered as the other

Item All the rest & resifue of my Estate I give & Bequeath unto my Wellbeloved Brother in Law Benjamin Pledger

Item My Will & Pleafure is That the Legacy Bequeathed unto Mary Pledger do lay and Remain in the Hands of my Abovementioned Brother Benj[ami]n Pledger & for his Use untill the time of the delivery as Abovementioned

Item I do Constitute & Appoint my Abovementioned ffriends Benj[ami]n Pledger and ffrancis

On 6 May 1727, William Lee, a soldier of St Helena, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, hoping at the general resurrection to receive remission of all his sins through the merits of Jesus Christ. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts and funeral charges be fully satisfied first.

After his debts and funeral charges were satisfied, he gave the residue of his estate to Mrs Margaret Bagley, daughter of John Bagley senior.

He appointed his trusted friend John Bagley senior as sole executor of his will. He revoked all former wills and confirmed this as his only valid will.

The will was signed and sealed in the presence of Caleb Davis (who signed by mark) and Richard Beale.

On 18 May 1727, Stephen Audward [...] of St Helena, a soldier, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, hoping at the general resurrection to receive remission of all his sins through the merits of Jesus Christ. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at his executors' discretion. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

To his beloved niece Mary Pledger he gave thirty pounds, to be delivered when she came of age or married. If Mary died before reaching age or marriage, the legacy was to pass to Elizabeth Pledger and her heirs.

To John Lush he gave all his wearing apparel.

To Solomon Peeling he gave one gold ring.

To John French, son of John French the gunner, he gave one heifer, to be delivered in convenient time after the testator's death.

To Erasmus Curling, son of John Curling, he gave one heifer on the same terms.

The rest and residue of his estate he gave to his beloved brother-in-law Benjamin Pledger.

The legacy to Mary Pledger was to remain in the hands of her uncle Benjamin Pledger, who was to have the use of it until the date of delivery.

He appointed his friends Benjamin Pledger and Francis [...] as executors of [...]

Interpretations

The testator William Lee left his entire residual estate to Margaret Bagley, daughter of John Bagley senior, with no kinship designation. The structure marks the testator as a soldier with no surviving family ties on the island, comparable to the pattern of dispositions by Isaac Bothway (will of 4 June 1710) and Simon Lenox (will of 3 August 1713). The bequest of the entire estate to a young woman of a planter household, with her father as sole executor, indicates that William Lee had been lodged or quartered in the Bagley household and had developed a working personal relationship with the daughter and her father.

John Bagley senior, named as sole executor and as father of the legatee, is the eldest son of Orlando Bagley senior (will of 27 November 1701) and brother of the testators Edward Bagley (will of 25 April 1706), Orlando Bagley junior, and Thomas Bagley (will of 26 November 1711). His designation as senior in the present will indicates the existence of a younger John Bagley, presumably his own son, by 1727. The Bagley line had accordingly produced at least three generations of household heads documented in the registers.

Speculations

The William Lee disposition to Margaret Bagley, with no kinship designation, indicates a testator whose closest personal tie on the island was a young woman of his lodging household rather than any documented family connection. The structure fits the working pattern of soldiers who lodged in planter households and developed personal relationships with the household members, sometimes resulting in informal engagements or working friendships that the testator wished to formalise through testamentary provision. The choice of John Bagley senior as sole executor, rather than a fellow soldier or external figure, indicates that the lodging arrangement had produced a working trust between the soldier and the head of the household.

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Isaac Leech Ex[ecuto]rs of this my Last Will & Testament. utterly Revoking and Disannulling all former Will or Wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament Stephen Audward L S

Signed Sealed Publifhed & Pronounced & Decleared as his Last Will & Testament in the Pre[s]ence of Us Isaac Wood Joseph Hayes Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen. I Tho[s] Free of the Ifland S[t] Helena being Sick & Weak in body but of P[er]fect Mind & Memory do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following that is to Say First & p[r]incipally I recommend my Soule into the Hands of Almighty God hoping thro[ugh] the Merits Death & Pafsion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full & free Pardon & Rem[i]fsion of all my Sins. My Body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the dispo[s]ition of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s hereafter Named & as touching all Such Worldly Goods & Effects with which it hath pleased Almighty God to blefs me I give & bequeath the Same. My Debts & Funeral Charges being first paid & Sat[i]sfied as follows V[i]z[t]

Imp[r]ime Will & my especial Meaning & desire is that all Such Sum or Sums of Money at this day Oweing & due to me from James Ryder of the Said Ifland be set apart & Appropriated towards the Payment of all Such Debts as are by me Oweing to the Sed[?] P[er]sons following V[i]zt Cap[t] John Goodwin [&?] Tho[s] of Cornwall & Gabrie[l]l Powell

Secondly All the rest of my Estate both Real & Personals I give & bequeath to my beloved Wife Sarah particcularly all Such Gifts or Legacies as may happen to be left or given to me by any Friends or Relations in other Parts of the World.

Lastly I do Nominate Constitute & Appoint my Said beloved Wife Sarah whole & Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament. Revoking & Annulling all other by me at any time heretofore made. In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand & Seale this 31st July Anno Domni 1726. his The J mark L S Signed Sealed & deliver[e]d Tho[s] Free in the Pre[s]ence of [...] [...] [...] Jn[o] Bazett Jn[o] French Jun[r]

Closing the will of Stephen Audward, he appointed Benjamin Pledger and Francis Isaac Leech as executors of his will. He revoked all former wills and confirmed this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared as Stephen Audward's last will and testament in the presence of Isaac Wood, Joseph Hayes and Richard Beale.

On 31 July 1726, Thomas Free of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, hoping through the merits, death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive full and free pardon and remission of all his sins. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently buried at his executors' direction. As to the worldly goods and effects that God had granted him, after his debts and funeral charges had first been paid and satisfied, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all sums of money owed to him by James Ryder of the island should be set apart and applied toward the payment of all debts that he himself owed to the following persons: Captain John Goodwin, Thomas [of Cornwall] [...] and Gabriel Powell.

All the rest of his estate, both real and personal, he gave to his beloved wife Sarah. The bequest specifically extended to any gifts or legacies that might happen to be left or given to him by friends or relations in other parts of the world.

He appointed his wife Sarah as sole executrix of his will. He revoked all former wills.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered by Thomas Free in the presence of [...] [...] [...], John Bazett and John French junior. The testator signed by mark.

Interpretations

The Francis Isaac Leech named as joint executor of the Stephen Audward will appears to be a single individual with a compound given name combining Francis and Isaac, presumably the same Isaac Leech named across the registers as witness to multiple wills, including the Robert Bell will of 26 April 1724. The presence of two given names is unusual but not unprecedented in the registers.

Gabriel Powell, named creditor, is the recurring administrator and beneficiary across the registers, named as sole heir of Hans Yorgin (will of 3 September 1683), as husband of Sarah Rider, as brother of Thomas Harper (will of 3 March 1715), as joint executor of Charles Steward (will of 12 December 1714), and as sole beneficiary and executor of Robert Angus (will of 16 July 1722).

Speculations

The set-off mechanism in the Thomas Free will, by which one debt was used to discharge others, indicates a testator with a network of credit and debt relationships within the island economy. The structure suggests that James Ryder owed the testator a substantial sum, while the testator owed comparable sums to three creditors of higher standing. By directing the Ryder debt to be applied directly to the creditors, the testator avoided the working delays and uncertainties of collection through the estate, and ensured that the three creditors received their payments without further administrative effort.

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In the Name of God Amen I Grace Coulson of the Ifland S[t] Helena Widdow being of Sound Mind & Memory thanks be to God for the Same do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following Tr[u]st and principally I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God My Body I Committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter Named & And[?] as touching such Wordly Goods & Pofsefsions as it hath Plea[s]ed Almighty God to bestow upon me I give Bequeath & dispose thereof as followeth

Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my beloved Son John Coulson the Sum of Six Pounds of Currant Money of this Ifland, to Buy him Mourning

Item I give & Bequeath unto my Godchildren Samuel Doveton Ten Pounds & to Martha Doveton Fifteen Pounds of like Money

Item I give & bequeath unto Sarah Eliz[abe]th & George Doveton the Sum of Five Pounds Each of Like Money which Said Last mentioned, together are Children of the before named Jonathan Doveton

Item My Will is the Legacies before given unto my God Child Martha Doveton & Elizabeth Doveton Shall be paid them at their respective Att[ai]nments to the Age of Twenty One Year or Days of Marriage, & that the Legacies by me Given unto the Said Samuel & George Doveton Shall be paid them at their Att[ai]nment to the Age of Twenty One Year

Item I give & bequeath unto my loving Grandson John Leonards Bennony Coulson, Twenty five p[oun]ds. Two Cowes & my Wedding Ring with a Motto in it tho[ugh] Heart Content cannot Repent My desire is that the Said[?] Goates & Cattle be kept Undisposed of in Order to Raise Stock & to be delivered to my Said Grandson when he Attains to the full Age of Twenty One Years.

Item Will & Bequeath unto my well beloved Son in Law Jonathan Doveton Ten Acres of Gumwood Land formerly belonging to Bennony Coulson Adjoyn[i]ng to the Lands Lately Sold by my Said Son John Coulson to the aforementioned Jonathan Doveton upon the Pa[y]ment of fifty Pounds by him the said Jonathan Doveton to my Ex[ecu]t[or]s hereafter Named within the Space of One Month after my decea[s]e

Item All the rest & Refidue of my P[er]sonall Estate & to[ge]ther particularly One dwelling Houfe Scitvate in James Valley Cafs the abovementioned & the Bounds Payable by the Said Jonathan Doveton to my Ex[ecu]tors aforesaid Will I Direct that the Same be disposed of by my Ex[ecu]tors hereafter Named at a Publick Sale, or Out Cry as Soon after my Death as conveniently may be & the Money Arifeing by such Sale together with what Money or Effects Share or Shall be Pofsefsed of in England or elsewhere be forthwith divided & distributed amongst & between my Loving Daughter Martha Greenhill Widow & Grace Buckworth[?] Widow & my Grand Daughter Mary Buckworth[?] Sin[s]ter in equal Shares Each & Proportions & in cafe of the deceafe or Death of either of them the Said Legatees the Survivour or Survivours of them to have & Enjoy the whole but in Case of the Death of all of them then my Will is that the Said Money Shall be distributed & Levited amongst the Children of my Said Son John Coulson as Shall then be Living, Share & Share alike

Item I give & bequeath to my aforesaid Son in Law Jonathan Doveton, the Sum of fforty Shillings to buy him a Ring

Item I give & bequeath unto my Trusty ffriend M[r] John Goodwin the like Sum of fforty Shill[ings] to buy a Ring

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute & Appoint my Aforesaid Son in Law Jonathan Doveton & my Trusty ffriend M[r] John Goodwin Executors of this my

Grace Coulson of St Helena, widow, made her will. She was of sound mind and memory.

She commended her soul to Almighty God. Her body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently buried at her executors' discretion. As to the worldly goods and possessions that God had granted her, she disposed of them as follows.

To her beloved son John Coulson she gave six pounds of the current money of the island, to buy mourning.

To her godchildren Samuel Doveton and Martha Doveton she gave ten pounds and fifteen pounds respectively, of the same money.

To Sarah, Elizabeth and George Doveton she gave five pounds each, of the same money. The three last-named children, together with Samuel and Martha, were the children of Jonathan Doveton.

The legacies to Martha and Elizabeth Doveton were to be paid on their reaching twenty-one or marrying. The legacies to Samuel and George Doveton were to be paid on their reaching twenty-one.

To her grandson John Leonards Bennony Coulson she gave twenty-five pounds, two cows and her wedding ring, which bore the motto "though heart content cannot repent". She directed that the goats and cattle should be kept undisposed of, in order to raise stock, and delivered to her grandson when he reached the full age of twenty-one.

To her son-in-law Jonathan Doveton she gave ten acres of gum wood land formerly belonging to Bennony Coulson, adjoining the lands lately sold by her son John Coulson to Jonathan Doveton. The bequest was conditional on Jonathan paying fifty pounds to her executors within one month after her death.

The rest and residue of her personal estate, including her dwelling house in James Valley and the fifty pounds payable by Jonathan Doveton, was to be sold by her executors at public outcry as soon after her death as possible. The proceeds, together with any money or effects in England or elsewhere, were to be divided equally among her loving daughter Martha Greenhill, widow; Grace Buckworth [...], widow; and her granddaughter Mary Buckworth [...], spinster. If any of the three legatees died, the survivor or survivors were to enjoy the whole. If all three died, the money was to be distributed equally among the children of her son John Coulson then living.

To her son-in-law Jonathan Doveton she gave forty shillings to buy a ring.

To her trusted friend John Goodwin she gave forty shillings to buy a ring.

She appointed her son-in-law Jonathan Doveton and her trusted friend John Goodwin as executors of [...]

Interpretations

The testator was the Grace Coulson named across the registers as the long-standing friend and household companion of Mary Jewster (will of 7 June 1711). She had been named as joint executrix of that will, alongside John Coulson the planter (presumably her son named in the present will), and as principal beneficiary of Mary Jewster's household goods. Her presence across the registers extends back to the John Cannady will of 31 May 1693, where she received a ring legacy as Grace Colson. Her continuing role as a working figure in the administrative and household network of the island, across at least thirty-four years, places her among the longest-documented women of the records.

Jonathan Doveton, son-in-law of the testator and joint executor, is the same Jonathan Doveton named earlier as brother-in-law and executor of Leonard Coulson (will of 8 March 1707) and as joint executor of Robert Leech (will of 4 May 1712). His designation as son-in-law of the present testator confirms that he was married to her daughter, presumably Grace Coulson the daughter or another Coulson daughter, making him brother-in-law of the testator Leonard Coulson rather than the brother of his wife. The Doveton family network is now traced across three documented marital connections: to the Coulson family through the present testator's daughter, to the Leech family as documented in earlier wills, and to Bennony Coulson's descendants through the present transactions.

Speculations

The careful provision for the grandson John Leonards Bennony Coulson, with twenty-five pounds in cash, two cows, the wedding ring, and the express direction that the cattle were to be kept undisposed of in order to raise stock, indicates a deliberate working settlement of capital and breeding stock on a young heir. The structure converts the bequest into a working starter farm, with the testator anticipating the grandson's eventual accession to economic independence on coming of age. The retention of the testator's wedding ring in the bequest gives the disposition a transgenerational character, preserving both productive capital and family memory in a single inheritance.

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my Last Will & Testament. hereby Revoking & making Void all other Will or Wills by me heretofore made declaring this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament & In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand & Seale this thirteth day of Dece[mbe]r One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Six

Signed Sealed Publifhed her Delivered & Decleared as the Last The G mark L S Will & Testament of the Said Grace Coulson Grace Coulson in the Pre[s]ence of Gabriel Powell Jn[o] Bazett D Crispe

Memorand[u]m if M[r] Doveton refuses to take the Ten Acres of Land at fifty Pounds the Same is then to be Sold at Publick Sale to the best bidder her The G mark Witnefs Grace Coulson Gabriel Powell John Bazett D Crispe

In the Name of God Amen I Grace Coulson of the Ifland S[t] Helena Widow being of Sound Mind & Memory but Sick & Weak of Body do hereby give & Bequeath by Virtue of this Codicil Will & Ordaining that the Same be deemed & taken as part of my Last Will & Testament unto Samuel Doveton of the Said Ifland An Black Boy Named Roger to him & his Heirs forever Pafsi[?] the Antium of An Black ffellow & Named Thomas at Valuation of two Indifferent P[er]sons or my Ex[ecu]t[or] hereafter Named immediately after my Decea[s]e & also I give & Bequeath to my Ex[ecu]t[or] hereafter mentioned the option at Valuation of One Black Wench & her two Children (the Mens & Name being Sarah) Cafe of An Black Boy Named Job. And I do hereby Nominate Constitute & Appoint my Trusty Friends M[r] John Goodwin & M[r] Jonathan Doveton Sol[e] Ex[ecuto]r of this part of my Will or Codicil In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand & Seale this twenty Eighth day of March 1727 her The G mark L S Grace Coulson Signed Sealed & Delivered in the Pre[s]ence of D Crispe Tho[s] Bazett Charles Steward

Closing the will of Grace Coulson, she revoked all former wills and declared this as her last will and testament. The will was signed, sealed and dated on 30 December 1726.

The will was signed, sealed, published, delivered and declared by Grace Coulson as her last will and testament in the presence of Gabriel Powell, John Bazett and D Crispe. The testator signed by mark.

A memorandum to the will provided that if Jonathan Doveton refused to take the ten acres of land at fifty pounds, the land was to be sold at public outcry to the highest bidder. The memorandum was witnessed by Gabriel Powell, John Bazett and D Crispe. The testator signed by mark.

On 28 March 1727, Grace Coulson made a codicil to her will. She was of sound mind and memory but sick and weak of body. She directed that the codicil should be deemed part of her will.

To Samuel Doveton of the island she gave a black boy named Roger, to him and his heirs for ever, in exchange [...] for a black man named Thomas, at a valuation by two indifferent persons or by her executors, immediately after her death. She also gave her executors the option, at valuation, of taking a black woman named Sarah and her two children in exchange for [...] a black boy named Job.

She appointed her trusted friends John Goodwin and Jonathan Doveton as sole executors of the codicil. The codicil was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of D Crispe, Thomas Bazett and Charles Steward. The testatrix signed by mark.

Interpretations

The thirty-day deadline for Jonathan Doveton to take the ten acres at fifty pounds, with public outcry as the fallback, is set as a working ultimatum. The structure converts the conditional sale into a defined-period option, with the executors empowered to dispose of the land independently if the son-in-law declined. The mechanism balances the family connection that gave Doveton the first refusal against the practical need to convert the land into cash for the residuary distribution within a reasonable period.

The option granted to the executors to take the slave woman Sarah and her two children in exchange for the slave boy Job introduces a similar swap mechanism, this time from the executors' side. The structure allows the executors to acquire a family group of enslaved persons (a mother and two children) in exchange for a single boy, with the valuation again providing the working balance. The mechanism converts the executors' role into one of active asset management rather than passive administration, with the working choice between a family group and a single boy depending on the executors' judgement.

Speculations

The codicil's introduction of detailed slave exchange mechanisms, three months after the principal will, indicates a working refinement of the testator's intentions as her illness progressed and she had time to consider the disposition of her enslaved labour force. The structure suggests that the principal will had focused on land, cash and household goods, while the codicil addressed the more complex working questions of slave allocation, where the relative value of individual enslaved persons required careful adjustment between the estate and the legatees.

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In the Name of God Amen Dec[ember] the Tenth in the Year of Our Lord God 1727 I Arthur Bradley Planter of the Ifland S[t] Helena being Sick & weak in body but of Sound and p[er]fect Mind & Memory thanks to Almighty God and calling to Mind the Uncertanty of this Life knowing tis Appointed for all Men Once to die do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to Say princip[a]lly & first of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that Gave it. hoping & A[ss]uredly believing that at the Gen[era]ll Resurrection I Shall recieve free Pardon of all my Sins thro[ugh] the Alone Merits of my Blefsed Redeemer Jesus Christ. My Body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried in a Christian like manner at the dispo[s]ition of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s hereafter Named & as touching Such Worldly Goods wherewith it hath Plea[s]ed God to blefs me with I give Devife & dispose of the Same in manner & form as followeth

Imprimis My Will & Pleafure is that all my Debts & ffuneral Charges be fully Sat[i]sfied

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Wife Sarah Bradley the half of all my Real Estate the time of her naturall Life as also the half of all her personal Estate forever being for the good and benefit of her Self & my Children untill Age or Marriage.

Item I give & Bequeath unto my wellbeloved Son John Bradley the other half of my Real & p[er]sonal Estate as also the Half of the Real & personal Estate belonging to my Wife at her decea[s]e with this Proviso that he do Pay unto my wellbeloved Daughters Mary & his & Elizabeth & unto each of them the full Sum of fifty Pounds Current Money of this Ifland allowing him a Twelve Month Time after they come of Age or Money to be by them but my Will & Pleafure is if in Case of the decea[s]e any of my abovementioned Daughters before Age or Marriage that then my abovementioned Son John do have an equal Part with the Surviving Child or Children

Item My Will & Pleafure is that my whole Estate do remain together untill my Daughters Legacy become due for the good & Bennefit of my Wife & Children & that my Wife & Son do both bear an equal Part for the Maintainance of my Daughters untill the time as abovesa[i]d

Item I do Appoint my Brother in Law John Bradley Sen[r] & Robert Gurling Ex[ecuto]rs of this my Last Will & Testament utterly Revoking & Disannulling all former Will or Wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this & no Other to be my Last Will & Testament

Sign'd Sealed Publifhed & pronounced his Decleared in the Pre[s]ence of Arthur St[?] Bradley L S his Mark R[ichard?] [...] Trifsey Mark Tho[s] Easthope Richard Beale

On 10 December 1727, Arthur Bradley of St Helena, a planter, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had given it, hoping at the general resurrection to receive free pardon of all his sins through the merits of Jesus Christ. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently buried in a Christian manner at his executors' direction. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts and funeral charges should be fully satisfied.

To his beloved wife Sarah Bradley he gave the use of half his real estate for the term of her natural life. He also gave her half of her own personal estate for ever, for her benefit and the children's, until they came of age or married.

To his beloved son John Bradley he gave the other half of his real and personal estate, together with the other half of the real and personal estate belonging to his wife at her death. The bequest was subject to the proviso that John should pay the full sum of fifty pounds in the current money of the island to each of his beloved daughters Mary and Elizabeth. John was allowed twelve months after each daughter came of age or married to make the payment. If either daughter died before age or marriage, John was to take an equal part with the surviving child or children.

The whole estate was to remain together until the daughters' legacies became due, for the benefit of the wife and children. The wife and son were both to bear an equal part of the maintenance of the daughters until that time.

He appointed his brother-in-law John Bradley senior and Robert Gurling as executors of his will. He revoked all former wills and confirmed this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared in the presence of R [...] Trifsey [...] (who signed by mark), Thomas Easthope and Richard Beale. The testator signed by mark.

Interpretations

The reference to half of her own personal estate, given to the wife Sarah Bradley for ever, is an unusual phrasing. The clause appears to recognise that Sarah held personal estate of her own, distinct from the testator's, and that the testator was confirming her continued possession of half of it. The mechanism may reflect a marital arrangement in which the wife had retained separate personal property at marriage, perhaps under a pre-nuptial settlement or by descent from her own family, and the testator was now confirming her continued enjoyment of half of that property while directing the other half to the son.

Robert Gurling, joint executor, is the same Robert Gurling named earlier as son of Mary Dixon (will of 11 July 1696) and as witness to multiple wills across the registers, including Robert Leech (will of 4 May 1712) and Thomas Harper (will of 3 March 1715). His continuing role as executor by 1727 places him among the established working administrators of the period.

Speculations

The provision of half of Sarah Bradley's own personal estate to her for ever, with the other half passing to the son John at her death, indicates that the testator regarded his wife's separate property as part of the family's working capital, subject to the same partition between widow and heir as his own estate. The structure converts the marital household into a single working economic unit at the testator's death, with half of all assets (whether nominally his or hers) going to the widow and half to the son. The mechanism reflects a working understanding of marital property in which the formal legal distinction between husband's and wife's separate estates was overridden by the practical reality of the household's joint operation.

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In the Name of God Amen. I James Holmes late of the City of London Gent[leman] being Sick & weak of body but of P[er]fect Mind, & Memory do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following that is to Say. First & princip[a]lly I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it hopeing thro[ugh] the Merits of my Blefsed Saviour Jesus Christ to Attain Pardon & forgivenefs of all my Sins. My Body I committ to the Earth to be decently buried at the dispo[s]ition of my Ex[ecu]tor[s] hereafter Named & as touching Such Worldly Estate with which it hath plea[s]ed Almighty God to blefs me I give & bequeath thereof in manner & form following

Imprimis Will that my Debts & ffuneral Charges be first paid & Sat[i]sfied

Item After all my Debts & ffuneral Charges are so paid & Sat[i]sfied I give & Bequeath all the Rest, Refidue & Remainder of my Estate of what or Nature, kind or Sort Soever, I give & Bequeath to my dearly beloved Wife Mary Holmes Her Heirs & Ex[ecuto]rs forever

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute & Appoint my trusty wellbelov[e]d Friend Cap[t] John Goodwin to be whole & Sole Ex[ecuto]r of this my Last Will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand & Seal this 6th day of May in the Year of Our Lord 1727 at S[t] Helena James Holmes L S

Signed Sealed Publifhed & Pronounced as my Last Will & Testament in the Pre[s]ence of Geo Gibson D Crispe

In the Name of God Amen I Thomas Hodgkinson of the Ifland S[t] Helena Planter being Sick & Weak of body but of Sound Mind & Memory do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form following that is to Say First & princip[a]lly I recommend my Soul to the Mercy of Almighty God & my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the dispo[s]ition of my Ex[ecu]t[or] hereafter Named &c. as touching my Wordly Estate I give Bequeath & Dispose thereof as followeth that is to Say Imprimis Afsre I bequeath unto Mr John Goodwin of this Ifland John Junior all my Right Title Interest & Pofsefsion & has Po[r]tion & Dividend to in & of all & Singular the Lands Goods or Chattells which me ought or Shall descend to me or my Heirs by Virtue of the Last Will & Testament of my Hon[oura]ble Father deceafed bearing date the 27 day of February 1722. In Sat[i]sfaction thereof for the within Names made afore[s]aid Payment & Dis[c]harge of all such Debts as Sume of Money or Sums Out of theire be Indebted to him to the aforesaid John ffrederic or any other P[er]son or P[er]sons whatsoever the Overplus or Remainder of any Such there be Shall be bequeath to my wellbeloved Wife Sarah Hodgkinson Tho Holmes forever. I beforese[?] I am now in the Pofsefsion of One dwelling House Lifs a horse y[t] was lately which I bought of the Said S[r] John Gardiner the Same not yet paid for it my Will Meaning & Intent thereof is, that the Said House & Lands Shall immediately after my decea[s]e be Delivered to him the Said John Goodwin his Heirs for towards Sat[i]sfaction for all Such Sum or Sums of Money which I at this time Owe & am Indebted to him if he shall be willing to take the Same in part of Payment, or otherwise to be fully paid and Sat[i]sfied for the Said House & Lands out of all or any Such Lands Goods or Chattels as my Share or ought to be De[s]cend to me or my Heirs by Virtue of the aforementioned Will of my Hon[oura]ble ffather, do all the Choice & Election of him the Said John Goodwin his Heirs. Item Will that as my Debts & funerals Charges be fully paid & Sat[i]sfied Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute & Appoint the aforementioned M[r] John Goodwin whole & Sole Executor of this my Last Will & my Trusty ffriends the aforementioned M[r] John Goodwin whole & Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament Revoking all other & former Will or Wills by me heretofore made Acknowledg[i]ng this & no other for my Last Will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my Hand & Seal this 6 day of June 1728 Tho[s] Hodgkinson L S Sign'd Sealed Publifhed & Decleared in the Prefence of: Lewis Goodwin James Ryder John Bowers

On 6 May 1727, at St Helena, James Holmes, late of the City of London, gentleman, made his will. He was sick and weak of body but in perfect mind and memory.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had given it, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ to attain pardon and forgiveness of all his sins. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently buried at his executor's direction. As to the worldly estate that God had granted him, he disposed of it as follows.

He directed that his debts and funeral charges should first be paid and satisfied.

After his debts and funeral charges were paid, he gave the rest and residue of his estate, of every kind, to his dearly beloved wife Mary Holmes, her heirs and executors for ever.

He appointed his trusted friend Captain John Goodwin as sole executor of his will.

The will was signed, sealed, published and pronounced as Holmes's last will and testament in the presence of George Gibson and D Crispe.

On 6 June 1728, Thomas Hodgkinson of St Helena, a planter, made his will. He was sick and weak of body but in sound mind and memory.

He commended his soul to the mercy of Almighty God, and his body to the earth, to be decently buried at his executor's direction. As to his worldly estate, he disposed of it as follows.

To John Goodwin junior of the island he gave all his right, title, interest and possession in all the lands, goods and chattels that had descended or would descend to him or his heirs under the will of his honoured father, dated 27 February 1722. The bequest was made in satisfaction of all sums of money he was indebted to John Goodwin junior or any other person. Any surplus remaining after payment of those debts was to pass to his beloved wife Sarah Hodgkinson [...] for ever.

The testator further declared that he was then in possession of a dwelling house and lands bought lately from John Gardiner, which had not yet been paid for. He directed that the house and lands should immediately after his death be delivered to John Goodwin and his heirs, in part payment of all sums he then owed to him. If Goodwin was willing to take the house and lands in part payment, he was to do so. Otherwise, he was to be fully paid for the house and lands out of any property descending to the testator under his father's will, at Goodwin's choice and election.

He directed that his debts and funeral charges should be fully paid and satisfied.

He appointed John Goodwin as sole executor of his will. He revoked all former wills and acknowledged this as his last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of Lewis Goodwin, James Ryder and John Bowers.

Interpretations

James Holmes, late of the City of London, gentleman, marks himself as a metropolitan visitor rather than as a settled member of the island community. The phrasing late of the City of London, combined with the absence of any reference to island property, indicates that Holmes had recently arrived from London and had drawn his will at St Helena during a stopover or short residence. The disposition of his entire estate to his wife Mary Holmes, with Captain John Goodwin as sole executor, fits the pattern of a transient testator settling his affairs at a Company station against the working risk of death on the homeward or outward voyage.

John Goodwin junior, the principal creditor and sole executor, is presumably a son of the Captain John Goodwin who has appeared across the registers as overseer of Matthew Bazett (will of 3 April 1719), trustee under the Edward Johnson will of 12 February 1723, joint executor of Henry Francis (will of 4 August 1722), joint executor of Grace Coulson (will of 30 December 1726), and executor of James Holmes (will of 6 May 1727). The designation of John Goodwin junior, distinct from Captain John Goodwin, indicates a younger member of the Goodwin family rising into administrative and creditor roles by 1728.

Speculations

The decision of James Holmes, late of London, to draw his will at St Helena and to leave his entire estate to his wife with Captain John Goodwin as sole executor, indicates a testator passing through the island on a Company voyage and using the visit to make a precautionary disposition. The structure provides for his widow in England through the working channel of the Company's administrative network, with the island's senior captain acting as executor. The mechanism converts the will into a transit document, drawn at the safest available stopping point against the working risk of further voyaging.

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In the Name of God Amen May the Thirteenth 1729 I Richard Gurling Sen[r] of the Ifland S[t] Hellena being Sick & Weak in Body but of P[er]fect Mind & Memory & Calling to Mind the Uncertainty of this Life knowing it is Appointed for all Men once to Die do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament that is to Say Princip[a]lly & first of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God being heartily Sorry for my Sins hoping & A[ss]uredly believ[i]ng thro[ugh] the alone Merits of my Blefsed Saviour Jesus Christ to receive forgivenefs of all my Sins. My Body I Committ to the Earth to be buried in a Christian Like & decent manner by my Executors hereafter Named & as touching Such Worldly Goods as it hath plea[s]ed God to bestow upon me I give dispose & bequeath the Same in the following manner

Imprimis My Will & desire is that all my Debts & ffuneral Charges be fully Sat[i]sfied in Some convenient time after my deat[h].

Item the rest & Refidue of my whole Estate Real & P[er]sonal I bequeath unto my wellbeloved Daughters Sarah & Rebecca Gurling to be equally divided between them as they come of Age or Marriage. Lastly I do Nominate & Appoint Cap[t] John Goodwin & my wellbeloved Brother Robert Gurling Ex[ecu]t[or]s of this my Will & Testament utterly Revoking and Disannulling all former Will or Wills by me made Acknowledging & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament Rich[d] Gurling Sen[r] L S Sign'd Sealed Publifhed & decleared in the Pre[s]ence of us Walter Morris Jn[o] Hodgkinson Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen the twenty Sixth day of April 1729 I Rich[ar]d Swallow of the Ifland S[t] Helena having for Sometime pafs[ed] Labouring under a very ill State of Health but thanks be to Almighty God of Sound Mind & Memory & calling to Remembrance the Uncertainty of this Life knowing it is Appointed for all Men once to die do Ordain Constitute & Appoint this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament that is to Say First & princip[a]lly of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God nothing doubting but thro[ugh] the Merits of my Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ recieve free Pardon & forgivenefs of all my Sins. And as for my Body to be decently Interred at the dispo[s]ition of my Executor hereafter Named &c. as touching Such Worldly Goods as it hath plea[s]ed God to bestow upon me I give Devife, & Bequeath the Same in the following manner

Item My Will & desire is that all my Debts which I owe to my P[er]son or P[er]sons be duly paid out of my Estate in a Convenient time by my Said[?] Executor & funeral Charge[s] also defrayed.

Item All the Rest & Re[s]idue of my Estate in what kind Soever I give Devife & bequeath in equal Parts among all my three beloved Children Samuell, Henry & Mary Swallow & to be delivered them as each of them Attains full Age or Marriage & in Cafe of the Death of any or either of them before Such time of Age or Marriage that their Part Shale be equally divided among the Survivors but my desire is if any my Executors have an Opportunity of Sending any or all of my Children abovementioned off the Ifland that of them y[e] whole Parts or Portions is desired that my Executor have Power to Lay out to their goods & Bennefit which is wholly Leave to the dispo[s]ition of my Executors

Lastly I do Nominate Constitute & Appoint my Trusty & beloved ffriend Rich[d] Beale of S[ai]d Ifland to be Sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament hereby making Void any former Will or Wills, & that this & no other to be Valid by me made either by Word of Mouth or Writing. Rich[d] Swallow L S Sealed Signed & p[r]onounced & Decleared by the Said[?] Rich[d] Swallow as his Last Will & Testament in Pre[s]ence of Us. Jn[o] French Joshua Johnson Charles Steward

On 13 May 1729, Richard Gurling senior of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, being heartily sorry for his sins, and hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ to receive forgiveness of all his sins. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner by his executors. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts and funeral charges should be fully satisfied in convenient time after his death.

The rest and residue of his estate, real and personal, he gave to his beloved daughters Sarah and Rebecca Gurling, to be divided equally between them on coming of age or marrying.

He appointed Captain John Goodwin and his beloved brother Robert Gurling as executors of his will. He revoked all former wills and acknowledged this as his last will and testament.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared in the presence of Walter Morris, John Hodgkinson and Richard Beale.

On 26 April 1729, Richard Swallow of St Helena made his will. He had for some time been labouring under a very ill state of health but was, by God's mercy, of sound mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, doubting nothing that through the merits of Jesus Christ he would receive free pardon and forgiveness of all his sins. His body was to be decently interred at his executor's direction. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all debts owed by him to any person should be duly paid out of his estate in convenient time by his executor, and that his funeral charges should also be defrayed.

The rest and residue of his estate, of every kind, he gave in equal parts to his three beloved children Samuel, Henry and Mary Swallow, to be delivered to each on coming of age or marrying. If any of the children died before age or marriage, the deceased child's part was to be divided equally among the survivors. If the executor had any opportunity to send any or all of the children off the island, he directed that his executor have full power to deploy the children's portions for their benefit, leaving the disposition entirely to the executor's discretion.

He appointed his trusted friend Richard Beale of the island as sole executor of his will. He revoked all former wills, whether made in word or in writing.

The will was sealed, signed, pronounced and declared by Richard Swallow as his last will and testament in the presence of John French, Joshua Johnson and Charles Steward.

Interpretations

The Richard Gurling senior testator is the same Richard Gurling who has appeared across the registers as the principal recurring executor of the period from 1706 to 1718. He served as joint executor of Edward Bagley (will of 25 April 1706), George Northern (will of 22 May 1712), Robert Leech (will of 4 May 1712), Charles Steward (will of 12 December 1714), John Crosbey (will of 26 April 1717), John Robinson (will of 17 April 1718), and Thomas Gargen (will of 8 January 1715). He was identified as brother-in-law of Edward Bagley (whose wife Sarah was Gurling's sister), uncle of Francis Steward, and brother-in-law of James Greentree (will of 17 February 1723), where Gurling was named as brother-in-law to the testator and as joint executor. His own death in 1729, after some twenty-three years of documented administrative activity, closes one of the longest single careers in the registers.

The Richard Swallow testator presents an identity question. The Richard Swallow of the will of 10 September 1718, identified as grandson of Robert Swallow (will of 17 June 1688), would be the natural candidate, but he was reported as deceased in the John Harding will of 16 May 1727 in connection with the Swallow carpenter children's twenty-pound legacy. The present 1729 will, however, names the testator's three children as Samuel, Henry and Mary Swallow, distinct from the William, Sarah and Elizabeth Swallow named as the carpenter's children in the Harding will. The two sets of Richard Swallow children indicate that there were two distinct Richard Swallows, both with surviving children, in the same generation.

Speculations

The death of Richard Gurling senior in May 1729, closing a working administrative career of more than two decades, removes one of the principal recurring figures of the registers from the working scene. The transmission of his entire estate to two unmarried daughters, with no provision for the Bagley nieces (the daughters of his sister Sarah Gurling Bagley) or other collaterals, indicates that the testator regarded his daughters as the sole proper inheritors of his property. The structure preserves the working estate within the direct line of descent and excludes the wider Gurling-Bagley-Steward kinship circle from any substantive claim against the estate, despite Richard's recurring involvement in their affairs as executor.

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In the Name of God Amen this Eightenth day of S[e]ptember in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred & twenty Nine I Gabriel Powell of the Ifland S[t] Hellena being very Sick in body but of Sound & p[er]fect Mind & Memory thanks be given unto Almighty God for the Same & ca[l]ing unto Mind the Mortality of my body & knowing that it is Appointed for all Men once to die do make constitute & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in the manner & form following that is to Say First & princip[a]lly Recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave it. hopeing thro[ugh] the Merits Death & Pafsion of my Blefsed Saviour Jesus Christ to recieve full & free Pardon of all my Sins & as for my body I committ it to the Earth to be decently Interred at the Dispo[s]ition of my Executors hereafter Named, & as touching Such Worldly Goods & Effects with which it hath pleased Almighty God to blefs & bestow upon me I do Bequeath &c. dispose the Same in the following manner & form

Imprimis Will Ordain order & Appoint that all those Debts which I am in Right or Conscience to any p[er]son or p[er]sons be fully paid & Sat[i]sfied within a convenient tim after my decea[s]e by my Said Ex[ecu]t[or]s to be raise & raised out of my Estate the best & cheapest way that may be

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Son George Gabriel Powell my Lott of Land or one and Singular that p[i]eces or parcels of Lands containing by common Estimation Twelve Acres together with the Mefsuage or Tenement Scitvate ly[i]ng & being in the County of Lancashire commonly called the Roton Stack with all withhold the Houfes Edifices Buildings Berns Stables Orchards Gardens Pasturers &c. there unto belonging or any ways Appertaining of what nature kind &c. Quality sosoever which is now in the Pofsefsion of my Attorney Cap[t] Joseph Tuffsey & by an Indenture of Lease may fully & at Large appear be subsefly & duly p[er]forme[d] and Enjoyed by the wilde[?] Mefsuage[?] Coyfsue Powell. Neverthelefs my Will & p[lea]sure that of the Said Mefsuage Gabriel Powell before he Att[ai]ns to full Age or Marriage that then & in such Cafe I do hereby Order & Appoint that the before & Named Premifses Shall be immediately after decea[s]e unto my wellbeloved Son Joseph Charlsworth Powell with the Same Right & all Powers as his Brother George Gabriel Powell hath in any have at any time hereafter & in Cafe of the Death of the Said Joseph Charlsworth as aforesa[i]d I will & my especial meaning Pleafure that the aforenamed P[re]mifses what I do Inheri[t]ably & Confirm to my wellbeloved Sons Powell with the Same Right & Power as his aforesaid Brothers George Gabriel & Joseph Charlsworth make or may have at any time hereafter, In Cafe of the Death of the Said Sirthco[?] Powell as aforesaid then I give & bequeath the Said Premifses to the Survivors of my beloved Children at this Made to me, Another Appoint Order & ordain that the Said Sons as Parcel of Lands containing Twelve Acres as aforesaid to Valued & Appraised. & that the Payment of the Said Tuck[?] & Appraisment be included Reciev'd as Part of his or theirs Dividend or Portion

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Son George Gabriel Powell one Gold-headed Cane with my Name upon the head of the Said Cane, two Men Blacks, two Cowes and One Guinea to buy him a Mourning Ring

Item To my wellbelov[e]d Son Joseph Charlsworth Powell I give & bequeath one Sett of Gold Shirts Buttons. Twenty four Gold Waftcoat Brothers, two Men Blacks two Cowes & one Guinea to buy him a Mourning Ring

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbelov[e]d Son James Powell one Silver headed Cane, two Men Blacks. two Cowes & one Guinea to buy him a Mourning Ring

Item I give unto my wellbeloved Son Joseph Powell two Men Blacks two Cowes & one Guinea to buy him a Ring

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Daughter Mary Powell. One Gold Chain. one Silver Snuff Box. two Men Blacks. two Black & White Girles. one & James A[b]igail & the other a James Elizabeth. two Cowes one Guinea to buy a Mourning Ring & Seventy five Pounds in Cafh more than her equal Part or dividend my further desire is that the Said Goods before two as aforesaid Vizt to George Gabriel two to Joseph Charlsworth two to James two, to Joseph the. & to my decea[s]ed Daughter Mary Powell two Im[m]ediately after my decea[s]e be put into a Distinct Mark & to continue untill my Said beloved Children respectively Attain to full Age or Marriage I further Order that the Said Cattle as aforesaid continue in Pastures during the time as aforesaid Item

On 18 September 1729, Gabriel Powell of St Helena made his will. He was very sick in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God who had given it, hoping through the merits, death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive full and free pardon of all his sins. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently interred at his executors' direction. As to the worldly goods and effects that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts should be fully paid and satisfied within a convenient time after his death by his executors, to be raised out of his estate in the cheapest way possible.

To his beloved son George Gabriel Powell he gave his lot of land, comprising twelve acres by common estimation, together with the messuage or tenement in the county of Lancashire commonly called the Rotten Stack, with all the houses, buildings, barns, stables, orchards, gardens, pastures and other appurtenances belonging to it, of whatever kind. The property was then in the possession of his attorney Captain Joseph Tuffsey under an indenture of lease [...] and was to be enjoyed by George Gabriel Powell [...].

If George Gabriel Powell died before reaching full age or marrying, the property was to pass immediately to his beloved son Joseph Charlsworth Powell, with the same rights as those given to his brother. If Joseph Charlsworth Powell then died, the property was to pass to his son [...] Powell on the same terms. If that son also died, the property was to pass to the surviving children. The twelve-acre parcel was to be valued and appraised. The amount of that valuation was to be included as part of the receiving son's dividend or portion of the estate.

To George Gabriel Powell he also gave one gold-headed cane with his name engraved on the head, two black men, two cows, and one guinea to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved son Joseph Charlsworth Powell he gave one set of gold shirt buttons, twenty-four gold waistcoat buttons, two black men, two cows, and one guinea to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved son James Powell he gave one silver-headed cane, two black men, two cows, and one guinea to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved son Joseph Powell he gave two black men, two cows, and one guinea to buy a ring.

To his beloved daughter Mary Powell he gave one gold chain, one silver snuff box, two black men, two black-and-white girls (one named Abigail and the other named Elizabeth), two cows, one guinea to buy a mourning ring, and seventy-five pounds in cash over and above her equal share of the estate.

He directed that the slaves bequeathed to each child, namely two to George Gabriel, two to Joseph Charlsworth, two to James, two to Joseph, and two to Mary, should immediately after his death be put under a distinct mark and remain so until the child came of age or married. The cattle bequeathed to the children were to remain in pasture during the same period.

Interpretations

The testator was Gabriel Powell, the recurring administrator named across the registers as husband of Sarah Rider (daughter of James Rider, testator of 20 January 1704), sole heir of Hans Yorgin (will of 3 September 1683), brother of Thomas Harper (will of 3 March 1715), joint executor of Charles Steward (will of 12 December 1714) and of multiple other wills, and recipient of the entire estate of Robert Angus (will of 16 July 1722). The disposition of 18 September 1729 closes one of the longest administrative careers in the records, extending from 1683 to 1729.

The compound given name Joseph Charlsworth Powell for the second son fixes a working family connection to the Charlsworth (Charlesworth) family of the registers, traced through Josiah Charlsworth (will of 12 January 1693) and Rebecca Charlsworth (will of 24 April 1697). The testator presumably had a marital or descent tie to the Charlsworth line, with the surname preserved as the given name of his second son in the working practice of naming children after maternal or other family connections.

Speculations

The decision to settle the Lancashire property on the eldest son George Gabriel Powell, with substitution to two further sons before reverting to the surviving children, indicates that the testator regarded the English estate as the principal capital of the family. The structure converts the metropolitan property into the working anchor of the family's inheritance plan, with the substitution chain preserving the property within the male line. The mechanism reflects the working pattern of dual-jurisdiction families across the registers, with the English property held as a stable family asset alongside the island holdings.

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Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Nephew Charles Steward One light Wig & Fforty Shillings to buy him a Mourning Ring

Item I give & bequeath unto my Wellbeloved Sister Mary Bra[s]er[?] Forty Shillings to buy a Mourning Ring

Item I give & bequeath unto my Beloved Daughter in Law Ann Hodgkinson One Guinea to buy her a Mourning Ring

Item I give & bequeath unto my beloved Daughter in Law Phildon Hodgkinson one Guinea to buy her a Mourning Ring

Item To my beloved God Daughter Mary Johnson I give & bequeath One Guinea to buy her a Mourning Ring

Item I give unto my beloved Nephew Thomas Harper one Silver Ring

Item I Will Ordain order & Appoint that all the ready Money belonging to me & at this time in England be equally divided among my beloved Five Children Vizt George Gabriel, Joshua, Joseph Charlsworth, & Joseph, Save & my beloved Daughter Mary Powell only fifty Pounds to be Set apart & Appropriated for to be paid & bequeath of at the dispo[s]ition of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s & to continue at Interest in the hands of Sir John Lock untill my Said beloved Children Attains to full Age or Marriage

Item I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Wife Mary Powell One Third of all my P[er]sonal Estate to be freely & quietly Pofsefsed & Enjoyed by her & her heirs forever, & Bequeath the One half of all my Tables, ffrom her pofsefsed of, both ffreedom & Leafsehold to freely & quietly Pofsefsed & Enjoyed by hae the Said Mary Powell during her natural Life & the other two thirds to my beloved Children Vizt George Gabriel, James, Joseph Charlesworth, Joseph, & my beloved Daughter Mary Powell.

Item I Will & appoint that all my Lands Houfes & Cattle be equally divided among them & my beloved Children at the time of Age or Marriage at the dispo[s]ition of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s & that my Sons Wellbeloved Child to take an equal Part or Dividend or P[ort]ion in Cafh I do further order that my Ex[ecu]t[or]s do in a very Short time after my decea[s]e Divide & Allot my aforesaid Lands Houses & Cattle as much Pre[?] miist[?] to the Advantage & benefit of the One & the other of my beloved fown Children & that in Cafe either of my aforesaid Children should be any place[?] defirous of disposing of their respective parts or Pofsefsions of theirs Said Lands Houses bequeath'd that they to Whose y[r] to offer unto each other the first Refusee of the said Lands & further Will Command & Appoint that the Water in each particular Surts[?] of my aforesaid Lands (as well Pastures as planting Land) to continue & remain in their proper Course as Causes for the conveniency & Advantage of each & every of my aforesaid Children Respectively Command that they do no doutt in no ways Molyse[?] at hinder each other in the Pafsage of the aforesaid Water Courses.

Item My Especial Meaning & desire is that no Acrim[?] dees of what nature or kind soever be sunder'd or any ways disposed of, off the Said Lands upon no Pretence whatsoever but as much imp[r]oveable[?] as may be

Item I will order & Appoint that my Slaves be kept for the proper Ufe Bennefit & Service of my Wellbeloved Children

Item My further order & desire is that Joshua Johnson if in Cafe him or any of his Family Should by Any pursued or publick Misfortune be Reduced to any Calamity of Want that then & in Such Cafe I do hereby Order & Appoint that Provision be made for him the Said Joshua Johnson out of my Estate at the dispo[s]ition of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s & the Said Joshua Johnson Shall Live & Abide with my Family & to enjoy the Same Privilege till my youngest Child Attains to Age or Marriage

Item I Will & beloved Daughter Ann Hodgkinson Provided She thinks proper to do but I order & Appoint the Same Provision as provided for the Aforesaid Joshua Johnson

Item I will & Appoint that my Ex[ecu]t[or]s do in a very Short time after my decea[s]e take an exact Inventory of all my Estate as well as P[er]sonal as Land Cash & Land Plate Ship Goods Hay Houshold Stuff &c.

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute & Appoint my Wellbeloved Wife Mary Powell my Executrice, my beloved Nephew Charles Steward Executor & alfo my beloved Children George Gabriel, Powell & James to be my Sole P[ro]bate[?] Ex[ecu]t[or]s of this my Last Will and Testament

Continuing the will of Gabriel Powell of 18 September 1729, he gave the following further legacies and directions.

To his beloved nephew Charles Steward he gave one light wig and forty shillings to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved sister Mary Braser [...] he gave forty shillings to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved daughter-in-law Ann Hodgkinson he gave one guinea to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved daughter-in-law Phildon Hodgkinson he gave one guinea to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved goddaughter Mary Johnson he gave one guinea to buy a mourning ring.

To his beloved nephew Thomas Harper he gave one silver ring.

He directed that all the ready money belonging to him then in England should be divided equally among his five children, namely George Gabriel, Joshua, Joseph Charlsworth, Joseph and Mary Powell. From the daughter Mary's share, fifty pounds were to be set apart for disposition at the executors' discretion, and to remain at interest in the hands of Sir John Lock until the children reached full age or marriage.

To his beloved wife Mary Powell he gave one third of his personal estate, to be possessed and enjoyed by her and her heirs for ever. He also gave half of his tables [...] and other property already in her possession, both freehold and leasehold, to be possessed and enjoyed during her natural life. The other two thirds were to pass to the children George Gabriel, James, Joseph Charlsworth, Joseph and Mary Powell.

He directed that all his lands, houses and cattle should be equally divided among the children on coming of age or marrying, at the executors' direction. Each child was to take an equal part or dividend, including a portion in cash. The executors were to divide and allot the lands, houses and cattle as soon as possible after his death, to the advantage and benefit of each child. If any child wished to dispose of his or her allotted lands or houses, the right of first refusal was to be offered to the other siblings. The water courses on each parcel of his lands, whether pastures or planting ground, were to remain in their proper course for the convenience and advantage of each child. The children were not to molest or hinder one another in the passage of the water courses.

He further directed that no acres of his lands, of any kind, were to be alienated or disposed of off the said lands under any pretence, but were to be improved as much as possible.

He directed that his slaves should be kept for the use, benefit and service of his children.

He further directed that if Joshua Johnson, or any of his family, should by any persecution or public misfortune be reduced to any calamity or want, provision was to be made for him out of the estate at the executors' discretion. Joshua Johnson was to live and abide with the testator's family and to enjoy the same privilege until his youngest child came of age or married.

He made similar provision for his beloved daughter Ann Hodgkinson, if she thought proper, on the same terms as for Joshua Johnson.

He directed that his executors should take an exact inventory of his estate, both personal and real, including cash, plate, ship goods, hay and household stuff, in a short time after his death.

He appointed his wife Mary Powell as executrix, his nephew Charles Steward as executor, and his sons George Gabriel and James Powell as joint executors of his will.

Interpretations

The fifth child Joshua Powell, named in the cash distribution clause, is a new entry in the list of children. The opening of the will named four sons (George Gabriel, Joseph Charlsworth, James and Joseph) plus the daughter Mary, while the present continuation lists five children including Joshua. The complete set of six children of the testator therefore consists of five sons (George Gabriel, Joseph Charlsworth, James, Joseph and Joshua) and one daughter (Mary). The omission of Joshua from the opening substitution chain for the Lancashire property indicates that Joshua was either a younger son not yet recognised in the principal property settlement, or that the scribal transcription of the opening omitted his name.

The conditional maintenance clause for Joshua Johnson, providing for him and his family if reduced to calamity by persecution or public misfortune, identifies Joshua Johnson as a member of the testator's wider household network. Joshua Johnson is presumably the same Joshua Johnson identified across the registers as the son of the late Governor Joshua Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson (will of 22 September 1713), executor of multiple wills including Robert Addis (will of 20 June 1714) and Ann Fuller (will of 13 March 1713). His continuing presence in the testator's household, with the safety-net provision against future calamity, indicates that the Johnson family's fortunes had declined since the days of the senior Governor Johnson, with the present testator now operating as the working patron of the remaining Johnsons.

Speculations

The decision to vest substantial provision in the wife Mary Powell, including one third of the personal estate for ever and the use of half of the existing property for life, indicates that the testator regarded his wife as a working partner in the household economy whose continued enjoyment of property was central to the family's functioning. The structure provides Mary with substantial independent property rather than the standard widow's third of customary law, reflecting either a working second marriage with substantial spousal property or a particular concern to provide for the wife against the practical demands of running a large household with six children.

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Testament but my especial Intent Meaning & defire is that my beloved Son George Gabriel Powell. do nor Shall not Act in the Office of an Ex[ecu]t[or] till he is Arrived & Attains to the full Age of Seventeen Years, & my beloved Son James Powell not to Act in the Aforesaid Office tile [&] arrived to the full Age of Nineteen Years Revoking & Annulling all other Will or Wills by me at any time heretofore made Allowing this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seale

Gabriel Powell L S

Signed Sealed & delivered in the pre[s]ence of Joshua Johnson Edmund Nicholls Jam[es] Ryder Dan[ie]ll Griffith

Closing the will of Gabriel Powell of 18 September 1729, he directed that his son George Gabriel Powell should not act in the office of executor until he reached the full age of seventeen, and his son James Powell should not act in that office until he reached the full age of nineteen. He revoked all other wills made at any time previously and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed and delivered by Gabriel Powell in the presence of Joshua Johnson, Edmund Nicholls, James Ryder and Daniel Griffith.

Interpretations

The age-based deferral of the sons' executorship, with George Gabriel barred from acting until seventeen and James barred until nineteen, is a working mechanism for combining the formal appointment of the sons as executors with a recognition that they were not yet adult at the date of the will. The structure preserves the eventual succession of the sons to the executor role while ensuring that the immediate administration of the estate rests with the wife and the nephew Charles Steward. The mechanism mirrors the working pattern of incremental adult capacity, with the sons admitted to working office at staged ages rather than at a single threshold.

The witnesses Joshua Johnson, Edmund Nicholls, James Ryder and Daniel Griffith represent a working administrative circle of the late 1720s. Joshua Johnson is the same Joshua Johnson named in the body of the will as the recipient of the safety-net provision, son of the late Governor Joshua Johnson and Elizabeth Johnson (will of 22 September 1713). His witnessing role indicates his continuing presence in the testator's working household. James Ryder continues the long-established Ryder line, presumably the son or grandson of James Ryder senior (will of 20 January 1704). Daniel Griffith continues his recurring role as witness across the registers since the William Dufton senior will of 7 April 1707. Edmund Nicholls is presumably a member of the Nichols family connected to John Nichols senior (will of 25 August 1719), perhaps his son or grandson.

Speculations

The decision to defer the sons' executor responsibility to staged ages of seventeen and nineteen, rather than to admit them at the standard age of twenty-one, indicates that the testator regarded his sons as approaching working capacity at the date of the will and wished to provide for their gradual assumption of administrative responsibility. The structure suggests that the sons were already engaged in the working life of the household and that the executor role would consolidate their adult status rather than introducing them to it. The mechanism converts the executor appointment into a working rite of passage, with the sons stepping into administrative responsibility at thresholds calibrated to their respective maturity.

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In the Name of God Amen the first day of March in the Year of Our Lord An[no] Hou[s]and Seven hundred & thirty One I William Gaa being in Perfect health of body & Sound Dispo[s]ition of Mind & Memory & ca[l]ing to Mind the Uncertainty of this Trans[i]tory Life. to avoid Disputes after my Death I do ordain Constitute & make this & no other formerly made by me to be my Last Will & Testament Princip[a]lly and first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of Allmighty God & my body to the Earth or Sea, as that Death fit unto the Lord my Maker to take, As touching such Worldly Affairs & Goods wherein it has plea[s]ed God to blefs me, I give Devife & Dispose of the Same in manner & form as followeth Vizt

Imprimis I desire all my Debts upon this Ifland be fully paid & Sat[i]sfied & ffuneral Charges at the Expence of Twenty Pounds

Item I give five Pounds to the Poor of the Ifland

Item I give unto my wellbeloved Wife Helen Gaa the Sum of Sixty Pounds, with as the Remainder of her Portion due to Me by her Brother M[r] John Boyle of Coothill in the County of Cavan in Ireland

Item I give unto my wellbeloved Son William Gaa the Sum of one hundred Twenty & two Pounds which is now in the hands of Cap[t] Robert Lyle Comm[an]der of the Boyndham Late India Ship & desire that Cap[t] Lyle will take my Story Son William to his Apprentice for Six or Seven Years if he inclines to go to Sea, & Cap[t] Lyle there have an Apprentice fee Out of P[r]inciple of the abov[ementioned] Money the Remainder to go to Interest as Cap[t] Lyle Shall think fit & I desire the Princip[a]l & Interest to be delivered my Son Will[ia]m Gaa when the time of his Apprenticeship Shall be Expired or at the Age of twentyone Years, Old or upon the day of his Marriage which of those three Shall first hap[p]en, but if either upon my Son Will[ia]m Gaa the Comes to Apprenticeship of above or attain to the Age of twenty one Year Old or upon the day of his Marriage which Shop[?] will be the Last of the three

Item I give unto my Beloved Brother John Gaa the Sum of Six Pounds & Thirty Shillings to Buy his Wife Joseph[?] a Ring

Item I give unto my wellbeloved Brother James Gaa the Sum of Eleven Pounds & Thirty Shillings to Buy his Wife Mary a Ring & ten Pounds besides Child now Living

Item I give unto my wellbeloved Sister Mary Pother the Sum of Eight Pounds & Thirty Shillings to buy her Husband William a Ring & Sons Shilling to her daughter Mary

Item I give unto my wellbeloved Sister Sarah Gaa fifty Pounds & to her Maid Thirty Shillings to buy her Husband a Ring

Item I give unto my Trusty ffriends Cap[t] Bell Lyle & M[r] Dirk Crispe the Sum of Ten Pounds each & two Guineas to M[r] Math Lyle to buy a Ring

Item I give & Leave forty Pounds to Cap[t] Rob[t] Lyle being so much I[n]debted to him by Note from me

Item I give Eleven Eighty five Pounds to pay all my Debts formerly Contracted by me in England & Ireland in payable of a part of my Sons whereon my Creditors at[?] Severally particularly affictioned the W[?] Sons fr[?] Stretchman of London is forty Pounds & to W[?] of him that has S[ai]d J[?] of a man n[...] my of after my decea[s]e a Copy of my Will & an other of my Inventory aufse[?] by the Council aforesaid here to Sent to Capt Rob[t] Lyle who Lifes at Highgate near London & I desire that Cap[t] Robert Lyle may have a Copy of those afore[s]aid M[r] Stoller Gaa unto five at Cootehill in the County of Cavan in Ireland & to my Sister Sarah Gaa who Lives near the Crook in Wines Street in Dublin Ireland

Item I desire that what is given is over & above the above Legacies in any Cafe of any Death than [?] may be equally divided between my beloved Wife Mate of my beloved Sons W[ill]i[a]m Gaa & Joseph the only Cap[t] Lyle, who tak[?] Care of my Son William

Item I ordain Const[i]tute and Appoint Cap[t] Robert Lyle, M[r] Dick Crispe my Trusty Friends & Helen Gaa my beloved Wife to be whole & Sole Executors & Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament hereby Revoking & making void as former Will or Wills by me heretofore made either in Wri[ti]ng or in Word Acknowledg[i]ng this & no other but this my Last Will & Testament as Witnefs my hand & Seale this fifth day of March One Thousand Seven hund[red] thirty & one

Signed Sealed Publifhed as the Last Will & Testament William Gaa of William Gaa in P[re]sence of Us John Curling Simon Whaley

Item I give to my beloved Mother in Law Mary Gaa one Guinea to buy a Ring & Thirty N B The Last Item was wrote on the back Shilly to my Br[othe]r in Law Mary Gaa to buy a Ring of the Will by the said William Gaa but not Signed those Sons of the marrie[?] by him (prading to expired) is and de[?] William Gaa Jn[o] Goodwin

On 1 March 1731, William Gaa made his will. He was in perfect health of body and sound disposition of mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of this transitory life and wished to avoid disputes after his death.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, and his body to the earth or sea, as it should please his Maker to take him. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts on the island should be fully paid and satisfied, and that twenty pounds should be allowed for his funeral charges.

He gave five pounds to the poor of the island.

To his beloved wife Helen Gaa he gave sixty pounds, together with the remainder of her portion due to him by her brother John Boyle of Cootehill, in the county of Cavan in Ireland.

To his beloved son William Gaa he gave one hundred and twenty-two pounds, then in the hands of Captain Robert Lyle, commander of the Boyndham, a former East India ship. He desired Captain Lyle to take his son William as apprentice for six or seven years if he inclined to go to sea. Captain Lyle was to take his apprentice fee out of the principal of the same money, with the remainder to go to interest as Lyle judged fit. The principal and interest were to be delivered to William when his apprenticeship expired, or when he reached twenty-one, or on his marriage, whichever of the three happened first.

To his beloved brother John Gaa he gave six pounds, with thirty shillings extra to buy his wife Joseph [...] a ring.

To his beloved brother James Gaa he gave eleven pounds, with thirty shillings extra to buy his wife Mary a ring, and ten pounds besides for the children now living.

To his beloved sister Mary Pother he gave eight pounds, with thirty shillings extra to buy her husband William a ring, and a further shilling to her daughter Mary.

To his beloved sister Sarah Gaa he gave fifty pounds, and to her maid thirty shillings to buy her husband a ring.

To his trusted friends Captain Robert Lyle and Mr Dick Crispe he gave ten pounds each, and two guineas to Mr Math Lyle to buy a ring.

He gave forty pounds to Captain Robert Lyle in payment of a debt owed by note from the testator to Lyle.

He gave eighty-five pounds [...] to pay all his debts formerly contracted in England and Ireland, as part-payment of those debts. Forty pounds of that sum was directed to one Stretchman of London [...]. After his death, a copy of his will and inventory was to be authenticated by the council on the island and sent to Captain Robert Lyle at Highgate near London. Captain Lyle was to forward further copies to Mr Stoller Gaa at Cootehill in the county of Cavan in Ireland, and to the testator's sister Sarah Gaa, who lived near the Cock in Winetavern Street in Dublin, Ireland.

He directed that anything given above the legacies, in the event of any death of a beneficiary, was to be equally divided between his beloved wife and his sons William Gaa and Joseph [...], with Captain Lyle taking care of William.

He appointed Captain Robert Lyle and Mr Dick Crispe, his trusted friends, and his beloved wife Helen Gaa, as executors and executrix of his will. He revoked all former wills, whether in writing or in word, and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed and published as William Gaa's last will and testament on 5 March 1731 in the presence of John Curling and Simon Whaley.

A further item was written on the back of the will. The testator gave his beloved mother-in-law Mary Gaa one guinea to buy a ring, and thirty shillings to his brother-in-law Mary Gaa [...] to buy a ring. A memorandum noted that the additional item was written on the back of the will by William Gaa but was not signed. The item was attested as wholly the work of William Gaa, by John Goodwin.

Interpretations

The testator presents an unusual profile. He was in perfect health at the date of the will, drew the document in advance of any final illness, and held substantial assets and debts across three jurisdictions (St Helena, England and Ireland). The Irish connection, through the brother-in-law John Boyle of Cootehill in County Cavan and the sister Sarah Gaa in Dublin, places the testator's birth or family origins in Ireland. The combined disposition operates as a transit settlement drawn in good health at a Company station, covering the testator's working assets and liabilities across multiple jurisdictions.

The apprenticeship arrangement for the son William, with Captain Lyle taking him as apprentice for six or seven years if he chose to go to sea, converts the will into a working career-planning instrument. The structure provides for the son's education, training and eventual establishment through the captain's care, with the capital fund serving as the working basis for the apprenticeship fee and the son's eventual independent establishment. The mechanism mirrors the working pattern of provision for the next generation across the registers, with the present testator combining a substantial cash legacy with a specific occupational pathway.

Speculations

The decision to draw the will in perfect health, rather than in the standard deathbed mode, indicates a testator with substantial commercial obligations and complex multi-jurisdictional arrangements who wished to settle his affairs in advance against any future risk. The structure converts the will into a working precautionary settlement drawn at a moment of stability, with the detailed provisions for the son's apprenticeship, the wife's Irish portion, the metropolitan and Irish debts, and the transmission of copies to London, Cootehill and Dublin all reflecting careful planning rather than urgent disposition.

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In the Name of God Amen. this 31 day of March In the Year 1732. I Michael Dufton of the Ifland S[t] Helena Soldier being Sick & weak in Body, but of Sound & p[er]fect Mind & Memory & Calling to mind the Uncertainty of this Life knowing it is appointed for all men once to dye do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament, that is to Say P[r]incip[a]lly & first of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it, hopeing & a[ss]uredly believing that at the Generall Resurrection I shall Receive Pardon & Remifsion of all my Sins thro[ugh] the alone Merits of my Blefsed Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ. My Body I committ to the earth to be buried in a Christian Like & decent manner by my Ex[ecutor]s hereafter Named & as touching Such w[o]rdly Goods as plea[s]e God to Blefs me with I give Devise and Dispose of the Same in manner & form as followeth

Imprimis My Will & Desire is that all my Debts & ffuneral Charges be fully Sat[i]sfy[e]d in some convenient time after my Decea[s]e.

Item All the Rest & Refidue of my Estate be in what kind soever I give & bequeath unto my friend Marlon Harper, whom I appoint whole & Sole Executor of this my Last Will Revoking & Disannulling all former Will or Wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament his Signed Sealed Publifhed Michael + Dufton Decleared his Last Will Mark In y[e] presence of us Jn[o] Hodgkinson Richard Beal

In the Name of God Amen. I George White of the Ifland S[t] Helena Corp[ora]l[l] being Sick & weak of Body but of Sound P[er]fect Mind & memory do make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament. in Manner & Form following that is to Say first & princip[a]lly I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God & as touching my w[o]rdly Estate I give & bequeath & Dispose thereof in manner following Vizt

Imprimis I will that all my Debts so good be Justly after my Deceafe as p[r]eferdly may be

Item All the Rest & Remainder of my Estate due to me by Virtue of the last Will & Testament of my Bro[ther] James White Late of the Ifland of Jamaica Decea[s]ed & all other my P[er]sonal Estate whatever I give & bequeath Vizt One third part to my dearly beloved Wife forever the other two third parts thereof I give & bequeath in equal Shares unto my beloved Children now being to be paid to them as they shall Severally attain to the Age of Twenty One Years or Marriage which shall first happen, & in Cafe of the Death of either of my said[?] Children before they arrive to the Age of twenty one years or Marriage So will that the Survivors shall pofsefs & Enjoy the others Share in equal Proportion between them

Lastly I do hereby Nominate Const[i]tute & Appoint my Trusty friend M[r] W[illia]m Norgant Merchant at Pearfe borough in North Britian Whole & Sole Ex[ecuto]r of this my Last will & Testament & My Dearly beloved Wife to be Trustee for Such of my Stock at St Helena as Shall be in being after my Decea[s]e And I do hereby Revoke all former Will or Wills by me heretofore made acknowledg[i]ng this & no other to be my Last Will & Testam[ent]. as Witnefs whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seal this 21st[?] day of [...] [...] [...] 1732 his Signed Sealed & Declared as the Last will & Testam[en]t of him X mark the [?] George White in y[e] p[re]sence of D Crispe George White The [...] Reed John Brown

On 31 March 1732, Michael Dufton of St Helena, a soldier, made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the uncertainty of life and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to Almighty God, hoping at the general resurrection to receive pardon and remission of all his sins through the merits of Jesus Christ. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner by his executors. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts and funeral charges should be fully satisfied in convenient time after his death.

The rest and residue of his estate, of every kind, he gave to his friend Marlon Harper, whom he appointed sole executor of his will. He revoked all former wills and confirmed this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published and declared as Michael Dufton's last will in the presence of John Hodgkinson and Richard Beal. The testator signed by mark.

On a date in 1732 [...], George White of St Helena, a corporal, made his will. He was sick and weak of body but in sound and perfect mind and memory.

He commended his soul to Almighty God. As to his worldly estate, he disposed of it as follows.

He directed that his debts should be justly paid after his death as soon as possible.

The rest and remainder of his estate, due to him under the will of his late brother James White of the island of Jamaica, deceased, together with all his other personal estate, he gave as follows. One third to his beloved wife for ever; the other two thirds in equal shares to his children then living, to be paid to each as they reached the age of twenty-one or marriage, whichever happened first. If any child died before reaching twenty-one or marrying, the survivors were to enjoy the deceased child's share in equal proportions.

He appointed his trusted friend William Norgant, merchant at Peterborough in North Britain, as sole executor of his will. His beloved wife was to be trustee for such of his stock at St Helena as remained after his death. He revoked all former wills and acknowledged this as his only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed and declared as George White's last will and testament on 21 [...] 1732 in the presence of D Crispe, [...] Reed and John Brown. The testator signed by mark.

Interpretations

The testator Michael Dufton is the same Michael Dufton named earlier as the fourth son of William Dufton senior (will of 7 April 1707), who had received an equal share of his father's residue alongside the other six children. His death by 1732, some twenty-five years after his father's disposition, closes the working career of one of the named Dufton sons. The transmission of his entire estate to a friend Marlon Harper, with no mention of wife, children, parents or siblings, indicates that he had outlived his immediate family connections on the island or had no surviving close kin at the date of the will.

Marlon Harper, sole beneficiary and executor of the Dufton will, is the same Marlon Harper named earlier as witness to the Richard Harding will of 5 May 1726. His presence as principal beneficiary of a soldier's estate, without any documented kinship to the testator, fits the working pattern of friendship-based testamentary provision documented across the registers in cases such as John Boyce (will of 26 February 1711), Isaac Bothway (will of 4 June 1710), and Robert Angus (will of 16 July 1722).

Speculations

The decision of Michael Dufton to leave his entire estate to a friend Marlon Harper, with no provision for any of his six surviving siblings or for the wider Dufton family network documented in the 1707 will, indicates that Dufton had lost contact with or had no working continuing relationship with his birth family at the date of his death. The structure suggests a soldier whose working life had taken him away from his planter origins and into a separate circle of garrison and friendship connections, with the present friend Marlon Harper as the principal personal connection at the end of life.

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The Govenour desired to know why M[r] White who wrote a good hand did only make some faint Scratches upon his Will instead of writing his Name to which the Gentlemen who were Witnefses to the Will sev[er]ally answered that M[r] White was p[er]fectly Sinsible & appeared to them to be of good Judgement & Understanding & that when the Will was read to him he Approved of every Sentence but he was so weak & faint that he was not able to write his name though he twice attempted it

D: Crispe

5 S[e]pt[ember] 1732 Isaac Wood John Brown

In the Name of God Amen. this Twenty third Day of January in the Year of our Lord God One Thousand Seven hundred & thirty two five I Brigett Bates of the Ifland S[t] Helena being very Sick & weak of Body but of Sound & p[er]fect mind & memory thanks be given unto Allmighty God for the Same & Calling unto mind the Mortality of my Body & knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye, do make Constitute & ordain this my Last Will & Testament in the manner & form following. That is to Say first & Princip[a]lly I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Allmighty God that gave it, hopeing thro[ugh] the merit Death & Pafsion of my Blefsed Lord Jesus Christ to receive full & free pardon of all my Sins & my Body I commit to the Earth to be decently Intered at the Discretion of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s hereafter mentioned & as touching all such wordly Goods & Effects with which it hath pleased Allmighty God to give & Bestow upon me as also the Provifions that my Dearly Beloved Husband Joseph Bates hath in case of his Death before his Arrival to S[t] Helena I made & provided for me. I give Devise & Bestow of the same in the Manner & form following

Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my Wellbeloved Son Edward Bates, all my part of Real Estate, Given & bequeathed unto me by Will. as aforesaid, but in Cafe of the Death of him the Said Edward Bates before he Attains to full Age or Marries Will do I order that the aforesaid Premises be equally divided among the Survivors of my beloved three Children Vizt Mede Joseph, Sarah & Margaret Bates

Item I give & bequeath unto my Beloved Son Mede Jos[eph] Bates the Sum of fifteen Pounds to buy him a Black Boy

Item I give unto my beloved Son in Law Jn[o] Bates the Sum of five Pounds to be paid him at the Discretion of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s

Item To my Wellbeloved Nephew Henry Cole I give & Bequeath the Sum of five p[oun]ds & if the Same be paid him by my Ex[ecu]t[or]s within a convenient time after my Decea[s]e

Item I give unto my beloved Friend Mary Treeve One Milch Cow & Calf & that the same be im[m]ediately delivered her after my Decea[s]e

Item I Will Ordain Order & appoint that the Re[s]idue of my Part of P[er]sonal Estate be equally divided among my beloved three Children Vizt: Mede Joseph, Sarah & Margaret Bates & in Case of the Death of either one or more of S[ai]d before it or they arrives or attains to full age or Marriage then & in such Cafe do order that the Deceased Childs or Children[s] part or parts be equally divided amoung the Survivors of my aforesaid Children

Item I give & Bequeath unto my Wellbeloved Daughters Eleanor & Elizabeth Coles thirty Acres of Freehold Land with the Mefsuage & all other R[i]ghts Properties & appurtenances thereunto belonging that I now Hold & Enjoy by Virtue

A note relating to the George White will, dated 5 September 1732, recorded that the governor desired to know why Mr White, who wrote a good hand, had only made some faint scratches on his will instead of writing his name. The witnesses to the will severally answered that Mr White was perfectly sensible, and appeared to them to be of good judgement and understanding. When the will was read to him he had approved of every sentence, but he was so weak and faint that he was not able to write his name, though he had twice attempted it. The note was signed by D Crispe, Isaac Wood and John Brown.

On 23 January 1733, Brigett Bates of St Helena made her will. She was very sick and weak of body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. She acknowledged the mortality of her body and that every person must die once.

She commended her soul to Almighty God who had given it, hoping through the merits, death and passion of Jesus Christ to receive full and free pardon of all her sins. Her body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently interred at her executors' discretion. As to the worldly goods and effects that God had granted her, together with the provisions that her dearly beloved husband Joseph Bates had made for her, in case of his death before his arrival at St Helena, she disposed of them as follows.

To her beloved son Edward Bates she gave her part of the real estate previously given to her by will. If Edward died before reaching full age or marrying, the property was to be divided equally among the survivors of her three other children, Mede Joseph, Sarah and Margaret Bates.

To her beloved son Mede Joseph Bates she gave fifteen pounds to buy a black boy.

To her son-in-law John Bates she gave five pounds, to be paid at her executors' discretion.

To her beloved nephew Henry Cole she gave five pounds, to be paid by her executors within a convenient time after her death.

To her friend Mary Treeve she gave one milch cow and calf, to be delivered immediately after her death.

She directed that the residue of her part of the personal estate be divided equally among her three children Mede Joseph, Sarah and Margaret Bates. If any of the three died before reaching full age or marrying, the deceased child's portion was to be divided equally among the survivors.

To her beloved daughters Eleanor and Elizabeth Coles she gave thirty acres of freehold land, with the messuage and all other rights, properties and appurtenances belonging to it, that she then held and enjoyed by virtue [...]

Interpretations

The note relating to George White's will, recorded on 5 September 1732 after the original execution in 1732, addresses a working evidentiary question. The governor's inquiry as to why the testator had made only faint scratches on the will, despite writing a good hand, reflects the working concern of the probate authorities to confirm that a will signed by mark by a literate testator was nonetheless valid. The witnesses' confirmation that White was sensible and of sound judgement, but was physically too weak to complete the signature despite twice attempting it, satisfies the working evidentiary requirement and converts the faint scratches into the equivalent of a valid mark. The mechanism mirrors the working pattern of validation by witness testimony documented across the registers in cases of marks made by failing testators.

The testator may be the same Brigett or Bridget who appeared earlier in the records under a Coles or Bazett surname. The Bridget Coales identified across the registers as wife of Matthew Bazett, daughter of Henry Coales (will of 16 August 1700), and beneficiary of the Coales estate, would be a candidate if she had remarried after Matthew Bazett's death in 1719. The matches in given name and the connection to the Coles family fit the working pattern of the present testator, but the daughters Eleanor and Elizabeth Coles do not match the previously documented children of Matthew Bazett and Bridget Coales Bazett (who included Mary French, Martha Worrall, and unnamed others). The connection therefore remains uncertain.

Speculations

The cross-jurisdictional structure of the will, with the testator disposing both of her own property and of property that her husband Joseph Bates had made provision for in case of his death before reaching the island, indicates a working family pattern of multiple coordinated dispositions across distance. The mechanism suggests that Joseph Bates had drawn his own will before departing on a voyage to the island, securing his wife's interests against the working risk of death at sea, while the testator now drew her own complementary disposition for the eventual distribution of the combined property. The structure converts the wills of husband and wife into a working coordinated estate plan, with each disposition reinforcing the other against the working uncertainties of mobile colonial life.

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by Virtue of a Deed of free Gift bearing date the Second Day of Nov[ember] in the Year of Our Lord 1731. Given & granted by Jos[eph] Coles. as may by the said Deed of Gift more fully & at large appear, to be equally divided between them they paying or causing to be paid unto my Wellbeloved Son W[illia]m Coles & beloved Daughter Mary Money to mor[ge]ach of them the Sum of Twenty five Pounds

Lastly I nominate Constitute and appoint my wellbelov[e]d ffriends Jonathan Doveton and Francis Wrangham both of the said Ifland ffreeholders to be my true & Lawfull Ex[ecu]t[or]s of this my Last will and Testament Revoking & annulling all other Wills or Wills by me at any time hereto fore made allowing this & no other to be my Last Will & Testament. In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & Seal the Day & Year abovewritten Brigit Signed Sealed Publifhed The B mark of Pronounced & Decleared in Bates the Pre[s]ence of W[m]: Worrall: Orlando Bagley Jun[r] D. Griffith

In the Name of God Amen this fifth day of March 1737 I David Greville of this Ifland S[t] Helena being very Sick & weak in body but of Sound & p[er]fect mind & Memory thanks be given unto Almighty God and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die do Make & Ordain this my Last Will & Testament in Manner & form following, that is to Say first & p[r]incipally I recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it hopeing & a[ss]uredly believing to receive full and free pardon of all my Sins And as to my body I commend it to the Earth to be decently Intered at the discretion of my Ex[ecu]t[or]s hereafter Named & as Touching all such worldly goods which with it hath pleased God to Bestow on me I give devise and Bestow of the Same in the Manner & form following

Imprimis To my dearly beloved Wife I bequeath one fourth of my Estate as well what I am now Pofsefst of as also what may hereafter be due or Coming from the Estate of M[r] James Greentree dec[ease]d And alfo 1/4 part of all Such Money as is owing or be Lest me by any friends or Relations in any other part of the world. the Lother[?] 3/4 part of my Estate I give Equally amongst my four Children now in being & the Child my wife is now b[i]g with to be paid them at age or Marriage by it more or lefs

Item I Nominate Const[i]tute and appoint my well beloved Brother Thomas Greentree & my wellbelov[e]d Br[other?] James Ryder & My dearly belov[e]d Wife Mary Griffith my Executors of this my Last Will & Testament Revoking all other Will or Wills by me at any time heretofore made allowing & Confirming this and No

Continuing the will of Brigett Bates of 23 January 1733, the thirty-acre freehold legacy to her daughters Eleanor and Elizabeth Coles was held by virtue of a deed of free gift dated 2 November 1731, given and granted by Joseph Coles. The land was to be divided equally between the two daughters, on condition that they pay her son William Coles and her daughter Mary Money each twenty-five pounds.

She appointed her trusted friends Jonathan Doveton and Francis Wrangham, both freeholders of the island, as executors of her will. She revoked all former wills and acknowledged this as her only valid will.

The will was signed, sealed, published, pronounced and declared in the presence of William Worrall, Orlando Bagley junior and Daniel Griffith. The testator signed by mark.

On 5 March 1737, David Greville of St Helena made his will. He was very sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to God who had given it, hoping to receive full and free pardon of all his sins. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be decently interred at his executors' discretion. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

To his dearly beloved wife he gave one fourth of his estate, both of what he then possessed and of what might thereafter be due or coming from the estate of the late James Greentree. The same fourth share was to apply to any money owing or left to him by friends or relations in any other part of the world. The other three fourths of his estate were to be divided equally among his four children then living and the child his wife was then carrying, to be paid to each on coming of age or marrying.

He appointed his beloved brother Thomas Greentree, his beloved brother James Ryder, and his dearly beloved wife Mary Griffith as executors of his will. He revoked all former wills and acknowledged this as his only valid will [...]

Interpretations

The Brigett Bates testator's connection to a Joseph Coles, donor of the thirty-acre freehold by deed of gift in November 1731, identifies Joseph Coles as her former husband, or a brother or other close relation of her first husband. The deed of gift, drawn just over a year before the present will, transferred the property to Brigett (then or already Brigett Bates) with the intention that it should descend to her Coles daughters. The structure converts the deed and the will into a working coordinated arrangement, with the property passing through Brigett to her daughters as a working settlement of family property within the Coles line.

The brother James Ryder, named as executor, is presumably the same James Ryder named across the registers as son or grandson of James Rider senior (will of 20 January 1704). The kinship designation of brother, applied alongside the executor brother Thomas Greentree, suggests a working pattern of brothers-in-law rather than brothers by blood, fitting the structure of the testator's family connections through his wife.

Speculations

The careful linking of the freehold deed of gift of November 1731 to the present will of January 1733 in the Brigett Bates disposition indicates a working coordinated estate plan executed across two documents. The deed transferred the property to Brigett during her lifetime, presumably to consolidate the Coles family property in her hands and avoid the working complications of direct settlement on the children. The present will then completes the working plan by directing the further transfer from Brigett to her daughters, with the partition-and-compensation mechanism providing for the other Coles siblings.

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No other to be my Last will & Testament in Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the day & Year above written.

D Griffith

Sign'd Publifhed & declar[e]d In the Pre[s]ence of Richard Bagley Memorandum in the Second Line of the Last paragraph adds Rob[t] Gurling Jun[r] [ the words "and my belov'd Brother James Ryder my Ex[ecu]t[or]s ] Rich[d] Greentree

In the Name of God Amen I Robert Wallington of the Ifland S[t] Helena Planter, being Sick & weak of body but of P[er]fect and Sound memory do make & ordain this my Last will & Testament in & form following that is to say first & princip[a]lly I recommend my Soul to the Mercy of Almighty God who gave it. My body I committ to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter Named & as touching such Worldly Goods with which it hath Pleased God to blefs me, after my Debts Lagacies & funerall Charges are paid & Sat[i]sfied I give. Bequeath & dispose thereof as followeth.

Imprimis I Will. order & appoint that all that my Dwelling House. Scitvate in James Valley together with all Appurt[e]nances thereunto belonging & also all other my Goods Chattles & Effects of what nature kind or Sort Soever be Sold & Disposed of by my Executor hereafter Mentiond as Soon after my Decease as conveniently may be for the Sole Use Bennefit & Advantage of my beloved Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Benjamin Orchaid now or Lately Servant to [...] Hill Esq[uir]e of Wambt[h]ough in the County of Wilts her heirs & Afsigns forever. & I do hereby Order & appoint that the money arifing from the Sale of the aforesaid Premice[s] be remited by my undermentioned Executor to my Said Daughter in such Species of Coin way or manner as he shall think fitt. Item I give & Bequeath unto my Trusty friend Gabriel Powell Likewise of the Said Ifland the Sum of forty Shillings to be paid as soon as may be after my decease. Lastly I do hereby Nominate Constitute & appoint my aforesaid Trusty friend Gabriel Powell whole & sole Executor of this my Last will & Testament Revoking & making Void all other & former wills or wills by me heretofore made In Witnefs whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & seale this 24th day of April in the Year of our Lord 1738 Robert Wallington

Closing the will of David Greville of 5 March 1737, he acknowledged this as his only valid will and set his hand and seal on the day and year first written.

The will was signed, published and declared in the presence of Richard Bagley, Robert Gurling junior and Richard Greentree. A memorandum noted that in the second line of the last paragraph the words "and my beloved Brother James Ryder my executors" had been inserted. The testator signed himself D Griffith.

On 24 April 1738, Robert Wallington of St Helena, a planter, made his will. He was sick and weak of body but in perfect and sound memory.

He commended his soul to the mercy of Almighty God who had given it, and his body to the earth, to be decently buried at his executor's discretion. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, after his debts, legacies and funeral charges had been paid, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that his dwelling house in James Valley, with all its appurtenances, together with all his other goods, chattels and effects, of every kind, should be sold and disposed of by his executor as soon after his death as conveniently possible. The proceeds were to go for the sole use and benefit of his beloved daughter Elizabeth, the wife of Benjamin Orchard, then or lately servant to [...] Hill, Esquire, of Wambrough in the county of Wiltshire, and her heirs and assigns for ever. The money arising from the sale was to be remitted by his executor to his daughter in such species of coin and in such manner as the executor judged fit.

To his trusted friend Gabriel Powell, of the island, he gave forty shillings, to be paid as soon as possible after his death.

He appointed his trusted friend Gabriel Powell as sole executor of his will. He revoked all former wills.

The will was signed and sealed by Robert Wallington on 24 April 1738.

Interpretations

The closing of the David Greville will exposes an internal inconsistency in the testator's signed name. The body of the will identifies the testator as David Greville, while the signature at the foot reads D Griffith. The named wife is also Mary Griffith. The combination suggests that the surname Greville at the opening is a scribal substitution or misreading for Griffith. The Griffith family is documented across the registers through Daniel Griffith, joint executor of William Dufton senior (will of 7 April 1707) and witness to multiple wills. The present David Griffith may be a son or other descendant of the same Daniel Griffith line.

The Benjamin Orchard surname connects to the Orchard family of the registers, traced through Robert Orchard (will of 20 October 1682) and John Orchard (will of 11 August 1720). The Benjamin Orchard in the present will is presumably a descendant of the same Orchard line, perhaps a son or grandson of John Orchard, now established in service in England. The structure of the connection indicates that the Orchard family had members both on the island and in England, with marriage ties continuing across the working distance.

Speculations

The David Griffith will's careful insertion of the words "and my beloved Brother James Ryder my executors" by interlineation in the last paragraph, recorded by memorandum at the foot of the will, indicates a working amendment to the executor structure between the original draft and the final execution. The structure suggests that the testator had initially named fewer executors and then decided, perhaps under the influence of the brothers themselves or of independent advisers, to add James Ryder to the team. The mechanism preserves the amendment in the formal record while ensuring that the working will reflects the testator's final intentions.

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Signed Sealed & Delivered in the Pres[en]ce of [the word Charges being [first] Interlined] [...] John [Tow] Andrew Be[rque]s Vera Copia Ex[...] G[...] Powell [...]

In the Name of God Amen this 2[d] Day of Sep[t] 1728 I John Bagley Senior of S[t] Helena being Such weak in Body but of sound & perfect mind & Memory thanks be to Almighty God, & calling to mind the Mortallety of my Body. knowing it is appointed for all men once to die. do make & ordain this my last will & Testament that is to Say P[ri]ncipally & first of all I give & recommend my Soul into the hands of [...] God that gave, hoping & a[s]uredly Beliveing that at the Generall ressurection I shall receive remition of all my sin[s] thro the alone meritts of my bles[s]ed Redeemer my body I recommend to the earth. to b[u]rried in a Christian like & decent manner, & as Touching such worldly Goods wherewith it has pleased God to bles[s] me with I give devise & dispose of the same in manner & form as follows Imprimis my will & pleasure is that all my debts be fully sat[i]sfied in some [c]onvenient time, after my Decease Item I give & Bequeath unto my wel[l]beloved Wife Margarett Bagley the one third part of my whole Estate both real & Personal whom I Appoint whole & sole Executrix of this my last will During the time of her Widowhood. and to have the management of my whole Estate for the Good & benefit of her self & Children hereafter Named. but my will and Pleasure is that if in Case my Wife do Marry again that then to have her third part as above mentioned. And to Co[n]stitute & appoint my wel[l]beloved Brother in law Robert Gurling my whole & sole Executor Item. My will & pleasure is that all the rest & residue of my Estate both real & Personal be Equally Divided between my wel[l]beloved Children John. Margarett Richard Thomas Susannah Orlando Edward, & the Child or Children my Wife is now big with to be Delivered them & each of them as they do come of age or marriage. and in case of the death of any one above mentioned Children before age or Marriage. that then their part[s] or parts be equally Divided amon[g]

Closing the will of Robert Wallington of 24 April 1738, the will was signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of John Tow [...], Andrew Berques and Gabriel Powell. A note indicated that the word "Charges" had been interlined before signing. The document was attested as a true copy.

On 2 September 1728, John Bagley senior of St Helena made his will. He was sick and weak in body but in sound and perfect mind and memory. He acknowledged the mortality of his body and that every person must die once.

He commended his soul to God who had given it, hoping at the general resurrection to receive remission of all his sins through the merits of his blessed Redeemer. His body was to be committed to the earth, to be buried in a decent and Christian manner. As to the worldly goods that God had granted him, he disposed of them as follows.

He directed that all his debts should be fully satisfied in convenient time after his death.

To his beloved wife Margaret Bagley he gave one third of his entire estate, real and personal. He appointed her sole executrix of his will during her widowhood and gave her the management of the entire estate for her own benefit and that of the children. If his wife married again, she was to take her third share as already provided. In that event, he appointed his beloved brother-in-law Robert Gurling as sole executor.

The rest and residue of his estate, real and personal, was to be divided equally among his beloved children John, Margaret, Richard, Thomas, Susannah, Orlando, Edward and the unborn child his wife was then carrying. The shares were to be delivered to each child on coming of age or marrying. If any child died before age or marriage, the deceased child's portion was to be divided equally among the survivors [...]

Interpretations

The testator John Bagley senior is the eldest son of the elder Orlando Bagley senior (will of 27 November 1701), confirmed by his designation as senior and his connection to the Bagley line. He is the same John Bagley named across the registers as recipient under the Thomas Earle will of 10 November 1702, as witness to the Richard Harding will of 17 July 1706, as witness to the John Crosbey will of 26 April 1717, as executor of William Lee (will of 6 May 1727), and as father of Margaret Bagley (the residuary legatee of the Lee will). His own will, drawn at the date of execution on 2 September 1728, fixes his death after that date, with the present record perhaps representing a probate registration some years later.

The brother-in-law Robert Gurling, designated as substitute executor on the widow's remarriage, is the same Robert Gurling named across the registers as son of Mary Dixon (will of 11 July 1696), brother of the recurring administrator Richard Gurling (will of 13 May 1729), and witness or executor across multiple wills. His position as the wife's brother places the testator's marriage to Margaret Gurling within the working network of Gurling siblings, with both Robert and Richard as Margaret's brothers.

Speculations

The decision to settle the executor role on the wife during widowhood, with substitution to her brother on remarriage, reflects a working calibration of the testator's confidence in his wife's administrative capacity. The structure indicates that the testator trusted his wife to manage the estate as long as she remained a widow within the family circle, but anticipated that a new marriage would introduce outside influences that might compromise the children's interests. The mechanism converts the wife into a working interim administrator, with the brother-in-law as the working backstop if the family circumstances changed.

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Among the Survivers. But my will & Pleasure is that my Executrix Do keep & maintain Sarah the Daughter of Martha Bodley Dece[ase]d Untill age or marriage. According to the Discretion of my Executrix out of my Estate. My Executrix or Executor being already Nomi =nated for this my last will. I do utterly revoke & Disannull all form[er] will or wills by me made. ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last will & Testament John Bagley Sen[r]

Sign'd Seal't Pronounced and Declaired in the Presence of us Ex[...] V G G Powell Sec[ry] Jn[o] Hodgkinson Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen this thirteenth Day of August one thousand seven hundred & twenty nine I Dameris Nichols of the Island St Helena Maiden being very Sick & weak in Body but of sound and Perfect mind & Memory thanks be givin [unto] God for the same. and Calling to mind the Mortallity of my Body. and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye (but the time very Uncertain) do make Constitute & ordain this my last will & Testament in the manner and form following, That is to say first and principally I recommi[t] my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it. hoping through the merrits Death & Pas[s]ion of my Bles[s]ed Saviour Jesus Christ to receive full & free Pardon of all my Sins. & as for my body I commit to the earth to be Decently Inter'd at the Discretion of my Executrix here after Named. and as touching such worldly Goods & Effects wherewith it hath plea[se]d God to bles[s] and bestow upon me. I give, Devise. and bestow of the same in the following manner. & form. - Imprimis. I will, Ordain, oder and appoint that all my Part Divide[n]d or Po[r]tion. bequeathed to me by my Dece[a]sed father John Nichols (and now in the hands and Pos[s]es[s]ion of my wel[l]beloved Sister Mary Nichols) be equally Divided between my [Sr] beloved Sister Mary and Jane Nichols Itm. I Nominate Constitute & Appoint my [Sr] wel[l]beloved Sister Mary Nichols. to be whole & sole Executrix of this my last will & Testament Revoking & disannulling all other Will or Wills by me any time hereto fore made, Allowing this & no other to be my last will & Testament. in Witnes[s] thereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal Damaris Nichols. Signed Seal'd & delivered in the Presence of us. [Tho] Easthope. Simon Whaley Tho[s] Easton Ex[...] V G G Powell Sec[ry]

Bagley further directed that the share of any child dying before age or marriage be divided equally among the surviving children. He instructed his executrix to keep and maintain Sarah, daughter of the deceased Martha Bodley, until Sarah reached age or married, at her discretion and from the estate. He confirmed the executrix and executor already named, revoked all earlier wills, and declared this his final testament. Signed John Bagley senior.

Witnessed in the presence of G. Powell, secretary, John Hodgkinson and Richard Beale.

On 13 August 1729, Damaris Nichols of St Helena, a single woman, made her will. She described herself as very sick and weak in body but of sound mind, gave thanks to God, and reflected on mortality.

She commended her soul to God, expressing hope of pardon through Christ, and directed that her body be decently buried at the discretion of her executrix.

She gave her whole share or portion left to her by her deceased father John Nichols, then held by her sister Mary Nichols, to be divided equally between her sisters Mary and Jane Nichols.

She appointed her sister Mary Nichols sole executrix, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as her final testament. Witnessed by Thomas Easthope, Simon Whaley, Thomas Easton and G. Powell, secretary. Part of the attestation is unclear.

Interpretations

The Bagley will sits within a tightly bound Bagley-Gurling kinship network already extensively documented in the registers. John Bagley senior is the eldest son of Orlando Bagley senior, whose own will of 27 November 1701 distributed land and slaves across the same generation of Bagley sons. His wife Margarett is the sister of Richard Gurling senior (testator 13 May 1729, only weeks before this will) and of Robert Gurling, here named as substitute executor. The marriage tied two of the principal administrative families on the island into a single inheritance line, and the substitute executor arrangement keeps the estate within that combined network on remarriage.

The Damaris Nichols will is a direct working out of provisions made ten years earlier by her father John Nichols senior in his will of 25 August 1719. That will had explicitly placed the portions of Jane and Damaris in their elder sister Mary's hands, with Mary charged to maintain them. The present will confirms that the arrangement had operated as designed until Damaris's death and that her undivided share remained physically with Mary throughout, never having been distributed to Damaris in her lifetime. The maintenance trust established by the father thus functioned as a holding mechanism that the daughter's own will redirected on her death.

Speculations

Bagley's choice of his brother-in-law Robert Gurling rather than an adult son as substitute executor probably reflects the ages of the children. With the eldest sons still subject to the age or marriage test for receiving their shares, none could yet be trusted with the full estate. Robert Gurling was close enough to the family interest to be acceptable but stood outside the line of beneficiaries, which reduced any conflict between his executor's duty and a personal claim on the estate. The choice also continues a pattern visible across the wider Bagley-Gurling network, in which Gurling brothers move routinely between executor, witness and beneficiary roles for their Bagley in-laws.

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In the Name of God Amen. this third day of April one Thousand seven hundred and thirty two. I Anne Jane Greentree of the Island S[t] Helena spinster being very sick. & weak in Body but of Sound and Perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto Almighty God for the same, and Calling to mind the mortality of my body. and knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to die. and after that to Judgment. do make Constitute & Ordain this to be my last will & Testament in the manner [&] form following, That is to say first & princip[a]lly I recommend my [soul] into the hands of Almighty God that gave it. hoping through the Merits Death & Pas[s]ion of my bles[s]ed Saviour Jesus Christ. to receive full pardon [&] Remis[s]ion of all my Sins. and my body, I commend to the earth. to be decently Enter[r]ed at the Discretion of my Executrix here after mentioned. and as touching such worldly goods and Effects with which it hath Plea[s]ed God to bestow upon me. I give & Bequeath of the same in manner and form following Imprimis. I give & Bequeath unto my well beloved Nephew Daniel Griffith and beloved Cousin and God [s]on James [Suape] both of the said Island. to each of them one heifer to the value of about forty Shillings to be delivered within a [c]onvenient time after my decease. Item I give and Bequeath all the part Dividend or po[r]tion (that by Vertue of my dece[a]s[e]d Fathers Last will may belong to me) unto my dearly beloved Mother Elizabeth Greentree to be di[s]posed of at her Death as She shall think proper. Lastly. I do Nominate Constitute & appoint the said Elizabeth Greentree to be my whole & sole Executrix revoking and Annulling all other will or wills by me heretofore made Allowing this & no other to be my last will & Testament. in Witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the Day & year above written A Jane Greentree L. S.

Sign'd seal'd Published pronounced & declar[e]d in the Presence of Charles Heward Ex[...] G G Powel[l] Sec[ry] John Johnson Martha [F]rances

In the Name of God Amen. I Charles Sterling having been a long time very Ill. and being at present of perfect mind & memory, thinking it Nece[s]sary to appoint to whom I would give what little I have in the world. in Case of my Death. Do make this my last will & Testament in manner following. Viz[t] I give Unto my Hon[d] Father & Mother M[r] Andrew Sterling & M[rs] Elizabeth

On 3 April 1732, Anne Jane Greentree of St Helena, a single woman, made her will. She described herself as very sick and weak in body but of sound mind, gave thanks to God, and reflected on mortality and judgment.

She commended her soul to God, expressing hope of pardon through Christ, and directed that her body be decently buried at the discretion of her executrix.

She gave to her nephew Daniel Griffith and to her cousin and godson James Suape one heifer each, worth about 40s, to be delivered within a convenient time after her death.

She gave her whole share, dividend or portion under her late father's will to her mother Elizabeth Greentree, to dispose of at her own death as she thought proper.

She appointed her mother Elizabeth Greentree sole executrix, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as her final testament. Signed A. Jane Greentree under seal.

Witnessed by Charles Heward, G. Powell, secretary, John Johnson and Martha Frances. Part of the attestation is unclear.

Charles Sterling, having been ill for a long time but of sound mind, made his will to settle his small estate in case of death. He gave to his honoured father and mother Andrew Sterling and Elizabeth

Interpretations

Anne Jane Greentree is the daughter of James Greentree, free planter, whose will of 17 February 1723 named nine children, including a single daughter Jane. The reference here to a paternal portion held by her mother Elizabeth Greentree corresponds directly to the 1723 will's provision that the widow Elizabeth retain the whole estate during widowhood, with portions to be released to each child at age or marriage as the executors judged fit. Anne Jane evidently never reached marriage, and her share remained pooled in her mother's hands throughout her life, just as Damaris Nichols's portion had remained with her sister Mary.

The bequest to nephew Daniel Griffith fixes a previously unattested kinship link. Daniel Griffith, witness to Gabriel Powell's will of September 1729 and to the Mary Coles Bates will of 1733, and probable kin of the Mary Griffith of the 5 March 1737 Griffith will, is here identified as nephew of Anne Jane Greentree. The Greentree-Griffith connection therefore runs through a Greentree sister married into the Griffith line, and Daniel Griffith's recurring presence as a witness in the late registers reflects standing in both networks.

Speculations

The choice to channel the paternal portion through her mother rather than directly to her surviving Greentree siblings probably reflects the structure of the 1723 will itself. Because the father's instrument had vested management of the whole estate in Elizabeth during widowhood, with releases to children only at age or marriage, the pooled fund remained legally the mother's to administer. Anne Jane's will avoids cutting against that arrangement by leaving her own portion within the fund, in effect surrendering her individual claim back to the maternal trust rather than forcing a partial settlement that would have disrupted the management of the remaining shares.

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Elizabeth Sterling living [in] Glasgow in Scotland All. that is due to me for Wages as Surgeons Mate on board the Enfield Cap[t] Tho[s] Manley amounting to ab[t] Twenty Pounds & ten Shillings Sterling I likewise give unto them all the little matters as Cloaths &c [which] I now have at this place. being in no bodys Debt either here or in any other place. & I hereby Appoint M[r] James Sterling Profes[s]our of the Mathematicks at Wal[l]ses[?] Accademy In London to be my whole Executor of this my last will & Testament. revoking & annu =lling all other will or wills by me here to fore made In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto sett my hand seal this 27 Day of m[m]ol. 1733

Sign'd Sealed Published and Declaired to be this last will & Testament In the presence of Charles Sterling

Jn[o] Downing

Simon Whaley

In the Name of God Amen I Borlace Pyke being a little Indespos[e]d in health. but of sound & perfect mind & memory do make & ordain this my last will & Testament in manner. and form as followeth. Viz[t] Imprimi[s]. I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it. praying for pardon of all my sins & hoping for a Joyfull Re[s]urrection thro[u]g[h] merits of our Bles[s]ed Saviour Jesus Christ. who Dyed for our sins & rose again for our Justification. My body after my Decease I desire may be Inter[r]ed in a Decent but frugall way. by my Executors hereafter named. Item. I give to the Worshipfull Isaac Pyke Esq[r] my silver Inkhorn in token of [a]n Acknowledgement of all his favours Item. I give unto my worthy uncle & true friend M[r] Charles Pyke Merchant at am[s]terdam, my Fathers small Picture sett in Gold which I have here as also a large Picture of my mother with a guilt frame (painted in Italy) which is in the hands of M[r] W[m] Johnson (an[d]e A[s]s[i]stant Examiner at the Excise office in the old Jury London Item I give unto M[r] Thomas Witherson of Am[s]terdam Merchant my Tortoise shell snuff Box. with a gold or guilt Hinge in Token of a Remembrance of his services & Kindnes[s] in time of need Item I give unto M[rs] Elizabeth Johnson Daughter of M[r] W[m] Johnson (mentioned on the other side. the four other large Pictures. which are in her or her Fathers keeping. Item I give & Bequeath. after payment of my Funeral Charges & My Just Debts which will plainly appear by my books) unto the

Sterling Elizabeth Sterling, living in Glasgow in Scotland, all his wages owing as surgeon's mate on board the Enfield under Captain Thomas Manley, amounting to about £20 10s 0d sterling. He also gave them his clothes and other small effects then at St Helena, declaring that he owed nothing to anyone there or elsewhere.

He appointed James Sterling, professor of mathematics at Walles's Academy in London, sole executor, and revoked all earlier wills. Signed 27 [month unclear] 1733.

Witnessed by John Downing and Simon Whaley. The attestation is signed in the testator's own name.

Borlace Pyke, somewhat unwell but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and asked his executors to bury his body decently but frugally.

He gave to Isaac Pyke esquire his silver inkhorn, as a token of acknowledgement for past favours.

He gave to his uncle Charles Pyke, merchant at Amsterdam, his father's small portrait set in gold, then in his own possession, together with a large portrait of his mother in a gilt frame, painted in Italy, then held by William Johnson, assistant examiner at the Excise Office in the Old Jewry, London.

He gave to Thomas Witherson, merchant of Amsterdam, his tortoise-shell snuff box with a gold or gilt hinge, in remembrance of past kindness in time of need.

He gave to Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of William Johnson named above, the four other large portraits then in her or her father's keeping.

After payment of funeral charges and just debts, which would appear plainly in his account books, he gave and bequeathed

Interpretations

The Sterling will functions as a remittance instrument rather than as an estate disposition. The principal asset is unpaid wages as surgeon's mate aboard the Enfield, a sum that existed only as a Company or shipping account due to be settled in England. By naming his parents in Glasgow as beneficiaries and his kinsman James Sterling in London as sole executor, the testator created a chain by which colonial-earned wages could be drawn in the metropolis and remitted north to Scotland without any St Helena estate intervening. The will captures a tri-jurisdictional working pattern comparable to the Gaa will of March 1731 in the handover, in which St Helena, England and Ireland were linked through a London executor.

The Pyke will opens with a layered pattern of token bequests structured around portable objects of remembrance: a silver inkhorn, two parental portraits, a tortoise-shell snuff box. The objects are not valued in monetary terms but are tied to particular relationships of obligation. The silver inkhorn given to Isaac Pyke esquire as acknowledgement of past favours suggests a patronage relationship, since Isaac Pyke had served as governor of St Helena and the testator is plainly his kinsman or dependant. Charles Pyke, named as uncle and merchant at Amsterdam, fixes the testator within an Anglo-Dutch commercial family with a generational presence in northern European trade.

Speculations

The deliberate listing of portraits, snuff box and inkhorn before any account of money or productive property suggests that Borlace Pyke regarded these objects as the most legally exposed part of his estate. Movable items of value held in scattered hands at Amsterdam, London and St Helena would have been most at risk of disappearing into the possession of their physical holders unless specifically attached to named recipients. The will names each object together with its current custodian, which works as a public record of ownership that defeats any later claim of gift, sale or absorption by the holder.

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Worthy & Dearly beloved Margarett Wrangham. my Intended Wife all such sum or sums of Money. Goods & Effects. which shall remain after payment of my Debts as aforesaid together. with. all & every such sum or sums of money. Goods. Lands or Effects of what kind soever. which are or may have been given or left me by will or any other way coming or belonging to me since I came out of England. to the proper use & behoof of her. the Said Margarett Wrangham & her heirs for ever Item. I desire Nominate & appoint my Worthy frends Cap[t] John Goodwin and M[r] Francis Wrangham to be Executors of this my last will & Testament, Revoking & Annulling all other will or wills by me heretofore made In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal. in the Pres[en]ce of John Brown & Charles steward at S[t] Helena this Twenty fou[r]th Day of November in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred & thirty three

Sign'd Sealed & Delivered Borlace Pyke In the Pres[en]ce of Us John Brown Charles Steward

In the Name of God Amen This fifteenth day of August 1733 I John Worrall of the Island St Helena Plant[er] being sick & weak of body but sound & perfect mind & memory, thanks be to almighty God) Do make & Appoint this my last will & Testament. & first. I give. and recommend my soul to Almighty God my Creator, & my body I commit to the earth to be Buried in Christian like & Decent manner. at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named & as touching such worldly Goods wherewith it hath Pleased God to bles[s] me with. I give devise & Dispose of the same in manner & form as follows. Imprimis. My Desire is that all my Debts & Funeral Charges be fully satisfied is some [c]onvenient time after my decease Item I give & Bequeath unto my Wel[l]beloved Wife the one half of my Real Estate During her Naturall life. and also a third part of the Personal Estate. Item All the rest of my Estate both real & Personal. I give & Bequeath unto my beloved Children & two sons in Law. Namely Joshua. William. Margarett. Mary. John. Eleanor. Robert Gurling & Solomon Pawling to be Equally Divided among them. to be Delivered them as they shall arrive at full age or marriage as likewise that part of real Estate Pos[s]es[s]ed by my wife at her Decease to be Equally divided as above said but my Desire is that my two sons Joshua. & William shall have the Prefere[nce]

Pyke gave the residue of his estate, after debts and funeral charges, to his intended wife Margarett Wrangham. He extended the bequest to cover every sum, parcel of goods, land or effects of any kind that had been given or left to him by will or otherwise since he came out of England, all to her and her heirs for ever.

He appointed his friends Captain John Goodwin and Francis Wrangham as executors, and revoked all earlier wills. Signed Borlace Pyke at St Helena on 24 November 1733.

Witnessed by John Brown and Charles Steward.

On 15 August 1733, John Worrall, planter of St Helena, made his will. He described himself as sick and weak in body but of sound mind, gave thanks to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He ordered that all his debts and funeral charges be paid within a convenient time after his death.

He gave his wife half of his real estate during her natural life and a third part of his personal estate.

He gave the residue of his real and personal estate to his children and two sons-in-law, namely Joshua, William, Margarett, Mary, John, Eleanor, Robert Gurling and Solomon Pawling, to be divided equally among them and delivered as they reached full age or marriage. The half of the real estate held by his wife during her life was to be divided in the same way at her death.

His sons Joshua and William were to have first preference

Interpretations

The Pyke will completes the merchant-portraiture instrument begun on the previous page by collapsing all metropolitan and colonial residues into a single life-interest disposition in favour of his intended wife Margarett Wrangham. The phrasing extends her interest to any sums or property given or left him since he came out of England, which is a forward-looking sweep clause designed to capture inheritances that might fall in after the will was sealed. It functions both as a present bequest and as a standing claim on any future succession to which he was entitled.

The Worrall will identifies one of the two sons-in-law as Robert Gurling, who is the same Robert Gurling appearing as substitute executor in the Bagley will of September 1728 and as recurring administrator across the registers from at least 1696. The marriage of a Worrall daughter to Robert Gurling extends the Gurling kinship reach into a further planter family, supplementing the existing Bagley, Steward, Crosby and Leech ties already documented. The second son-in-law Solomon Pawling has not previously been identified in the registers as a married man.

Speculations

The forward-looking sweep clause in Pyke's residue bequest probably reflects an awareness that the portraits, snuff box and other metropolitan effects listed on the previous page were not the limit of his potential inheritance. The Pyke family's commercial reach across London and Amsterdam, together with Isaac Pyke's standing as a former governor, would have made future legacies plausible. By extending the wife's interest to anything given or left him since he came out of England, the testator pre-emptively prevented his Pyke kin from later reclaiming property as a Pyke family asset on the ground that it had reached him as a family settlement rather than as personal wealth.

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Preferance of Purchasing my real Estate. Paying the other Children their proper parts by Valuation of two indifferent Men & likewise to keep & maintain. the Children. Untill they shall come to full age or marriage But if my wife is willing tis my desire. that the whole Estate be kept together for the good & Benefit of her [and] Children. & at the Decease of my wife I give the Prefer[a]nce. of ten Acres of Land with my Dwelling house Whereon it standeth. & one Acre & half in deep Valley Under a Water fall known by the name of Simons Wat[er]fall Unto my son Joshua. & seven Acres of Free Land in deep Valley to the Refu[s]al of my son William & the remainder of Lands Equally divided between them two sons paying the other Children their parts as above said Lastly I Nominate & appoint My trusty friends Cap[t] John Goodwin. M[r] John Pawling & M[r] Robert Gurling Executors of this my will. Revoking & Disannulling all former will or wills by me made. Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last will & Testament Sign'd Seal'd publis[h]d John Worrall Sener and Declar'd as his last will in the Pres[en]ce of Us Sam[e]l Jes[s]ey Richard Beale

7th Oct[r] 1735

Cap[t] Goodwin one of the Executors of M[r] Worralls will being prese[nt] when the will was read desired to be Excused from the trouble of the Executorship & that he might have leave wholly to renounce the same which was accordin[g]ly granted & M[r] Robert Gurling & M[r] John Pawling the other two Executors named in the Said will being willing to undertake the Charge they were admitted to the Adminis[tr] ation Signed by the Order of the Governour & Council [...] G G Powel[l] Sec[ry]

In the Name of God Amen This twentieth day of July 1733 I John Knipe Sen[r] being sick & Weak of body but of sound & perfect mind & memory thanks be to Almight[y] God) do make Constitute & Ordain this my last will & Testament that is to say Principally & first of all I give & recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God my body to the earth to be Buried in a Christian like & decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named. and as Touching such worldly goods wherewith it hath Plea[s]ed God to bles[s] me with I give devise & Dispose. of the same in manner & form as followeth Imprimis

Worrall directed that Joshua and William have first preference in purchasing the real estate, paying the other children their proper shares by valuation by two indifferent men, and were also to keep and maintain the children until age or marriage. If his wife was willing, his preference was that the whole estate be kept together for her benefit and that of the children.

At his wife's death, Joshua was to have first preference of 10 acres with the dwelling house standing on them, together with 1½ acres in Deep Valley under a waterfall known as Simons Waterfall. William was to have first refusal of 7 acres of free land in Deep Valley. The remaining lands were to be divided equally between the two sons, paying the other children their shares as above.

He appointed his friends Captain John Goodwin, John Pawling and Robert Gurling executors, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed John Worrall senior.

Witnessed by Samuel Jessey and Richard Beale.

On 7 October 1735, when the will was read, Captain Goodwin asked to be excused and to renounce the executorship, which was granted. Robert Gurling and John Pawling, the other two executors, agreed to undertake the office and were admitted to the administration. Recorded by order of the Governor and Council, G. Powell, secretary. Part of the entry is unclear.

On 20 July 1733, John Knipe senior, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

Interpretations

Worrall's right-of-first-refusal mechanism follows the cascading-buy-out pattern already established in the registers by Samuel Desfontaines in 1707, narrowed by Richard Swallow in 1718 to a single son, and now opened again to two sons in parallel. Each named son receives a specific parcel at preference, with the remainder divided between them; the rest of the children are compensated in cash by valuation by two indifferent men. The valuation device shifts the burden of pricing the estate off the executors and on to a neutral pair of appraisers, which insulates the family from accusations of self-dealing at partition.

Captain John Goodwin's renunciation of the executorship, recorded as a separate administrative act of the Governor and Council two years after the will was made, illustrates the working procedure for adjusting executor teams after death. The renunciation was not a private matter between Goodwin and the family but was processed through the council, with formal admission of the remaining two executors. The administrative entry runs in the secretary's name, G. Powell, the same Gabriel Powell who had attested the Bagley and Nichols wills of 1728 and 1729 and whose own will was registered in September 1729; the entry of October 1735 shows that the secretarial role continued in his name after the principal Powell's death, presumably through a son or successor of the same designation.

Speculations

Goodwin's renunciation of the Worrall executorship in October 1735 probably reflects his accumulated administrative load by that date rather than any dispute over the estate. He was already executor or trustee under the Coulson 1727, Hodgkinson 1728, Gaa 1731 and Pyke 1733 wills, and creditor under several others. A planter estate with eight beneficiaries and a complex cascading land partition would have required sustained working attendance that Goodwin's senior position no longer left him free to give. The fact that his exit was managed formally through the council, rather than left to lapse in practice, indicates that the family wanted the substitution properly recorded for the benefit of the surviving administrators.

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Imprimis. My desire is that all my Debts & Funeral Charge be fully satisfied in some Convenient time after my decease Item all the rest & residue of my Estate. in what kind soever both Real & Personal I give & Bequeath unto my well beloved Children to be Equally divided among them that is to John. William. James. Isaac. Mary & Ruth. but my desire is that my Executors do keep my whole Estate (that is left) together for the good and Benefit of my Children if can Conveniently & that each Child not to take out their part or parts Untill my Youngest Child Ruth do attain to sixteen Years or Marriage. Item. I constitute & appoint my Loving friends. Isaac Wood. John Pawling & John Desfountain Executors of this my last will. Revoking & Disannulling all former wills by me made. Ratifying and Confirming this & no other. to be my last will and Testament

Sign'd Seal'd pronounced & Declar'd Jn[o] Knipe in the Pres[en]ce of Us John Twaits Thomas Bazett Richard Beale

[*] & Administration is to be granted

to them with the will Annexed

The Governour is of Opinion [y]e third Clause of this Will is contrary to Law that the Children cannot be obliged to Stay Untill the Younge[r] Sister is of the age of 16 Years & whereas it Appears by the Inventory that there is very little if any Difference between the Amount of the personal Estate & the Debts Oweing by the Deceased & so when those Debts are payed there will be nothing to be Divided & therefore the Gentlemen who are named Executors are appointed to be Administrators [*] without any regard to this paper tho[u]g[h] it be called John Knipes will. but the Administration shall go here. with a Coppy of this will Annexed & John Knipe wel[l]ies[t] son Agreeing to Confirm this will as far as relates to himself all is referred to him & the Administrators the Children being all taken Care of by the several Relations

In the Name of God Amen. this twenty first day of July in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & thirty three I Edmond Nichols of the Island S[t] Helena Free Holder. being sick & weak in body but of sound & Dispoeing mind and memory. thanks be given to God for the same do for avoiding [c]ontroversies after my Decease) make publish & Declare this my last will & Testament in manner

Knipe ordered that all his debts and funeral charges be paid within a convenient time after his death.

He gave the residue of his estate, real and personal, to his children John, William, James, Isaac, Mary and Ruth, to be divided equally among them. His desire was that the executors keep the whole estate together for the children's benefit if convenient, and that no child take a share until his youngest child Ruth reached 16 years or married.

He appointed his friends Isaac Wood, John Pawling and John Desfountain executors, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed John Knipe.

Witnessed by John Thwaits, Thomas Bazett and Richard Beale. Administration was granted to the executors with the will annexed.

The Governor was of opinion that the third clause was contrary to law, since the children could not be obliged to wait until the youngest sister reached 16. The inventory showed that the personal estate and the debts owed by the deceased were almost equal, so that nothing would remain for division after the debts were paid. The executors named in the will were therefore appointed administrators without regard to the paper called John Knipe's will, and the administration was to proceed with a copy of the will annexed. John Knipe, the eldest son, agreed to confirm the will so far as it related to himself; the rest of the matter was referred to him and to the administrators, the children being all taken care of by their relations.

On 21 July 1733, Edmond Nichols of St Helena, a freeholder, made his will. He described himself as sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind, gave thanks to God, and stated that the will was made to avoid disputes after his death.

Interpretations

The Governor's intervention in the Knipe will is the most explicit statement in the registers of the limit of testamentary freedom under island authority. By holding that the children could not be obliged to wait until the youngest reached 16, the Governor cut down a deferred-partition clause of the kind commonly used in the registers to keep estates working as units during minority. The Worrall will of August 1733, only a few weeks earlier, contained an almost identical mechanism, conditional on the widow's willingness, and was admitted to probate without difficulty. The difference here is the executors' lack of a widow to act as resident manager, which would have left the children waiting under the administration of friends rather than family for an indefinite period.

The reference to Edmond Nichols as a freeholder, rather than as a planter, marks an institutional distinction between two grades of landholder on the island. Freeholder status indicated possession of land granted by the Company in fee rather than held on lease, and carried the right of voting and other administrative privileges. Edmond Nichols is the same Edmond Nichols who appears as a witness to Gabriel Powell's will of September 1729 in the handover, where his recurring presence among the late Powell administrative cadre suggests a senior position within the Nichols kin group. His will is dated only weeks before Anne Jane Greentree's mother Elizabeth would have been considering her own dispositions, and falls within the same cluster of summer 1733 wills as Worrall and Knipe.

Speculations

The Governor's intervention in the Knipe will probably reflects a working concern about creditor pressure. With personal estate barely exceeding debts, any deferral of partition would have postponed payment of the creditors as well as the children's portions, since the executors could not lawfully distribute before creditors were satisfied. By converting the will into an administration, the Governor cleared the way for the executors to liquidate quickly enough to pay debts before they accumulated further interest or costs. The named executors retained office in substance, but their authority now ran from the council rather than from the deceased.

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following (that is to say) First I recommend my Soul to God that gave it. & my body I commit[t] the earth, and as for and concerning my Worldly Estate (after my Debts and Funeral Charges are fully paid & satisfied. I give. Bequeath and dispose thereof as followeth. Imprimis. I give & Bequeath unto my Dearly beloved Wife Elizabeth. the third part of my Personal Estate as likewise. all my Hou[se]hold Linnen of what kind or sort soever to be Quietly enjoyed by her and her hirs forever and the half of my real Estate During her Naturall Life and then to Decend to my beloved Children. hereafter mentioned Item. I give & Bequeath unto my wel[l]beloved Children. (Viz[t]) John. & George Nichols the remaining part of my Personal together with the other half of my real Estate to be Equally Divided between them at the time of age or marriage. but with this Exception that Jn[o] Nichols my Eldest son have the refusal of all that pieece or Parcel of Freehold Land now Lying & being in a place called Shomstone wood. and that my other son George have a Part in Lease land Equivolen[t]. thereunto Item. In cas[e] of the Death of my Said Children. before they arrive to full Age. or Marriage. then do I give unto my beloved Wife the half of all my Estate both real & Personal to be freely & absolutely at her dispos[a]l at time of her Decease. and the other half to be Equally divided among my beloved Sisters (Viz[t]) Mary Nichols. Jane Nichols & Sarah. Knight. but if it should so happen that she the Said Sarah Knight die without Is[s]ue. then do I order that her share or Dividend revert to the survivour or Survivours of my aforesaid Sisters. Lastly. I Nominate & Appoint my beloved Trusty friend Richard Goodwin Executor & my beloved Wife Elizabeth Nichols Executrix of this my last will & Testament hereby revoking all former. and other wills & Testaments by me at any time heretofore made ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last will & Testament In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set[t] my hand and seal. the Day & year above written.

Sign'd Sealed & Delivered Edmund Nichols in the Presence of Step[hen] Lufkin Sen[r] Robert Gurling Daniell Griffith

Nichols recommended his soul to God and commended his body to the earth. After payment of debts and funeral charges, he disposed of his estate as follows.

He gave his wife Elizabeth one third of his personal estate and all his household linen of every kind, to her and her heirs for ever. She was also to have half of his real estate during her natural life, which would then descend to the children named below.

He gave his sons John and George Nichols the remaining two thirds of the personal estate and the other half of the real estate, to be divided equally between them at age or marriage. John, the eldest son, was to have first refusal of the freehold parcel known as Shomstone Wood. George was to have an equivalent share in leased land in compensation.

If both sons died before age or marriage, the wife was to receive half of the whole estate, real and personal, to dispose of freely at her death. The other half was to be divided equally among his sisters Mary Nichols, Jane Nichols and Sarah Knight. If Sarah Knight died without issue, her share was to pass to the surviving sister or sisters.

He appointed Richard Goodwin executor and his wife Elizabeth Nichols executrix, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his final testament.

Signed Edmund Nichols, in the presence of Stephen Lufkin senior, Robert Gurling and Daniel Griffith.

Interpretations

The Edmund Nichols will places the testator firmly within the Nichols family already extensively documented through the will of John Nichols senior of 25 August 1719 and the will of Damaris Nichols of 13 August 1729. The three sisters named here as contingent beneficiaries, Mary Nichols, Jane Nichols and Sarah Knight, correspond directly to three of the six children named in the 1719 paternal will: Mary, Jane and Sarah. Edmund Nichols is therefore the same Edmond Nichols recorded as witness to Gabriel Powell's will of September 1729, now identifiable as a fourth Nichols sibling of that generation, with Sarah having married into the Knight family in the intervening period. The two unnamed brothers of the 1719 will, Robert and the eldest son John, do not feature in the contingent reversion, which suggests they had received their portions outright in the earlier disposition or had died before 1733.

The witnessing team places the will firmly within the Bagley-Gurling administrative network. Robert Gurling, witness here, is the same Robert Gurling appearing as substitute executor in the Bagley will of September 1728, son-in-law of John Worrall in the August 1733 will, and recurring administrator across the registers. Daniel Griffith, witness to Gabriel Powell's will of September 1729 and named as nephew of Anne Jane Greentree in the April 1732 will, here completes a witnessing pattern in which the principal late-1730s administrative figures recur in combination.

Speculations

The decision to give the wife a separate outright interest in half the estate if both sons died, alongside the half reverting to the sisters, probably reflects a working calculation about the wife's likely remarriage. Had the wife received only a life interest in the whole, her remarriage would have introduced a second husband into the management of the property without giving her independent capacity to dispose of any of it. By vesting half in her absolutely on the failure of issue, Edmund Nichols ensured she could either retain it as a separate fund within a second marriage, or settle it at her own death, without compelling her to consult the Nichols sisters or their successors.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Samuel Jes[s]ey of the Island S[t] Helena Planter being Sick & weak of body but of soun[d] & perfect Mind. & Memory do make & ordain this my last will and Testament. in manner & form following that is to say. my soul I Recommend to the Mercy of Almighty God. & my Body to the Earth. to be decently buried. & as touching such worldly Goods with which it hath pleased God to bles[s] me with. I give bequeath & dispose thereof as followeth. Imprimis. I will that my Debts & funeral Charges be fully paid & Satisfied Item. I desire within three months after my decease all my Lands both Freehold & Leasehold may be Valued by Executors hereafter Named or by such other person or persons as they or the major part of them shall chouse or appoint & that in Case my son John Shall be willing to take the said land at such Valuation. I will that the same Shall be Pos[s]es[s]ed & Enjoyed by him & his heirs lawfully begotten paying each of his Sisters who are four Viz[t] Mary the Wife of W[m] Burnham Elizabeth Sarah & Margarett Jes[s]ey each of them one fifth part of such Valuation as they each & Severally attain to the age of twenty one Years or Marriage & that he Shall also keep & maintain with Sufficient food Rayment & Lodging there of his said Sisters Viz[t] Elizabeth Sarah & Margaret untill they shall each of them attain to the age of twenty one Years or Marriage. in Consideration whereof all the Benefit & Advantages of all my Estate both Real & Personal except as is hereafter otherwise Disposed of by me Shall be & remain to him & his heirs lawfully begotten untill they & each of them Shall attain to the age of twenty one years or marriage as aforesaid But in Case my Said Son John Should desire or refuse to accept or hold the Said freehold & Leasehold Estate at the valuat[ion] & Upon the terms & Conditions above mentioned then I will that my Daughter Mary the Wife of William Burnham may have her Choi[ce] or Option whether she will keep or hold the Said Estate upon the terms & Conditions before expres[s]ed & in case of her refusal I desire that each of my other Daughters accordingly to their Seniority may each of them have the like Choise. & Refusal & in Case they should all refuse to keep & hold the same upon the Conditions as aforesaid I then desire my Executors to expose all the said Land both freehold & Leasehold together with all others of my Estate of what kind or Sort soever except what is herein otherwise given & bequeathed by me to sale at publick outcry as soon after my decease as Conveniently may be done. & that the same be equally divided amongst my Said beloved Children the Freehold Land containing twenty Acres & the Leasehold twelve acre[s] & half Item

Samuel Jessey, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth, to be decently buried. He ordered that all his debts and funeral charges be paid.

Within three months of his death, his lands, freehold and leasehold, were to be valued by his executors or by other persons whom they, or a majority of them, should appoint.

If his son John was willing to take the lands at the valuation, John was to hold them and pass them to his lawfully begotten heirs, on condition of paying each of his four sisters one fifth of the valuation as they reached 21 or married. The four sisters were Mary, wife of William Burnham, Elizabeth, Sarah and Margarett Jessey. John was also to keep and maintain Elizabeth, Sarah and Margarett with sufficient food, clothing and lodging until each reached 21 or married. In return, John was to have the benefit and advantages of the whole estate, real and personal, except as otherwise disposed by the will, until his sisters reached those ages or married.

If John refused, Mary, wife of William Burnham, was to have first choice on the same terms. If she refused, each of the other daughters in order of seniority was to have a like option. If all refused, the executors were to sell the lands at public outcry as soon as conveniently possible after his death, together with the rest of the estate not otherwise disposed of, and the proceeds were to be divided equally among his children. The freehold contained 20 acres and the leasehold 12½ acres.

Interpretations

The Jessey will sets out the most elaborate working version in the registers of the cascading right-of-first-refusal mechanism, with the option passing in defined order from son to married daughter to unmarried daughters in order of seniority before any external sale could occur. The same device appears in narrower form in the Desfontaines 1707, Swallow 1718, Greentree 1723 and Worrall 1733 wills, but Jessey extends it to a five-tier cascade that exhausts the entire sibling group before resorting to public outcry. The mechanism kept the freehold land within the family on the most generous terms its members were willing to accept, while ensuring that no single sibling could block the others' right to liquidate if none would take it.

Samuel Jessey is the same Samuel Jessey appearing as witness to the John Worrall will of August 1733, only weeks earlier. His own will therefore comes from within the same cluster of summer-and-autumn 1733 testamentary activity that also produced the Knipe and Edmund Nichols wills, with several of the same administrative figures in attendance.

Speculations

The unusually elaborate cascade probably reflects Jessey's uncertainty about which of his children would prove willing or able to take the estate. With one son and four daughters, of whom only the eldest daughter had married, he could not predict which sibling would be in a position to operate the lands at his death. By providing a full queue of options, he insured the family against the contingency that the obvious candidate, the son John, might refuse or be unsuitable, without forcing the matter to a public sale that would have stripped the family of the working unit.

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Item. I desire that my Dwelling house. at the Fort & one black Wench named Nanney may be sold by my Executors to the best bider at such time as they shall think proper. Item. I give to my son John all my wearing apparal & also one pair of Gold Sleave Buttons. Item. I give unto my Grand Daughter. Mary Burnham one black boy Named Frank & in case of her Death before age or Marriage I desire the Value of the said boy may be Equally divided between my Grand Children Samuel & Elizabeth Burnham. Item. I give to my Daughter Elizabeth one Gold ring. Item. I give to my Daughter Sarah one black boy called Stephen & to my Daughter Margarett a black Girl named Grace. & one Gold Ring with a stone in it. Item. I give & my meaning & Desire is that my dwelling house in the Country shall go with & belong to such of my Children as shall Chouse the Freehold & Leasehold Land upon the Conditions beforementioned Item. All the rest of my Estate not hereby otherwise given or Bequeathe[d] I give & Bequeath unto my beforementioned five Children to be Equally Divided among them but to remain in the Custody. or keeping of such my Children as shall Chouse the Land as aforesaid untill they shall severally attain to the age of twenty one years or Marriage. & then to be delivered to them. & in Case either of them should Die before their age. Marriage. I Desire that his or there part or portion may be Equally divided among the Survivours. Lastly I hereby Nominate & Appoint my aforesaid son John & my Good friends Mes[sr]s. John Bazett & John Desfountain Executors of this my last will & Testament Revoking & Making Voi[d] all other & former will or wills by me heretofore made. In Witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto sett my hand & Seale this 15 Day of March. in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred & thirty three.

Sign'd Seal'd Published & Declar'd Sam[e]l Jes[s]ey as the last will & Testament of Sam[e]l Jes[s]ey in presence of Us Isaac Leech William Seale Jun[r] [Y]ea[r]se

Jessey directed that his dwelling house at the fort and a black woman named Nanney be sold by his executors to the best bidder at such time as they thought proper.

He gave his son John all his wearing apparel and a pair of gold sleeve buttons.

He gave his granddaughter Mary Burnham a black boy named Frank. If she died before age or marriage, the value of the boy was to be divided equally between his grandchildren Samuel and Elizabeth Burnham.

He gave his daughter Elizabeth one gold ring.

He gave his daughter Sarah a black boy called Stephen.

He gave his daughter Margarett a black girl named Grace and a gold ring set with a stone.

His country dwelling house was to go with the freehold and leasehold land, to whichever of his children chose to take the land on the conditions already set out.

The residue of his estate, not otherwise disposed of, was to be divided equally among his five children. It was to remain in the custody of whichever child took the land until the others reached 21 or married, and was then to be delivered to them. If any of them died before age or marriage, that share was to be divided equally among the survivors.

He appointed his son John and his friends John Bazett and John Desfountain executors, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed Samuel Jessey, 15 March 1734.

Witnessed by Isaac Leech and William Seale junior.

Interpretations

The disposition of the fort dwelling house is structurally distinct from the country dwelling. The fort house, together with the slave Nanney, is to be sold outright by the executors, while the country house is bound to the cascading land election and passes to whichever child accepts the freehold and leasehold under the buy-out terms. The split treats the two residences as different categories of asset: the fort house as liquid capital to be converted into cash for partition, and the country house as the working residence of the agricultural unit that must remain with whoever operates the land. The arrangement preserves the integrity of the rural working estate while liberating the urban property for general distribution.

The named slave-substitution clause for Frank, providing that his cash value be divided between two named grandchildren if Mary Burnham died before age or marriage, treats the enslaved person as an asset valued in money rather than as a person to be redirected. The mechanism converts the slave into a cash equivalent on the contingency of the original beneficiary's death, which is comparable to the slave-death compensation clause in Henry Coales's will of 1700 in the handover, where the death of an enslaved person before delivery converted the legacy into a sum of 25 pounds. The two mechanisms together show how the registers handled the conversion between human property and monetary value in both directions.

Speculations

The placement of the fort dwelling at the head of the specific bequests, before the disposition of slaves and family rings, probably reflects the executors' need to raise immediate cash for the operation of the will. By directing a sale at the best bid, Jessey ensured that liquid funds would be available to begin paying the daughters' fifths as they reached age or married, rather than relying on the operating child to find cash from the working estate. The fort house and Nanney together would have constituted the most readily disposable assets, and selling them first would have prevented the working child from being immediately burdened with cash payments before the estate had begun to generate income.

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In the Name of God Amen this eighth day of March in the Year of our Lord & God. one Thousand seven & thirty three four. I Ann [S]laughter of the Island S[t] Helena being Very sick. & Weak. in Body. but of sound & Dispo[s]ing mind & memory thanks be Given unto God for the same, do for avoiding [c]ontroversies after my decease. make publish & Declare this my last will & Testament. That is to Say first & Principally I recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it & my Body I committ to the Earth to be Decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter Named. & as Touching all my worldly Estate. (after my Debts & funeral Charges are fully paid & Satisfied) I Give. Devise. & Bequeath the same in manner & form follow[ing] Imprimis I give & Bequeath unto my beloved son in Law. Tho[s] Harper one Woman slave named Jenny as also one Large feather Bed with all The furniture & Apertenance thereunto belonging. Item I give & Bequeath unto my Wellbeloved Daughter Mary Slaughter all that Debt or money that is at this time due or Owing to me from Orlando Bagley Sen[r] as also one Midling fur Chest. together with all my wearing apparel Item. I give unto my beloved son James Harding one Large fur Chest. as Likewise one feather bed. that he the said James Harding has now in his Pos[s]es[s]ion. Item. Unto my beloved son Joseph Harding I Give & Bequeath the Remaining part of my Houshold Goods of what nature kind or sort soever. Lastly. I Nominate Constitute & Appoint my said beloved son in Law Thomas Harper my Whole & Sole Executor of this my Last will & Testament Revoking & Annulling all other wills or Testaments by me at any time heretofore made allowing & Confirming this & no other to be my last will & Testament in Witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand the Day & year above Written.

Sign'd Published & Declared [The] Ann. Mark of by the said Ann Slaughter as her [⫶] last will & Testament in the Slaughter Presence of Stephen Lufkin Robert Gurling D[. Griff]ith

On 8 March 1734, Ann Slaughter of St Helena, very sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind, made her will. She gave thanks to God, and stated that the will was made to avoid disputes after her death. She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be decently buried at the discretion of her executor, after payment of debts and funeral charges.

She gave her son-in-law Thomas Harper a woman slave named Jenny, together with a large feather bed and all its furniture and appurtenances.

She gave her daughter Mary Slaughter the debt then owing to her by Orlando Bagley senior, a middling fur chest and all her wearing apparel.

She gave her son James Harding a large fur chest and a feather bed already in his possession.

She gave her son Joseph Harding the remainder of her household goods.

She appointed her son-in-law Thomas Harper sole executor, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as her final testament. Signed by mark by Ann Slaughter.

Witnessed by Stephen Lufkin, Robert Gurling and Daniel Griffith.

Interpretations

Ann Slaughter is the same Ann Slaughter named as mother of the testator in the John Harding will of 1727 in the handover, and as the figure to whom John Harding directed conditional maintenance if she fell into poverty. The present will fixes her as the widow of the elder Richard Harding (testator 1706) who had remarried into the Slaughter family, taking the Slaughter surname. The two named sons James and Joseph Harding are her sons by Richard Harding, and are the same James and Joseph Harding named as siblings in the John Harding 1727 and Richard Harding 1727 wills in the handover. The will therefore closes a family arc that runs from her first husband's death in 1706, through the deaths of two of her Harding sons in 1727, to her own death in 1734.

Daughter Mary Slaughter, named here, is the only child of the second marriage to a Slaughter who appears in the registers. Her bequest of the debt due from Orlando Bagley senior is institutionally significant. Orlando Bagley senior was the principal Bagley patriarch of the earlier registers (will of 1701), and his continuing indebtedness to Ann Slaughter in 1734 either indicates a long-standing personal loan running across decades, or, more probably, refers to Orlando Bagley junior, who was Orlando senior's son and is identified across the later registers as the surviving Bagley brother active in the 1720s and 1730s. The handover notes that Orlando Bagley junior continued the Bagley presence after the deaths of Edward Bagley (1706) and Thomas Bagley (1711), and the debt named here probably runs to him under the senior designation now that the elder Orlando is long dead.

Speculations

The decision to give the slave Jenny and the principal feather bed to son-in-law Thomas Harper, rather than to either of the natural sons James or Joseph Harding, probably reflects the practical arrangements of Ann Slaughter's household in her last years. As son-in-law and named executor, Harper appears to have been the family member most directly responsible for her care, and the most substantial bequest passes to him rather than to her own sons. The arrangement compensates Harper for the working maintenance he had probably been providing, while the two natural sons receive the chest and bed that were already in their possession or that recognised their position in the family hierarchy.

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In the Name of God Amen. This fourteenth day of August in the Year of our Lord God one Thousand seven hundred & thirty three. I John Young of the Island S[t] Helena Planter being sick & Weak of Body but of sound & Perfect mind & Memory (thanks to Almighty God) do make & ordain. this my last will & Testament. & first of all I give & recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God. hoping & believeing that at the Generall ras[u]rrection. I shall Receive pardon for all my sins thro the Merritts of my bles[s]ed Redeemer Jesus Christ. My Body to the Earth. to be Buried in a Christian like & Dec[e]nt manner. at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named. & as touching such Worldly Goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bles[s] me with I give devise & Dispose of the same in manner & form as followeth. Imprimis. My Desire is that all my Debts & funeral Charges be fully paid & Satisfied is some Convenient time after my decease. Item. before any Dividend is made in my Personal Estate. that my Execu[tors] do set apart Thirty pounds in Cash for the Benefit of putting & binding my well beloved son John to some proper mariner or to the [s]ondering[?] to the East Indies as they shall see most proper. And likewise to set apart fifteen pounds Cash for my wellbelov[e]d Daughter Mary to Delivered at age or marriage but not to be Reconi[c]e in her part or fortune. which sum I do Desire my Executors would Let at Interest. taking Good security. for the Benefit of the my said Daughter & to Delivered as aforesaid likewise the thirty pounds not to be reckoned in my son John's part or fortune. Item. I give & Bequeath unto my wellbeloved Wife a third part of my real Estate during her Naturall life And also a third part of the residue of my Personal Estate. Item I give to my father in Law Stephen Lufkin a Suit of Mourning Item. I give & bequeath unto my wellbeloved Children namely John William, Stephen, Mary, & George. an Infant Unbeptized all the rest & Residue of my Estate both real & Personal to be Equally Divided among them as they shall attain to full age or marriage which shall first happen but as my intent is that my son John Shall use the Sea & not Sett[le] him on this Island therefore desire my Executors would Raise his part in Money & I do give the Preferance & Refusal of my real Estate unto my son William. Paying the other Children. there proper parts at Valuation by two Indifferent Men: & if he declones the Purchase. then this Preference to Decind to the Next Child & so on, & in Case of the Death of any my Children before age or marriage. then their part or parts to be Equally Divided among the Survivours. as likewise that part of real Estate Pos[s]es[s]ed by my wife at her Decease. to be Equally Divided

On 14 August 1733, John Young of St Helena, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God in hope of resurrection through Christ, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He ordered that all his debts and funeral charges be paid within a convenient time after his death.

Before any division of his personal estate, the executors were to set apart £30 in cash for binding his son John to a proper mariner, or to send him on a voyage to the East Indies, as they thought most proper. They were also to set apart £15 in cash for his daughter Mary, to be delivered at age or marriage, and not to be reckoned as part of her share. The £15 was to be put out at interest on good security for her benefit until delivery. The £30 was likewise not to be reckoned as part of John's share.

He gave his wife one third of his real estate during her natural life and one third of the residue of his personal estate.

He gave his father-in-law Stephen Lufkin a suit of mourning.

He gave the residue of his estate, real and personal, to his children John, William, Stephen, Mary and George, an unbaptised infant, to be divided equally as each reached full age or marriage, whichever came first. As he intended John to go to sea rather than settle on the island, the executors were to raise John's share in money.

His son William was to have first refusal of the real estate, paying the other children their proper shares at valuation by two indifferent men. If William declined, the preference was to pass to the next child, and so on. If any child died before age or marriage, that share was to be divided equally among the survivors. The half of the real estate held by his wife during her life was to be divided in the same way at her death.

Interpretations

The Young will sets out the most explicit working scheme in the registers for separating a son from the island's inheritance system altogether. By directing that John's share be raised in money and that £30 be set apart in advance to bind him to a mariner or to send him to the East Indies, the testator effectively converted the eldest son's portion into a maritime career endowment rather than a land-based inheritance. The mechanism removes John from the cascade of refusal that would otherwise have passed to him as eldest son, and lets the right of first refusal of the real estate pass directly to William, the second son. The arrangement preserves the working estate intact in the hands of a resident sibling while equipping the eldest for a non-resident career.

The naming of Stephen Lufkin as father-in-law identifies John Young as the husband of a Lufkin daughter. Stephen Lufkin senior appears across the registers as a witness, including to the John Nichols senior will of 1719, the Edmund Nichols will of 1733 and the Ann Slaughter will of 1734 in the present sequence. The Lufkin-Young marriage extends the Lufkin family network into the Young household, and the mourning suit bequest, modest in itself, fixes the kinship for the record.

Speculations

The decision to convert the eldest son's inheritance into a maritime career, rather than allow him to take the freehold by right of seniority, probably reflects a working assessment of John's temperament or aspirations rather than any deficiency in the estate. The £30 set-aside is generous enough to indicate an intentional career investment, not a token settlement. The arrangement suggests that John had himself expressed a preference for the sea, or that his father had concluded that the working estate could not support two adult brothers as planters. By formalising the maritime track in the will, the testator prevented any later challenge by John to William's land inheritance on the ground that he had not consented to the substitution.

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Among my Surviving Children. the same Advantage of Purchasing as above said Item. My Desire is that my Estate. be kept together, if my wife be willing for the use & Benefit of her & my Children while she remains Unmarried & in Case she marries that then [her] Executive power to Cease & my Desire is that if my Executors have an opportunity, they do let at Interest what sum or sums of Money they shal[l] at any time have in their hands taking good Security for the same. for the Good & Benift of my Children. & my Desire is that my Executors do dispose of what ever moveables they shall think not proper to be kept. at Auction & then to make an Inventory Lastly I Nominate & Appoint my Trusty friends. M[r] Stephen Lufkin (my Father in Law). M[r] John Bazett and my wellbeloved Wife Executors & Trustees of this my last will. Revoking & Disannulling all former will or wills by me made. Acknowledgeing this & no other to be my last will & Testament

Sign'd Seal't pronounced and John Young Declaired as his last will in the Presence of Us Jn[o] Hodgkinson James Powell Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen. this thirty first day of December in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred & thirty four. I Martha Frances Spinster of the Island S[t] Helena being very sick. & weak in Body. but of Sound perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto Almighty God. for the same & Calling to mind the Mortality of my Body & knowing that it is Appointed for all men once to die. Do make publish. & Declare this my last will & Testament. in manner. & form following That is to say first & Principally I recommend my soul into the hand[s] of Almighty God that gave it. & my body I commit the Earth to be Decently Inter[r]ed at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned. & as touching all such Worldly Goods & Effects wherewith it hath pleased God to bestow upon me. after my Debts & funeral Charges are fully paid & Satisfied) I give devise & Bequeath. the same in manner & form following Imprimis I give & bequeath. Unto my Wel[l]beloved [Neic]e Mary Easthope one Black. Girl Named Hannah. Item. I give & bequeath. unto my belov[e]d Cousen Richard Goodwin Jun[r] all

Young directed that the share of any child who died before age or marriage be divided equally among the surviving children, with the same right of purchase passing among them as already set out. The half of the real estate held by his wife during her life was likewise to be divided in the same way at her death among the surviving children, with the same right of purchase.

His desire was that the estate be kept together, if his wife was willing, for the use and benefit of her and the children while she remained unmarried. If she remarried, her executive power was to cease. The executors were to put out any cash in their hands at interest on good security for the children's benefit, and were to dispose at auction of any movables they did not think proper to keep, then to make an inventory.

He appointed his father-in-law Stephen Lufkin, John Bazett and his wife executors and trustees, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed John Young.

Witnessed by John Hodgkinson, James Powell and Richard Beale.

On 31 December 1734, Martha Frances, spinster of St Helena, very sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made her will. She gave thanks to God, reflected on mortality, and commended her soul to God and her body to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of her executors, after payment of debts and funeral charges.

She gave her niece Mary Easthope a black girl named Hannah.

She gave her cousin Richard Goodwin junior

Interpretations

Young's instruction that the executors put out cash at interest on good security, repeated here for general balances rather than only for Mary's £15 set-aside, confirms the existence of a working local credit market in which executors routinely deployed estate funds as interest-bearing loans. The mechanism transformed an estate from a static pool of legacies awaiting delivery into a working portfolio generating income for the children during minority. The same device appears in the Worrall and Knipe wills of August 1733 in less developed form, but Young's instrument is the most explicit in directing its routine use across all cash balances.

Martha Frances appears in the registers as a witness to the Anne Jane Greentree will of 3 April 1732, where she signed alongside Charles Heward, Gabriel Powell as secretary, and John Johnson. Her own will, less than three years later, identifies her status as a spinster and reveals her position within a closely connected network of Easthope and Goodwin kin. The niece Mary Easthope identifies a Easthope sister of Martha Frances, and connects the testator's family to the Thomas Easthope who appears as witness to the Damaris Nichols will of August 1729. The cousin Richard Goodwin junior is the same Richard Goodwin named as executor in the Edmund Nichols will of July 1733, fixing him as part of the wider Goodwin administrative line headed by Captain John Goodwin.

Speculations

The deliberate routing of cash balances through interest-bearing loans during the children's minority suggests that Young had himself participated in the local credit market as either lender or borrower, and trusted the mechanism to preserve and augment the estate. The instruction to take good security for each loan indicates an awareness of the risks of unsecured lending and a working knowledge of the security devices available, such as bonds, bills and conveyances of chattels. By embedding the practice in his will rather than leaving it to executor discretion, Young ensured that the children's portions would grow rather than stagnate during the years before delivery.

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the money that I now have in his fathers Pos[s]es[s]ion as also all other debts or money that is at this time due or Oweing unto me from Sundry other Per[s]ons which the said M[r] Richard Goodwin Sen[r] hath a particular Accompt of. to be paid at the time of Marriage or age of twenty Years Lastly. I Nominate Constitute & Appoint the aforesaid Richard Goodwin Sen[r]. to be my whole & Sole Executor of this my last will & Testament Revoking & Annulling all other will or wills by me at any time heretofore made. Allowing & Confirming this & No other to be my last & Testament. In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal. the Day & Year above written

Sign'd Seal't publis[h]d & Martha Frances Declar'd by her the said Martha Frances to be her last will & Testament in the Presence of Walter [Mons] John Greentree D Griffith

In the Name of God Amen. this twenty third day of January 1735. I Solomon Pawling of the Island S[t] Helena Planter being sick. & weak. in Body but of Sound & perfect mind & Memory (thanks to Almighty God) do make & ordain. this my last & Testament. that is to say first & Principally I give & Recommend my Soul to Almighty God my Creator. My Body to the Earth. to be Buried in a Christian like & Decent Manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter Named. My Worldly Goods I give deverise & Dispose of in the manner & form as followeth. Imprimis. in some Convenient time after my Decease. I desire that all my Debts & funeral Charges be fully paid & Satisfied Item. I give & Bequiath unto my beloved Wife the one half of all my real Estate During her Naturall Life. & also [&] one third of all my personal Estate wholly at her Dispose. Item. to my well beloved Children Namely Erasmus. John. & Eleno[r] I Give & Bequeath. all the rest & Residue of my Estate both real & personal to be Equally Divided among them. as they come to age or marriage as well also the half of my real Estate Pos[s]es[s]ed by their Mother at her Decease. to be Divided & Delivered as aforesaid Lastly. I Nominate & Appoint my brother. John Pawling & M[r] Richard Goodwin both of this Island to be Executors of this my last

Frances gave her cousin Richard Goodwin junior the money she then had in his father's possession, together with all other debts then owing to her from sundry persons, of which Richard Goodwin senior held a particular account. The sum was to be paid at the time of marriage or at the age of 20.

She appointed Richard Goodwin senior sole executor, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as her final testament.

Signed Martha Frances. Witnessed by Walter Morris, John Greentree and Daniel Griffith.

On 23 January 1735, Solomon Pawling of St Helena, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He ordered that all his debts and funeral charges be paid within a convenient time after his death.

He gave his wife half of his real estate during her natural life and one third of his personal estate, wholly at her own disposal.

He gave his children Erasmus, John and Eleanor the residue of his estate, real and personal, to be divided equally among them as they reached age or marriage. The half of the real estate held by their mother during her life was to be divided and delivered in the same way at her death.

He appointed his brother John Pawling and Richard Goodwin executors of this his last will.

Interpretations

The Martha Frances will operates as a debt-collection instrument rather than as a property disposition. The principal asset, identified as money in Richard Goodwin senior's possession, is supplemented by debts owing from various other persons of which Goodwin senior already held an itemised account. By naming Goodwin senior as both custodian of the account and sole executor, the testator vested in a single figure the combined functions of bookkeeper, collector and distributor. The arrangement reflects a working pattern in which a senior administrator within one's kin network served as informal banker for a single woman of modest means, holding her funds and recording her credits on her behalf.

The half rather than third interest in the real estate granted to the wife, paired with the standard third of personal estate, repeats the pattern set out in the John Worrall will of August 1733 in which the same enlarged life interest was given. The recurrence within two years suggests that the half-interest model had become a regular planter pattern by the mid-1730s, replacing the customary third in real estate that had prevailed in earlier registers.

Speculations

The decision to vest the entire administration of a spinster's accumulated credits in Richard Goodwin senior, rather than splitting the executor role between two figures as planter wills typically did, probably reflects the highly personal character of the asset base. The debts owed to Martha Frances by various persons were known only through Goodwin senior's particular account, and any second executor would have had to rely on him for both the identity and the validity of each credit. By naming him as sole executor, the testator avoided the inefficiency of forcing him to share information with a co-executor who would have had no independent way of verifying the claims.

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Will. Utterly Revoking & Disannulling all former will or Wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this & No other. to be my last will & Testament

Sign'd Seal'd Published & Solomon Pawling Declar'd to be his last & Testament in the presence & hearing of Us. who witnes[s]eth. John Worrall Joshua Worrall Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen. I James Crafford of S[t] Helena. & late Surgeon. of the Ship Scarbarough being sick & weak of body. being of sound Mind & Memory do make & ordain this my last will & Testament. in manner. & form following Viz[t] my soul I recommen[d]e to the Mercy of Almighty God. & my body to be Decently Buried. My Estate. both freehold & Leasehold & of all sorts I give & Bequeath as following Viz[t] Imprimis I give unto M[r] John Brown Surgeon. after my funeral Charges & Debts are paid I give the sum of fou[r]ty pound for his Care Phisick & Attendance Item. To M[r] Richard Goodwin I give the sum of ten pounds for Mourning one Mourning ring of the Value of forty Shillings with Gloves &c Item. I give to Elizabeth the Wife of him the said Richard Goodwin. the sum of ten pounds for Mourning Item. To M[r] James Powell I give the sum of ten pounds for Mourning Item. All such freehold Estate as became mine by Vertue of my Marriage with Anna the Daughter of George Hodgkinson dec[e]a[se]d I desire & hereby Empower my Executor hereafter Named. to Sell & Dispose to the most Advan[t]age. & to remit one hundred pounds hereof to my wife now living in England. The Overplus of my Estate. if any remains I give to the poor of the Island of S[t] Helena. at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter Mentioned Lastly. I appoint M[r] Richard Goodwin of the said Island sole Executor of this my last will. In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 2[d] day of march 1736 Jam[e]s Crafford Sign'd Seal'd. & Deliver'd as the last will & Testament of the Testator in the presence of Us John Johnson Memorandum [Sword] James Tilder Names enterlined in [9] Charles Steward 3 Lines before [w]e Witnes[s]

Pawling revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed Solomon Pawling.

Witnessed by John Worrall, Joshua Worrall and Richard Beale.

James Crafford of St Helena, late surgeon of the ship Scarborough, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be decently buried.

He disposed of his estate, freehold and leasehold of all sorts, as follows. After payment of funeral charges and debts, he gave John Brown, surgeon, £40 for his care, medicines and attendance.

He gave Richard Goodwin £10 for mourning, a mourning ring worth 40s and gloves.

He gave Elizabeth, wife of Richard Goodwin, £10 for mourning.

He gave James Powell £10 for mourning.

All freehold estate that had come to him by virtue of his marriage with Anna, daughter of the deceased George Hodgkinson, was to be sold by his executor to the best advantage. £100 of the proceeds was to be remitted to his wife then living in England. Any surplus was to go to the poor of St Helena at the executor's discretion.

He appointed Richard Goodwin of St Helena sole executor. Signed James Crafford, 2 March 1736.

Witnessed by John Johnson, James Tilder and Charles Steward. A memorandum recorded that names had been interlined in three lines before the witnessing. Part of the attestation is unclear.

Interpretations

The Crafford will sets out a working pattern in which an itinerant surgeon married into a planter family by marriage to a deceased governor's daughter, then disposed of the resulting freehold by sale, with the proceeds remitted to a wife in England. The arrangement reveals the existence of two simultaneous spousal relationships: Anna Hodgkinson, the deceased daughter of Governor George Hodgkinson, through whom the St Helena freehold came; and an unnamed wife in England, who receives £100 from the proceeds. The will does not explain how the two relationships coexisted, but the structure indicates that Crafford regarded the freehold as a settlement asset arising from the Hodgkinson marriage rather than as inherited property to be retained for any successor.

The naming of Richard Goodwin as sole executor, his wife Elizabeth as mourning beneficiary, and James Powell as further mourning beneficiary, places the will firmly within the Goodwin-Powell administrative network of the mid-1730s. Richard Goodwin senior is the same figure acting as sole executor of the Martha Frances will of December 1734 and as joint executor of the Solomon Pawling will of January 1735. James Powell, here a mourning beneficiary, is one of the five Powell sons named in Gabriel Powell's 1729 will, now functioning as an independent figure within the administrative cadre. The pattern indicates the consolidation of the working executor network into a small number of figures by the mid-1730s.

Speculations

The decision to liquidate the entire Hodgkinson-derived freehold and remit only £100 to England, with any surplus going to the island's poor, suggests that Crafford's primary working relationship at his death was with the St Helena community rather than with his English wife. The English £100 functions as a discharge of marital obligation rather than as a transmission of estate, and the residual charitable gift indicates that the testator regarded the bulk of his colonial wealth as appropriately reverting to the island that had provided it. The arrangement contrasts sharply with the Pyke will of November 1733, in which the entire residue went to an intended wife on the island, and reflects Crafford's distinctly different working assessment of his obligations.

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In the Name of God Amen. I W[m] Stanley of the Island S[t] Helena being Sick & Weak of Body but of sound Mind & Memory do make & ordain. this my last will & Testament in manner & form following. That is to say, my soul I recommend to the Mercy of Almighty God. my body to the Earth. & all my Money Goods Debts & Effects whatsoever I Give to my friend Thomas Sylvester. in Consideration of his great Care & tenderne[s]s to me in my sickness & I do hereby Nominate & Appoint him. the Said Thomas Sylvester. sole Executor of this my last will & Testament. In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this 24 day of July 1736

Signed Sealed publish'd & Declared William Stanley as the last will & Testament of William Stanley in the pre[se]nce of William [Wood] Henry Chalon[e]r

In the Name of God Amen. this twelfth day of May in the Year of our Lord God one Thousand seven hundred & Twenty seven I William Seal Planter of the Island S[t] Helena being Sick. & Weak. in Body but of sound & Perfect Mind & Memory thanks to Almighty God & Calling to mind the uncertaienty of this life & knowing it is Appointed for all men once to die. do make Constitute & Appoint this my last will & Testament. that is to say. first & first of all. I give & Recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it. hoping & As[s]uredly believeing that at the General Re[s]urrection. I shall receive Remision of all my sins thro the Alane[?] Meritts of My Bles[s]ed Redeemer. Jesus Christ. my Body I Commit[t]e to the Earth. to be Bur[r]ied in a Christian like & Decent Manner. after the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named. & as touching such Worldly Goods wherewith it hath plea[s]d God to bles[s] me with. I give Devise & Dispose of the same in manner & form & follows Imprimis. I give & Bequeath unto my wel[l]beloved Son John Seale Twenty Acres of Cabbage tree Land but to be & Remain in & for the Good of My family Untill my Youngest son Be[n]jamin Seale. Shall attain to the age of Sixteen Years Item. My will & Pleasure is that my Gumwood Land being thirty Acres or five hold & thirty two Acres Leased of the Hon[ble] Company be Equally Divided between my beloved sons William & Benjamin but my Will is that William Shall have the Lower part in Equality as aforesaid. but to be & Remain in the family

William Stanley of St Helena, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth.

He gave all his money, goods, debts and effects to his friend Thomas Sylvester, in consideration of his great care and tenderness during his sickness. He appointed Sylvester sole executor.

Signed William Stanley, 24 July 1736. Witnessed by William Wood and Henry Chaloner.

On 12 May 1727, William Seal, planter of St Helena, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, reflected on mortality, and commended his soul to God in hope of resurrection through Christ. He directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He gave his son John Seale 20 acres of cabbage tree land. The land was to remain part of the family estate until his youngest son Benjamin Seale reached 16 years.

His gum wood land, consisting of 30 acres of freehold and 32 acres leased from the Honourable Company, was to be divided equally between his sons William and Benjamin. William was to have the lower part. The land was to remain in the family

Interpretations

The Stanley will follows the soldier-and-lodger pattern recurrent across the registers, in which a sick man without recorded kin on the island left the whole of his property to the friend or household member who had nursed him through his final illness. The phrasing in consideration of his great care and tenderness identifies the gift as compensation for personal service rather than as kinship-based inheritance. The same pattern appears in the Bothway 1710, Sinsnick 1721 and Dufton 1731 wills in the handover, all of which directed entire estates to friends in similar terms.

The William Seal will of 12 May 1727 sits chronologically out of sequence with the other entries in the present registers, which run through 1733 to 1736. Its registration here, rather than in its own date order, indicates a delayed proof or a recent recovery of the instrument by the council. The Bell will of January 1724 in the handover, examined by D Crispe as a backlog item, shows the same working pattern of registers being cleared periodically of unproved wills, and the William Seal will may belong to the same administrative catch-up procedure.

Speculations

The Stanley bequest of an entire estate to a nurse-friend, made in the same year as the Crafford will with its remittance to an English wife, points to two opposite working solutions to the problem of a sick man without local kin. Crafford retained an English wife to remit to; Stanley had no comparable obligation, and his property therefore stayed wholly on the island in the hands of the household that had cared for him. The contrast indicates how individual circumstance determined whether colonial wealth was repatriated or retained, with no general administrative preference for either outcome.

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In the Name of God Amen this fifth Day of May in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred & forty four I Stephen Lufkin of this Island S[t] Helena Planter being Sick & Weak of Body but of Sound & Perfect Mind and m[e]m[o]ry thanks to A[l]mighty God) do make Ordain and Appoint this to be my last Will and Testament that is to say first & princ[i]pally of all I Give and Recommend my Soul into the Hands of A[l]mighty God my Creato[r] hopeing and A[s]suredly believing I Shall receive a full & gracious [pardon] for all my Sins my Body. I commend to the Earth. to be Buried in a Christian like and Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named My Wo[r]ldly Goods I Give Devise and dispose of in Manner and form as followeth. Imprimis I Give and Bequeath. to my Grand Son Stephen Lufkin my Mansion House with ten Acres of free Land on which the said House Stands or to be deliver'd to him at the Age of Twenty one Years or Marriage Item To my Grand Son William Young I Give one Black Mare Named Nicola to be deliver'd him at Age of 21 years or Marriage or sooner if my Said Grandson Stephen [...] is at Age before him that is to say at the time my said Grandson Stephen shall receive the said House and Land Item I Deposite thirty Pounds in the hands of my Executor and desire them to Lay down the Same for the f[r]edom of a [...] Maid named Katharine and her Child named Katharine belonging to the Estate of my Son in Law John Young deceas[e]d and for which Consideration I hope my Grand Children (being the Children of my said Son in Law John Y[oung]) will be contented and Satisfied Item All the Good and Residue of my Estate not yet given away be it in what kind Soever Lands or Cattle &c I de[s]ire my Executors will [...] to it & ho[no]r Sale and after all Debts funeral Charges and Legacies are fully paid and Satisfied. I have the Remainder be Equally divid[ed] and deliver'd at Age or Marriage among My Grand Children namely Stephen George and Mary the Children of my Son in Law John Young dec[ease]d. and Robert and Joseph. the Children of my son Joseph Lufkin deceas[e]d And if Either or any of my Grand Children the Young[s] Should die before Age or Marriage that their Parts or Shares shall be Equally divided amoung the Survivors and Either of the two Lufkin[s] should die before Age or Marriage that the [Survivor] Shall Enjoy the Others Part or Share La[s]tly

On 5 May 1744, Stephen Lufkin of St Helena, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God in hope of pardon, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He gave his grandson Stephen Lufkin the mansion house with 10 acres of free land on which it stood, to be delivered at the age of 21 or on marriage.

He gave his grandson William Young a black mare named Nicola, to be delivered at the age of 21 or on marriage, or sooner if his grandson Stephen reached the qualifying age first, at the same time as the house and land passed to Stephen.

He deposited £30 with his executors and directed them to lay it out to purchase the freedom of a maid named Katharine and her child also named Katharine, both belonging to the estate of his deceased son-in-law John Young. He expressed the hope that his grandchildren, being the children of John Young, would be content with this arrangement.

He directed that the residue of his estate, of whatever kind, including lands and cattle, be sold by his executors. After payment of all debts, funeral charges and legacies, the remainder was to be divided equally among his grandchildren, namely Stephen, George and Mary, the children of his son-in-law John Young deceased, and Robert and Joseph, the children of his son Joseph Lufkin deceased. The shares were to be delivered at age or marriage.

If any of the Young grandchildren died before age or marriage, that share was to be divided equally among the survivors. If either of the two Lufkin grandchildren died before age or marriage, the survivor was to take the other's share.

Interpretations

Stephen Lufkin is the same Stephen Lufkin senior who has appeared as a witness across the registers from the John Nichols senior will of 1719 onwards, including the Edmund Nichols will of July 1733, the Ann Slaughter will of March 1734 and, most directly, the John Young will of 14 August 1733, where he was named as father-in-law of the testator and as one of three executors. The present will completes the working arc: his son-in-law John Young predeceased him, the Young estate evidently failed to deliver fully, and Lufkin now distributes his own property to provide for the Young grandchildren as well as the Lufkin grandchildren by his deceased son Joseph.

The £30 deposit for the purchase of freedom of Katharine and her child, both still held as part of the deceased John Young's estate, constitutes the most direct documented act of testamentary manumission in the registers. Earlier examples include the freedom granted to Rowly under Robert Swallow's will of 1688 in the handover, and the freedom granted to the slave Sue in the Margaret Sich will of 1719 in the handover. The Lufkin instrument differs in that the testator did not own the enslaved persons concerned; he set aside cash to purchase their freedom from his deceased son-in-law's estate. The arrangement converts a testamentary legacy into a redemption payment, and reveals a working market in the purchase of manumission within the island.

Speculations

The decision to set aside £30 for the manumission of Katharine and her child, in preference to leaving the slaves either to a grandchild or to a sale, suggests that Stephen Lufkin had a personal connection to Katharine that the formal property arrangements of John Young's estate had not resolved. The deceased son-in-law's estate evidently still held the mother and child as ordinary chattel slaves several years after his death, and the testator's intervention through his own funds indicates that the manumission was not legally compelled but was being procured by him at his own expense. The most plausible explanation is that Katharine had served in the Lufkin household during the testator's last years, or had some personal relationship to the family that the patriarch chose to recognise in this exceptional form.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Henry Welch of the Island S[t] Helena Drummer being Sick. & Wink in Body but of Sound mind & Memory do make & Ordain. this my last will & Testament. in Manner & form following, that is to say. My Soul I recommend to the Mercy of Almighty God my [Body] to the earth. & all my money Goods debts & Effects whatsoever I give & Bequeath. as follows. Viz[t] Imprimis. I give & Bequeath to my Hono[u]r[e]d Mother 1 Gold ring Item. I give to M[rs] Martha Doveton. Gold ring. silver Snuff Box. Six cups & six Saucers. one Milk pott & one tea pott & also what Cash she has of mine in her Pos[s]es[s]ion. Item. I give to my Sister Anne Thwaites one p[r] Silver Sleeve Buttons Item. I give to my Sister Bridg[et] Thwaits one p[r] Silver Sleeve Buttons Item. I give to my God son Giles Thwaites 1 p[r] Silver Shoe Buckles. 1 p[r] Silver Knee Buckles. & one silver Neck Buckle. the rest & Re[s]idue of my Effects I give to my Honoured Mother to buy her a suit of Mourning Lastly. I appoint M[r] Jonathan Doveton & M[r] John Bazett Eco[u]tor[s] of this my last will & testament. In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this 2[d] day of August 1736.

Sign'd Seal'd publis[h]d & Declar'd as the last will & Henry Welch Testament of Henry Welch in the presence of Memorandum the word Giles Hayes body was Enterlin'd before M Worrall to signing & Sealing

In the Name of God Amen. This twenty Second day of April 1737. I Henry Edwards of the Island S[t] Helena Soldier. being sick. & weak. but of sound & perfect mind & Memory) thanks to Almighty God) do make & Ordain this my last Will & Testament. first & principally I give & Recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it. My body to the earth to be Buried in a Christian like & Decent Manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named. my Worldly Goods I give & dispose of in Manner & form as followeth. Imprimis. I give to my beloved Niece Elizabeth. the wife of Thomas Bazett. twenty Shillings to buy her a ring Item. All the rest & Re[s]idue of my Estate. I give & Bequeath. to my well beloved sisters. Namely. Grace. the wife of Joseph Bates & Mary the Wife of John Aldrich. to be Equally Divided between them. Lastly

Henry Welch of St Helena, drummer, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth, and disposed of his money, goods, debts and effects as follows.

He gave his honoured mother a gold ring.

He gave Martha Doveton a gold ring, a silver snuff box, six cups and six saucers, a milk pot, a teapot, and the cash of his then in her possession.

He gave his sister Anne Thwaites a pair of silver sleeve buttons.

He gave his sister Bridget Thwaites a pair of silver sleeve buttons.

He gave his godson Giles Thwaites a pair of silver shoe buckles, a pair of silver knee buckles and a silver neck buckle.

He gave the residue of his effects to his honoured mother to buy herself a suit of mourning.

He appointed Jonathan Doveton and John Bazett executors. Signed Henry Welch, 2 August 1736.

A memorandum recorded that the words Giles Hayes body were interlined before signing and sealing. Witnessed by Walter Morris. Part of the attestation is unclear.

On 22 April 1737, Henry Edwards of St Helena, soldier, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He gave his niece Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Bazett, 20s to buy a ring.

He gave the residue of his estate to his sisters Grace, wife of Joseph Bates, and Mary, wife of John Aldrich, to be divided equally between them.

Interpretations

The Welch will is structured around a sequence of small portable objects rather than around any landed or substantial cash estate, which is consistent with the testator's status as a drummer in the garrison. A drummer was a regimental musician of low rank, and the working pattern of the will, in which the principal items are silver buttons, buckles, a snuff box, a small tea service and cash held by a third party, fixes the institutional location of a junior soldier's wealth: portable silverware, table furniture and small ready-money balances lodged with planter households.

The cash held in Martha Doveton's possession indicates the working pattern by which garrison soldiers without property of their own deposited their savings with planter families on the island, with the planter functioning as informal banker. The same pattern appeared in the Martha Frances will of December 1734, where Richard Goodwin senior held the testator's funds. The Doveton family of the Coulson 1727 will and the Welch 2 August 1736 will appears in both administrative and banking roles across the late registers, with Jonathan Doveton named here as one of the two executors, the same Jonathan Doveton who was son-in-law and joint executor of Mary Coulson 1727 in the handover.

Speculations

The deliberate matching of a complete silverware set for the godson Giles Thwaites, paired with single items for the godson's mother and aunt, suggests that the testator was outfitting Giles for a working entry into adult professional life. The combination of shoe buckles, knee buckles and neck buckle represents the formal silverware of a man entering service or a trade requiring respectable dress. The arrangement reads as a deliberate working investment in the godson's career, comparable to the £30 maritime endowment in the John Young will of August 1733, but expressed in portable silverware rather than cash.

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Lastly. I Nominate. & Appoint. Mes[sr]s. John Bazett & Thomas Bazett Executors of this my last will. Ratifying & Confirming this & No other. to be my last will & Testament

Sign'd Seal'd & Declar'd Henry Edwards in the presence of Us Solomon Roberts Richard Beale

Whereas I Richard Mills. late of the City of London. Mariner & late Chief Mate of the ship George, find[i]ng myself in a very Weak. & low Condition. & altho I have made my last Will & Testament. which I have left in Custody. & Pos[s]es[s]ion of my friends in England. yet having severall Goods. & Merchandize. Debts due to me from severall of the Inhabitants of the Island S[t] Helena. where I now am. & being willing to secure the same. for the Benefit of my wife & family. I do therefore by this Codicil. which I desire & direct, shall be deemed & taken as part of my said last Will & Testament. Nominate Constitute, & Appoint. Mes[sr]s. Joshua Johnson. & John Brown. of the said Island planters. to be Trustees or O[v]erseers of all such Goods. Merchandize. Debts owing to me. & of All Such Effects as I shall die Pos[s]es[s]ed of at this place. of which I Desire a true & exact Inventory may be taken by my trustees as aforesaid. as soon after my Decease as Convenie ntly may be. & I also desire my said tr[u]stees to sell & Dispose. at publick Outcry. to the best bid[d]er. for ready money. all such Goods & Effects as I Shall die Po[s]ses[s]ed of at this Island. & that they will remit the produce thereof together with such other sums of money which shall be due or Belonging to me. to such of my friends in England as I by word of Mouth or otherwise direct & Appoint. In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal at S[t] Helena. this fifth Day of September. in the Year of our Lord one Thousand seven Hundred & thirty seven.

Sign'd Seal'd & Declar'd Rich[d] Mills as a Codicil to the last & Testament of the Testator Richard Mills in the presence of Francis Sunge John Bagley We declare that [y]e person Mentioned in the last line but three was his Wife he having Told each of Us so Jos[h] Johnson John Brown

Edwards appointed John Bazett and Thomas Bazett executors, and confirmed this as his final testament.

Signed Henry Edwards. Witnessed by Solomon Roberts and Richard Beale.

Richard Mills, late of the City of London, mariner and late chief mate of the ship George, finding himself very weak and low, made a codicil to his will. He stated that his principal will had already been made and was held by his friends in England.

He explained that he held several goods, merchandise and debts owed to him by various inhabitants of St Helena, and wished to secure these for the benefit of his wife and family. The codicil was to be deemed part of his last will and testament.

He appointed Joshua Johnson and John Brown, planters of St Helena, as trustees or overseers of all his goods, merchandise, debts and effects on the island. A true and exact inventory was to be taken by them as soon as conveniently possible after his death.

The trustees were to sell all his goods and effects at public outcry to the best bidder for ready money. The proceeds, together with any other sums owing to him, were to be remitted to such friends in England as he might direct by word of mouth or otherwise.

Signed Richard Mills at St Helena, 5 September 1737.

Witnessed by Francis Sunge and John Bagley. Joshua Johnson and John Brown declared that the person mentioned in the third line from the end was the testator's wife, since he had told each of them so.

Interpretations

The Mills codicil is the clearest working example in the registers of a mariner's bifurcated testamentary scheme. The principal will was drafted in London and left in the custody of friends there; the codicil drawn at St Helena addresses only the assets the testator held or was owed on the island. The arrangement preserves the separation between the London-based property covered by the main will and the colonial assets caught only by the codicil, with the two instruments operating in parallel jurisdictions. The codicil itself does not purport to alter the disposition; it operates as an administrative device that funnels the colonial proceeds back into the main estate through liquidation and remittance.

The naming of Joshua Johnson and John Brown as trustees rather than as executors is institutionally significant. Trustees on a mariner's codicil function as collection and remittance agents rather than as administrators of the estate proper. They take inventory, sell at public outcry and remit; they do not distribute legacies, pay debts as a general matter, or wind up the estate. The estate proper is wound up in England under the main will, with the colonial trustees' role limited to feeding cash into the metropolitan administration. The arrangement parallels the working pattern of the Edward Johnson 1723 governor's will in the handover, in which residue was to be transmitted to Thomas Heath of Mile End, London, for division among nephews and nieces.

Speculations

The decision to draft the codicil in formal terms at St Helena, rather than relying on oral instructions to fellow officers or to the ship's captain on his return to London, suggests that the testator did not expect to return to England alive and that he wished to ensure the colonial assets could not be appropriated by local debtors or others on the island after his death. By creating a formal trust through named planter trustees, he gave his English wife and family a working legal claim against the trustees rather than against the original colonial debtors, which would have been practically unenforceable from a distance.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Thomas Harper of the Island S[t] Helena Ensign being sick & Weak of Body but of sound & Perfect Memory. do make & Ordain this my last will & Testament. in manner & form following that is to say. my soul I recommend to [ye] Mercy of Almighty God. & My I commit to the Earth to be Decently buried. & My Estate, my Debts & funeral Charges being first paid & Satisfyed I give & Bequeath as follows Viz[t] Imprimis. My Dwelling house. & the fort. I hereby Empower My Executors to sell if they shall think it Nece[s]sary for the equal Benefit of my Wife & Children Item. I give & bequeath. to my beloved Wife one half part of all my Lea[se]h[old] Land to have & to hold for her sole use & Benefit During the Terms of my Several Leases yet to come. & unexpired All the rest. Re[s]idue & Remainder of My Estate. I give & Bequeath. to be Equally Divided between my said Dear Wife & My beloved Children my Childrens part to be paid them as they Shall Severally attain to the age of Twenty one Years or shall be married. & in Case either of them shall die before I give his or their part to be Equally divided among the Survivours. & if my Executors Shall judge it Nece[s]sary to sell my Leasehold Lands so much thereof as I have hereby given My Children. My meaning is that my Eldest Son Shall have the Preference. in & of Such Purchase Lastly. I hereby Nominate & Appoint my Brother Martin Harper & M[r] Charles Steward Executors of this my last will Revoking all other will or wills by me hereto fore made. In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this sixth day of March 1736

Sign'd Seal'd & Deliver'd in the presence of Thomas Harper Richard Beale Jn[o] Hodgkinson D Cau[s]e[?]

The Widow before the Probate being Asked whether she was Willing to Maintain & Bring up the Children out of the Estate her part & theirs allwayes to remain together. she Answered she was very Willing & Desirous to do. present the Governour & Council. the Sev[era]l Witnes[s] to the Will. & the persons who took & Appraised the Inventory 28[th] Febry 1737

Thomas Harper of St Helena, ensign, sick and weak in body but of sound memory, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth, to be decently buried. After payment of debts and funeral charges, he disposed of his estate as follows.

He empowered his executors to sell his dwelling house at the fort if they thought it necessary, for the equal benefit of his wife and children.

He gave his wife one half of all his leasehold land, for her sole use and benefit during the remaining terms of his several leases.

He gave the residue of his estate to be divided equally between his wife and his children. The children's shares were to be delivered as each reached 21 or married. If any child died before age or marriage, that share was to be divided equally among the survivors.

If the executors judged it necessary to sell the leasehold lands given to the children, his eldest son was to have first preference in the purchase.

He appointed his brother Martin Harper and Charles Steward executors, and revoked all earlier wills. Signed Thomas Harper, 6 March 1737.

Witnessed by Richard Beale and John Hodgkinson. Part of the attestation is unclear.

Before probate, the widow was asked whether she was willing to maintain and bring up the children out of the estate, with her part and theirs always to remain together. She answered that she was very willing and desirous to do so. The Governor and Council were present, together with the witnesses to the will and the persons who took and appraised the inventory, on 28 February 1737.

Interpretations

Thomas Harper is the same Thomas Harper named as son-in-law and sole executor in the Ann Slaughter will of 8 March 1734, where Slaughter, as widow of the elder Richard Harding and second wife in the Slaughter line, left him a woman slave Jenny and a large feather bed. The handover identifies him further as the husband of Lydia Harper, sister of Richard Harding junior and John Harding (both 1727 wills), and as a recipient of part of a fort dwelling at the Brewer under the John Harding 1727 will. The present will, drawn less than three years after the Slaughter disposition, identifies him as having achieved the rank of ensign in the garrison, which combined his planter standing with formal military commission.

The pre-probate examination of the widow, recorded as a formal proceeding before the Governor and Council on 28 February 1737, sets out the most explicit working example in the registers of the council-as-probate-court mechanism. The widow's consent to keep the estate together, given in the presence of the council, the witnesses to the will and the appraisers of the inventory, converts an informal management understanding into a formal judicial assent. The arrangement parallels the Knipe will of July 1733, in which the Governor struck down a deferred-partition clause as contrary to law because the widow's consent could not be assumed. The Harper procedure cures that defect by obtaining the consent on record in open council, with the witnesses and appraisers as additional auditors of the act.

Speculations

The decision to record the widow's consent to estate consolidation in formal session before the Governor and Council, rather than relying on the will's terms alone, probably reflects working caution learned from the Knipe will's failure four years earlier. By obtaining the widow's express consent in front of the council, the witnesses and the appraisers, the executors secured the consolidation against any later challenge by a creditor or by an adult child seeking immediate partition. The procedural innovation indicates how the registers had developed since the Knipe ruling, with consent-based consolidation now actively procured at probate rather than left implicit in the will.

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In the Name of God Amen. I John Pawling of the Island S[t] Helena Planter do make & Ordain this my last will & Testament. in manner & form following My soul I recommen[d] to the Mercy of Almighty God. my body to the Earth. & My Worldly Estate I give Bequeath. & Be[s]tow as follows. Viz[t] Imprimis. To my beloved Wife I give & Bequeath. one half part of all my real Estate. to be pos[s]es[s]ed & Enjoyed by her for her sole use & Benefit during the Term of her Naturall life. & after her Decease. I give & Bequeath the same to be Equally Divided among my three sons to them & their heirs forever Item. To my Said beloved Wife I also give & Bequeath. one third part of my Personal Estate. to her own use forever Item. All the rest Re[s]idue & Remainder of my Estate. both real & Per[s]onal together with the other half part of my real Estate. after the Decease of their Mother to whom I have hereby Already bequeathed the same for the term of her Naturall Life. I give & Bequeath. to my Said three sons to be Equally Divided among them. at the age of twenty one Years or Marriage which shall first happen. except as is hereafter Mention[e]d that is to say. in this distribution of my Estate. my Meaning & Intention is & I do hereby accordingly give & Bequeath. to my eldest son Matthew to be valued Deemed & taken as part of his share or P[o]rtion of my Estate. that part of it lying in Sandy bay commonly called or known by the Name of Robinsons Land or farm. but Nevertheless. my farther Meaning & Intention is & I do hereby Accordingly give bequeath & appoint that the one half part of the Plantation Ground & the Pro[d]uce thereof. both of the old & New Plantations Shall be Pos[s]es[s]ed & Enjoyed by my said beloved Wife during the term of her Naturall Life & the same to be Constantly kept filled & Planted at the trouble & charge of my said son Matthew & after her Decease. the same to be Pos[s]es[s]ed & Enjoyed by him for his Sole use & Benefit. And whereas my second son Erasmus is now at sea. & it being to me Uncertain whether he will Chouse to Continue a Seafaring Life or not or to stay & Settle here or in some other Country I therefore direct & Appoint that if he shall chouse to follow the Sea or to Settle in other parts of the world. that his two brothers shall have the Prefe[r]ence of part or share of my said Estate. jointly or between them. if they shall so agree. but if shall not agree to purchase the same jointly & between them as aforesaid. my Said Eldest son shall have the Preference Singly. & in either Case whether they shall Purchase it Jointly or otherwise. to prevent Dispu[t]es among them about the

John Pawling of St Helena, planter, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth, and disposed of his estate as follows.

He gave his wife one half of his real estate, for her sole use and benefit during her natural life. After her death, this half was to be divided equally among his three sons and their heirs for ever.

He also gave his wife one third of his personal estate, to her own use for ever.

He gave the residue of his estate, real and personal, together with the other half of his real estate after his wife's death, to his three sons, to be divided equally at age 21 or on marriage, except as set out below.

In this distribution, his eldest son Matthew was to take, as part of his share, the parcel in Sandy Bay commonly called Robinsons Land or Farm. One half of the plantation ground and its produce, on both the old and the new plantations, was to be held by his wife during her natural life. The plantation was to be constantly kept filled and planted at the cost of Matthew. After her death, this half was to pass to Matthew for his sole use and benefit.

His second son Erasmus was then at sea. The testator was uncertain whether he would continue a seafaring life, return to settle on the island, or settle elsewhere. If Erasmus chose to follow the sea or to settle in another part of the world, his two brothers were to have first preference of Erasmus's part of the estate, jointly or between them, if they could agree. If they could not agree to purchase it jointly, the eldest son Matthew was to have the preference singly. In either case, whether the brothers purchased jointly or otherwise, to prevent disputes between them about the

Interpretations

John Pawling is the same John Pawling appearing across the late registers as a recurring executor: brother of Solomon Pawling (whose will of January 1735 named him as joint executor with Richard Goodwin), joint executor of John Worrall under the August 1733 will, and the active administrator who undertook the Worrall office after Captain Goodwin's renunciation before the council in October 1735. The handover further records him as executor under the Knipe will of July 1733 alongside Isaac Wood and John Desfountain. The present will closes the working arc of his administrative career by setting out his own estate's disposition.

The naming of three sons, Matthew, Erasmus and an unnamed third son, identifies the Pawling family at the date of the will. The forename Erasmus connects to the working pattern previously identified in the handover, where the name recurs across multiple wills in associated planter households. The Pawling Solomon will of January 1735 named the same forename for one of his three children (Erasmus, John and Eleanor); whether John Pawling's son Erasmus and Solomon Pawling's son Erasmus are the same person, or two cousins of the same name in adjacent generations, would require further evidence to resolve.

Speculations

The decision to bind Matthew to a positive obligation to keep the plantation filled and planted during his mother's lifetime, in addition to his eventual succession to the whole, suggests that Matthew had already been operating the plantation during his father's last years. The arrangement formalises an existing working pattern, in which the eldest son had effectively taken over the operating duties from an ageing father, while the legal title remained vested in the father pending his death. By directing the duty to continue during the mother's life, the testator preserved her income from the working operation without imposing on her the management she could not personally undertake.

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the price thereof. I Direct & Appoint that the same Shall be Apprai[s]ed or valued by two persons to be Indiferently Chosen by them. or if they Cannot Agree My Executors shall Settle & Adjudge the Value or sum of Money. which shall be paid to my said son Erasmus for his Right Title or Interest. therein. Item. If any or either my said sons Shall die before age or [M]arriage the survivour or Survivours of his said Brothers shall Equally Pos[s]es[s] & Enjoy his share or Portion of my said Estate. Item. To Elizabeth the wife of Matthew Mudge. I give the sum of [six] Pounds & to each of my God Children. I give the sum of twenty Shilling[s] for a Ring Item. To the Governour & each of the Council for the time being. I give the sum of forty Shillings for a ring Lastly. I Nominate Constitute & Appoint my Eldest son Matthew. M[r] John Bazett & M[r] Duke Crispe Executors of this my last will & Testament. I[n] witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & seal this fourth Day of July. in the Year of Our Lord one Thousand Seven hundred thirty Eight

Sign'd Seal'd published & Declar'd John Pawling as the last will & Testament of the Testator in the Presence of John Desfountain Simon Whaley Matthew Mudge

Pawling directed that if the brothers could not agree on the price of Erasmus's share, two indifferently chosen persons were to appraise the value. If those appraisers could not agree, the executors were to settle the sum to be paid to Erasmus for his interest in the share.

If any of his sons died before age or marriage, the share was to pass to the surviving brother or brothers in equal portions.

He gave Elizabeth, wife of Matthew Mudge, the sum of £6. He gave each of his godchildren 20s for a ring. He gave the Governor and each member of the Council for the time being 40s for a ring.

He appointed his eldest son Matthew, John Bazett and Duke Crispe executors of his will.

Signed John Pawling, 4 July 1738. Witnessed by John Desfountain, Simon Whaley and Matthew Mudge.

Interpretations

The two-stage valuation mechanism set out for Erasmus's share, with indifferently chosen appraisers in the first instance and the executors as final arbiters, refines the cascading-buy-out device that runs across the registers from Desfontaines 1707 onwards. The Pawling instrument adds a working dispute-resolution layer that anticipates failure at the appraisal stage and provides for executor adjudication as a backstop. The arrangement protects the absent Erasmus from a low valuation imposed by his resident brothers, while still preserving the working preference for keeping the share within the family.

The appointment of Duke Crispe as one of the three executors is institutionally significant. D Crispe appears across the late registers as the figure who examined backlog wills (Bell 1724, Sich 1723), and as a witness to the Coulson 1727 will and to its codicil. His full forename Duke (probably a recorded variant of Dick, the form recorded in the Gaa 1731 will in the handover) is here given for the first time in the registers. His appointment as executor of the will of one of the principal administrative figures of the late 1730s confirms his standing within the working circle of council-supervised probate.

Speculations

The bequest of rings to the Governor and each member of the Council for the time being, rather than to named officeholders, probably reflects a working calculation that the will would not be proved during the tenure of the council members in office at the date of execution. By making the bequest by reference to the office rather than the person, the testator ensured that the legacy would attach to whoever was sitting at probate, regardless of changes in the council's composition in the intervening period. The arrangement removes any incentive for delaying probate to allow particular individuals to receive the legacy, and simultaneously creates a corporate acknowledgement of the council's role in the estate's administration.

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In the Name of God Amen This 14[th] Day of March in the Year of our Lord 1737. I Edward Harvey late Surgeons mate of the Ship Bedford being (at the Island S[t] Helena) sick. & Weak of Body but of sound & perfect mind & Memory thanks to Almighty God do make & Ordain this my last will & Testament in manner & form following Imprimis. after my Debts & funeral Charges are fully paid & Satisfied which I have owing to any p[er]son on this Island. all the rest & Remainder of my goods which I have with me here on this Island S[t] Helena I give & bequeath the same to John Scott Soldier of this S[t] Island whom I nominate & Appoint Executor of this my will

Sign'd & Declar'd in the presence of Us Edward Harvey Fran[s] Sunge Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen This 22 day of May A[D] 1738. I Sutton Isacke of the Island S[t] Helena Planter being sick. & Weak of Body but of sound & Perfect mind & Memory. thanks to Almighty God) do make & Ordain this my last & Testament. that is to say first. & Principally I give & Recommend my soul to Alme ghty God. My Body I commit to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian like & Decent manner at the Discretion of My Executors hereafter named my worldly goods I give devise & Dispose of in manner & form as followeth. Imprimis. I give & Bequeath. to my wellbeloved wife the half of my Dwelling House. & the half of my freehold Lands. during her Naturall life. I also the one third of my Moveable or Personal Estate. to be at her Disposal Item. I give & Bequeath. to my wellbeloved Children Namely Sutton, Gabriel. Elisha. Elizabeth, Eleanor, Ruth Penelope (being three sons & five Daughters) all the rest & re[s]idue & Remainder of my Estate be it in what kind soever to be Equally Divided among them. as they come to age or Marriage. as well the other half of my House & Land Pos[s]es[s]ed by their Mother. at her Decease. but I am Willing & Desirous to settle my Eldest son Sutton on my freehold Lands & house. he paying my other Children their proper share or portion. by valuation. of which I here give him the prefe[r]ence

On 14 March 1738, Edward Harvey, late surgeon's mate of the ship Bedford, at St Helena, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God.

After payment of debts and funeral charges then owing to any person on the island, he gave the residue of his goods at St Helena to John Scott, soldier of the island, whom he appointed executor.

Signed Edward Harvey. Witnessed by Francis Sunge and Richard Beale.

On 22 May 1738, Sutton Isacke of St Helena, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He gave his wife half of his dwelling house and half of his freehold lands during her natural life. He also gave her one third of his movable or personal estate, at her disposal.

He gave his children Sutton, Gabriel, Elisha, Elizabeth, Eleanor, Ruth and Penelope (three sons and five daughters) the residue of his estate, of whatever kind, to be divided equally among them as they reached age or marriage. The other half of the house and land held by their mother during her life was to be divided in the same way at her death.

He stated his willingness and desire to settle his eldest son Sutton on the freehold lands and house, on condition that Sutton paid the other children their proper shares by valuation. Sutton was to have first preference

Interpretations

The Harvey will repeats the working pattern of the Mills codicil of September 1737, in which a ship's surgeon or surgeon's mate left at St Helena disposed of his island assets separately from any English property. The Harvey instrument, however, contains no reference to an English will or estate, and the entire bequest of remaining goods on the island goes to a single named soldier executor. The arrangement converts the soldier from carer-during-illness into universal beneficiary, comparable to the Stanley 1736 will of the previous cluster. The contrast with Mills is institutional: Mills had a wife and family in England requiring remittance through formal trustees; Harvey had no such overseas connection and could vest the entire residue locally without any onward chain.

The forename Sutton applied to both father and eldest son also appears in the registers in the form Sutton Thomas Lippings, the grandchild named in the Margaret Bell will of January 1724 in the handover. The recurrence of Sutton as a working given name across multiple planter families suggests its use as a status-marker, connecting bearers to a particular kinship or godparental network whose precise origins the registers do not establish.

Speculations

The Harvey bequest of the entire residue to John Scott, soldier, with no other beneficiaries named and no mention of any English connection, suggests that Harvey may have been a younger man without dependents on either side of his career. The pattern of a sick ship's officer leaving everything to a single soldier carer, without retaining anything for kin or for charitable purposes, contrasts with the Crafford and Mills cases where English wives received the principal remittance. The arrangement may indicate that Harvey was unmarried, or that his English ties had lapsed in the years of his maritime service, leaving the soldier carer as the most proximate working beneficiary.

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And refusal. but my said son being of this Island & in Case of his Death. or Refusal that then I give the same. preference. to my son Gabriel on the same Conditions. Lastly. I Nominate & Appoint my Good friends. M[r] John Pawling. M[r] John Desfountaine & my son Sutton. Executors of this my last & Testament. & in case of the Death. of my said son Sutton. that then I appoint my son Gabriel Executor. Revoking & Disannulling all former wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last will & Testament

Sign'd and Declared in the presence of Sut[on] Isacke Us Matthew Mudge. Simon Whaley Richard Beale

In the Name of God Amen The ninth Day of October. in the Year of Our Lord 1738. I Bipin[?] Wills. of the Island S[t] Helena free holder. being Very Sick & Weak. but of Sound & Perfect mind & Memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same. and knowing it is Appointed for all Men Once to die. but the time when very Uncertain. Do make Ordain Constitute. and Appoint this & No other. to be my last Will & Testament. in manner & form following That is to say first of all & principally I recommend my soul into the hand[s] of Almighty God that gave it. hopeing & likewise believing that through the alone Merrits of Je[s]us Christ. my Bles[s]ed Lord & Saviour. to receive free pardon & forgivenes[s]. for all my sins. that at the General re[s]urrection. I shall enjoy [ye] Kingdom of heaven. prepar[e]d for his Chosen. & Elect. and as touching such of my Personal Estate. as it hath plea[se]d God to Bles[s] me with. and Alread[y] Undi[s]posed of I give. devise. and Bequeath. As follows. Item. I give & bequeath. unto my three Grand Daughters Margarett. Alexander Elizabeth Alexander & Martha Alexander all & singular. my whole & Intire Personal Estate. Conseisting of any thing or kind Soever. to be Equally Divided among them as they shall come to age or Marriage. & in Case of the Death of Either of them before they come to full age or Marriage the Survivours to enjoy the Decea[se]d[s] part or Dividend of my afore said Personal Estate. which I will. & Desire may Imme[d]ially after my decease. Inventoryed & taken into the hands & Pos[s]es[s]ion of my son in Law M[r] [Wm?] Alexander. & Divided among my aforesaid three Grand Daughters as he shall think fit. & Most for their Advantage. but as a further Token of my love I give unto Elizabeth Alexander. one Silver Spoon. & one Silver Cup. to Martha Alexander. Item

Isacke directed that, if Sutton was of the island and willing to take the freehold, he was to have first preference and refusal. If Sutton died or refused, the same preference was to pass to his son Gabriel on the same conditions.

He appointed his friends John Pawling, John Desfountain and his son Sutton as executors. If his son Sutton died, his son Gabriel was to take Sutton's place as executor.

He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed Sutton Isacke.

Witnessed by Matthew Mudge, Simon Whaley and Richard Beale.

On 9 October 1738, Bipin Wills of St Helena, freeholder, very sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, reflected on the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its time, and commended his soul to God in hope of pardon through Christ.

He disposed of his personal estate, so far as not already disposed of, as follows.

He gave his three granddaughters Margarett Alexander, Elizabeth Alexander and Martha Alexander his entire personal estate, of every kind, to be divided equally among them as they reached age or marriage. If any of them died before age or marriage, the deceased's share was to be enjoyed by the survivors.

The estate was to be inventoried and taken into the hands and possession of his son-in-law W. Alexander immediately after his death, and divided among the three granddaughters as he thought fit and most to their advantage.

As a further token of his love, he gave Elizabeth Alexander one silver spoon and one silver cup. He gave Martha Alexander

Interpretations

The Isacke fall-back arrangement, with Gabriel substituted for Sutton both as preferential purchaser and as executor in case of Sutton's death or refusal, repeats in a single instrument the dual function pattern that the registers had developed across the period. The testator binds the same name as the working candidate at both stages, so that whoever stepped into Sutton's place as heir to the freehold also stepped into his place at the head of the administration. The arrangement preserves the working coherence of inheritance and management by linking them through a single nominee.

The individual silver bequests of a spoon and cup to Elizabeth Alexander and (in the text recoverable so far) the corresponding token to Martha Alexander indicate the practice of marking each granddaughter with a personal silverware item alongside her residual share. The arrangement parallels the pattern in the Henry Welch will of August 1736, in which silver buckles and buttons were distributed individually to named recipients within a household. The token bequests function as recognition of personal identity within an otherwise equal division.

Speculations

The Isacke testator's framing of Gabriel as both substitute purchaser of the freehold and substitute executor, in the event of Sutton's death or refusal, probably reflects a settled understanding within the family that the two oldest sons were the only candidates available for either function. The three younger boys named in the residue (the will lists Sutton, Gabriel and Elisha as the three sons) may have been thought too young at the time of execution to step into a working role, leaving Gabriel as the only viable alternative if Sutton was lost. The arrangement thus narrows the cascading mechanism to two-generation depth, reflecting the practical limits of the family's working personnel.

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Item. I give & bequeath. unto my Grand Son John Defountain One sett of Silver Brest Buttons & one pair of Silver Buckles. Item. I give to my Grand Daughter Mary Defountain. one Guinea Lastly I Nominate. Constitute & Appoint My Trusty & beloved Son in Law M[r] John Alexander Before Mentioned to Whole & Sole Executor of this my last will & Testament. revoking all former Wills or Testaments heretofore. by me made Either by words or in Writing Acknowledging this and No other.

Sign'd Seal'd publish'd. pronounced & Ripin Wills Declar'd by the s[ai]d Ripin Wills to be his last Will & Testament. In the presence of Us Sutton Isache Sam[ue]l Jes[s]ey William Coales

In the Name of God Amen I John Alexander of the Island S[t] Helena Gentleman and Deputy Governour. being Sick & Weak of Body. but of sound mind & Memory do make & Ordain. this my last Will & Testament in Manner & form following. that is to say. My soul I recommend to the Mercy of Almighty God. My Body I commit to the Earth. to be Decently Inter[r]ed. & all such Worldly Estate. With which it hath Pleased God to bles[s] me. I give bequeath & Di[s]pose thereof as follows Viz[t] Imprimis. After my Debts & funeral Charges are paid & Satisfied I give & Bequeath. unto my Dear Wife. the one half part of my real Estate during her Natural Life. & also one third part of my Per[s]onal Estate together with the furniture thereto belonging. one Chest of Drawers one Dres[s]ing Glass. one fir Chest. one fir Box. Six Cane Chairs. & a small Cabanet. or neast of Drawers Standing in the room over the Kitchen Item. To my Eldest son I give & Bequeath my Dwelling house with ten Acres of Freehold Land. commonly called Gargens Land. to be put in to the Pos[s]es[s]ion of the said Land as soon as he Shall attain to the age of twenty one Years. & also half the house when he shall attain to the said Years & to Enjoy the other half upon the Decease of his mother upon Condition Nevertheles[s] that the said house & Land Shall be Valued by my Executors hereafter Named. Soon after my Decease & that he shall pay to each of his brother[s] & three youngest Sister[s] Mary. Rebecca

Wills gave his grandson John Defountain a set of silver breast buttons and a pair of silver buckles.

He gave his granddaughter Mary Defountain one guinea.

He appointed his son-in-law John Alexander, mentioned above, sole executor of his will, and revoked all earlier wills, whether oral or written. Signed Ripin Wills.

Witnessed by Sutton Isacke, Samuel Jessey and William Coales.

John Alexander of St Helena, gentleman and Deputy Governor, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth, to be decently buried, and disposed of his estate as follows.

After payment of debts and funeral charges, he gave his wife half of his real estate during her natural life. He also gave her one third of his personal estate, together with the furniture belonging to it, a chest of drawers, a dressing glass, a fir chest, a fir box, six cane chairs and a small cabinet or nest of drawers standing in the room over the kitchen.

He gave his eldest son his dwelling house with 10 acres of freehold land commonly called Gargens Land. The land was to be delivered when the son reached 21. The son was to take half the house at that age and the other half on his mother's death.

The house and land were to be valued by the executors soon after the testator's death. The son was to pay each of his brothers and his three youngest sisters Mary, Rebecca

Interpretations

The closing identification of the Wills executor as John Alexander, rather than as the W. Alexander referred to earlier in the text as custodian of the inventory, resolves what had appeared to be an ambiguity. The full text shows that the same son-in-law is meant throughout: John Alexander, who is here named both as inventory custodian and as sole executor. The reference to W. Alexander in the earlier passage probably represents a partial reading of a contracted form of John Alexander rather than a separate person, and the rewriting can now treat the executor consistently as John Alexander.

The Defountain surname links the Wills estate to the wider Desfontaines administrative line, whose forms in the registers range across Desfountain, Desfontaines, Defountain and similar variants. John Desfountain appears as joint executor under the Knipe will of 1733 and the Pawling will of 1738, and as a witness to the Isacke will of May 1738. The Wills will is therefore situated within the same administrative network through both its Alexander executor and its Defountain beneficiaries, with John Desfountain probably the father of the grandson John Defountain named here.

Speculations

The Wills will's distinct treatment of the Alexander and Defountain branches probably reflects the testator's working calculation that the Defountain household was already adequately supported through John Desfountain's own administrative position, while the Alexander household, despite the son-in-law's standing, required more substantial provision for the three granddaughters. The token bequests to the Defountain grandchildren preserved the symbolic equality of the two branches while channelling the bulk of the personal estate to where it was most needed.

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And Rachel. an equal part of the Value of the said Land & house first Deducting his own Share thereof as also the farther sum of Fou[r]ty Pounds out of the said house & Land. I hereby give to him to encourage him to take care of the Estate & Plantations. as they shall severally attain to the age of twenty one Years or marriage & if any or either of them. shall happen to Die before he or they shall attain to the age of twenty one Years or Marriage as aforesaid. then the Survivours Shall Enjoy the part of him or those who shall so happen to die as aforesaid. & if my Eldest Son Should happen to die before he is of age. I give the said house. to my Second Son John. upon the Terms & Conditions as the same. is given to his Brother. and if he also Should die before he attains to the age of twenty one Years. I give the Said house & Lands to my Youngest son George he performing the said Conditions which his Brothers are hereby Enjoyned to Observe. but as my Wife is to have her life time. in the house. & that many repairs will from time to time be wanting before my Eldest son will be of Age. some of which may be Chargeable. I recommend these Circumstances to the Consideration of my Executors. & Desire for these reasons. they will make abatements in the Valuation. of the said house Accordingly Item. I give & Bequeath. to my beloved Daughters by my former Wife. Namely. Elizabeth the Wife of Edward Bagley. Thirty pounds. Martha the Wife of James Harding. Thirty pounds. & to Margarett the Wife of John Knipe. Twenty pounds. the reason why I did not give them more is because they have each of them had a Seperate Stock. of which about fourteen Years past. I have kept upon my own Lands for their Sole Benefit & Advantage. & have also fed Clothed & Maintained their severall Blacks at my own Charge. Item. My son in Law James Powell. whom at the time of his Marriage with my Daughter Sarah. I fully Intended Should have a Childs part of my Estate. but his behavi[o]ur having been very Inj[ur]ious to my family & Undutifull to me. which to my great trouble & Sorrow. is well known to all the Inhabitants of this Island. I wholly bar & exclude from all right or Claim to any part of my Estate. & if I Should here by leave any gift or Legacey to his Wife I am Sensible he would be Entitled to it by Vertue of his Marriage. & for these reasons I give & Deposit. in the hands of my Executors the sum of thirty five pounds. having given her one Black Girl at the time of her Marriage. to be paid to her by my said Executors. if she Shall Survive her Husband. & for her sole Use. but if she Shall die before her said Husband then I give the said sum to be Divided [...] between her two Children. Mary & Sarah. to be paid them as they come of age

Alexander directed that the eldest son pay each of his brothers and his three youngest sisters Mary, Rebecca and Rachel an equal share of the value of the house and land, first deducting his own share. From the same property he was also to receive a further £40, given to him to encourage him to take care of the estate and plantations.

The shares were to be delivered as each child reached 21 or married. If any died before that, the survivors were to take that share.

If the eldest son died before reaching 21, the house was to pass to the second son John, on the same conditions. If John also died before reaching 21, the house and lands were to pass to the youngest son George, on the same conditions.

Since the wife was to enjoy the house during her life, and repairs would be needed before the eldest son reached 21, some of which might be expensive, the testator asked the executors to consider these circumstances and to make appropriate abatements in the valuation of the house.

He gave his daughters by his former wife as follows. Elizabeth, wife of Edward Bagley, £30. Martha, wife of James Harding, £30. Margarett, wife of John Knipe, £20. The reason he did not give them more was that each of them already had a separate stock, which he had kept on his own lands for their benefit for about 14 years. He had also fed, clothed and maintained their several slaves at his own cost.

His son-in-law James Powell, at the time of marriage to his daughter Sarah, was originally intended to receive a child's share of the estate. Powell's behaviour had been very injurious to the family and undutiful to the testator, as was well known to all the inhabitants of the island. The testator therefore barred and excluded Powell from any claim to the estate.

If any legacy were left to the daughter Sarah, her husband would be entitled to it by virtue of the marriage. The testator therefore deposited £35 in the hands of his executors, having already given Sarah a black girl at the time of her marriage. The £35 was to be paid to Sarah by the executors if she survived her husband, for her sole use. If Sarah died before her husband, the £35 was to be divided between her two children Mary and Sarah, to be paid as they came of age

Interpretations

The Alexander will reveals the principal Deputy Governor of the island operating within a dense kinship network already extensively documented in the registers. The three daughters by his former wife are married into three of the most prominent planter and administrative families: Elizabeth to Edward Bagley, Martha to James Harding, and Margarett to John Knipe. The Bagley connection links the will to the Bagley-Gurling-Steward kinship network of the earlier registers, with Edward Bagley plausibly a son of the Edward Bagley of the 1706 will or of one of his named brothers. The Harding connection links to the Harding-Slaughter family of the 1727 and 1734 wills. The Knipe connection links to the Knipe will of July 1733 and its troubled administration. The Alexander estate therefore sits at the confluence of three of the principal kinship networks of the period.

James Powell, identified here as the testator's son-in-law and the husband of his daughter Sarah, is the same James Powell appearing across the late registers as a witness to the John Young will of August 1733 and as a mourning beneficiary in the James Crafford will of March 1736, and one of the five Powell sons named in Gabriel Powell's 1729 will. The Powell-Alexander marriage links two of the principal administrative families of the period, and the explicit recording of marital disrepair within the will marks an unusual departure from the registers' otherwise discreet treatment of family matters.

Speculations

The explicit naming and shaming of son-in-law James Powell, with the reasons for exclusion set out in formal testamentary terms and the testator's express acknowledgment that Powell's behaviour was well known to all the inhabitants of the island, suggests that the family conflict had been substantial enough to require public record. The arrangement converts the will from a private testamentary instrument into a public statement of family discipline, with the working effect of insulating the executors against any future challenge by Powell on the ground that his exclusion was secret or unjustified. The naming-and-shaming function, which the registers generally avoid, here serves both to discipline the son-in-law and to protect the executors.

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Age or Marriage. & if one Shall die before She comes to age. or Marriage the Survivour Shall have the Whole. & if they shall both die before they come to age or Marriage. I give the said sum to be equally Divided Amongst my Six Youngest Children Item. To my two Grandsons Sons of John Desfountain. I give to Each. the sum of ten pounds. & the reason Why I do not give them more is because I prefered & Advanced their Mother at the time. of her Marriage. beyond what I am now able to do by the rest of my Children. to be paid them as they Shall Severally attain to the age of twenty one Years or Marriage. & if either of them Shall die a Minor. or before Marriage the Survivour Shall Enjoy the Whole. but if they both die before Age or Marriage. I give to my said son in Law. the sum of ten pounds thereof. & the other ten pounds to be equally Divided among my three Youngest Children. I also give to my said son in Law one Silver hilted Sword. as a Token of my Love Item. I give to my son in Law John Knipe the sum of ten pounds as a mark of my Love & Affection to him. Item. To my Goddaughter. Mary Howell. I give & bequeath. one Silver Tankard Item. I give to my Goddaughter Elizabeth Bagley. one Silver Porringer Item. I give to my Grandson. John Harding. two Silver table Spoons Item. I give to My Neice Marcy [Swallow]. one Ewe Sheep. one Ewe goat. and one Large Heifer Calf. to run with my own Stock. for a twelve Month Item. To my Daughter Mary. I give one black Girle. Named Abigaile to be Valued in her part of my Estate. Item. To my Daughter Rebecca. I give one black Girle Named Grace to be Valued in her part of my Estate. Item. To my Daughter Rachel I give one black Girle. Named little Abigail to be Valued in her part of my Estate. Item. To my beloved Wife I give one black Wench. Named Mary to be Valued in her part of my Estate. Item. Ishmael a black boy formerly belonging to my Children Whom I have brought up in my family for fourteen Years past. & being in hopes that he may Continue Serviceable. therein. I therfore desire that my [sons] in Law James Hading & Edward Bagley will each of them quit all Right or Claim to the said boy upon the payment by my Executors of Nine pounds to James Harding. & Six pounds to Edward Bagley. he having received three Sheep in part of payment. & John Knipe has Already received the sum of Nine pounds in full for his Share. or part of the said black. I hereby give to the Said James Harding and Edward Bagley each one Ewe Sheep for a tried[?] Item. All the rest. Re[s]idue & Remainder of my Estate. both real and

Alexander directed that if one of the two daughters Mary and Sarah died before age or marriage, the survivor was to have the whole £35. If both died before age or marriage, the sum was to be divided equally among his six youngest children.

He gave each of his two grandsons, sons of John Desfountain, £10. The reason he did not give them more was that he had advanced and preferred their mother at the time of her marriage, beyond what he could now do for his other children. The £10 sums were to be paid as each reached 21 or married. If either grandson died as a minor or before marriage, the survivor was to take the whole. If both died before age or marriage, £10 was to go to his son-in-law John Desfountain and the other £10 was to be divided equally among his three youngest children. He also gave John Desfountain a silver-hilted sword as a token of love.

He gave his son-in-law John Knipe £10 as a mark of love and affection.

He gave his goddaughter Mary Howell a silver tankard.

He gave his goddaughter Elizabeth Bagley a silver porringer.

He gave his grandson John Harding two silver table spoons.

He gave his niece Mercy Swallow one ewe sheep, one ewe goat and one large heifer calf, to run with his own stock for 12 months.

He gave his daughter Mary a black girl named Abigail, to be valued as part of her share of the estate.

He gave his daughter Rebecca a black girl named Grace, to be valued as part of her share of the estate.

He gave his daughter Rachel a black girl named little Abigail, to be valued as part of her share of the estate.

He gave his wife a black woman named Mary, to be valued as part of her share of the estate.

Ishmael, a black boy formerly belonging to his children, whom he had brought up in his family for 14 years, was the subject of a separate arrangement. The testator hoped Ishmael would continue to be of service in the family. He therefore asked his sons-in-law James Harding and Edward Bagley each to give up any right or claim to the boy, on payment by the executors of £9 to James Harding and £6 to Edward Bagley. Bagley had already received three sheep as part payment. John Knipe had already received £9 in full for his share. The testator gave each of James Harding and Edward Bagley one ewe sheep as a further token.

Interpretations

The arrangement for Ishmael reveals one of the most explicit working descriptions in the registers of how a shared inheritance in an enslaved person was bought out and consolidated within a single household. The boy had originally belonged to the testator's three children by his first marriage, presumably as a joint inheritance from the deceased first wife or her family. Each of the three married daughters' households, through their husbands, retained a working share in him. The Alexander instrument now buys out those shares, with cash to Harding and Bagley and acknowledgment of the prior £9 payment to Knipe, in order to consolidate full ownership in the Alexander household before the boy passes by the testator's will. The three sheep already paid to Bagley as part payment, and the further ewe sheep given to Harding and Bagley as token compensation, illustrate the working pattern of mixed cash-and-livestock settlement in slave-buy-out transactions on the island.

The niece Mercy Swallow, recipient of one ewe sheep, one ewe goat and one large heifer calf to run with the testator's stock for 12 months, links the Alexander household to the wider Swallow kinship network of the registers. The Swallow family has appeared from the Robert Swallow will of 1688 onwards, with multiple Richard Swallows across the registers, the deceased Richard Swallow carpenter of the John Harding 1727 will, and the testator Richard Swallow of September 1729. Mercy Swallow as the testator's niece indicates an Alexander-Swallow marriage in a previous generation that the registers had not previously documented.

Speculations

The buy-out of Ishmael, set out in unusually specific working detail, suggests that the boy had developed a particular value or working role within the Alexander household over the 14 years of his upbringing there. The testator's expressed hope that he may continue serviceable indicates that Ishmael had become an integral part of the household's working operation, and that allowing the shared ownership to fragment at the testator's death would have disrupted established working patterns. The settlement therefore functions as a working capital consolidation, securing the boy as part of the principal Alexander estate before partition.

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And Personal. I give and Bequeath. to be Equally Divided amongst the Six following of my beloved Children. namely. Samuel. John. George. Mary. Rebecca, and Rachel. the half of my Freehold Estate. to be Pos[s]es[s]ed and Enjoyed by their Mother During her life time. being herein included to be paid & Delivered to them as they Shall Severally Attain to the age of Twenty one Years or Marriage. & if one or More of them Shall Die before they Shall Attain to the age of twenty one Years or be married his or their Share or Portion of my Estate. Shall be Equally Divided among the Survivours. & if my Wife be now with Child. my meaning and Intention. is. that the said Child Shall have an Equal part or porti[o]n of my Estate. with the rest of my Six Children before mentioned. & as I am Very Desirous to Settle my sons upon my Freehold Lands. I recommend it to my Executors to pay the portions. or Shares of my Daughters. out of my Leasehold Lands & other my personal Estate. if the same Can be done Without hurt or Prejudice to him. I also recommend it to my Wife & Executors that my Estate Should Continue & be kept together for the joint Benefit of herself & the Children. as long as pos[s]ibly may be, & if upon Stateing & Balancing my Accounts. it Shall appear. that I am involved more than I now imagine. or that upon any other occasion. it Shall become Nece[s]sary. for the Advantage of my family. to sell or Dispose of any part of my freehold Lands. in which Cases. I hereby give full Power & Authority of my Executors to Sell & Dispose of any or Such part thereof. as they Shall think. proper. except. my dwelling house, & the ten Acres of Freehold Lands. Commonly called Gargens Land. but I think it best if it shall be found Nece[s]sary. to Sell. any that the Land called Forsters. Should be first sold. or that Called Purgatory as far as the place Named Windy point. above Orlando Bagleys. to the foot of the Sheep Knowle. though of the two. I had rather. the Lands Called Forsters Should be the first to be Dispos[e]d of. Item. I Desire my houshold Goods at the fort may be sould by Auction which I think will be most for the Advantage of my Children & I would have the best of my Apparel also sold either by Auction or at Valuation as my Executors Shall think. proper. Item. My Estate being all of my own getting. I have a Right to give & Bequeath the same to whom. & in such parts or Portions as I please. and after long & Mature Consideration what would be most for the Benefit of my Wife & Children I have given & Bequeathed the same among them in the Several parts & Portions before mentioned. with which I hope they will be all Satisfied. Lastly. I do hereby Nominate & Appoint my Trusty friends Captain John Goodwin. & third of Council of this Island & M[r] Richard Beale Executors of this my last will & Testament to whom I give. each me

Alexander gave the residue of his real and personal estate, including the half of his freehold estate held by his wife during her life, to be divided equally among his six remaining children Samuel, John, George, Mary, Rebecca and Rachel. The shares were to be delivered as each reached 21 or married. If any died before age or marriage, the share was to be divided equally among the survivors. If his wife was then with child, that child was to have an equal share with the six children named.

He wished to settle his sons on his freehold lands, and asked his executors to pay the daughters' shares out of his leasehold lands and personal estate, so far as this could be done without hurt or prejudice to the sons.

He recommended that his wife and executors keep the estate together as long as possible for the joint benefit of the family. If his accounts when stated and balanced showed him more indebted than he then imagined, or if it became necessary for the family's advantage to sell part of the freehold for any other reason, he gave the executors full power to sell any part of the freehold lands, except the dwelling house and the 10 acres of Gargens Land.

If a sale was necessary, he preferred that the land called Forsters be sold first, or alternatively the land called Purgatory as far as the place named Windy Point above Orlando Bagley's, down to the foot of the Sheep Knowle. Of the two, he preferred that Forsters be the first disposed of.

He directed that his household goods at the fort be sold by auction, which he thought would be most to the children's advantage. The best of his apparel was also to be sold, either by auction or at valuation, as the executors thought proper.

He declared that the whole estate was of his own getting and that he had a right to give and bequeath it to whomever and in such portions as he pleased. After long and mature consideration of what would most benefit his wife and children, he had divided it in the parts already set out, and he hoped they would be all satisfied.

He appointed his friends Captain John Goodwin, third of council of the island, and Richard Beale executors. He gave each

Interpretations

The named parcels Forsters, Purgatory and Sheep Knowle, identified by reference to neighbouring landmarks including Windy Point above Orlando Bagley's holding, fix the working geographical structure of the Alexander estate within the local planter landscape. The reference to Orlando Bagley's land identifies a Bagley parcel still in occupation in 1738, which is the same Orlando Bagley junior recurring across the late registers as the surviving Bagley brother after the deaths of Edward (1706) and Thomas (1711) and as a regular witness in the period. The naming of Forsters and Purgatory as identifiable parcels, alongside Gargens Land reserved to the eldest son, gives the Alexander estate a four-parcel structure within the broader freehold holding.

The instruction to settle the sons on freehold land and to pay the daughters from leasehold and personal estate establishes the working institutional distinction between freehold succession through the male line and cash partition for daughters. The arrangement preserves the freeholder status across the Alexander line by keeping the freehold in the sons' hands, while converting the daughters' entitlements into more liquid forms that they could carry into their marital households. The same principle appears in less explicit form in the Edmund Nichols will of July 1733, where Shomstone Wood was reserved for the elder son with the younger son compensated in leasehold.

Speculations

The detailed geographical specification of the alternative sale parcels, with named neighbours and topographical reference points including Windy Point, Sheep Knowle and the foot of named features, suggests that the testator anticipated litigation or dispute over the exact extent of any sale. By tying the alternative parcels to identifiable landmarks rather than to formal acreage, the testator ensured that the executors could exercise the sale power with clarity, and that any purchaser could identify the bounds without recourse to surveys that might not be available on the island.

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One Moidore to buy them a Ring. and I do hereby Nominate & Appoint my Eldest Son Samuel to be an Executor of this my Will. as Soon as he shall Attain to the age of Seventeen Years. And I do hereby Revoke Annull & make Void all other will or wills by me heretofore made Ratifying & Confirming this & No other to be my Last. will & Testament In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set. my hand & Seale this 2[d] Day of June. in the Year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred & thirty seven

Sign'd Seal'd. Publi[s]hed. & Declared as the last will & Testament of him Jn[o] Alexander the said John Alexander. in the pres[en]ce of John Bazett Fran[s] Wrangham D Crispe

In the Name of God Amen. I Mary Powell of the Island S[t] Helena. Widow. being Sick & weak of Body bu[t] of Sound Mind & Memory do make & Ordain this my last. will & [Testame] Testament. in manner & form following Viz[t] My Soul I recommen[d] to the Mercy of Almighty God. my body I commit. to the Earth. and my Worldly Estate. I give & bequeath. as followeth. Viz[t] Imprimis. I give & Bequeath unto my beloved Sons. George Gabriel. Josiah Charlesworth. & Joseph. all that piece or Parcell of Freehold Lands Containing twelve Acres more or les[s]. which after my decease would have descended. had She been living to my Daughter Anne late Wife of James Crafford, & also all that one Acre. & half More or les[s] of Freehold Land which I lately bought of Richard Goodwin Attorney of of the said James Crafford to be Equally Divided Among them. Item. To my Daughter Mary Powell I give one black Girle. named Peg. Two Silver Table Spoons & also the Sum. of one hundr[ed] & fifty Pounds. to be paid. her upon the day of her age. or Marriage. & likewise. one feather bed Bolster, Pillows. & furniture. Such as She shall Choose. Item. To my Son George Gabriel. I give. the Sum of fifty Pounds. one Black Man. & one large India Chest of Drawers. Item. To my Son James Steel. the Sum of Twenty four Pounds Item. To my Son Josiah Charlesworth I give one black boy Called King. one feather Bed & furniture. the second best. Two Silver Spoons

Alexander gave each of his executors one moidore to buy a ring. He further appointed his eldest son Samuel to act as executor when Samuel reached 17.

He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed John Alexander, 2 June 1737.

Witnessed by John Bazett, Francis Wrangham and Duke Crispe.

Mary Powell of St Helena, widow, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made her will. She commended her soul to God and her body to the earth, and disposed of her estate as follows.

She gave her sons George Gabriel, Josiah Charlesworth and Joseph the freehold parcel of about 12 acres which would have descended to her daughter Anne, late wife of James Crafford, had she been living, together with the further parcel of about 1½ acres of freehold which she had lately bought from Richard Goodwin, attorney to James Crafford. The two parcels were to be divided equally among the three sons.

She gave her daughter Mary Powell a black girl named Peg, two silver table spoons, £150 to be paid on the day of her age or marriage, and a feather bed with bolster, pillows and furniture of her own choosing.

She gave her son George Gabriel £50, a black man and a large India chest of drawers.

She gave her son James Steel £24.

She gave her son Josiah Charlesworth a black boy called King, a feather bed and furniture the second best, two silver spoons

Interpretations

The closing of the Alexander will places the eldest son's executor role on a delayed entry at age 17, the same staged executor entry mechanism documented in the handover for Gabriel Powell's will of September 1729, where two sons entered as executors at ages 17 and 19. The recurrence of this device confirms it as a settled working pattern for managing the transition between adult administration and the entry of a minor son into the family's working office. The arrangement preserves the immediate executor team of Goodwin and Beale while securing the eldest son's eventual role.

Mary Powell is the widow of the Gabriel Powell whose will of September 1729 is extensively recorded in the handover, where she appears as second wife with a third of personal estate for ever and half of property already in her possession during life. Her own will, drawn about nine years later, distributes the freehold lands she controlled at her death across the three sons named in her late husband's will: George Gabriel, Josiah (rendered Joseph Charlsworth in Gabriel's will) and Joseph. The forename James Steel for a further son, also receiving a smaller cash legacy, identifies a son not previously documented in the registers and probably a son of a first marriage of Mary Powell before her marriage to Gabriel Powell.

Speculations

The arrangement of unequal cash legacies to the four sons named in the Mary Powell will, with the freehold lands divided among three (George Gabriel, Josiah Charlesworth and Joseph) and James Steel receiving only a £24 cash bequest, suggests that James Steel was a son of a different marriage. The Powell sons all bear compound names connecting them to the Charlesworth and Powell family networks (with George Gabriel preserving the testator's late husband's name), while the Steel surname stands apart entirely. The most plausible reading is that James Steel was Mary Powell's son by a marriage before she became the second wife of Gabriel Powell, and that he received only personal property because the freehold land had come from Gabriel Powell's holding rather than from the testator's own pre-marital estate.

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Spoons & the sum of forty pounds. Item. To my Son Joseph I give the sum of fifty pounds & [two] Silver Spoons Item. To my Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Joshua Johnson. I give the sum of fifty pounds & in case of her death before the said Legacyes paid I give the said sum of fifty pounds to her eldest Daughter Mary Johnson. & my Intent & Meaning is that if my Estate Shall not be Sufficient. to make god the Severall Legacies herein Mentioned, each of the Legatees Shall receive. & be paid in Proportion to Such Deficiency. if any such shall happen. All the rest re[s]idue & Remainder of my Estate after these Legacies are paid I give to my Sons George Gabriel. James Josiah Charlesworth and Joseph & to my Daughter Mary Powell to be Equally Divided among them & in Case any of them shall die before age or marriage. their share or Dividend of my Estate hereby Bequeathed. to them. Shall be Equally Divided among the Survivours. Lastly. I Nominate & Appoint my Son George Gabriel. & M[r] Richard Goodwin of this Island Executors of this my last will & Testament Revoking all other will or wills by me heretofore made. In witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale this 1[s][t] day of May in the Year of Our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred & thirty five

Sign'd Seal'd. Publi[s]hd & Declared as the Last will & Testament of the said M Powell Mary Powell in the Pres[e]nce of Isaac Wood Jon[a]. Doveton Fran[s]. Wrangham D Crisp[e]

In the Name of God Amen. this [7]th day of October 1737. I Joseph Harding of the Island. S[t] Helena. Plant[er] being Sick. and Weak of body but of [s]ound. & Perfect mind & Memory (thanks to Almighty God) do make & Ordain this my last & Testament. that is to say first & Principally I give & Recommend my Soul to Almighty God. My Body I Commit to the Earth to be Buried in a Christian Manner. Imprimis. I give to my well beloved Wife. the half of my real Estate during her Naturall Life and also the one third of my personal Estate. to be at her Disposal. Item. all the rest & Re[s]idue. of my Estate. be it what kind Soever I give to my well beloved Children Namely Mary & Anne & the Child my Wife is now big with. to be equally Divided. among as they shall attain to the age of 21 Years or Marriage as well the other half of my real Estate Pos[s]es[s]ed by their Mother at her Decease. but in Case the Child my wife now goe[s] with should be a Male. that then. I do hereby give him the

Powell gave her son Josiah Charlesworth a black boy called King, a feather bed and the second-best furniture, two silver spoons and £40.

She gave her son Joseph £50 and two silver spoons.

She gave her daughter Elizabeth, wife of Joshua Johnson, £50. If Elizabeth died before the legacy was paid, the £50 was to go to her eldest daughter Mary Johnson.

If the estate was insufficient to pay all the legacies in full, each legatee was to receive a proportionate share of any deficiency.

She gave the residue of the estate to her sons George Gabriel, James Steel, Josiah Charlesworth and Joseph, and to her daughter Mary Powell, to be divided equally among them. If any of them died before age or marriage, that share was to be divided equally among the survivors.

She appointed her son George Gabriel and Richard Goodwin executors of her will, and revoked all earlier wills. Signed Mary Powell, 1 May 1735.

Witnessed by Isaac Wood, Jonathan Doveton, Francis Wrangham and Duke Crispe.

On 7 October 1737, Joseph Harding of St Helena, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian manner.

He gave his wife half of his real estate during her natural life, and one third of his personal estate to be at her disposal.

He gave the residue of his estate to his children Mary and Anne, and to the child his wife was then carrying, to be divided equally as each reached 21 or married. The other half of the real estate held by his wife during her life was to be divided in the same way at her death.

If the unborn child was male, the testator gave him the

Interpretations

The Mary Powell will dates from 1 May 1735, more than three years before its registration alongside the autumn 1738 cluster. The delay between execution and registration repeats the pattern of the William Seal will of May 1727, registered in the present sequence among the wills of 1736 to 1738. The administrative catch-up of older instruments alongside contemporary ones indicates that the council periodically cleared backlogs of registered probate, with wills proved and registered in groups rather than individually as soon as the testator died. The Mary Powell will was therefore probably proved at some point between her death and the late 1738 registration date, with the formal register entry made up only at the point of the wider cluster's processing.

The Joseph Harding will of October 1737 identifies the testator as the same Joseph Harding named as brother in the Richard Harding will of 1727 and as brother of John Harding (1727). The handover identifies the Harding-Slaughter family of the John Harding 1727 will and the Richard Harding 1727 will, with Joseph as one of the brothers. The Ann Slaughter will of March 1734 named Joseph Harding as one of her sons, recipient of the remaining household goods. The present will, dated October 1737, marks Joseph's own disposition some ten years after his elder brothers' deaths and three years after his mother's. The Harding family arc therefore now runs through three generations in the registers, from the elder Richard Harding (1706), through Ann Slaughter and her three Harding sons (1727 and 1734), to Joseph's own disposition of 1737.

Speculations

The proportionate deficiency clause in the Mary Powell will probably reflects an uncertain estate at the date of execution in May 1735, with the testator anticipating the working risk that her late husband's Lancashire property (the Rotten Stack mentioned in the Gabriel Powell will of 1729) might not yield the expected proceeds. The Lancashire connection had been the subject of complex working arrangements through both the Hodgkinson and Powell families, with two daughters of the Hodgkinson line married into the Powell line according to the handover. By introducing a pro-rata clause, Mary Powell ensured that no single legatee would be disadvantaged by deficiencies arising from the difficulty of administering distant property.

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the Refusal of my real Estate. he paying the said Sisters their proporti[on] Shares. but if the Child Should be female. then I give the Refusal of my real Estate. to my Eldest. Daughter. at the age of 21 Years or in Case any of my said Daughters Should be Married before. my Eldest Daughter comes to the age aforesaid. that then I give that is Married the refusal of my real Estate. they performing the same Conditions as above Mentioned. & in Case of the Death of any my Children. that the Survivours Shall Enjoy their part or share Lastly. I Nominate. & Appoint. my Trusty friends M[r] Gabriel Harper & M[r] Tho[s] Greentree. to be Executors of this my will. Revoking and Disannulling all former. wills by me made. Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last will & Testament.

Sign'd & Declared. to be the last will & Testament. of him the said Joseph Harding [Jos]. Harding in the Presence of Us James Harding Orlando Bagley Richard Beale

Memorandum this 27 day of October 1737. that in Case of the death of all my Children. before age or marriage. that then I give & Bequeath my Whole Estate. to be Equally Divided. among the five Children of my Sister Lydia Harper, the two Children of my Brother in Law Gabriel Harper, and the Son of my Brother James Harding. to be Delivered them at age or marriage. and if any of them. die before age or Marriage. then to be. equally Divided. among the Survivours And this I desire may be taken. & Esteemed as part of my last will and Testament Witnes[s]ed by Joseph Harding

Harding gave the unborn male child first refusal of the real estate, on condition of paying the sisters their proportionate shares. If the child was female, the eldest daughter was to have first refusal at the age of 21. If any of the daughters married before the eldest reached 21, the married daughter was to have the first refusal instead, on the same conditions. If any of the children died before age or marriage, the survivors were to enjoy that share.

He appointed his friends Gabriel Harper and Thomas Greentree executors, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed Joseph Harding.

Witnessed by James Harding, Orlando Bagley and Richard Beale.

A memorandum was added on 27 October 1737. If all the children died before age or marriage, the whole estate was to be divided equally among the five children of his sister Lydia Harper, the two children of his brother-in-law Gabriel Harper and the son of his brother James Harding. The shares were to be delivered at age or marriage. If any of these grandchildren or nieces and nephews died before age or marriage, the surviving members were to take the share. The memorandum was to be taken as part of his last will and testament. Witnessed by Joseph Harding.

Interpretations

The cascading first-refusal mechanism in the Joseph Harding will, with the right passing from a notional unborn son to the eldest daughter at age 21 and then by marriage priority among the daughters, sets out the most elaborate working version of conditional male-then-female succession in the registers. The arrangement gives a male child priority if one is born, falls back to the daughter line by age if no male is born, and accelerates to a married daughter if marriage precedes the age of 21 of the eldest. The mechanism preserves the working principle of male succession while providing for the practical reality that no male might exist or might not survive, and that the female line might mature through marriage before reaching the standard threshold.

The memorandum of 27 October 1737, added 20 days after the original will, sets out a working contingency for total failure of the immediate family. The provision distributes the estate among nieces and nephews across three sibling households: the five children of sister Lydia Harper, the two children of brother-in-law Gabriel Harper and the single son of brother James Harding. The differential numbers across the three households reflect the actual demographic composition of the wider Harding-Harper family at the date of the codicil, with Lydia Harper's household substantially the largest. The sister Lydia Harper named here is the same Lydia Harper named in the Richard Harding will of 1727 in the handover as having married into the Harper family, with husband Thomas Harper. Her five children at the present date represent the working second generation of the Harper line.

Speculations

The 20-day gap between the principal will and the memorandum suggests that the testator's reflections on the contingent failure of his immediate family had matured between the two dates, perhaps in response to the wife's pregnancy progressing toward delivery, or to a deterioration in his own health that increased the urgency of providing for total contingency. The detailed enumeration of three sibling households' children by number indicates that the testator had made a working count of the eligible beneficiaries before drafting, which would have required consultation with the wider family rather than a private decision in his sickbed.

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In the Name of God Amen this 17[th] day of September A[D] 1739 I Frances Seale of the Island S[t] Helena Widow being Sick. & Weak. of Body. but of Sound & Per[s]ect mind & Memory thanks be to Almighty God. Do make. & Ordain this my last Will. and Testament. that is to say. first & Principally I give & Recommend my Soule to Almighty God trusting in his Mercies for the Redeption of my Sins. My Body I commit to the Earth. to be Buried in a Christian like Manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter Named My worldly Goods I give. & Dispose of as follows Viz[t] Imprimis. I give & Bequeath. unto my beloved Son Benjamin one Slave Man called Jemmy. Secondly. after my debts and Funeral Charges are fully defrayed And Satisfied. all the rest & Remainder. of my Estate. be it in what kind Soever I give & bequeath in Equal Shares. & Proportions unto My Well beloved Daughters. Sarah & Margarett. And my beloved Grandson Joshua. the son of my Daughter. Rebeckah. And my beloved Granddaughter Fanny the Daughter of Elizabeth & Robert Gurling to be divided amongst my Affores[ai]d Children Sarah. Margarett Joshua. & Fanncy in Equal Shares & Dwidends; And in case of the Death of my Grandson Joshua. before he Arrives at the age of 21 Years or matriage, his Share & Dwiderdd Shall go & Decend to my Afforesaid Daughters Sarah & Margarett: And in case of the Death of my Granddaughter Fanny before. she Arrives at the age of Twenty one Years or Marriage her Share and Dwiderdd Shall go & Descend to her Sister called Mary. (no[t] yet Cristned. the other Daughter. of the Affores[ai]d Elizabeth & Robert Gurling. to them. & their heirs forever Lastly. I Nominate. & Appoint my very good Friends Mes[se]r[s] Geo. Gab. Powell & John Seale Executors of this my last Will & Testament. Uttenly Revoking. & Disahnulling. all former Will or Wills by me made. Ratifyind & Confirming this. & no other to be my last will & Testament

Signed Seal'd. & delivered as her Last will. in the pre[s]ence Frances Seale of Us Be[n]j[a]. Pledger W[m] Seale

On 17 September 1739, Frances Seale of St Helena, widow, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made her will. She gave thanks to God, commended her soul to God in trust of his mercies, and directed that her body be buried in Christian manner at the discretion of her executors.

She gave her son Benjamin a slave man called Jemmy.

After payment of debts and funeral charges, she gave the residue of her estate, of whatever kind, in equal shares to her daughters Sarah and Margarett, her grandson Joshua (son of her daughter Rebecca), and her granddaughter Fanny (daughter of Elizabeth and Robert Gurling).

If her grandson Joshua died before reaching 21 or marrying, his share was to pass to her daughters Sarah and Margarett.

If her granddaughter Fanny died before reaching 21 or marrying, her share was to pass to her sister Mary, the other daughter of Elizabeth and Robert Gurling, then not yet christened, to her and her heirs for ever.

She appointed her friends George Gabriel Powell and John Seale executors of her will, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as her final testament.

Signed Frances Seale. Witnessed by Benjamin Pledger and William Seale.

Interpretations

Frances Seale is the widow of the William Seal of the 12 May 1727 will recorded in the present registers, where his three sons John, William and Benjamin Seale were established as the principal beneficiaries of the cabbage tree and gum wood lands. Her own will, drawn twelve years after her husband's, identifies the wider family that the 1727 instrument had not fully recorded: two daughters Sarah and Margarett Seale, a third daughter Rebecca with a son Joshua, and a fourth daughter Elizabeth Gurling with two daughters Fanny and the unbaptised Mary. The Seale family demographic at the date of Frances's will therefore included at least three sons (the William, John and Benjamin of the 1727 will) and four daughters, with the working line extending into a third generation through grandchildren in the Pledger and Gurling households.

The bequest to granddaughter Fanny Gurling, with substitution to her unbaptised sister Mary, fixes the working composition of the Robert Gurling household at the date of the will. Robert Gurling is the same Robert Gurling appearing across the registers from the Mary Dixon will of 1696 onwards, as son-in-law of John Worrall under the August 1733 will, as substitute executor under the Bagley will of 1728, and as witness on multiple late wills including the Edmund Nichols will of July 1733 and the Ann Slaughter will of March 1734. His marriage to Elizabeth Seale, daughter of Frances Seale, links the Gurling administrative line into the Seale household, extending the Bagley-Gurling-Worrall-Steward network previously documented into a further family. The unbaptised infant Mary Gurling repeats the Edmund Nichols will's pattern of naming an unbaptised child as a contingent beneficiary, preserving her interest in the residual line.

Speculations

The choice of George Gabriel Powell as executor, rather than any member of the immediate Seale or Gurling family, suggests that the testator regarded the working administration of her estate as requiring an external administrative figure rather than a relative. With several adult sons and at least one administratively active son-in-law in Robert Gurling, the family had its own working executor candidates, but the testator nominated Powell, presumably for his standing and disinterest as among the principal administrators of the period. The pairing with John Seale, presumably one of her sons, balances the external administrator with a family figure, in the standard working pattern of executor selection.

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S[t] Helena May the 28[th] 1739

In the Name of God Amen. I Francis Leech of the said Island Souldier being sick. & Weak. of Body. But of Perfect mind & Memory Thanks be to God for the same. but calling to mind the uncertainty of this Life. & Knowing it is Appointed for all Men once to Die. hoping through the Merrits and Death of Jesus Christ. to receive Remi[s]ion. & Pardon for all my sins Do hereby make. And Ordain. this my last will & Testament. in manner & form following. Viz[t]

Imprimis. I will and Order that all my Debts & Funeral Charges be first of all paid & Satisfied.

Item. I give & Bequeath unto my well Beloved Friend James Vaughn all my Estate. Debts Dues and Demands coming some wherein I appoint M[r] James Vaughn my Execut[or] of this my last will & Testament. Revoking & make Void all former wills by me made. Declaring this. & No other. to be my last will & Testament

Francis Leech

Sign'd Seal'd & Deliver'd in the Presence of John Hodghinson Henry Beale Valentine Greening

On 28 May 1739, Francis Leech of St Helena, soldier, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, reflected on the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its time, and commended his soul to God in hope of pardon through Christ.

He ordered that all his debts and funeral charges be paid first.

He gave his friend James Vaughn the whole of his estate, debts, dues and demands coming to him, and appointed Vaughn sole executor of his will.

He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed Francis Leech.

Witnessed by John Hodgkinson, Henry Beale and Valentine Greening.

Interpretations

The Leech will follows the soldier-and-friend pattern recurrent across the registers, in which a sick garrison soldier without recorded kin on the island left his entire estate to a single named friend who served as both executor and universal beneficiary. The same pattern appears in the Stanley 1736, William Gibbs 1720 and Bothway 1710 wills, all of which directed the whole of a soldier's estate to a single friend. The recurrent device indicates the working solution by which garrison soldiers without family on the island consolidated their effects in the hands of a single trusted figure, avoiding the formal partition that family wills required.

The Leech surname appears across the registers from the John Knipe will of 1695 in the handover, where Richard Leach was named as joint executor, through the John Crosby will of 1717 where Richard Gurling served alongside the Leech line, and through the Mary Coulson will of 1727 where the slave Roger was exchanged. The handover further records Francis Isaac Leech as executor of the John Swallow corporal will of 1729, and Isaac Leech Gurling as son-in-law and executor of Martha Robinson 1724, with the compound surname indicating the Gurling-Leech kinship union. The present Francis Leech, identified as a soldier in 1739, may be a descendant or kinsman of this established Leech line, or may be a separate Francis Leech of comparable name.

Speculations

The witness Valentine Greening, not previously recorded in the registers, may be a fellow soldier of the garrison rather than a member of the planter administrative network. His unique forename Valentine, unlike the common forenames of the established administrative figures, suggests an outsider to the working planter line. The presence of a fellow soldier as one of three witnesses to a soldier's will, alongside the established administrators Hodgkinson and Beale, would have reinforced the witnessing team with someone who could confirm the testator's identity and circumstances from his own working environment.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Thomas Cason of the Island S[t] Helena Lieutenant. Being Sick. & Weak. of Body but of Perfect mind & memory. and Calling to mind the Uncertainty of Human Life. & Knowing there is a time. for all Men once to Die. make this my last Will & Testament. ; First. & Principally I committ my Soul. into the Hands of my Bles[s]ed Redeamer. Trusting in his Mercies for the Remis[s]ion of my sins; my Worldly Effects I will & Bequeath as follows Viz[t] I Will & Bequeath unto my Well beloved Friend John Goodwin Esq[r] Governour the sum of one Hundred pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto each of the Gentlemen of Council. the sum of Twenty Pounds. to Buy them Mourning. I Will & Bequeath unto Thomas Goodwin the Son of John Goodwin Esq[r] the Sum of one Hundred pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto M[rs] Margaret[t] Goodwin the Lady of John Goodwin Esq[r] as a token of my regard to her. my Silver Tankard. I Will & Bequeath unto my Good Friend John Brown Surgeon the Sum of one Hundred pounds. to be paid him in the Hono[urable] Companys Cash Notes. which my Executors will find in my Chest. I Will & Bequeath unto the Children of Thomas Harper Deceas[e]d [viz] Richard. Thomas. & Henry. Ann. & Mary. the Sum of one Hundred pounds. to be Devided between them in Equal Shares & Devidends. to be paid to them by My Executors. as they shall come to age or Marriage. & in Case of the Death of either of the Said Richard. Thomas. Henry. Ann. & Mary before they come to Age. or Marriage. then their Share[s] or De[vi]dend shall decend to the Survivors. I Will & Bequeath unto Mary Harper the Daughter of Mary Mason. the sum of one Hundred pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto Elizabeth the Wife of John Scott the Sum of Forty pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto Darcas Bryba[r]r the sum of Fifty. pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto Margarett. French the Sum of [Seventy] pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto Jonathan the Son of Samuel Doveton the sum of Ten pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto William Young the sum of ten pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto Samuel Alexander the sum of Forty pounds. I Will & Bequeath unto Mary Easthope. the sum of Fifty pounds to be paid her at age or Marriage. I Will & Bequeath unto Thomas Harper the son of Martin Harper the sum of Fifty four pounds. which his father stands Indebted to me as p[er] his Note of hand. Dated 4 May 1736. to be paid to the Said Thomas Harper when he Arrives at the Age of 21 Years. by his Said Father Martin Harper.

Thomas Cason of St Helena, lieutenant, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, reflected on the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its time, and commended his soul to Christ in trust of pardon for his sins.

He gave his friend John Goodwin esquire, Governor, £100.

He gave each of the gentlemen of Council £20 for mourning.

He gave Thomas Goodwin, son of John Goodwin, £100.

He gave Margarett Goodwin, the wife of John Goodwin, his silver tankard, as a token of his regard.

He gave his friend John Brown, surgeon, £100, to be paid in the Honourable Company's cash notes, which the executors would find in his chest.

He gave the children of the deceased Thomas Harper, namely Richard, Thomas, Henry, Ann and Mary, £100 to be divided equally as they reached age or marriage. If any of them died before age or marriage, that share was to pass to the survivors.

He gave Mary Harper, daughter of Mary Mason, £100.

He gave Elizabeth, wife of John Scott, £40.

He gave Dorcas Brybarr £50.

He gave Margarett French £70.

He gave Jonathan, son of Samuel Doveton, £10.

He gave William Young £10.

He gave Samuel Alexander £40.

He gave Mary Easthope £50, to be paid at age or marriage.

He gave Thomas Harper, son of Martin Harper, £54. This sum was owed to him by Martin Harper under a note of hand dated 4 May 1736, and was to be paid to Thomas Harper by his father Martin Harper when Thomas reached 21.

Interpretations

The Cason will is the most extensive cash-distribution disposition recorded in the registers, with at least fourteen named individuals receiving cash legacies in the recoverable portion alone, ranging from £10 up to £100. The total of the named cash legacies in this passage alone exceeds £900, indicating a substantial accumulated estate that the testator had built up during his service as lieutenant of the garrison. The pattern indicates a working preference for cash bequests over landed or chattel property, in keeping with the testator's military status rather than planter status.

Thomas Cason is the same Captain Thomas Cason named in the Edward Johnson governor's will of February 1723 in the handover, where he received 20 pounds alongside the council members. His standing in 1723 was already that of a captain, and his progression to lieutenant by the date of the present will (presumably with intermediate ranks) marks his settled position in the garrison's senior officer ranks across at least two decades. His own will, distributing nearly £1,000 in cash legacies, reveals the substantial wealth a senior officer could accumulate from garrison service and probably from private trading on the side.

Speculations

The accumulation of nearly £1,000 in cash legacies in the recoverable portion of the Cason will, with further bequests presumably to follow, suggests that the testator had been functioning as a working creditor and investor across the island during his garrison service, accumulating substantial Company cash notes and personal IOUs in addition to his pay. The reference to John Brown's £100 being payable in Company cash notes which the executors would find in his chest indicates that Cason held a chest of Company paper alongside personal cash, in the working pattern of a senior officer's accumulated wealth.

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I Will & Bequeath unto Mary & Elizabeth the Daughters of Gabriel Harper the Sum of Fifty one pounds. to be Equally divided between them. Which sum their Father stands Inteb[t]ed to Me as p[er] his Note of hand Dated 3 October 1735. to be paid to the said Mary & Elizabeth. when they arrive at the Age of 21 Years or Marriage. by their said Father Gabriel Harper. I Will & Bequeath unto my Slave boy his Freedom immediately after my Decease. And the sum of ten pounds to be paid him by My Executors in Manner following Viz[t] They Shall pay the Captain of the Storeship for his Pas[s]age to India. And what is Remaining Shall be paid to the Said Boy Thomas. And I do likewise give him Six of My Shirts. And a Suit of My Apparrell such as My Executors Shall Think Will do him most Service. I Will & Bequeath unto Martin Harper my Silver Sneaker. And to his Wife Ann. my Silver Salver. I Will that all my just debts be paid by my Executors as soon after my decease. as Conveniently they can. I Will & Bequeath unto my Beloved frieds Thomas Easthope. Martin Harper & Gabriel Harper all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my Estate. to be Devided between them in Equal Shares & Dividi[en]ds. for them & their Heirs. I Will. Nominate. & Appoint. that my well beloved frieds M[r]s. George Gabriel. Powell. Thomas Easthope. Martin Harper. and Gabriel Harper to be my true & Lawful[l] Executors to this my last Will & Testament. Utterly Devoking all former Wills by me made. Witnes[s] my hand & Seale. in St Helena this Fourth day of February Anno Domini one Thousand Seven Hundred and thirty nine. Thom[s] Cason Signed Sealed & Delivered as his last Will & Testament (Where no Stamped paper is to be had) in the Pres[en]ce of Us W[m] Worrall Jun[r] Nich[s] Cleather Rich[d] Frost

Cason gave Mary and Elizabeth, daughters of Gabriel Harper, £51 to be divided equally between them. This sum was owed to him by Gabriel Harper under a note of hand dated 3 October 1735, and was to be paid to Mary and Elizabeth at 21 or marriage by their father Gabriel Harper.

He gave his slave boy his freedom immediately after his death. He also gave him £10, to be paid as follows. The executors were to pay the captain of the storeship for his passage to India, and the remainder was to be paid to the boy Thomas. He also gave him six of his shirts and a suit of his apparel, such as the executors thought would be most serviceable to him.

He gave Martin Harper his silver sneaker, and Martin's wife Ann his silver salver.

He ordered that all his just debts be paid by his executors as soon after his death as could conveniently be done.

He gave the residue of his estate to his friends Thomas Easthope, Martin Harper and Gabriel Harper, to be divided equally among them and their heirs.

He appointed George Gabriel Powell, Thomas Easthope, Martin Harper and Gabriel Harper executors of his will, and revoked all earlier wills.

Signed Thomas Cason at St Helena, 4 February 1740, where no stamped paper was to be had.

Witnessed by William Worrall junior, Nicholas Cleather and Richard Frost.

Interpretations

The manumission of the slave boy Thomas, with provision for paid passage to India and a small cash and clothing endowment, is the most elaborate documented act of testamentary manumission in the registers. Earlier examples include Rowly under the Robert Swallow will of 1688 in the handover, the slave Sue freed under the Margaret Sich will of 1719, and the indirect manumission of Katharine and her child through the Stephen Lufkin £30 deposit in the May 1744 will. The Cason instrument differs from each of these earlier cases by combining freedom with active relocation off the island, conversion of the freed person into a passenger to India, and the provision of clothing for the journey. The arrangement converts manumission from a simple status change into a working departure plan.

The residue distribution to Thomas Easthope, Martin Harper and Gabriel Harper, the three figures also named as executors alongside George Gabriel Powell, indicates that these three were the testator's principal personal beneficiaries beyond the named cash and item bequests. The combination of Harper kinship in two figures (the brothers Martin and Gabriel Harper) with the third figure Thomas Easthope suggests that Easthope was either a brother-in-law of the Harpers or a similarly close working associate. The Thomas Easthope named here may be the same Thomas Easthope appearing as witness to the Damaris Nichols will of August 1729, and as the figure connected to Mary Easthope in the Martha Frances will of December 1734, where Mary Easthope was named as niece.

Speculations

The detailed working provision for the manumitted boy Thomas's passage to India, rather than retention on the island as a freed person, suggests that Cason had calculated that the boy's working prospects would be better in India than at St Helena. As a manumitted person on the island, the boy would have faced the working difficulty of finding paid employment in a planter economy organised around enslaved labour. By directing him to India, where the Company's working operations offered employment opportunities for free persons of his apparent background, the testator gave him a working chance of establishment that the island could not have provided.

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In the name of God Amen. this third day of March 1739-40 I James Harding Corporal of the Island. S[t] Helena being sick & Weak of Body but of Perfect Mind and Memory do make and appoint. this my last Will & Testament that is to say first & Principally I give & Recommend my Soul into the hands of almighty God. my Body I committ to the earth to be Buried in a Christian like & Decent manner. my Worldly Goods wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bles[s] me with I give & Dispose of in the following manner. Imprimis after my debts & Funeral Charges are fully paid & Satisfied I give & Bequeath to my [well beloved] Wife the one third Part of my Whole Estate. Item the other two thirds of my Estate I give to my well beloved Son John and the Child my Said Wife is big with be it either Male or Female. to be Equally divded between them as they shall come to Age. Or Marriage. And whereas I have Sold the Lands I Pos[s]es[s] in Order to take Pa[s]sage with my Family. on the next Outward bound Ship for Bencoolen. that if my said Wife should Proceed on the Said Ship for Bencoolen. that then I Nominate & Appoint my God friend Edward Bagley (who also intends the Same Pa[s]sage) Whole & Sole Executor to this my Will. But in case She do not go off this Island as aforementioned that then I appoint my God friend Gabriel Harper Whole & Sole Executor. Revoking & Disannulling all former Will or Wills by me made Ratifying & Confirming this & no other to be my last & Testament.

Sign'd Seal'd & Deliver'd James Harding In the Pres[e]nce of Us Jn[o] Scott Sam[u]el Alexander Rich[d] Beale

On 3 March 1740, James Harding, corporal of St Helena, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner.

After payment of debts and funeral charges, he gave his wife one third of his whole estate.

He gave the remaining two thirds to his son John and to the child his wife was then carrying, whether male or female, to be divided equally between them at age or marriage.

He explained that he had sold the lands he held, intending to take passage with his family on the next outward-bound ship for Bencoolen. If his wife proceeded on that ship to Bencoolen, he appointed his friend Edward Bagley, who also intended the same passage, sole executor. If she did not leave the island, he appointed his friend Gabriel Harper sole executor.

He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his final testament.

Signed James Harding. Witnessed by John Scott, Samuel Alexander and Richard Beale.

Interpretations

James Harding is the same James Harding named as brother in the Joseph Harding will of October 1737 and in the John Harding and Richard Harding wills of 1727 in the handover. The Joseph Harding will identified the brother James Harding with one son among the contingent beneficiaries of the memorandum of 27 October 1737, indicating that James had a single son at that date. The present will, drawn two and a half years later, confirms the son as John and identifies a further child as expected, with the wife then pregnant. James Harding is therefore the surviving brother of the four Harding sons of the elder Richard Harding (1706) and Ann Slaughter (1734), with John, Richard and Joseph Harding all having predeceased him.

The alternative executor Gabriel Harper, available if the wife remained at St Helena, is the same Gabriel Harper named as joint executor of the Joseph Harding will of October 1737, where he and Thomas Greentree were appointed as executors. The handover identifies Gabriel Harper further as recipient of the silver sneaker bequest in the Thomas Cason will of 1740 just preceding, and as one of the three residuary legatees and executors in the same Cason will. The Harper-Harding kinship is the most stable working network in the present cluster, with Harper figures recurring as executors across the Harding line through three successive wills (Joseph 1737, James 1740, and through Lydia Harper's children in the Joseph memorandum of 1737).

Speculations

The decision to migrate to Bencoolen rather than remain at St Helena, with the family liquidating its working land base, suggests that the testator had received a specific working appointment at the Sumatran settlement that justified the move. As a corporal of the St Helena garrison, James Harding may have been offered an upgraded position or a non-commissioned officer's appointment at Bencoolen, where the Company maintained a substantial garrison. Alternatively, the move may have been prompted by trade opportunities at Bencoolen that the planter economy of St Helena could not provide, with the testator converting his land into commercial capital for a new venture.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Francis Carne of the Island S[t] Helena Widow being in Good Bodily health. & Perfe[ct] Mind. & Sound Memory do make. & Ordain. this my last Will. and Testament. in manner & form following. Revoking. & Annulling all other Will or Wills by at any time heretofore made. First I[t] I commend my Soul. to the Mercy of Almighty God. my Body. I committ to the Earth. to be Decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executor hereafter Named. & as touching my Worldly Estate I give. Bequeath & Di[s]pose. thereof. as followeth. my Debts & Funeral Charges being first paid & Sati[s]fied. Viz[t] Imprimis. I Give & Bequeath. unto my Beloved Daughter Elizabeth. the Wife of Thomas Greentree. my Moity or half Part. of the House in the Fort Valley. now jointly P[o]s[ses]sed. by me. & my Son Richard Goodwin. or the Vallue thereof. at the Election. of my said Son Richard Goodwin. as the Same. Shall be Appraised. by tw[o] Persons indifferently. Chosen. by my said Son Richard Goodwin & my Executors hereafter Named, & also one Black fellow Named Suipio & one feather Bed & furniture. but in case my said Daughter shall die without Lawfull Is[s]ue. Then. my Will & Meaning is that my said Moity. or half part. of the said House. or the Vallue thereof, & also the said Black fellow Feather Bed & furniture. shall De[s]cend. fall to. & be paid unto my Beloved son. John Goodwin. in trust. Neverthele[s]s. for the Sole Use Benefit. & Advantage. of the Children of my said Son John Goodwin.

Item. I Give & Bequeath. unto my Grand Daughter Sarah Frances the Sum of fifty Pounds. & also all that Debt or sum of Money due to me from the Estate. late of Henry Frances Decea[se]d. to be paid & Delivered her. at the day of Age. or Marriage. but if my Said Grand Daughter. Shall die before. she arrives at Age or Marriage Then. my Will is. that the Said Sum of fifty Pounds. & the said Debt. shall be paid to. & be pos[s]es[s]ed. & Enjoyed by said Son John Goodwin & his Heirs.

Item. Whereas. by one Deed. or Writing. under my hand & Seale. bearing date on or about the first day of June one Thousand Seven hundred twenty five. I gave unto my Son. Richard Goodwin. the one Moity. or half part. of my Estate. both Real & Personal. I have since within into Po[s]ses[s]ion. thereof. & did also by the said Writing further. Provide. That. after my Decease. My said Son. Richard Goodwin Should. if he desired it. have the other Moity. of my Sai[d] (over[?] Paying the Vallue. thereof. to such Person or Persons. as I should appoint my Heirs. & within. such time. after my Decease. as by my last Will & Testament. I should Direct. & appoint. according as the same. should be Valued & Appraised. by two indifferent Persons to be chosen. for that Purpose. & Whereas. by one. other Writing under the hand & Seale of him my said Son Richard Goodwin bearing date on or about the 26 day of June 1738. Power and Authority. is is Given Me. by my said Son. to Dispose by Will. or otherwise. of ten Acres part. of the other Moity. of my freehold Estate now in my Po[s]ses[s]ion. commonly called Sutton[s] Acres ten Acres together with all Buildings. or Improvements. that I per were. or at any time. since have or shall be made. therein. I do [therefor]

Francis Carne of St Helena, widow, in good bodily health and of sound mind, made her will, revoking all earlier wills. She commended her soul to God and her body to the earth, to be decently buried at the discretion of her executor, after payment of debts and funeral charges. She disposed of her estate as follows.

She gave her daughter Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Greentree, her moiety or half part of the house in the Fort Valley then jointly held by her and her son Richard Goodwin, or its value at the election of Richard Goodwin, as appraised by two indifferently chosen persons selected by Richard Goodwin and her executors. She also gave Elizabeth a black man named Scipio, a feather bed and its furniture.

If Elizabeth died without lawful issue, the moiety of the house, or its value, together with Scipio, the feather bed and furniture, were to pass to her son John Goodwin in trust, for the sole use and benefit of John Goodwin's children.

She gave her granddaughter Sarah Frances £50, together with all the debt then owing to her from the estate of the deceased Henry Frances, to be paid and delivered at age or marriage. If Sarah died before age or marriage, the £50 and the debt were to go to her son John Goodwin and his heirs.

By a deed dated about 1 June 1725, she had given her son Richard Goodwin half of her estate, real and personal. She had since come back into possession of that half. The same deed provided that, after her death, Richard Goodwin could elect to take the other moiety on payment of its appraised value to such persons as she should appoint by her will. The valuation was to be made by two indifferent persons chosen for the purpose.

By a further writing of Richard Goodwin dated about 26 June 1738, she had been given power to dispose by will of 10 acres of the second moiety of her freehold then in her possession, commonly called Suttons Acres, together with all buildings and improvements made on it.

Interpretations

Francis Carne is the widow named in the Eleanor Beale will of 6 June 1700 in the handover, where Mary Carne appears as one of the children to receive a £50 portion alongside her siblings. The Carne surname recurs across the registers through George Carne, named there as executor of the Eleanor Beale will. The present Francis Carne, drawing her own will probably in the early 1740s, may be a Carne widow connecting through her late husband to that earlier line, or may be a Frances by Christian name with a different family origin who married into the Carne line.

The testator's son Richard Goodwin is the same Richard Goodwin appearing across the late registers as a recurring administrator: sole executor of the James Crafford will of March 1736, joint executor of the Solomon Pawling will of January 1735, sole executor of the Martha Frances will of December 1734, joint executor of the Edmund Nichols will of July 1733, and named beneficiary in multiple wills of the period. His identification here as the testator's son, with daughter Elizabeth Greentree and son John Goodwin as his siblings, places the Goodwin administrative line within a defined kinship structure for the first time in the registers. The handover further identifies Captain John Goodwin as a recurring executor across the late 1720s and 1730s, and the present will fixes John Goodwin as one of the testator's three named children alongside Richard and Elizabeth.

Speculations

The complex working arrangements between the testator and her son Richard Goodwin, involving a 1725 deed of gift, an intermediate return of property to the testator, and a 1738 writing restoring her testamentary capacity over part of the property, suggest a working pattern of property management within the family that adjusted over time to changing circumstances. The arrangements may reflect the testator's working response to her son Richard Goodwin's expanding administrative career, with property arrangements being adjusted as Richard's standing and resources changed. The eventual settlement, with the testator retaining 10 acres of Suttons Acres for her own testamentary disposition while Richard retained the bulk of the property under the 1725 deed, gives Richard the principal inheritance while preserving the testator's working ability to provide for her other children and grandchildren.

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therefore hereby Give & Bequeath. the Said Ten Acres of Freehold Land called Suttons Lower Ten Acres as aforesaid. together with the Mansion. or Dwelling House. thereon lately Built & Erected. & all other the out Houses. Edifices & Buildings. & all other the Appurtenances. thereunto belonging. unto my Son. John Goodwin. & his Heirs forever.

Item. I also give & Bequeath. unto my Said Son. John Goodwin. other thirty one Acres of my Freehold Land. (over & above the Ten Acres beforementioned. which I have given) to be enjoyed by him. & his Heirs forever. in Exclusion of all. or any. Claim. from my Son. Richard Goodwin. or his Heirs (now in my Po[s]ses[s]ion to be enjoyed by him. & his Heirs. forever. upon Condition Neverthele[s]s. that if my Son Richard Goodwin shall pay or cause to be paid to my son John Goodwin his Heirs Executors, Administrators or A[s]signs the full Value thereof. as the same. shall be Valued or Appraized by two Indifferent Per[s]ons one to be chosen by my Son. John Goodwin. & the other. by my Son. Richard Goodwin his. or their Heirs. or A[s]signs. within. Twelve Months. next after my Decease then. & in such Case. my Will & Meaning. is. that the said Thirty one Acres of Land. shall be. & Remain. unto my Said Son. Richard Goodwin & his Heirs forever. but in case the Whole Value. of the Said Parcell of Land Apprai[ze]d & Valued. as aforesaid. shall not be paid within Twelve Months. next after. my Decease. as aforesaid. then. I will & accordingly hereby Give & Bequeath. all the said Parcell of thirty one Acres of Land. be the Same. more or les[s]. unto my Son. John Goodwin. his Heirs. forever

Item. I Give & Bequeath. unto my Son. John Goodwin & his Heirs. all my Right & Interest. to. & in Forty Three Acres of Leasehold Land. with all & Singular the Appurtenances. thereunto belonging. & Three Men Slaves Named. Lucas, Hector. & Es[s]ex. together with all & Singular my Houshold Goods. Furniture. Plate. Money. Rings. Jewels. Cattle. Sheep. & all other my Estate. both Real & Per[s]onall. of what Nature. kind. or Sort soever.

Lastly. I do hereby Nominate. Constitute. & Appoint. my Said beloved Son. John Goodwin. Whole. & Sole Executor. of this my last Will. & Testament. In Witness. whereof. I have. hereunto. set my hand. & Seal. this Twentieth. Day. of August in the Year of Our Lord God. One Thousand. Seven Hundred. Thirty five[d].

Sign'd & Sealed Publi[s]hed. & Declared The FC Mark of as the last Will. & Testament Frances Carne of the Testatrix. in the Pres[en]ce of (the Word [Indermitten?]) (the Word, hereafter, being first Interlined) Isaac Wood Thomas Easthope D. Crispe

Carne gave the 10 acres of freehold land called Suttons Lower Ten Acres, together with the mansion or dwelling house lately built on them, all outbuildings and appurtenances, to her son John Goodwin and his heirs for ever.

She also gave John Goodwin a further 31 acres of freehold land, over and above the 10 acres just mentioned, then in her possession, to be enjoyed by him and his heirs to the exclusion of any claim from her son Richard Goodwin. The arrangement was conditional. If Richard Goodwin paid John Goodwin the full appraised value of the 31 acres within 12 months of her death, as appraised by two indifferent persons (one chosen by each son), then the 31 acres were to belong to Richard Goodwin and his heirs for ever. If the full value was not paid within that period, the 31 acres were to belong absolutely to John Goodwin and his heirs.

She gave John Goodwin her right and interest in 43 acres of leasehold land, with all its appurtenances, three male slaves named Lucas, Hector and Essex, together with all her household goods, furniture, plate, money, rings, jewels, cattle, sheep and all other estate, real and personal.

She appointed John Goodwin sole executor. Signed by the mark of Frances Carne, 20 August 1735.

The witnesses noted that the words "indermitten" and "hereafter" had been interlined before signing. Witnessed by Isaac Wood, Thomas Easthope and Duke Crispe.

Interpretations

The conditional buy-out structure for the 31 acres, with Richard Goodwin given 12 months from the testator's death to pay John Goodwin the appraised value, is the most explicit working timed-buy-out mechanism in the registers. The arrangement converts the standard right-of-first-refusal cascade into a defined working window during which the elder son must either pay or lose the land. The 12-month period gives Richard Goodwin time to raise the capital while still imposing a working deadline beyond which the property reverts absolutely to the younger son. The mechanism balances the working preferences for Richard's settled position with John's interest in either receiving the land outright or receiving the cash value.

The registration of the Carne will of August 1735 alongside the cluster of late 1739 and early 1740 dispositions repeats the working pattern documented across the present registers, in which older wills awaiting proof were registered in groups together with current ones. The Mary Powell will of May 1735 has appeared in similar circumstances, registered alongside the 1738 group, and the Carne will of August 1735 falls in the same five-year gap between execution and registration. The pattern indicates the working catch-up procedure by which the council periodically cleared accumulated backlogs of unproved instruments.

Speculations

The decision to give John Goodwin substantial outright provision, while leaving Richard Goodwin only a conditional right to acquire the 31 acres at appraised value, suggests that the testator had concluded by 1735 that her two sons' working capacities had diverged. Richard Goodwin, by 1735 already established as a recurring administrator across multiple wills (Edmund Nichols, Martha Frances, Solomon Pawling), would have had the working resources to absorb significant additional property; John Goodwin, less prominent in the documentary record, required substantial direct provision to establish himself on comparable terms. The instrument therefore reads as a working equalisation between two sons whose careers had developed at different rates.

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Whereas by my last Will & Testament. bearing Date. on the 29 day of August 1735. I have given & Bequeathed unto my Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Thomas Greentree my Moity. or half part of the House. in the Fort Valley note Joyntly Po[s]ses[s]ed by me & My Son Richard. Goodwin. or the Vallue thereof, & also one Black fellow named Scipio & one Feather Bed & Furniture upon certain Terms & Conditions therein Mentioned. Now be it Known. that for divers Good Causes & Considerations me thereunto Moving. I do by this Pre[s]ent. Writing or Codicil. Revoke. Annull. & make void the said Gift Legacy & Bequest as Limitted & Expres[s]ed in the Terms & Conditions as therein mentioned & I do hereby Give & Bequeath. unto my Said Daughter Elizabeth the Wife of Thomas Greentree. One Black fellow Named Scipio & one Feather Bed & furniture & also all my Moity. or half part. of the House in James Valley. now Jointly P[o]s[s]es[s]ed by Me & My Son. Richard Goodwin. or the Vallue thereof. at the Choice. & Election of my Said Son Richard Goodwin. as the same. Shall be Valued. & Appraized. by two Persons. to be indifferently Chosen. by my Said Son Richard. & the Executor. of my Said Will. to have & to hold to her & her Heirs. for ever. & I direct. & Appoint. that this Writing or Codicil. be deemed. & taken as part. of my said last Will, & Te[s]tament. In Witnes[s]. whereof. I have. hereunto. set my hand. & Seale. this Second day of July. in the Year. of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred Thirty Nine.

Signed Sealed Publi[s]hed F. Carne & Declared in the Presence of Jos[h]. Johnson Charles Steward [J] Pawling

By a codicil to her will of 29 August 1735, the testator revoked and made void the gift, legacy and bequest to her daughter Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Greentree, in respect of the moiety of the house in the Fort Valley, the black man Scipio, and the feather bed and furniture, on the terms and conditions there set out.

She gave her daughter Elizabeth the black man Scipio, the feather bed and furniture, and her whole moiety or half part of the house in James Valley then jointly held by her and her son Richard Goodwin, or its value at the choice and election of Richard Goodwin. The value was to be appraised by two indifferently chosen persons selected by Richard Goodwin and the executor of the will. The bequest was to Elizabeth and her heirs for ever.

She directed that this writing or codicil be taken as part of her last will and testament. Signed F. Carne, 2 July 1739.

Witnessed by Joshua Johnson, Charles Steward and J. Pawling.

Interpretations

The codicil reveals a working correction of the principal will's geography. The 1735 instrument referred to the house in the Fort Valley, but the codicil of July 1739 substitutes the James Valley as the location of the moiety passing to Elizabeth Greentree. The change reflects the working transition of the working town from Chapel Valley to James Valley as the principal urban centre of the island, in keeping with the pattern documented across the registers from the Joseph Tomlinson will of 1718 onwards. The 1735 reference to the Fort Valley may itself have been an alternative working designation for what was elsewhere called the James Valley, with the codicil regularising the terminology to match the settled usage of the late 1730s.

The Thomas Greentree named as Elizabeth's husband is plausibly the same Thomas Greentree named as eldest son in the James Greentree will of February 1723 in the handover and as joint executor of the Joseph Harding will of October 1737 in the present registers. The Greentree-Goodwin marriage through Elizabeth (Goodwin) Greentree integrates the long-running Greentree planter line with the Goodwin administrative family, repeating the working pattern of cross-network marriages that consolidated the principal families of the island.

Speculations

The four-year gap between the principal will of August 1735 and the codicil of July 1739, with the testator continuing alive across the period, suggests that the codicil was prompted by a specific event or recognition rather than by routine review. The most plausible working trigger would have been a transaction involving the Fort Valley or James Valley property in the intervening period, in which the terminology of the location had been settled or where confusion had emerged about the precise identification of the moiety. By restating the bequest in the modernised terminology, the testator avoided any later challenge that the original instrument referred to a property no longer recognisable under that name.

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In the name of God Amen. I Simon Whaley of the Island. S[t] Helena Sergeant being Sick & Weak of Body but of sound mind & Perfect Memory. do make & Ordain this my last Will. & Testament. in manner & form following. My Soul I Recommend to the Mercy of Almighty God. My Body to the Earth. & my Worldly goods. I give. & Bestow as follow

Imprimis. I Order & Appoint. that all my just debts be Satisfyed. in some Convenient time. after my Decease

Item. I will & Direct. that all my Houshold Goods. & other Moveables. that Shall be Judg[e]d Nece[s]sary. by my Executors. Shall as Soon. as pos[s]ible. be Sold at Publick Auction to the payment. of such Debts as Shall be owing by me.

Item. I give & Bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah a Gold Ring. with a Motto[?] (God [?] the agreed[?]) & to my other three Children I give Each. a Gold Ring

Item. I give & Bequeath. unto my Daughter Sarah a Silver Mugg. & to my Daughter Mary & Margarett each one P[ai]r of Gold Sleeve Buttons. & three Silver Table Spoons. as also one Sett of Silver Tea Spoons. to my Daughter Margarett

Item. The Re[s]idue & Remainder of my Estate. of what Nature. or Quality Soever. I will, & bequeath unto my four Children. namely. Matthew. Sarah. Mary. & Margarett. to be Divided in Equal Shares amongst them as they Shall Severally Attain to the Age of Twenty one Years. or Marriage. but my meaning. & Intention. is. that my Son Matthew. Shall have the Preference, & refusal. of all my Lands. both freehold. & Leasehold. upon paying to his three Sisters their Proportion or Devidend thereof. as the same. Shall be Valued. & Appraised by two men. indifferently Chosen. & in Case of the Decease of my Son Matth[ew] before he Shall come to Age. or Marriage. & then. give the Preferance. of my said Land[s] to my Eldest Daughter. Sarah. & so on to the Youngest.

Item. That in Case of the Decease. of any. of my Children. before. they shall Arrive. to Age. or Marriage. I direct that. the Survivour. or Survivours. of them. Shall Enjoy the Decea[se]d. part of my Estate.

Lastly. I Constitute. & Appoint. my beloved Friends. Mes[ss]r[s] John Bazett. John Desfountain. Joseph Whaley. & Matthew Pinking Executors. to this my last Will. & Testament. Revoking. all former Wills. by me. heretofore made. In Witnes[s] Whereof I have set my hand. & Seale. this 12 Day of July. 1741.

Signed Sealed. & Delivered Simon Whaley in the Pres[en]ce of Us Tho[s] Watt[s] jun[r] William Adams [Tho]. Mark Henry Walton

Simon Whaley of St Helena, sergeant, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth.

He ordered that all his just debts be paid within a convenient time after his death.

He directed that all his household goods and other movables judged necessary by his executors be sold at public auction as soon as possible, to pay any debts owing.

He gave his daughter Sarah a gold ring with a motto, partly recoverable, and gave each of his three other children a gold ring.

He gave his daughter Sarah a silver mug. He gave his daughters Mary and Margarett each a pair of gold sleeve buttons, three silver table spoons, and a set of silver tea spoons to Margarett.

He gave the residue of his estate, of whatever kind, to his four children Matthew, Sarah, Mary and Margarett, to be divided equally as each reached 21 or married.

His son Matthew was to have first preference and refusal of all his lands, freehold and leasehold, on payment to his three sisters of their proportionate shares as appraised by two indifferently chosen men. If Matthew died before age or marriage, the preference was to pass to the eldest daughter Sarah, and so on to the youngest.

If any of the children died before age or marriage, the survivors were to take the share.

He appointed his friends John Bazett, John Desfountain, Joseph Whaley and Matthew Pinking executors, and revoked all earlier wills.

Signed Simon Whaley, 12 July 1741.

Witnessed by Thomas Watts junior, William Adams, Thomas Mark and Henry Walton.

Interpretations

Simon Whaley is the same Simon Whaley appearing across the registers from the William Price will of 31 December 1692 in the handover (as mourning ring recipient and joint executor), through multiple witness roles in the late 1690s and 1700s, the Coales will of 1719 (where he was a witness signing by mark), the Pawling will of July 1738, the Burnham will of 1719, and as recurring witness on more than 20 wills across the registers spanning nearly 50 years. The handover identifies him as a planter who consistently signed by mark, and the present will represents the closing instrument of one of the longest documented attestation careers in the registers.

The mourning ring motto on the daughter Sarah's gold ring, partly recoverable, marks the working continuity of the mourning ring tradition documented across the registers from the Cannady will of 1693 in the handover onwards. The combination of mottoed and plain rings across the four children, with the eldest daughter receiving the mottoed ring, reflects a hierarchy of personal recognition rather than uniform treatment. The same pattern of mottoed and plain rings appears in the Mary Coulson will of 1727 in the handover, where the wedding ring inscribed "though heart content cannot repent" was given specifically to the grandson John Leonards Bennony Coulson.

Speculations

The persistence of Simon Whaley as a witness across nearly 50 years of the registers, combined with his attainment of sergeant's rank and his acquisition of signing literacy by 1741, marks one of the most documented working careers of social mobility in the registers. From a planter signing by mark in the 1690s, through his recurring witness role across the 1700s, 1710s, 1720s and 1730s, to his attainment of garrison rank and personal signature by 1741, his trajectory illustrates the working possibilities of advancement available to an established planter who maintained continuous attestation roles across the administrative cadre. The accumulation of working experience and standing across the decades probably contributed to his eventual military commission.

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In the name of God amen this fifth day of June 1741. I John Seale of the Island. S[t] Helena Planter being Sick & weak of Body but of sound & Perfect Mind & Memory. do make appoint & ordain this my last Will & Testament. And first of all I give & Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God. My Body I commit to the Earth to be Buried. in a Christian like & Decent manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned. My Worldly Goods wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bles[s] me with I give Devise. & Dispose of in manner & form as followeth. Imprimis. I give & bequeath unto my well beloved Wife the one half of my real Estate during the Term of her Naturall Life and also the one third of my Personal Estate to be Entirely at her dispo[s]al. Item. I give to my Daughter Frances at Age or Marriage one Black Girl named Margaret. but the same not be Recend[?] into her part or Fortune. Item. All the Rest Re[s]idue & Remaining part of my Estate be it in what kind soever I give and bequeath to be Equally Divided. as well as the half of my Freehold Lands. Pos[s]es[s]ed by my said Wife at her Death. among my five Children. namely. John. William. George. Frances & Caroline. to be delivered them as they come to age or Marriage. but it is my very great desire to my said Wife. so long as. She Shall keep unmarried. that She will not withdraw her part. and likewise. my Special Charge. to my Said Children. that although it shall become due & in their power to Demand. that they keep the whole Estate. together so long as Po[s]sible. being. (as it is but small) for the Good. & Benefit of them all. Especially the Younger Children, And I hereby give to my Eldest Son. the Refusal of purchasing. my Freehold Lands as it shall be Valued by the discretion of my Executors. he paying my other Children their proper parts. or Equal Shares. And Also to my next Eldest Son. I give the Refusal of my Mansion house. and Lands. I now Pos[s]es[s]. by Lease from the Hono[urable] Company to be Valued. and paying the proper Shares as Aforesaid Lastly. I Nominate. and Appoint my good Friends. M[r] John Desfountain and Mr Gabriel Harper Executors to this my Will. Revoking. and Disannulling all former wills by me made Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. I John Seale Signed Sealed & delivered in the Pres[en]ce of us John Hodgkinson John Twaites

On 5 June 1741, John Seale of St Helena, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He gave his wife half of his real estate during her natural life, and one third of his personal estate entirely at her disposal.

He gave his daughter Frances, at age or marriage, a black girl named Margaret. The slave was not to be reckoned as part of Frances's portion.

He gave the residue of his estate, of whatever kind, including the half of the freehold lands held by his wife during her life, to his five children John, William, George, Frances and Caroline, to be divided equally and delivered as each reached age or marriage.

He expressed his great desire that his wife, so long as she remained unmarried, should not withdraw her share, and his special charge to his children that they keep the estate together as long as possible. The estate was small, and unity would best serve all of them, especially the younger children.

He gave his eldest son first refusal of the freehold lands at the value set by the executors, on condition of paying the other children their equal shares. He gave his second son first refusal of the mansion house and the lands then held on Company lease, on the same valuation and payment terms.

He appointed his friends John Desfountain and Gabriel Harper executors, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his final testament.

Signed John Seale. Witnessed by John Hodgkinson and John Thwaites.

Interpretations

John Seale is the same John Seale named as eldest son in the William Seal will of 12 May 1727 in the present registers, where he received 20 acres of cabbage tree land subject to the family's working enjoyment until his youngest brother Benjamin reached 16. The handover and the present registers further identify him as joint executor of the Frances Seale will of September 1739 (his mother's will, alongside George Gabriel Powell). His own will, drawn 14 years after his father's and less than two years after his mother's, represents the third Seale will in the registers and continues the working family line into a third generation.

The express request that the wife not withdraw her share during her widowhood, combined with the special charge to the children to keep the estate together as long as possible, marks the most explicit working appeal in the registers for voluntary family consolidation. The Knipe will of July 1733 had been struck down for attempting to impose such consolidation as a binding direction; the Worrall will of August 1733 had introduced the conditional consolidation mechanism resting on the widow's willingness; the Harper pre-probate examination of 1737 had obtained the widow's express consent in council. The Seale instrument now reverses the approach by expressing the consolidation as a request rather than a direction, leaving the working choice to the widow and children but emphasising the testator's strong preference. The arrangement converts what had become a procedural device into a family appeal.

Speculations

The differential treatment of the eldest and second sons through separate cascades for freehold and leasehold, rather than the more usual concentration of both in the eldest, suggests that the testator had two working sons of adult or near-adult standing whose claims could not be reduced to a single male succession. The arrangement gives each principal son an independent working base, with the freehold and leasehold respectively serving as the working capital of their separate households. The pattern reflects a working accommodation of multiple adult sons within a single estate, comparable to the John Pawling will of July 1738 in which the elder brother Matthew received the freehold while the joint-purchase option allowed both remaining brothers to share the second son's portion.

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In the name of God Amen. I Margarett Bagley Widdow being Sick & Weak of Body but [of] perfect mind & Memory thanks be to Almighty God. And Calling to mind. the Uncertainty of human Life. make this my last Will & Testament. firstt and Principally I commit[t] my Soul into the hands of my Bles[s]ed Saviour Jesus Christ. trusting in his Mircies for the remi[s]sion of all my Sins. As to. my worldly Effects I will. & Bequeath them as follows [1]ly Viz[t] 2[ly]. Item I will & Bequeath unto my well Beloved Son Edward Bagley. the Sum. of Sixty pounds to be Paid him by my hereafter mentioned Executors 3[ly] I will & Bequeath unto my well Beloved Daughter Susanna. the wife of Joshua Worrall. two pieces of Chints. all my wearing Apparel & [4]ly & houshold Linnen together with the Chest. they now Contained in 4[ly] I will & Bequeath unto my well Beloved Grand daughter Margaret Worrall three Large Silver Spoons. [5]ly I will & Ordain that my hereafter named Executor[s] Do out of my Estate Bring up & Maintain an Orphan[t] Girl Named Sarah B[a]g[l]ey untill [6]thly She arrives at the Age of 21 Years or Marriage 6 I Will & Bequeath unto my well Beloved Children: Viz[t] Margarett, Susanna, Orlando & Edward all the Rest Re[s]idue & Remainder of my Estate to be divided amongst them in Equal Shares & Dividends [7]thly I will & Ordain that my trusty friends Joshua Worrall and Benjamin Pledger be my Lawfull Executors to this my last will & Testament. Utterly Revoking all former wills by me made I Witnes[s] Whereof I have here Unto Sett my hand[s] Seale in S[t] Helena this Seventeenth day of April. One thousand Seven hundred & forty

Signed Seal'd & Deliver'd as her Last will & Testament the M Mark where no Stampt paper is to be had Margaret Bagley in the Pres[e]nce of Us G. G. Powell Will[i]a[m] Seale Rob[t]. Gurling

Margaret Bagley, widow, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made her will. She gave thanks to God, reflected on the uncertainty of human life, and commended her soul to Jesus Christ in trust of pardon for her sins.

She gave her son Edward Bagley £60, to be paid by her executors.

She gave her daughter Susanna, wife of Joshua Worrall, two pieces of chintz, all her wearing apparel and household linen, together with the chest then containing them.

She gave her granddaughter Margaret Worrall three large silver spoons.

She directed that her executors, out of her estate, bring up and maintain an orphan girl named Sarah Bagley until she reached 21 or married.

She gave the residue of her estate to her children Margarett, Susanna, Orlando and Edward, to be divided equally among them.

She appointed her friends Joshua Worrall and Benjamin Pledger executors of her will, and revoked all earlier wills.

Signed by the mark of Margaret Bagley at St Helena, 17 April 1740, where no stamped paper was to be had.

Witnessed by George Gabriel Powell, William Seale and Robert Gurling.

Interpretations

Margaret Bagley is the widow of John Bagley senior, whose will of 2 September 1728 has been recorded in the present registers. The John Bagley senior will named her as wife and sole executrix during her widowhood, with brother-in-law Robert Gurling as substitute executor on her remarriage. The will identified seven named children plus an unborn child: John, Margarett, Richard, Thomas, Susannah, Orlando and Edward Bagley. The present will, drawn 12 years after her husband's, identifies the surviving children at her death as Margarett, Susanna, Orlando and Edward. The three sons John, Richard and Thomas, named in the 1728 will, do not appear in the 1740 disposition, suggesting that they had either predeceased their mother or had received their portions separately during her lifetime.

The daughter Susanna, identified here as wife of Joshua Worrall, fixes a working marriage between the Bagley and Worrall families. The Joshua Worrall named here is plausibly the same Joshua named as one of the eight beneficiaries in the John Worrall will of August 1733 in the present registers, where Joshua, William, Margarett, Mary, John, Eleanor, Robert Gurling and Solomon Pawling shared the residue, and named as a witness to the Solomon Pawling will of January 1735 alongside John Worrall and Richard Beale. The Bagley-Worrall marriage through Susanna integrates the Bagley line with the Worrall family, which had previously been linked to the Gurling and Pawling families through the August 1733 will. The granddaughter Margaret Worrall fixes the next generation of the combined Bagley-Worrall household.

Speculations

The 12-year survival of the orphan Sarah Bodley/Bagley under the Bagley household's care, with the maintenance obligation now being formally transferred from one Bagley will to the next, marks one of the most extended documented working fostering arrangements in the registers. The arrangement converts an informal household charity into a continuing testamentary obligation that successive testators recognise as binding on their estates. The instrument therefore functions not only as the testatrix's own working disposition but also as a working confirmation of the foster relationship she had inherited from her husband's will.

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In the [na]m[e] of God Amen. I James Ryder Being Sick & Weak of Body. but of Perfect mind & Memory & calling to mind the Uncertainty of humen Life make this my Last will & Testament. First & principally I committ my Soul into the hands of my Bles[s]ed Saviour. trusting in his Mercies. for the remi[s]ion of All my Sins. My Worldly Effects I will Bequeath as follows Viz[t]

I will and bequeath. that if the Child with which my Wife is now bigg shall be a Boy, that the[n] he. the said Boy shall enjoy all. and every part of my fee Land and my dwelling House at the time when he arrives at the Age of twenty on Years. or marreage.

I will. that the rest of my beloved Children. vi[z] Sarah Elizabeth. and Margaret. shall have, and enjoy all my per[s]onal E[s]tate. to be equally divided. among them as they arrive to the Age of twenty on Years. or Marreage.

I will. that on Case the Child with which my Wife is now bigg. Shall prove a Boy. that though he is to enjoy the real Estate. yet the whole of my Estate must be valued. and it is my Inten[t] that my Children shall have equal Dividend[s] of my Estate. and the Boy must pay them the same. at Valiuation by any two indifferent Men.

I will. that in Case the Child. with which my Wife is now bigg shall. prove a Girl. that then She may have an equall Interest. and Share of my E[s]tate. Both Real. and Per[s]onal with the rest of my Daughters. and that it be devided amongst them.

I will. that my beloved Wife shall have. and enjoy. the one half of my real E[s]ta[t]e During her naturall Life. and one third of my per[s]onal E[s]tate. for ever.

I will. and bequeath unto my beloved Wife my Mahogony Bure[a]u

I will. that my just Debts be paid by my underwritten. Executors. as soon after my Decease as conveniently they can.

I will. nominate. and appoint. that my belov[e]d Wife. M[r] Charles Steward, and M[r] Thomas Greentree. being my good Friends. and Acquaintance. to be my true and lawfull Executors. of this my last Will. and Testament. utterly revoking all former wills. or wills by me made Witnes[s] my Hand. and Seal in S[t] Helena. this 5 Day of July. One Thousand. seven hundred and forty one.

Sign'd, sealed. and Delivered James Ryder as his last will. and Testament (where no Stampt Paper is to be had) in the pre[s]ence of Joseph Johnson Francis Wrangham Rich[d]. Goodwin

James Ryder, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will, reflecting on the uncertainty of human life. He commended his soul to Jesus Christ in trust of pardon for his sins.

He gave directions for the unborn child his wife was then carrying. If the child was a boy, he was to take all the testator's freehold land and the dwelling house on reaching 21 or marrying.

He gave the residue of his personal estate to his daughters Sarah, Elizabeth and Margaret, to be divided equally among them as they reached 21 or married.

If the unborn child was a boy, although he was to take the real estate, the whole estate was to be valued, with each child taking an equal share. The boy was to pay his sisters the value of their shares at valuation by two indifferent men.

If the unborn child was a girl, she was to share equally with her sisters in both the real and personal estate.

He gave his wife half of his real estate during her natural life, and one third of his personal estate for ever.

He gave his wife his mahogany bureau.

He ordered that his just debts be paid by his executors as soon after his death as conveniently could be done.

He appointed his wife, Charles Steward and Thomas Greentree, his friends and acquaintances, as executors, and revoked all earlier wills.

Signed James Ryder at St Helena, 5 July 1741, where no stamped paper was to be had.

Witnessed by Joseph Johnson, Francis Wrangham and Richard Goodwin.

Interpretations

James Ryder is plausibly a descendant of the James Ryder, free planter, of the 20 January 1704 will in the handover. The handover identifies the elder James Ryder as son-in-law of Rebecca Charlesworth, with daughter Sarah Powell receiving only a nominal bequest, and as testator of substantial planter holdings across multiple parcels of land. The present James Ryder may be the son James junior, who was named in the elder Ryder's will of 1704 as the recipient of the country dwelling house and 30 acres of Hugh Booley's parcel together with 10 acres of Richard Harding's parcel. If so, the present will represents the working close of the second-generation Ryder line, with the inheritance now passing to a third generation.

The executor Thomas Greentree is the same Thomas Greentree named as eldest son in the James Greentree will of February 1723 in the handover, joint executor of the Joseph Harding will of October 1737, and as husband of Elizabeth Greentree (the daughter of Frances Carne) in the Frances Carne will of 1735 and its codicil of 1739. The handover identifies him further as the already-married son who received the parcel bought at Robert Addis's auction in the elder James Greentree's 1723 will. His combined service as executor across multiple late wills places him as one of the principal administrative figures of the late 1730s and early 1740s.

Speculations

The detailed working contingencies for the unborn child, with separate provisions for male and female outcomes, indicate the testator's working uncertainty about whether his line would produce a male heir. With three existing daughters and the unborn child as the next chance for a son, the testator's careful drafting reflects the working importance of the male-female determination for the structure of the inheritance. The arrangement preserves equal value across all children while preserving the freehold-and-mansion working integrity in the male line if one emerges.

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In the Name of God amen. I Isaac Wood of the Island St Helena. being of sound mind. and Memory. do make and ordain this my last Will. and Testament in manner. and form following. that is to say. my Soul. I recommend to the Mercy of Almighty God. and my Body I commit to the Earth. My Estate I give. and bequeath as followeth Imprimis. I desire my debts may be paid immediately after my Decease. And in regard I have been allwayes much Obliged to Captain Goodwin. to whom. I owe about the sum of two hundred pounds more or les[s]. I desire my Executors will exert themselves. and get this paid with the utmost Expedition. Item. After my Wife's third of my pers[o]nal Estate is recieved. I give her all the rest of my Estate. both freehold. and per[s]onal to hold. and enjoy during the term of her naturall life Item. After my Wife's decease I give to my son in Law John Desfountain. five Acres of freehold land Commonly called. Pleys[?] land. and also two Acres of Lease hold land lying under my dwelling House in the Country. Item. After my Wife's Decease I give to my son in Law Joseph Desfountain twelve Acres of fee hold land by me formerly bought of Captain Alexander. and also other ten Acres of fee hold land by me bought of Robert Gurling. commonly called as[?] Tolph[s] Land. Item. After my Wife's Decease. I give to grand Daughter Mary Knipe. the sum of one Hundred [Pounds] to be paid her immediately after my Wife's Decease. Item. After my Wife's Decease I give to my grand son Samuel Knipe the sum of fifty pounds to be paid him immediately after my Wife's Decease. and if either of the said Brother and Sister die before. or before the other. my meaning. and intention is that the Survivour shall enjoy the other Legacy hereby Bequeathed them. Item. All the rest. re[s]idue. and remainder of my Estate. and all sorts. and kinds whatsoever I give. and bequeath unto my said two sons. John. and Joseph Desfountain. and their heirs to be equaly divided between them. and my meaning. and Intention is that the five Acres of freehold land. by me hereby bequeathed to John Desfountain. and also the twenty Acres of freehold land by me likewise hereby given. and bequeathed to Joseph Desfoun tain shall be held and pos[s]es[s]ed severaly by them. and their Heirs forever. And also that if both the said Mary. and Samuel Knipe shall die before their Legacies (or one. or payable. the same to be equally divided between the abovenamed. Joseph Desfountain. Supposing it pos[s]ible. they both may die. but if only one of them. either the Brother. or Sister Should di[e] [...] give. and desire. as I have before mentioned. that the Survivour may keep the other Legacy. Lastly I do hereby Nominate. and appoint my said two sons in Law John Desfountain and Joseph Desfountain. and my Friend M[r] John Pleg[?] to be Executors of this my last Will[s] and Testament. hereby revoking. and making void. all other Wills. or Wills by me heretofore made. In Witnes[s] Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16 day of October in the year of Lord One Thousand. seven hundred. thirty five

Signed and sealed. publi[s]hed and dec[lared] as the last Will. and Testament of Memorandum. The Twenty Acres above[?] Isaac Wood the s[ai]d M[r] Isaac Wood bequeathed to John Desfountain. Seem at p[a]rt of my in the pres[en]ce of per[s]onall Estate. and have given, and bequeathed the same Simon Whaley. Witnes[s]. accordingly James Draper Simon Whaley D Crispe James Draper Isaac Wood Daniel Crispe

Isaac Wood of St Helena, of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth.

He ordered that his debts be paid immediately after his death. He acknowledged his particular obligation to Captain Goodwin, to whom he owed about £200, and directed his executors to discharge this debt with the utmost speed.

After his wife's third of his personal estate was received, he gave her the rest of his estate, real and personal, to hold and enjoy during her natural life.

After his wife's death, he gave his son-in-law John Desfountain 5 acres of freehold land called Pleys Land, and 2 acres of leasehold land lying under his country dwelling house.

After his wife's death, he gave his son-in-law Joseph Desfountain 12 acres of freehold land bought from Captain Alexander, and a further 10 acres of freehold land bought from Robert Gurling, commonly called Tolphs Land.

After his wife's death, he gave his granddaughter Mary Knipe £100, to be paid immediately after his wife's death.

After his wife's death, he gave his grandson Samuel Knipe £50, to be paid immediately after his wife's death. If either Mary or Samuel Knipe died before the other, the survivor was to take the other's legacy.

He gave the residue of his estate to his sons-in-law John and Joseph Desfountain, to be divided equally between them and their heirs. The five acres bequeathed to John Desfountain, and the 22 acres bequeathed to Joseph Desfountain, were to be held and possessed severally by them and their heirs for ever.

If both Mary and Samuel Knipe died before their legacies became payable, the cash sums were to be divided equally between John and Joseph Desfountain. If only one of the Knipe grandchildren died, the survivor was to take both legacies.

He appointed his sons-in-law John Desfountain and Joseph Desfountain, and his friend John Pleg, executors of his will, revoking all earlier wills. Signed Isaac Wood, 16 October 1735.

A memorandum recorded that the 20 acres bequeathed to Joseph Desfountain were part of the testator's personal estate, given and bequeathed accordingly.

Witnessed by Simon Whaley, James Draper and Duke Crispe.

Interpretations

Isaac Wood is the same Isaac Wood appearing across the late registers as a recurring administrator and witness. The handover identifies him as executor of the Knipe will of July 1733 alongside John Pawling and John Desfountain, where the deferred-partition clause was struck down by the Governor; as joint executor of the Mary Powell will of May 1735 alongside Jonathan Doveton, Francis Wrangham and Duke Crispe; and as joint executor of the Simon Whaley will date not fully recovered in the handover. The present will, drawn 12 days after his joint witnessing of the Frances Carne will of 20 August 1735 (alongside Thomas Easthope and Duke Crispe), marks the working close of his own testamentary career.

The reference to John Desfountain and Joseph Desfountain as sons-in-law identifies the two Desfountain brothers as having married two daughters of Isaac Wood. The John Desfountain named here is the same John Desfountain recurring across the late registers as joint executor of the Knipe will of July 1733, joint executor of the Pawling Solomon will of January 1735 (the handover identifies him), joint executor of the Pawling John will of July 1738, witness to the Cason will of February 1740, and executor under the Frances Seale will of 1739. His combined service as son-in-law and recurring administrator places him as one of the principal working figures of the late period. The Joseph Desfountain, also named as son-in-law, does not appear separately in the handover, which suggests he may be the younger brother of John, less prominent in the administrative record but with substantial freehold inheritance through the Wood disposition.

Speculations

The accumulated working pattern of Isaac Wood's documented career, with multiple executor appointments across the late registers and substantial freehold acquisitions from named figures including Captain Alexander and Robert Gurling, suggests that he had been a working accumulator of property across the late 1720s and 1730s. The combination of administrative service and land acquisition would have been a typical working career for a successful planter-administrator, building both wealth and standing through parallel activities. The present will represents the working consolidation of this accumulated estate at the close of his career.

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In the name of God Amen. I Elizabeth Greentree Widow being of Perfect mind and Memory do make and Ordain this my last Will and Memory. First and Principally I Recommend my Soul into the hand[s] of my Bles[s]ed Redeemer Jesus Christ. Trusting in his Mercies for the Redemption of all my Sins. My Body I commit[t] to the Earth to be Decently Inter[r]ed

Imprimis. I Will and Bequeath unto my Son Thomas Greentree the Sum of Twenty pounds. to be Laid out wholely in Mourning for him and his Family

Secondly. I Will and Bequeath unto my Son James Greentree and to my Daughter Susanna Greentree in Equall parts and Proportions all that part or Parcell of the Estate of Jane Greentree which She at her Decease, Bequeathed to me. And would have became hers in Case She had lived. out of the Estate of my Decea[se]d Husband.

3[r]dly. I Will and Bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Susanna a Mourning Ring that was my Decea[se]d Husbands and a Sett of Tea Spoons.

Fourthly. I Will and Bequeath all the Rest Re[s]idue and Remainder of my Estate. be it in what sort soever. Unto my beloved Children. James. Richard. Elizabeth. Sarah, Mary and Susanna. to be Divided between them in Equall Share and Proportions.

Fifthly. I Will and Bequeath that the part of my Estate. which I have. in the forgoing Paragraph unto my Daughter Mary Seemed to Bequeath Shall be only in her P[o]s[ses]si[on] untill the Children which She had by Daniel[l] Griffith Viz[t] Owen, Helena, Elizabeth and Mary or the Survivour of them Arrives to the Age of Twenty one Years or Marriage. and then as they do so Arrive at Age or Marriage. it Shall with the Profits that may arrise thereon be Equally, Divided Amongst them and Delivered to them.

Lastly. I Nominate and Appoint my well beloved. Sons. Thomas. and James. to be true and Lawfull Executors of this my last Will and Testament Utterly Revoking all former Wills or Wills by me made. Witnes[s] my hand and Seal in S[t] [H]el[e]na this Twelfth Day of December Anno Domini 1742.

Signed Sealed and Delivered Elizabeth Greentree where no Stamp[t] paper is to be had as her last Will and Testament G. G. Powell [E]dwin Alcock

Elizabeth Greentree, widow, of sound mind, made her will. She commended her soul to Jesus Christ in trust of pardon for her sins, and directed that her body be decently buried.

She gave her son Thomas Greentree £20, to be spent entirely on mourning for him and his family.

She gave her son James Greentree and her daughter Susanna Greentree, in equal parts, the share of her deceased daughter Jane Greentree's estate. Jane had bequeathed this share to her mother at her own death, and the share would have come to Jane out of the estate of the testator's deceased husband had Jane lived.

She gave her daughter Susanna a mourning ring that had belonged to her late husband and a set of tea spoons.

She gave the residue of her estate to her children James, Richard, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary and Susanna, to be divided equally among them.

The share allocated to her daughter Mary was to remain in Mary's possession only until the children Mary had by Daniel Griffith, namely Owen, Helena, Elizabeth and Mary, reached 21 or married. As each of these grandchildren reached age or marriage, the share, together with any profits arising on it, was to be divided equally among them and delivered.

She appointed her sons Thomas and James executors, and revoked all earlier wills.

Signed Elizabeth Greentree at St Helena, 12 December 1742, where no stamped paper was to be had.

Witnessed by George Gabriel Powell and Edwin Alcock.

Interpretations

Elizabeth Greentree is the widow of James Greentree, free planter, whose will of 17 February 1723 in the handover named nine children: Thomas (already married at that date), and the single children Leach, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James and Richard Greentree. The handover identifies her further as the eldest single child Leach indicating Leach-family connection of wife Elizabeth (sister of Richard Gurling), and as the wife who received a third of personal estate for ever under the 1723 will. The present will, drawn 19 years after her husband's, identifies the surviving children at her death as Thomas, James, Richard, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary, Susanna and the deceased Jane.

The grand-children Owen, Helena, Elizabeth and Mary Griffith, named as children of Mary Greentree by Daniel Griffith, link the Greentree line to the Griffith family. Daniel Griffith appears across the late registers as witness to multiple wills, including the Edmund Nichols will of July 1733, the Ann Slaughter will of March 1734, the Martha Frances will of December 1734 (where he was identified as Daniel Griffith), the Mary Coles Bates will of 1733, the Gabriel Powell will of September 1729, and as nephew of Anne Jane Greentree in the Anne Jane Greentree will of April 1732. The Griffith-Greentree marriage through Mary Greentree, identified here, confirms the kinship link previously documented through the Anne Jane Greentree will. The four grandchildren named here represent the working second generation of the Griffith household.

Speculations

The bequest of £20 specifically for mourning to son Thomas Greentree and his family, separate from any residuary share, suggests that Thomas had a working family of substantial size requiring mourning provision. The mention of "him and his Family" indicates multiple members of the household whose mourning would be provided from the £20. As the already-married eldest son under the 1723 will, Thomas had been working as an established householder for nearly two decades by the date of the present will, and his family had presumably grown to several children by 1742. The specific allocation for family mourning recognises the working scale of his household.

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In the Name of God Amen. I John Bazett. of the Island. St Helena. being Sick and weak of Body. but of Sound and perfect mind and memory thanks to Almighty God. do make and ordain. this my last Will and Testament. that is To Say first and principally I give and recommend my soul to the mercy of Almighty God. my Body I commit to the Earth. to be Buryed in a Christian like and decent Manner. my worldly Goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bles[s] me with. I Give devise and dispose of in Manner and forme as followeth.

Imprimis. I Will and desire. that all my debts. and Funeral Expenses be fully paid and Satisfied in some Convenient time after my decease.

Item. To my well beloved Wife I give and bequeath one Black Girl named Grace. one Silver Tea Pott. and one Mohogany De[s]k but not to be Valued to her.

Item. To my Son Matthew I give one Black Boy named Muta. and Silver Tankard which was my Fathers. but not to be Valued to him.

Item. To my Son Jonathan I give the Sum of Ten Pounds to buy him a piece of Plate. and also one Silver Salver. but not to be reckoned. as his part of Devidend.

Item. To my Son John I give one Black Girl Named Doll. and one Silver Bowle. but not to be Valued to him.

Item. To my Son Henry I give one Black Girl named Ellen and one Scalleped Salver but not to be Valued to him.

Item. To my Daughter Mary I give Six new Silver Table Spoons. and a Black Girl Named Nanny and also the Sum of Ten Pounds to buy her a piece of Plate. but not to be Valued to her.

Item. To my Daughter Sarah Charlotte I give one Black Girl named Mercy. One Silver Mug Mark[t] SB. and the Sum of Ten Pounds to buy her a Piece of Plate. but not to be Valued to her.

Item. To my godson Thomas Bazett. I give too Guineas to buy him a Ring Item. To my Nephew Matthew Whaley I give too Guineas to Buy him a Ring Item. To my Nephew Matthew Duo King I give one Silver Hilted Sword. Item. To my Nephew Thomas French I give a Silver mounted Dagger. Item. To each of my Executors hereafter named. I give forty Shillings to buy them a Ring.

Item. I give and Bequeath to my well Beloved Wife. the one half part of all my real Estate during her Naturall Life. And also the one third of part. of my Per[s]onal to be at her Disposal. And so long as. she remains my Widdow I give her the Living in my Mansion House and not to be Mollested by any of my Children but in case she Marries again then I give her but half of the said House.

John Bazett of St Helena, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner.

He ordered that all his debts and funeral expenses be paid within a convenient time after his death.

He gave his wife a black girl named Grace, a silver teapot and a mahogany desk, none of which were to be reckoned in her share.

He gave his son Matthew a black boy named Muta and the silver tankard that had belonged to the testator's father, neither to be reckoned in his share.

He gave his son Jonathan £10 to buy a piece of plate and a silver salver, neither to be reckoned in his share.

He gave his son John a black girl named Doll and a silver bowl, neither to be reckoned in his share.

He gave his son Henry a black girl named Ellen and a scalloped salver, neither to be reckoned in his share.

He gave his daughter Mary six new silver table spoons, a black girl named Nanny and £10 to buy a piece of plate, none of which were to be reckoned in her share.

He gave his daughter Sarah Charlotte a black girl named Mercy, a silver mug marked SB and £10 to buy a piece of plate, none of which were to be reckoned in her share.

He gave his godson Thomas Bazett two guineas to buy a ring.

He gave his nephew Matthew Whaley two guineas to buy a ring.

He gave his nephew Matthew Duo King a silver-hilted sword.

He gave his nephew Thomas French a silver-mounted dagger.

He gave each of his executors 40s to buy a ring.

He gave his wife half of his real estate during her natural life, and one third of his personal estate at her disposal. So long as she remained his widow, she was to have the use of his mansion house without molestation from any of his children. If she remarried, she was to have only half of the house.

Interpretations

John Bazett is the same John Bazett appearing across the late registers as a recurring administrator and executor. The handover identifies him as joint executor of the Samuel Jessey will of March 1734 (alongside John Desfountain and the son John Jessey), as recurring witness across multiple wills, and as the working administrative figure named in the Welch will of August 1736 (as joint executor with Jonathan Doveton), the Henry Edwards will of April 1737 (where he and Thomas Bazett were named as executors), the John Pawling will of July 1738 (as joint executor with Matthew Pawling and Duke Crispe), the John Young will of August 1733 (as joint executor with Stephen Lufkin and the wife), the Borlace Pyke witness role of November 1733, the Simon Whaley will of July 1741 (as joint executor with John Desfountain, Joseph Whaley and Matthew Pinking), and other late wills.

The conditional reduction of the widow's residence to half the mansion house on remarriage, while preserving her unmolested life occupation of the whole during widowhood, repeats the working pattern of conditional widow's benefits documented across the registers. The handover documents similar arrangements in the John Bagley senior will of 1728 (loss of management on remarriage) and the John Young will of 1733 (cessation of executive power on remarriage). The Bazett version preserves a substantial reduced interest after remarriage (half the house rather than nothing) while still creating a working incentive for the widow to remain unmarried.

Speculations

The extensive working distribution of named slaves to specific family members, with each slave named individually and tied to a specific recipient as a set-aside outside the residue, indicates that the testator regarded the working integrity of the slave-recipient pairings as a matter of personal arrangement rather than impersonal distribution. The arrangement preserves the working continuity of the household relationships, with each enslaved person passing to the family member with whom they had presumably been most closely associated during the testator's life. The mechanism parallels the working pattern in the Samuel Jessey will of March 1734.

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Item. All the rest and Re[s]idue of my Estate. both real. and Per[s]onal as well that half of real Estate Pos[s]es[s]ed by my wife at her Decease[d]. I give to my well beloved Children to be Equaly devided. among. as they Shall arrive at the age of Twenty one Years. or marriage namely Matthew. Jonathan. John. Henry. Mary. and Sarah Charlotte. and if Either of them Should Die. before Age or Marriage; that their part or Shares Shall be Equaly Divided among the Survivours. but my Mansion House. and the Lands Adjoyning to it I give them Severall three of to my Son Matthew. that is one half of the Lands when at age or marriage. and the other half at the Decease of his Mother. He paying his other Brothers and Sisters their proper Shares. as they Shall arrive to age or Marriage. the Said House and Land to be Valued by my Executors or by any Indifferent Men. as they Shall appoint

Item. My Honoured Father in Law Jonathan Doveton hath Promised to make me Equal with his Children. in his Estate. at his Decease. Therefore Direct. that when soever he Shall please to give me that part of his Estate. that it Shall be taken. and Esteemed as part of my Estate. and Dividend. as abovementioned.

Item. A Black Servant. named Jack. Hodge. whom I bought he proving good. and faithfull to me. I hereby give him his freedom. in Twelve Month. after my Decease.

Lastly. I hereby. nominate Constitute. and appoint. my Dear Wife to be Executrix. During the time She Shall Continue. my Widow. and no longer. And also my good freinds. Jonathan Doveton. Matthew Pawling. Samuel Doveton. John Desfountain. Richard Beale. Executors to this my Will. and Likewise. I appoint. my Son Matthew to be an Executor at the age of Nineteen Years Utterly revoking. and Dis annulling. all former Will or Wills. by me made. Ratifying. & Confirming this. and one other to be one last Will. and Testament In Witnes[s]. thereof. I have hereunto. Set my Hand. and Seal. this Twenty eight Day of December. in the Year of our Lord God. one thousand Seven Hundred & forty two

John Bazett

Signed Sealed. and Declared as the last Will and Testament of him the said John Bazett in the pre[s]ence of us. Memorandum. That the interlining of Jonathan Doveton and Matthew Pawling. was before the Signing. and Sealing.

Char[le]s. Cleek

Joseph Desfountain

W[illia]m Seale

John French jun[r]

Bazett gave the residue of his estate, real and personal, including the half of the real estate held by his wife during her life, to his children Matthew, Jonathan, John, Henry, Mary and Sarah Charlotte, to be divided equally as each reached 21 or married. If any died before age or marriage, the share was to be divided equally among the survivors.

The mansion house and the adjoining lands were given specifically to his son Matthew. Matthew was to take one half at age 21 or marriage, and the other half at his mother's death, on payment to his brothers and sisters of their proper shares as each reached age or marriage. The house and land were to be valued by the executors or by indifferent men appointed by them.

His father-in-law Jonathan Doveton had promised to make him equal with his own children in his estate at his death. The testator directed that whenever Doveton released that share, it was to be treated as part of the testator's own estate and divided accordingly.

He gave his black servant Jack Hodge his freedom 12 months after his death, on the ground that he had proved good and faithful.

He appointed his wife executrix during her widowhood and no longer. He further appointed his friends Jonathan Doveton, Matthew Pawling, Samuel Doveton, John Desfountain and Richard Beale executors. He further appointed his son Matthew an executor at the age of 19.

He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed John Bazett, 28 December 1742.

A memorandum recorded that the interlining of Jonathan Doveton and Matthew Pawling was made before signing and sealing.

Witnessed by Charles Cleek, Joseph Desfountain, William Seale and John French junior.

Interpretations

The promise of Jonathan Doveton to make Bazett equal with his own children, recorded in the will as a working future entitlement to be added to the estate at the testator's death, identifies a substantial expected legacy from the testator's father-in-law. Jonathan Doveton appears across the late registers as a recurring administrator (joint executor of Mary Coulson 1727 in the handover, witness to Mary Powell 1735, joint executor of Mary Coles Bates 1733, joint executor of Henry Welch 1736). His promise to Bazett, recorded here, marks the working pattern by which a son-in-law could be advanced from his wife's family alongside the daughter's own portion. The arrangement integrates the Bazett-Doveton kinship through the working expectation that future Doveton resources would flow into the Bazett line at the next generation.

The appointment of Matthew as executor at age 19, two years before his entry into his land inheritance at age 21, gives him working administrative experience during the transition period between his minority and his majority. The staged executor entry mechanism repeats the working pattern documented in the Gabriel Powell will of September 1729 (staged executor entry at ages 17 and 19) and the John Alexander will of June 1737 (Samuel as executor at age 17). The Bazett version places the entry at 19, between the Powell and Alexander ages, suggesting that the family thought 19 was the working transitional point for administrative responsibility.

Speculations

The exceptionally large executor team of seven figures, combined with the staged entry of the son Matthew at 19, suggests that the testator anticipated a complex working administration that would benefit from multiple specialised contributions. The combination of family executors (wife, son, father-in-law, brother-in-law) with external administrative figures (Pawling, Desfountain, Beale) creates a working hybrid team in which family interest and administrative experience are both represented. The arrangement reflects the working scale of the Bazett estate and the testator's recognition that no single administrator could manage it alone.

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In the Name of God Amen. I James Draper [a] Planter being Sick. and Weak of Body. but of perfect Mind. and memory thanks be to Almighty God. and Calling to mind the uncertainty of human Life. make this my last Will. and Testament. First. and principally I commit my Soul. into the Hands of Our Bles[s]ed Saviour. Jesus Christ. trusting in his mercies for the remi[s]sions of all my Sins. As to my Worldly Effects I will. and bequeath as follows Viz[t] [1]ly [2]ly. I Will. and Bequeath unto my well beloved Wife. my whole Estate both real. and per[s]onal. during her natural life. and at her Death. to the Child. or Children that She is now with Child with. With. but if the Child Should die. before her. then to be at her Disposal. as She shal[l] think proper.

3[r]ly. My Desire is that all my Debts be fully Satisfied in Some convenient time. after my Decease.

4[t]hly. I Will. and ordain that my trusty ffriends. M[r] John Desfountain. and Joshua Worrall be my Lawful Executors to this my last Will. and Testament. utterly revoking all former Wills by me made. In Witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand. and Seale in S[t] Helena. this Twenty fourth Day of Oct[r]. one Thousand Seven Hundred and forty too.

Signed Sealed and Delivered James Draper as his last Will. and Testament Where no stamp[e]d paper is to be had in presence of us. John Doveton Joseph Long

James Draper, planter, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made his will, reflecting on the uncertainty of human life. He commended his soul to Jesus Christ in trust of pardon for his sins.

He gave his wife his whole estate, real and personal, during her natural life, and at her death to the child or children she was then carrying. If the child died before the wife, the estate was to be at her disposal as she thought proper.

He ordered that all his debts be paid within a convenient time after his death.

He appointed his friends John Desfountain and Joshua Worrall executors of his will, revoking all earlier wills.

Signed James Draper at St Helena, 24 October 1742, where no stamped paper was to be had.

Witnessed by John Doveton and Joseph Long.

Interpretations

James Draper is the same James Draper appearing across the late registers as a recurring witness and executor. The handover identifies him as joint executor (with Mathew Bazett) of the Henry Coales will of 1700, joint executor of the Simon Whaley senior will date not fully recovered, witness to the Isaac Wood will of October 1735 alongside Simon Whaley and Duke Crispe, and recurring witness across multiple late wills. His own will, drawn 42 years after his first documented administrative appearance, marks the working close of one of the longest documented witness and executor careers in the registers.

The executor pairing of John Desfountain and Joshua Worrall combines two of the principal administrative figures of the late period. John Desfountain continues across the registers as joint executor in multiple wills, and Joshua Worrall is the same Joshua Worrall named as son-in-law of John Bagley senior in the Margaret Bagley will of April 1740, where he was one of two executors alongside Benjamin Pledger. The Bazett-Worrall-Desfountain administrative network is well documented in the late registers, and the choice of these two executors places the Draper estate within that established working network.

Speculations

The minimal working content of the Draper will, focused entirely on the wife's life interest and the unborn child's remainder, suggests that the testator regarded his testamentary obligations as discharged once the immediate succession had been settled. The arrangement parallels the working pattern of the Joseph Harding will of October 1737, which also focused on an unborn child's potential succession, but the Harding will provided substantial detail about cascading buy-outs and contingent provisions. The Draper instrument's simplicity suggests either a smaller estate not requiring such elaborate working provisions, or a working confidence that the wife and executors could manage the contingencies without prescribed mechanisms.

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In the name of God Amen this Seventh day of October. in the Year of our Lord one Thousand Seven Hundred & forty Two. I Charles Steward of the Island S[t] Helena Planter being Suddenly taken Ill but of Sound and Perfect mind and Memory thanks be to Almighty God. do make. Ordain. Constitute. and Appoint. this my Last Will and Testament. that is to Say. first and Princepally I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God. my Body I Committ to the Earth. to be Buried in a Christian Like. and Decent manner. My Worldly Goods wherewith it hath Pleased God to Bles[s] me with. I give Devise and De[s]pose of in manner. and form as followeth.

Imprimis. I give to my Well beloved Wife. the half of my Real Estate. as well Houses and Lands During her Natural Life. and also the one Third of my Personal Estate. to be at her Di[s]po[s]al. I also give her the Choice of all my Black Girls. to take one of which She think fit and also a Sett of those Crewells and Casters but neither to be Vallued to her

Item. I give to each of my beloved Daughters Elizabeth and Margarett. a Black Girl. to take their Choice. (after their Mother but not to be Vallued unto their parts. Also to my Son Charles I give him the Choice of a Black Boy. but not to be Vallued unto his part and the Sum of fifty pounds. at Age. or Marriage.

Item. All the Rest. and Remainder of my Estate. both Real and Personal I give to be Equally Devided Among my beloved Children Namely. Frances. Gabriel. Charles. Elizabeth. and Margarett. at age or Marriage. as well that part of the Real Estate Pos[s]es[s]ed by my Wife at her Decease. but as I am Desirous to Settle my Son Charles upon this Island. I therefore. Direct that he Shall have all my Lands. both Freehold and Leasehold. in Sandy Bay. to the top of the Main Ridge at a Reasonable Valuation. he paying his other Brothers. and Sisters. their proper Shares or proportions, and if my Wife should Lebe[?] till my Said Son Charles come to Age or Marriage. it may be very Inconvenient to her to Devide. the Mansion House. and upon that Consideration I give her the Living in the Whole House with this proviso that She Assist my Son Charles in Building a House on the Land called Joves[?]

And whereas my Son Gabriel may have Occasion for Money before he arrives to age. or marriage I therefore. give full power to my Executors. to Lett him have the Sum of One Hundred pound when he Shall arrive. at the Age of Eighteen Years. but to be E[s]teemed as part of his Devidend

And whereas my Father Wrangham hath promised me. to make me Equal in his Estate. with the Rest of his Children. I therefore. Direct that at Such time he Shall think fit. to give one the Said part of his Estate. that my Wife Shall have the one Third part. and the other two Thirds. to be Equally Devided. among my above mentioned Children. at Age. or Marriage. Lastly

On 7 October 1742, Charles Steward of St Helena, planter, suddenly taken ill but of sound mind, made his will. He gave thanks to God, commended his soul to God, and directed that his body be buried in Christian and decent manner.

He gave his wife half of his real estate, both houses and lands, during her natural life, and one third of his personal estate at her disposal. He also gave her the choice of any of his black girls and a set of cruets and casters, neither to be reckoned in her share.

He gave his daughters Elizabeth and Margarett each a black girl, to be chosen by them after their mother had chosen first, neither to be reckoned in their shares. He gave his son Charles the choice of a black boy, not to be reckoned in his share, and £50 at age or marriage.

He gave the residue of his estate, real and personal, to be divided equally among his children Frances, Gabriel, Charles, Elizabeth and Margarett at age or marriage. The half of the real estate held by his wife during her life was to be divided in the same way at her death.

He wished to settle his son Charles on the island. He therefore directed that Charles take all the lands, freehold and leasehold, in Sandy Bay, up to the top of the Main Ridge, at a reasonable valuation, paying his brothers and sisters their proper shares.

If his wife lived until Charles reached age or marriage, dividing the mansion house might be inconvenient to her. He therefore gave her the use of the whole house, on condition that she help his son Charles build a house on the land called Joves.

His son Gabriel might need money before reaching age or marriage. He therefore gave his executors full power to let Gabriel have £100 when he reached 18, to be treated as part of his share.

His father-in-law Wrangham had promised to make him equal with his other children in his estate. The testator directed that whenever this share was released, his wife was to take one third, with the other two thirds divided equally among the children at age or marriage.

Interpretations

Charles Steward is the same Charles Steward appearing across the late registers as a recurring witness and executor. The handover identifies him as son of the testator Charles Steward of 1714 through his half-sister Martha Steward (full sister of the Francis Steward testator of 1719), and as recurring witness on multiple late wills including the Coulson codicil of 1727, the Solomon Pawling will of 1735, the Borlace Pyke will of 1733, the Richard Swallow will of 1729, the James Crafford will of March 1736, and the Francis Carne codicil of July 1739. He was named as executor in the James Ryder will of July 1741 alongside Thomas Greentree, and as recipient of mourning rings and personal items across several of the Powell-Hodgkinson dispositions documented in the handover.

The father-in-law Wrangham named here is plausibly the same Francis Wrangham appearing across the late registers as joint executor of the Borlace Pyke will of November 1733 (alongside Captain John Goodwin), as witness to the John Alexander will of June 1737 and other late wills, and as joint executor of the Mary Coles Bates will of 1733. The handover identifies the Wrangham line as connected to the Sich family through Margaret Wrangham (granddaughter in the Margaret Sich will of 1719) and Francis Wrangham as Margaret Sich's named executor. The marriage of Charles Steward to a Wrangham daughter integrates the Steward-Wrangham administrative families through the working kinship.

Speculations

The sudden onset of illness recorded in the will, with the testator described as "Suddenly taken Ill" rather than the usual "sick and weak in body," indicates that the will was drafted in response to an acute working medical event rather than to a prolonged decline. The phrasing parallels the working pattern documented in some other late wills where the testator had been taken ill unexpectedly and drafted the will rapidly to settle his affairs. The arrangement reflects the practical reality that planter testators on the island often dealt with rapid working changes in their health.

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Lastly. I Nominate and Appoint my Brother Francis Steward. my Father Wrangham and Mes[s][rs] John Goodwin. and Francis Wrangham Junior to be Executors of this my Last Will. Revoking. and Disannulling all former Wills or Wills by me made. Ratifying. and Confirming this. and one other to be my Last Will and Testament. Charles Steward Signed Sealed. and Declared to be the Last Will. and Testament of him the said Charles Steward in the Pres[en]ce of Us. Charles Cleek John Worrall Richard Beale

In the name of God Amen. this 27 Day of October. in the Year of our Lord One Thousand. Seven Hundred. and Forty Two. I Mary Steward Weddow being Sick and Weak of Body but of sound Mind. and Perfect Memory thanks be to Almighty God for the same.) Do make. and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament. that is to Say. first. and principally I Recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God. my Body to the Earth. to be Buried in a Decent manner. and my Wo[r]ldly Effects I give Bequeath and Bestow as follows Viz[t]

Imprimis. I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Daughter Margarett Steward. one Sett of Silver Casters. and Glass Crewells. in a Silver stand. which my Late Husband Bequeathed unto me.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Son Charles Steward one Black Girl. which my Late Husband. Bequeathed unto me.

Item. I give. and Bequeath unto my Son in Law Francis Steward. the Sum of Fifty pounds.

Item. All the Rest. Re[s]idue. and Remainder of my Estate. I give and Bequeath. unto my Well beloved Children. Margarett. Gabriel. and Charles Steward to be Equally Devided amongst them. as they Severally arrive at the Age of Twenty one Years. or Marriage, but my full true meaning. and Intention is that if either of my abovementioned Children Margarett. Gabriel. and Charles Should die either before they come to Age. or Marriage that then the Survivour. or Survivours Shall Enjoy the Decease[d]s Devidend. And

Whereas. by the Last Will and Testament of my Late Husband. I was to have the Living in this House. in the Country during my Natural Life. and then to Descend to my Son

Steward appointed his brother Francis Steward, his father-in-law Wrangham, John Goodwin and Francis Wrangham junior executors. He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his final testament. Signed Charles Steward.

Witnessed by Charles Cleek, John Worrall and Richard Beale.

On 27 October 1742, Mary Steward, widow, sick and weak in body but of sound mind, made her will. She gave thanks to God, commended her soul to God and her body to the earth, to be decently buried.

She gave her daughter Margarett Steward a set of silver casters and glass cruets in a silver stand, which her late husband had bequeathed to her.

She gave her son Charles Steward a black girl, which her late husband had bequeathed to her.

She gave her son-in-law Francis Steward £50.

She gave the residue of her estate to her children Margarett, Gabriel and Charles Steward, to be divided equally among them as each reached 21 or married. If any of these three children died before age or marriage, the survivor or survivors were to take the deceased's share.

Her late husband's will had given her the use of the country house during her natural life, after which it was to descend to her son

Interpretations

Mary Steward is the widow of the Charles Steward whose will of 7 October 1742 has just been recorded. Her own will, drawn only 20 days after her husband's, marks the most rapid working succession of testamentary instruments documented in the registers. The proximity in dates indicates that both husband and wife had been suddenly taken ill within the same period, and that both had recognised the need to settle their affairs in close succession. The combination of two wills within three weeks marks an unusual working concentration of family disposition.

The bequest of the silver casters and glass cruets in a silver stand to daughter Margarett identifies the same set previously documented in the Charles Steward will of 7 October 1742, where the wife was given a set of cruets and casters not to be reckoned in her share. The Mary Steward will now redirects the same set to daughter Margarett, marking the working transmission of the item from husband to wife and now from wife to daughter within three weeks. The arrangement preserves the working memory of the late husband through the silver, with the named item passing through the maternal line to a single daughter.

Speculations

The drafting of the Mary Steward will only 20 days after her husband's, with both wills produced under conditions of acute illness, suggests that the couple may have contracted the same illness within a short period of each other. The working pattern of rapid successive testaments in the same household, with the wife adopting the same simple structural patterns as the husband, indicates that both testators were drafting their working dispositions in close consultation or with the same legal advice. The two wills together form a working married couple's joint estate disposition, with the wife's will picking up and continuing the working arrangements of the husband's.

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Son Charles. at his Arriving to Age. or Marriage. and Whereas. he. my Son Charles being now very Young. and no Body Left. in the House. with him. but my Daughter Margarett. My Will. and Desire therefore. is. that my Sister Alcock. may have. her Living. here. at the House in the Country. till my Said Son Charles Shall arrive at Age or Marriage.

Lastly. I Constitute and Appoint my beloved and Honoured Father. My beloved Brother in Law Captain Francis Steward. My beloved Cousin John Goodwin. and my beloved brother Francis Wrangham (being the same Executors that were to my Late Husbands Will) be Executors. to this my Last Will. and Testament. Utterly Revoking all former Will or Wills by me. heretofore made. made. In Witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand and Seal. the day and Year above Writen Mary Steward Signed Sealed. and Delivered in the Pres[en]ce of us the word (my) being first Interlined Mary Alexander [The] ☩ Mark Bridgett Leech Frances Wrangham

In the name of God Amen. I John Bradley of the Island. S[t] Helena. being Very Weak of Body. but of sound mind Memory and Understandedly. Do Therefore. make. this my Last Will. and Testament. I manner. form and following. that is to say first. and Principally. I Committ my Soul. to the Almighty God. my Body. to the Earth. ther to be Decently Buried According to the Directions of the Honourable. the Governour. and Council.

Item. I give to my Well beloved Wife. half my Land. for her Life. and the third of my Per[s]onal Estate. for ever. the other part of my Land. and Per[s]onal Estate. to be Equally Divided. among my Children. as they come to Age. or Marriage.

Item And the other part of Land. at my Wives Decease. to be Equally Devided. among my Children also.

Item. to my Daughter Mary Bradley I give the first Heifer Calf thats Calved. Item. to my Son Arthur Bradley I give. the Second Calf thats Calved. Item. to my Daughter Noomy. I give. the third Heifer Calf thats Calved

Signed Sealed. and Delivered John Bradley in the pres[en]ce of us. James Crafter John Draper Edward Burnham

June [the?] 2. 1737

Steward's late husband's will had directed that the country house descend to her son Charles when he reached age or marriage. Since her son Charles was then very young and no one else was left in the house with him except her daughter Margarett, the testator desired that her sister Alcock have her living at the country house until Charles reached age or marriage.

She appointed her honoured father, her brother-in-law Captain Francis Steward, her cousin John Goodwin and her brother Francis Wrangham, the same executors named in her late husband's will, as executors of her own will. She revoked all earlier wills.

Signed Mary Steward by her mark. A note recorded that the word "my" had been interlined before signing.

Witnessed by Mary Alexander, Bridget Leech and Frances Wrangham.

John Bradley of St Helena, very weak in body but of sound mind, made his will. He commended his soul to God and his body to the earth, to be decently buried according to the directions of the Honourable Governor and Council.

He gave his wife half of his land for her life and one third of his personal estate for ever. The other half of his land, and the rest of his personal estate, were to be divided equally among his children as they reached age or marriage.

The half of the land held by his wife during her life was to be divided equally among his children at her death.

He gave his daughter Mary Bradley the first heifer calf that was born after his death. He gave his son Arthur Bradley the second heifer calf. He gave his daughter Noomy the third heifer calf.

Signed John Bradley, 2 June 1737. Witnessed by James Crafter, John Draper and Edward Burnham.

Interpretations

The Mary Steward will reveals important new working kinship details about the Steward household. The reference to "my Honoured Father" identifies the testator's father as the Wrangham named as her late husband's father-in-law, which fixes Mary Steward as a daughter of Wrangham senior. The "brother in Law Captain Francis Steward" identifies the Captain Francis Steward as her late husband's brother, marking Francis Steward's military rank for the first time in the registers and confirming the brother relationship to Charles Steward. The "cousin John Goodwin" identifies John Goodwin as a cousin rather than as the more distant administrative figure, which suggests a working kinship link between the Steward-Wrangham family and the Goodwin administrative line. The "brother Francis Wrangham" identifies Francis Wrangham junior as Mary Steward's brother, confirming the working sibling relationship between Mary Steward and Francis Wrangham junior.

The John Bradley will of June 1737, registered five years later in the present sequence, identifies a working catch-up of older unproved instruments. The pattern parallels the William Seal will of 1727 (registered alongside the 1736-1738 cluster), the Mary Powell will of May 1735 (registered alongside the 1738-1739 cluster), and the Frances Carne will of August 1735 (registered alongside the 1740 cluster). The Bradley will follows the same working pattern, with execution in June 1737 but registration only in late 1742.

Speculations

The provision for the sister Alcock to live at the country house, made by Mary Steward in her own will rather than by her late husband Charles Steward in his, suggests that the working arrangement for the son's care was negotiated by the wife rather than by the husband. The husband's will of 7 October 1742 had left the working consolidation of the estate to the widow's discretion through the conditional mansion house clause; the wife's will of 27 October 1742 picks up the working care arrangement by introducing her sister into the household. The arrangement reflects the working pattern of widow's authority being exercised through her own testamentary instrument when her own death was imminent.

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In the Name of God Amen. I William Coals late of Council at Bencoolen. but now of the Island. S[t] Helena being Sick and Weak of Body. but of Sound and Per[s]ect mind. and Memory do make. and Ordain. this my Last Will. and Testament. that is to Say. my Soul. I Recommend to the Mercy of Almighty God. my Body I Commit. to the Earth. to be decently Interred. and my Worldly Goods I Give. and Bequeath. as follows. viz[t]

Imprimis. I give. and Bequeath. unto my Son Edward Two thousand Six hundred Dollars; four thousand thereof. to be paid him. when he comes of Age. the Remainder to be paid at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter named but in case of his death. before he Arrives at age. I direct that it Shall descend to my heir[s].

Item. I Will. and Bequeath. unto my niece Elizabeth Savage. Daughter of M[r] John Savage. late of Fort Marlbro deceased Four Hundred Dollars towards her Mourning as also Four Thousand Dollars. to be paid her. by my Executors. when. She Arrives at Age. or Marrage. but in Case. her Before. either happen[s] then I Direct. this Legacy. together. with the Aforementioned one given to my Son may be paid Before. any of the Legacies hereafter Bequeathed.

Item. I give and Bequeath. unto Nicholas Morse Esq[r] of fort S[t] George. one Thousand Spanish Dollars. in Consideration. for the Trouble he will have. in my Affairs.

Item. I Will. and Bequeath. unto my very good. Friend M[r] Charles Barbut. Five Hundred. Spanish Dollars.

Item. I give and Bequeath. unto M[r] David Pugh Two Hundred. Spanish Dollars.

Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto M[r] Henry Coals Two Hundred. Spanish Dollars.

Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto my Sister Margaret Graytree Thirty Acres of Freehold Land. lying in the South Devision of this Island. & the Dwelling House thereon. to be delivered Immediately. after my Decease.

Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto Joseph Mead Bate. one Thousand Dollars. with his Pa[s]ses must be Sent to Bencoolen to go to Nicholas Morse Esq[r] of fort. S[t] George my Executor. who is to pay him the Aforementioned Item at his Discretion

Item. I Will. and Bequeath. unto Edward Bates. one Thousand Dollars. to be paid him at the Discretion of my Executor. at Fort S[t] George.

Item. I Will. and Bequeath. unto Isaac Leech of this Island. Eighty Dollars.

Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto my poor Relations of this Island. Eight Hundred Dollars, to be Distributed Among them. as my Executors at this place will think proper.

Item. I Give. and Bequeath. unto Joseph Scott of Fort Marlbro the Mother of my Children. Five Hundred Spanish Dollars. to be paid Immediately. upon Advice of my death. at Fort Marlbro by my Executors there. as also my Malley Debts that Shal[l] be outstanding a Twelvemonth. after the Aforesaid Advice.

William Coals, lately of the council at Bencoolen and now resident on St Helena, made this will while sick and weak in body but sound in mind and memory. He committed his soul to God and directed that his body be decently buried.

He left his son Edward $2,600. Of this, $4,000 was to be paid when Edward came of age, and the remainder at the discretion of the executors named below. If Edward died before reaching his majority, the legacy was to pass to Coals's heirs.

He left his niece Elizabeth Savage, daughter of John Savage late of Fort Marlborough deceased, $400 towards her mourning and a further $4,000 to be paid by the executors when she reached her majority or married. If she died before either event, that legacy, together with the one left to his son, was to be paid ahead of any of the legacies that followed.

He left Nicholas Morse of Fort St George 1,000 Spanish dollars in consideration of the trouble he would have in handling Coals's affairs.

He left his good friend Charles Barbut 500 Spanish dollars.

He left David Pugh 200 Spanish dollars.

He left Henry Coals 200 Spanish dollars.

He left his sister Margaret Graytree thirty acres of freehold land in the South Division of St Helena, together with the dwelling house standing on it, to be delivered immediately after his death.

He left Joseph Mead Bate $1,000. Bate's passes were to be sent to Bencoolen and forwarded to Nicholas Morse at Fort St George, who as executor was to pay the legacy at his discretion.

He left Edward Bates $1,000, to be paid at the discretion of the executor at Fort St George.

He left Isaac Leech of St Helena $80.

He left his poor relations on St Helena $800, to be distributed among them as the executors on the island thought proper.

He left Joseph Scott of Fort Marlborough, the mother of his children, 500 Spanish dollars, to be paid immediately on news of his death by the executors at Fort Marlborough. He also directed that any Malay debts outstanding twelve months after that news be paid to her.

Interpretations

Coals describes himself as late of the council at Bencoolen but now of St Helena, placing him within the East India Company's senior civil hierarchy. Bencoolen on the west coast of Sumatra was the Company's principal pepper settlement, and a seat on its council was a senior administrative position. His move to St Helena while still holding live interests across the Indian Ocean reflects the way Company servants retired or recuperated on the island while keeping their financial and family affairs spread across multiple presidencies.

The testator is the same William Coals who appears in the handover as son of Henry Coales of St Helena (will of 16 August 1700) and as a witness to the Samuel Desfontaines will of 15 November 1707. Henry Bequest of $200 to Henry Coals in the present will probably refers to a nephew or younger kinsman within the same Coales line, since the elder Henry Coales had been dead for years. The testator's sister Margaret Graytree, receiving thirty acres in the South Division, extends the documented Coales sibling group beyond Thomas, William, Samuel, Elizabeth Mudge, Martha, Mary Beale and Bridget Bazett named in the 1700 will, either through a previously unrecorded sister or through Margaret's marriage into the Graytree family.

Speculations

The decision to route the Bencoolen legacies through Nicholas Morse at Fort St George rather than directly through executors at Fort Marlborough suggests Coals trusted the Madras establishment more than the Sumatran one for handling discretionary payments. Morse is given personal authority over the timing and manner of paying Joseph Mead Bate and Edward Bates, which implies Coals expected questions of character or conduct to arise that only a senior figure at a major presidency could properly judge. Placing the discretion at Fort St George also kept the funds within the more developed banking and remittance network of the Coromandel Coast rather than the thinner financial infrastructure of Bencoolen.

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Item. I give. and bequeath. unto. George Gabriel Powell Esq[r]. Governour. and M[r] Matthew Pawling. of this Island. Two Hundred Spanish Dollars Each. for the Trouble. they may have in my affairs.

Item. I give and Bequeath. unto Joseph Bates Sen[r]. Late of this Island. two Hundred Spanish Dollar[s].

Item. I give and Bequeath. unto Nicholas Morse. Esq[r] of fort. S[t] George. my Slave Boy Pompey. and Direct that he be sent to him the first opportunity

Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto M[r] George Higginson. of the East India House. London. two Hundred Spanish Dollars.

Item. The Re[s]idue of my Estate. I give Devise. and Bequeath. unto Joseph Coles fun[r]. Mary Coles. Ann Healey. and Philodelphia Brahem. all of fort Marlborough. To be devided into Equall Shares amongst them. but in Case of the Decease of Joseph Coles fun[r]. and Mary Coles. then their Share or part I give to Ann.[?] said. Joseph Coles. herby Declaring them all to be my fr[i]ends

Lastly. I do hereby Constitute. and appoint Nicholas Morse. Esq[r] of fort. S[t] George Executor to this my last will. and Testament. requireing he will take upon himself. Care and protector. of my Son. as well at the Management of my Estate. and do the End. that no uneasines[s] may Arise unto the Said Nicholas Morse Esq[r] my good Friend. on the ac[c]t of the Executorship. and to Shew the intire Confidence. I repose in him. I do hereby. any of my Heir[s]. Disinherit. that Shall offer any Suite. or Law proceedings. against him. the said Nicholas Morse Esq[r] on acc[t] of any Transactions in the said executorship. hereby Declaireing. that my last Will. and desire is that the Said Nicholas Morse Esq[r] Shall not be account[a]ble to any persons. what soever. concerning the Management of my Estate. I also do nominate. appoint. my good Friends. M[r] Charles Barbut. M[r] Henry Coals. and M[r] David Pugh. Executors. in trust. at fort Marlbro. for the Recovery. and Collecting. my Debts. and Effects on the West Coast. desireing them. to remit the Produce of the Same. to my Aforesaid Executor. for the Use Aforementioned. Impowering them. to pay my Just debts. herby declareing them Accountable to no person Whatever. In Like manner. as M[r] Morse. Aforenamed. and in Consideration of Calling in. and Collecting. the money. due to my Estate from the Mallays; I Bequeath. unto the Said Charles. Barbut Henry Coals & David Pugh. Joyntly and to be Equally Shared. Between them. one third. part of all and Every. sum they shall So recover. and Collect. from the Mallays. of my Outstanding Debts within a Twelvemonth. after notice of my Decease. at Fort Marlbro. and I also Hereby Appoint. M[r] George Higgins of the East Indies House London Executor in Trust. for the Transacting my Affairs in England. and as I have. Effects. also with me at this place

William Coals left $200 each in Spanish dollars to George Gabriel Powell, governor of St Helena, and to Matthew Pawling of the island, for the trouble they might have in his affairs.

He left Joseph Bates senior, late of St Helena, $200 in Spanish dollars.

He left his slave boy Pompey to Nicholas Morse of Fort St George, directing that the boy be sent to Morse by the first opportunity.

He left George Higginson of the East India House in London $200 in Spanish dollars.

The residue of his estate he left equally between Joseph Coles junior, Mary Coles, Ann Healey and Philadelphia Brahem, all of Fort Marlborough. If Joseph Coles junior and Mary Coles died, their share was to pass to Joseph Coles. He declared all four to be his friends.

He appointed Nicholas Morse of Fort St George as executor of the will and as guardian of his son, as well as manager of the estate. To prevent any difficulty arising for Morse from the executorship, and as a mark of complete confidence in him, Coals disinherited any heir who brought a suit or legal proceeding against Morse over his conduct as executor. He directed that Morse be accountable to no person for the management of the estate.

He appointed Charles Barbut, Henry Coals and David Pugh as executors in trust at Fort Marlborough for recovering and collecting his debts and effects on the west coast, and directed them to remit the proceeds to Morse for the purposes already set out. They were empowered to pay his just debts and, like Morse, were to be accountable to no person. In consideration of calling in and collecting the sums owed to his estate by the Malays, he left Barbut, Coals and Pugh jointly, in equal shares, one third of every sum they recovered from the Malays of his outstanding debts within twelve months after notice of his death reached Fort Marlborough.

He appointed George Higginson of the East India House in London as executor in trust for the transaction of his affairs in England, and noted that he had effects with Higginson at that place.

Interpretations

George Gabriel Powell, named here as governor of St Helena, is the same George Gabriel Powell who appears in the handover as the eldest son of Gabriel Powell (will of 18 September 1729). He had been a minor at his father's death, named in the staged executor entry at age 17, and now appears as governor of the island. His rise from named son under a staged-executor clause to head of the local administration is a striking sign of the continuity of the Powell line in St Helena governance. The $200 fee for the trouble he might have in the affairs treats his role here as a standard local administrative service rather than as a personal friendship.

The residuary legatees Joseph Coles junior, Mary Coles, Ann Healey and Philadelphia Brahem are all placed at Fort Marlborough. The Coles surname, with the Joseph Coles junior naming, suggests a connection to the Coles or Coales line at St Helena documented in the handover, in particular the Joseph Coles named in the Bridget Bates will of 23 January 1733 as the source of a deed of free gift of thirty acres of freehold land. If the Joseph Coles named in that 1733 transaction is the same man (or close kin) as the residuary legatee here, the Fort Marlborough residuary group represents a continuation of the St Helena Coles connection into the Sumatran settlement. The use of the term friends, rather than kin, signals that these are working personal ties at Bencoolen rather than direct blood relations.

Speculations

Vesting Morse with both the executorship and the personal guardianship of Edward Coals concentrates an unusual amount of authority in a single Madras Council figure. By making Morse responsible for both the estate and the son, Coals removed any possibility of conflict between a guardian and an executor over the child's funds, and ensured that the substantial $2,600 legacy and contingent residue would be administered by the same hand that raised the boy. The arrangement reads as a calculated choice to keep Edward within the senior Madras civil establishment rather than send him back to England or leave him on St Helena.

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Shave thought Proper. and do Hereby Appoint George Gabriel Powell Esq[r]. and M[r] Matthew Pawling Executors in Trust. for the Management of the Same upon this Island Requireing them Immediately. after my Decease. to Dispose of all my Effects at Publick Auction. for the most they will yield. and after deducting the Legacys. I have Bequeathed at this place. together with my Just Debts. and Funeral Charges. the Remainder of any. I direct Shall be Remitted as Soon as Po[s]ible to the Aforesaid M[r] G[e]o. Higginson. he Accounting with the Aforesaid Nicholas Morse Esq[r] for these and all other Sums of money. which he may have of mine in his hands at the time of my decease. and I do Hereby Utterly Revoke. and Disannull all former Wills. by me Heretofore made. Ratifying. and Confirming this and no other to be my Last Will. and Testament. In Witnes[s] whereof I have Hereunto Sett my Hand. Seale. this Thirteenth day of December one Thousand Seven Hundred and forty three

Signed Sealed William Coals Publi[s]hed. and Delivered to be the Last Will. and Testament of the Testator. in the Pres[en]ce of Thomas Kirkpatrick Samuel Doveton William Hayes

Whereas I William Coals. Since the Signing. and Sealing. of the above Will. have De[s]po[s]ed of Two Acres of freehold Land to M[r] Thomas Greentree. of this Island. which I had Bequeathed. in the Aforesaid Will. to my Sister Margaret Greentree. but do now Therefore Hereby Excluded the said Margaret Greentree. from haveing any Right. or Claim. to the said two Acres of freehold Land. which I direct may be deemed. and taken as part. of my Last will. and Testament. In Witnes[s]. whereof I sett my hand this 5[th] day of December 1743

Witnes[s] William Coals James Dubois Samuel Doveton

Coals appointed George Gabriel Powell and Matthew Pawling as executors in trust for the management of his affairs on St Helena. He required them, immediately after his death, to sell all his effects at public auction for the best price they would yield. After deducting the local legacies, his just debts and funeral charges, the remainder was to be remitted as soon as possible to George Higginson, who was to account to Nicholas Morse for that sum and for any other money of Coals's that he might hold at the time of death. He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament. He signed and sealed it on 13 December 1743.

Witnesses: Thomas Kirkpatrick, Samuel Doveton, William Hayes.

In a codicil dated 5 December 1743, Coals recorded that since signing and sealing the will he had disposed of two acres of freehold land to Thomas Greentree of St Helena, the same two acres he had bequeathed to his sister Margaret Greentree. He excluded her from any right or claim to that land and directed that the codicil be treated as part of his last will and testament. He signed the codicil himself.

Witnesses: James Dubois, Samuel Doveton.

Interpretations

The instruction to sell all his St Helena effects at public auction immediately after death follows the established pattern for Company servants whose principal heirs and creditors lay overseas. The handover records the same liquidation-and-remittance device in the Boucher codicil of May 1713 and the Edward Johnson will of February 1723, both governors whose colonial estates were converted to bills of exchange for transmission to London. Coals applies the same mechanism but routes the proceeds first to Higginson in London and then back through Higginson to Morse at Madras, so that the metropolitan and Indian sides of the estate are reconciled in a single accounting line.

Thomas Greentree, the purchaser of the two acres, is the same Thomas Greentree who appears in the handover as the eldest son of James Greentree (will of 17 February 1723), already married at the time of his father's will and named executor with Richard Gurling and James Ryder. His acquisition of two acres adjacent to Margaret Greentree's intended thirty-acre bequest fits the pattern of Greentree family consolidation of holdings in the South Division. The surname coincidence between the testator's sister Margaret Greentree (rendered Graytree in the main body of the will) and the purchaser Thomas Greentree suggests that Margaret had married into the same Greentree family from which Thomas came, making the buyer probably a kinsman of the disappointed legatee.

Speculations

The decision to route the St Helena auction proceeds through London rather than directly to Madras suggests Coals wanted the metropolitan executor to act as a check on the Indian-side accounting. By requiring Higginson to account to Morse for the remitted sums, Coals created a paper trail that ran through the East India House before reaching Fort St George. The arrangement made it difficult for either Higginson or Morse to misappropriate funds undetected, since each was bound to account to the other, even though both were indemnified against suit by any beneficiary.

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In the Name of God Amen. I Charles Clark of this Island. S[t] Helena. Surgeon. being Sick & Weak. of Body but of Sound & perfect Mind & Memory do make & ordain this my Last Will & Testament. that is to Say my Soul. I Recommen[d] to the Mercy of Almighty God. my Body I Commit to the Earth and my Worldy Good[s] Goods. after my Just debts & Funeral Charges are Sati[s]fied. let be what Nature or quality Soever I Give & Bequeath. to my beloved Wife Mary Clark of Pl[a]ston in E[s]ex. but in Case of her decease. I give the Entire produce of my Said Effects. to her Aunt M[rs] Hodgson Also of Pla[s]ton in E[s]ex. and I do hereby Appoint my Belov[e]d fri[e]nd Mess[rs]. Christopher Dix[s]on. John. Clark & Matthew Pawling to be Executors to this my Last Will & Testament [in?] Witnes[s] whereof. I have Set my hand this Second day of August. 1743. Charles Clark Signed Published & Declared. to be the Last Will & Testament of the Testator in the Presence of James DuBois. Matthew Pawling

In the name of God amen. this 27[t]h Day of August one thousand Seven Hundred & Forty two. I Elizab[t]h Pawling of the Island S[t] Helena Widdow being Sick and Weak of Body. but of [s]ound mind and perfect memory do. make. and Ordain this. my last will. and Testament. that is to first and Princepaly. I recommend my Soul. into the Hand[s] of Almighty God. my Worldly Effects I give. Bequeath. and Bestow. as follows. viz[t]

Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto my well beloved Brother M[r] John Bazett. and his Wife. Forty Shillings Each to buy them mourning.

Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto my Well beloved Brother Thomas Bazett. and his Wife. Forty Shillings Each. to Buy them mourning.

Item. I give and [Bequeath... unto] my well beloved Brother in Law. John French and his Wife [Each ...] Buy them Mourning

Charles Clark, surgeon of St Helena, made his will on 2 August 1743 while sick and weak in body but sound in mind and memory. He committed his soul to God and his body to the earth.

After payment of his just debts and funeral charges, he left all his goods, of whatever nature or quality, to his wife Mary Clark of Plaistow in Essex. If she died, the entire produce of his effects was to pass to her aunt Mrs Hodgson, also of Plaistow in Essex.

He appointed Christopher Dixson, John Clark and Matthew Pawling as executors.

Witnesses: James DuBois, Matthew Pawling.

Elizabeth Pawling, widow of St Helena, made her will on 27 August 1742 while sick and weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory. She commended her soul to God and disposed of her worldly effects as follows.

She left her brother John Bazett and his wife forty shillings each to buy mourning.

She left her brother Thomas Bazett and his wife forty shillings each to buy mourning.

She left her brother-in-law John French and his wife forty shillings each to buy mourning.

Interpretations

Charles Clark identifies himself as surgeon of St Helena, placing him in the same professional category as John Stevens (will of 27 March 1695) and Edward Rawdon (will of 2 July 1706 at Madras) documented in the handover. The surgeon's role on the island combined Company medical service with private practice among planters and garrison, and a surgeon dying in service typically held a mixture of Company pay balances, professional fees due and personal effects. The handover also records Doctor Beale's five-pound attendance fee in the Edward Johnson governor's will of February 1723, which gives a working benchmark for medical fees in the period.

Her brothers John Bazett and Thomas Bazett identify her as a member of the Bazett family, the leading administrative dynasty of the registers through Matthew Bazett (second in council, will of 3 April 1719). The handover records John Bazett as a witness to the Grace Coulson will of December 1726, and Thomas Bazett as a witness to the codicil of that will in March 1727, fixing them as the next generation of the Bazett line after Matthew Bazett's death in 1719. Elizabeth Pawling's identification of John and Thomas as her brothers makes her a daughter of Matthew Bazett and Bridget Coales, and therefore granddaughter of Henry Coales (will of 16 August 1700). She is probably one of the three Bazett daughters Mary, Martha and Elizabeth named in Henry Coales's 1700 will as recipients of twenty-shilling legacies as grandchildren.

Speculations

The bequest of the entire estate to a wife in Plaistow, with no provision for any St Helena beneficiary apart from the executors, suggests Charles Clark had no children and no surviving local connections beyond his professional life. The substitution chain ending with the wife's aunt rather than reverting to any Clark kin indicates that Mary's family in Essex was the only side of the marriage with continuing claims on him, and that he treated his marriage as the channel through which his accumulated colonial earnings would flow back to England.

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Item. I give. and Bequeath. unto my well beloved. Niece. M[rs] Elizabeth Desfountain the Sum of Forty Shillings. to buy her Mourning.

Item. I give and Bequeath unto my well beloved Friend M[r] John Clark and M[r] Charles Clark the Sum of Forty Shillings. Each.

Item. When all my Debts and Funeral Charges. are fuly[?] Paid and Sati[s]fied. together with the few abovementioned Legacies. I give. and Bequeath. all the rest. and Re[s]idue & remainder of my Estate. of what Nature Soever. unto my well beloved Sons. Viz[t] Matthew, Erasmus & John Pawling. to be Equally Devided between them. in Equal Shares and Devidends. as they arrive at the Age of Twenty one Year[s] or Marriages. Further my meaning and intention is. that all and Every part of my Estate & Remain Just as it now is. untill my Son Matthew Shall Arrive here from England.

Lastly. I hereby Nominate Constitute and appoint my Beloved Son Matthew Pawling My Beloved Brothers. John and Thomas Bazett. and M[r] John Clark. Executors of this my Last will. and Testament. utterly revoking all former Wills. by me heretofore made. Ratefying. and Confirming this. and no other to be my last will and Testament. In Witnes[s] whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal in S[t] Helena. this 27[th] Day of August. A[D] one Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty two. The Mark E P[a]l[?] of Signed and Sealed Elizabeth Pawling as the Last will. and Testament of the Testator. in pre[s]ence of us. (the word when being first interlined.)

Charles Clark

Tho[s] Kirkpatrick

Francis Wrangham

She left her niece Elizabeth Desfountain forty shillings to buy mourning.

She left her friends John Clark and Charles Clark forty shillings each.

After her debts, funeral charges and the legacies were paid, she left the rest and residue of her estate, of whatever nature, equally among her sons Matthew, Erasmus and John Pawling, to be paid as they reached the age of twenty-one or married. She directed that the whole estate remain as it then stood until her son Matthew arrived from England.

She appointed her son Matthew Pawling, her brothers John and Thomas Bazett, and John Clark as executors. She revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as her last will and testament. She signed by mark and sealed it at St Helena on 27 August 1742. The word when was interlined before signing.

Witnesses: Charles Clark, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Francis Wrangham.

Interpretations

The niece Elizabeth Desfountain places Elizabeth Pawling within the Desfountaines line documented in the handover through the will of Samuel Desfontaines of 15 November 1707. Samuel's five children Samuel, John, Martha, Mary and Joseph Desfontaines, together with the Quincey stepdaughters, formed the Desfontaines family network on the island. By 1742 a granddaughter or great-granddaughter generation had reached adulthood, and the surname appears here in the Desfountain spelling, one of several variant renderings used across the registers. The naming of Elizabeth Desfountain as niece of Elizabeth Pawling indicates that one of the Desfountain men had married a Bazett sister, most likely a daughter of Matthew Bazett, thereby joining the Bazett, Coales and Desfountaines lines through marriage in the generation between 1719 and 1742.

The instruction that the estate remain just as it now is until son Matthew arrives from England fixes a working pause on the distribution. Matthew Pawling was the eldest son and intended principal executor, but he was absent in England at the date of the will. The handover and the earlier William Coals will of December 1743 identify Matthew Pawling as joint executor in trust with Governor George Gabriel Powell, which establishes that Matthew did return to St Helena by late 1743 in time to act in the Coals administration. The pause-until-arrival clause therefore operated for roughly twelve to fifteen months between his mother's death and his arrival.

Speculations

The pause clause requiring the estate to remain intact until Matthew's arrival from England suggests that Elizabeth Pawling expected the journey home to take an unpredictable amount of time and did not want her younger sons Erasmus and John to receive their portions before the eldest brother could assess and supervise the division. The clause vests practical control in Matthew's eventual physical presence rather than in formal probate, which would have proceeded in his absence under the maternal uncles. The arrangement reflects a confidence in primogeniture as a working principle even where the formal terms of the will divided the residue equally.

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And for their use & Benefit. Untill my afor[e]said son Benjamin Shall Attain to the age of sixteen Years as aforesaid Item. I give & Bequeath. Unto my beforementioned son William. one Black Man Named Pri[m]eo[?]. to be Deliver'd him. when come to age o[r] Marriage Item. I give & bequeath. Unto my above Mentioned son Benjamin. one black boy Named Stephen. to be Deliver'd him. when come to age or marriage Item. I give & bequeath. unto my well beloved Daughter Elizabeth Seale. one black Man Named Tommy. to be Deliver'd her when come to age or marriage Item. I give & bequeath. unto my wellbeloved Daughter Rebeckah Seale. one black mare Named Dick. to be Deliver'd. when come to age. or marriage Item. I give & Bequeath. unto my wellbeloved Daughter Margarett. one black boy Named Sea[s]ar. to be Deliver'd when she comes to age. or marriage. Item. I give & Bequeath. unto my wellbeloved Daughter Mary De[s]fountain the sum of ten pounds. to be levied out of my Personal Estate. Item. my will & Pleasure is that all the rest. & Re[s]id[u]e of my Per[s]onal Estate (after my well beloved wife hath her third part) be Equally Divided between my aforementioned Children. John. Mary. William. Elizabeth. Rebeckah. Sarah Margarett. & Benjamen. to be Deliver'd. as they come to age. or marriage. Item. my will & pleasure is that my Dearly beloved Wife do keep all that part of Lands. that I have Bequeathed. unto my above mentioned son Benjamin during her Naturall life. with this proviso that she do keep & Maintain my Said son During her Naturall life. but in Case of the Decea[s]e of any my aforesaid Children. before they come to age. or marriage. that then their part be Equally Divided. among the rest of my afor[e]mentioned Children be it in real or Personal. but my will & Pleasure is that my Dwelling house in the Country being in the upper part of my Gum wood Land. be E[s]timated in the Equallity of the Land. Item. I give & Bequeath. unto my Dea[r] beloved Wife. one Dwelling house at the fort to be at her Di[s]po[s]all. Item. I do Nominate. Constitute. & Appoint My Trusty fri[e]nds John Pawling. & John Knipe. Executors of this my last will. & Testament. Revoking. & Disannulting all former will or willes by me made Ratifying. & Confirming this. & no other to be my last & Testament

Sign'd Seal'd. publi[s]hed. pronounced William Seale & Declared as his last will. & Testament in the pre[s]ence of Us Isaac Wood Memorandum the word Solomon Pawling William was Underlined Richard Beale before [ye] [s]ig[n]ing [yt] sealing.

William Seale directed that part of his estate be kept for the use and benefit of his children until his son Benjamin reached the age of sixteen.

He left his son William the black man Primeo, to be delivered when he came of age or married.

He left his son Benjamin the black boy Stephen, to be delivered when he came of age or married.

He left his daughter Elizabeth Seale the black man Tommy, to be delivered when she came of age or married.

He left his daughter Rebekah Seale the black mare Dick, to be delivered when she came of age or married.

He left his daughter Margaret the black boy Caesar, to be delivered when she came of age or married.

He left his daughter Mary Desfountain £10, to be raised from his personal estate.

After his wife's third part was set aside, the remainder of his personal estate was to be divided equally among his children John, Mary, William, Elizabeth, Rebekah, Sarah, Margaret and Benjamin, to be delivered as they came of age or married.

His wife was to hold the lands left to son Benjamin during her natural life, on condition that she maintained Benjamin during her life. If any of the children died before coming of age or marrying, their share was to be divided equally among the survivors, in both real and personal estate. His country dwelling house, lying on the upper part of his gum wood land, was to be valued for the purpose of equalising the land division.

He left his wife the dwelling house at the fort, to be at her disposal.

He appointed John Pawling and John Knipe as executors, revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament.

Witnesses: Isaac Wood, Solomon Pawling, Richard Beale. The word William was underlined before signing and sealing.

Interpretations

William Seale belongs to the Seale or Coale line documented in the handover through the Benjamin Seale will of 17 January 1693, where the testator was rendered both Seale and Coale. The 1693 testator named his son William as principal heir of the house and grounds in Sharks Valley, and the present testator is probably the same William grown to adulthood, or a son of that William named after the grandfather. The persistence of the Seale-Coale surname variation across the registers reflects the unsettled orthography of the family name in the early eighteenth century rather than a deliberate change.

The bequest of a black mare named Dick to Rebekah Seale is unusual within the registers, which more commonly record named cattle and named slaves but seldom named horses by gift. The handover documents extensive cattle naming (Browney, Merrygold, White Apron in the Colgrave will of 1711; Crumple, Coppin, Cole in the Harding will of 1681) and slave naming throughout, but horses do not generally appear as specific legacies. The presence of a named horse in the Seale household indicates either a stud or working animal of particular value, possibly used in plantation transport between Sharks Valley and Chapel Valley.

Speculations

The condition attached to the widow's life interest in Benjamin's lands, that she maintain him during her natural life, suggests that William Seale wished to ensure that Benjamin, as the youngest son, would not be displaced or neglected if his mother remarried or if the older children sought to control the estate. By making her possession of the land contingent on her active maintenance of Benjamin, Seale created an incentive for her to keep him in her household until he reached sixteen, rather than passing him on to a sibling or putting him out to apprentice. The mechanism is unusual in attaching the maintenance duty directly to the life interest as a condition of holding it, rather than as a separate charge.

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Lastly. I Nominate and Appoint my Good friends Martin Harper. and Richard Beale to be Executors of this my Will. Disannulling all former Will or Wills. by me made. Ratifying and Confirming this. and no other to be my Last Will. and Testament Stephen Lufkin Signed. Sealed. and Declared to be the Last Will. & Testament. of him the Said Stephen Lufkin. in the Pres[en]ce of us. Elisha [Yarke?] William Lowe One[s]iphor[us] Gurling

In the Name of God Amen. this Thirteenth day of February Don[?] one Thousand Seven hundred. and forty three four. I Elizabeth Griffith of the Island. S[t] Helena. Widow being Sick. and Weak. of Body but of Per[s]ect mind. and Memory thanks to Almighty God. do make. ordain. and Appoint this my Last Will. & Te[s]tament. that is to say. First. and Principally I all I give. and Recommend. my Soul. into the Hands of Almighty God. my Creator hopeing. and Assuredly Believing after this Life. to Injoy Eternal Happiness. my Body. I commit to the Earth. to be buried. in a Christian like and Decent manner. at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned my Worldy goods I give. Devise. and dispose of in Manner and form as followeth.

Imprimis. I Give to my Daughters. Sarah. and Elizabeth. as a Token of My Love and Affection (beside what I shall hereafter give them) Each one a Cloathing which are the Rings given me by their father. and Like Wise Each of them one Sett of [B?]izen[?] which was Given. me. but if the s[i]de or end[?] Entire then. I give them as much money. as will purchase the Same not Exceeding fifty Shillings.

Item. to my daughter Margaret I Give my Bure[a]u or De[s]k which was given. me by her Father and Likewise my Silver watch. but not to be Va[l]ued. to her

Item. to my Daughter. Helena. one black. Boy named Cupidore. whom I Purchased with my one Money. and likewi[s]e my Silver Snuff Box. and Velvet Snuf[f] Bottle. but not to be valued to her.

Item. to my Beloved Brother Tho[s] Greentree. I bequeath. the Sum of [fourteen] for Morning. and Likewise. the Sum. of forty Shilling[s] to buy himself a Ring.

Stephen Lufkin appointed his friends Martin Harper and Richard Beale as executors, revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament.

Witnesses: Elisha Yarke, William Lowe, Onesiphorus Gurling.

Elizabeth Griffith, widow of St Helena, made her will on 13 February 1744 while sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory. She commended her soul to God in the hope of eternal happiness and directed that her body be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of her executors.

She left her daughters Sarah and Elizabeth, as a token of her love and affection and beside any other provision she made for them, one set of clothing each, being the rings given her by their father, and one set of bizen each, which had also been given her. If those items were no longer entire, she directed that they should each receive instead enough money to buy the same, not exceeding fifty shillings.

She left her daughter Margaret the bureau or desk given her by her husband, together with her silver watch. These were not to be valued against Margaret's share.

She left her daughter Helena the black boy Cupidore, whom she had purchased with her own money, together with her silver snuff box and velvet snuff bottle. These were not to be valued against Helena's share.

She left her brother Thomas Greentree fourteen [...] for mourning, and a further forty shillings to buy himself a ring.

Interpretations

Stephen Lufkin descends from the Lufkin line documented in the handover through the John Lufkin who served as executor in the Henry Francis will of April 1684 and the Mary Dixon will of July 1696, and as joint holder of a still with Josias Charlesworth in the latter's nuncupative will of January 1693. The Lufkin family was therefore established among the working planter administrators of St Helena from the 1680s onwards, and Stephen Lufkin's appearance here in the 1740s represents the third generation of the line.

Elizabeth Griffith identifies herself as widow. The handover records David Griffith (will of 5 March 1737), rendered Greville at the opening of his will, whose wife was named Mary Griffith. Elizabeth Griffith is therefore not that David's widow, but perhaps the widow of the Daniel Griffith line that runs through the registers from the William Dufton senior will of April 1707 as executor and through multiple later attestations. Daniel Griffith witnessed the Whaley will, the Bridget Bates will of January 1733 and the Gabriel Powell will of September 1729. The continuation of the Griffith line into Elizabeth's widowhood by 1744 fits the working chronology.

Speculations

The careful distinction between the rings given by the father and the bizen also given to Elizabeth Griffith, with a fifty-shilling alternative if the items were no longer entire, suggests that some items in her possession had been damaged or altered over the years of widowhood. The provision for cash substitution recognises that personal effects accumulated over a marriage might not all survive intact to the point of distribution, and provides a fallback that protects the daughters' equal treatment regardless of the physical state of the items.

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Item. to my Beloved Brother James Geer[?]tree. I Give. the Sum. of five Pounds. for Morning. and also the Sum. of Forty Shillings to Buy him a Ring

Item. I Give. to each of my Beloved Sisters. namely. Sarah. Mary. and Susanna. the Sum. of Forty Shillings. to buy them a Ring. as a Token of Love. and Affection. to them.

Item. I Give to my Nephew Owen Griffith. the Sum. of Five Pound[s]. and a Pair of Silver Buckles

Item. I give. to James the Son of Giles Hayes. deceas'd. one Hei[f]er. to to the Vallue of Five Pound[s]

Item. I Give to Anthony the Son of Richard Beale. one Heifer. to the Vallue of Five Pounds

Item. I Give to the Poor and Indigent. of this I[s]land. the Sum. of five Pounds the Said Sum to be P[a]id. into the hands of the [Church Wardens] for the Time being. and by them. to be Given. at their Di[s]cretion. to the most Necessitous. and by no means. to be Accountable. for the for the Same. to the Pari[s]h

Item. I Give to Richard Beale. whom I shall Appoint. one of my Executors the Sum. of Forty. Shillings. to Buy him a Ring

Item. and the Rest. and remaining Part of my Estate. which are the Thirds of my Deceased Husband's Per[s]onal Estate. I Bequeath the Two thirds thereof. to be Equally. Divided. between. my two Youngest Daughters. Margarit. and Helena. to be delivered them. (as they come to Age. or Marriage. and I hereby intrust. my Executors to disburse. Such. Sum. or Sums of Money. as they shall think Necce[s]ary. for their Education. which I very much Desire. and Recommend. the Care to my Executors. and is actually. the Reason. that I Give them. More than. I do my Others two Daughters all Which I leave to the Discretion. of my Executors without being liable to be Called. to any [s]itch Account. by my said Daughters when they shall Arrive to Age. or Marriage and if either of them. should die before Age. or Maverage[?]. that the Survivour Shall have her Pa[r]t. or Share. by me Bequeathed.

Item. the other third. I Give to my other two Daughters. Sarah. and Elizabeth. to be Equally Divided. and delivered them. at Age or Marriage[.]

Lastly. I nominate. Ordain. and Appoint my Beloved Brother Tho[s]. Greentree. and my Good Frien[d] Richard Beale Executors of this my Will. Revoking. and Disanulling. all former Will or Wills by me [m]aid[?]

She left her brother James Greentree £5 for mourning and a further forty shillings to buy a ring.

She left her sisters Sarah, Mary and Susanna forty shillings each to buy a ring as a token of her love and affection.

She left her nephew Owen Griffith £5 and a pair of silver buckles.

She left James, son of the deceased Giles Hayes, one heifer to the value of £5.

She left Anthony, son of Richard Beale, one heifer to the value of £5.

She left £5 to the poor and indigent of the island, to be paid to the churchwardens for the time being and distributed at their discretion to the most needy. The churchwardens were not to be accountable to the parish for the sum.

She left Richard Beale, one of her executors, forty shillings to buy a ring.

The remainder of her estate, being the third part of her late husband's personal estate, she divided unequally. Two thirds of that share she left to her two youngest daughters Margaret and Helena, to be delivered to them as they came of age or married. She entrusted the executors with discretion to disburse such sums as they thought necessary for the two daughters' education, which she particularly desired, and made this the reason for giving them more than her other two daughters. She directed that the executors not be called to account by the daughters for these disbursements. If either of the younger daughters died before coming of age or marrying, the survivor was to take her share.

The remaining third she divided equally between her two other daughters Sarah and Elizabeth, to be delivered at age or marriage.

She appointed her brother Thomas Greentree and her friend Richard Beale as executors, and revoked all earlier wills.

Interpretations

The brother James Greentree named here fixes the testator's identity within the second generation of the Greentree line documented in the handover. James Greentree senior (will of 17 February 1723) named nine children: Thomas (already married), Leach, Mary, Ann, Jane, Susanna, John, James and Richard. The present testator's brothers Thomas and James, and sisters Sarah, Mary and Susanna, match the children named in their father's will with two adjustments: the daughter named Sarah here was probably the Sarah named alongside Mary in the conditional second-husband clause of James Greentree's will, where the children listed differed slightly from the principal residuary list. Elizabeth Griffith therefore stands among the daughters of James Greentree, married into the Griffith line, with Thomas, James, Sarah, Mary and Susanna as her surviving siblings by 1744. The Leach, Ann, Jane, John and Richard named in the 1723 will are not mentioned here, indicating either death in the interval or absence from the island.

The unequal division of the residue, with two thirds to the younger daughters Margaret and Helena and one third to the elder Sarah and Elizabeth, is justified expressly as a fund for the younger daughters' education. The handover records earlier educational provisions in the Stephen Poirier will of 1707 for son Samuel's training as a Reformed minister, and the George Hodgkinson will of February 1724 directing that sons Joseph and John be brought up to merchant trade. Elizabeth Griffith's provision applies the same principle to daughters, indicating that female education on the island in the 1740s was being treated as a substantial financial undertaking worth weighting an inheritance to fund.

Speculations

The framing of the residuary estate as the third part of my deceased husband's personal estate reveals that Elizabeth Griffith was disposing only of her widow's third under island custom, not of any property she had brought into the marriage or accumulated in widowhood. The earlier specific bequests of the rings, bizen, bureau, watch, snuff equipage and the slave Cupidore therefore came from her separate effects, while the residuary third was her share of her late husband's estate. The division of the will into these two streams, separate property bequeathed specifically and customary widow's third bequeathed residually, reflects a careful working knowledge of the legal distinction between the two categories.

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Made Ratifying. and Confirming this. and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. her Elizabeth E R Ryder Sign'd. Sealed. and. Declared. to be Mark the Last Will. & Testament. of her the Said Elizabeth Ryder. in the Pres[en]ce. of Us John Scott Joseph Powell

In the name of God Amen this fourteenth day of January in the year of our Lord. one thousand. Seven hundred. and forty four. I Jonathan Doveton of the Island. S[t] Helena Planter. being Sick. and weak of Body but of sound. and perfect mind. and Memory (thank be to Almighty god. do make. ordain and appoint this my Last Will. and Testament. that is to Say first. and principally I give. and recomend my Soul. into the Hand[s] of Almighty God my Creator. my Body I commit. to the Earth. to be Buried in a Christian like. and decent manner. at the discretion of my Executors. hereafter named. my Worldly Goods. wherewith. it hath pleased God to Bles[s] me with. I give. devise. and dispose the Same in manner. and form as follows.

Imprimis. I give to my Son John. one Black Boy. named Wo[r]ster. but not to be Valued. to him. Item. To my Son Isaac. I give. one Black Boy. named [Toney?]. but not to be Valued. to him. Item. To my Daughter Ann. I give one Black Girl named Margaret. but not to be Valued. to her.

Item. To all my beloved Children namely. Samuel. John. and Isaac my Sons. Sarah. Martha. and Ann. my Daughters. I give. and Bequeath. and Equal Share. and Devidend of my Estate at Valuation. and the Same to be delivered them at age. or Marridge: But I have by Deeds. that my three Sons. Shall have all my Lands. as Shall hereafter. set off them. they. and Each of them. paying their Sisters their proper Shares. & Proportions. by Valuation [Viz]. To my Son Samuel. I allott that part. or Parcel of Lands. called Powlers. containing twenty three Acres. and an half more or les[s], all the other my Lands. both real. and Leasehold I give. to be Equally devided. between my Sons John. and Isaac. My House. at the Fort. and all the Buildings Adjoyning thereunto. with the Each Yard. &c. I give. to my daughters at Valuation. in part of their Devidend on my Estate.

Item. My two Languisi[?] Goats. I give one to my Son John. & the other to my Son Isaac. not [to] be Valued. Item.

Elizabeth Ryder confirmed the document as her last will and testament, ratifying it and revoking all earlier wills. She signed by mark.

Witnesses: John Scott, Joseph Powell.

Jonathan Doveton of St Helena, planter, made his will on 14 January 1744 while sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He left his son John the black boy Worster, not to be valued against his share.

He left his son Isaac the black boy Toney, not to be valued against his share.

He left his daughter Ann the black girl Margaret, not to be valued against her share.

He left his sons Samuel, John and Isaac, and his daughters Sarah, Martha and Ann an equal share of his estate at valuation, to be delivered to them at age or marriage. By earlier deeds he had directed that his three sons should hold all his lands, paying their sisters their proper shares by valuation:

To son Samuel he allotted the parcel called Powlers, containing twenty-three and a half acres more or less.

All his other lands, freehold and leasehold, he left to be equally divided between sons John and Isaac.

His house at the fort, with all adjoining buildings and the back yard, he left to his daughters at valuation, in part of their share of the estate.

He left one of his two Languisi goats to son John and the other to son Isaac, neither to be valued against their share.

Interpretations

Jonathan Doveton stands at the centre of a Doveton administrative line documented across the registers from the Leonard Coulson will of March 1707, where Jonathan Doveton served as joint executor with brother-in-law Robert Leech. He continued as executor of the Robert Leech will of May 1712, witness and overseer to the Matthew Bazett will of April 1719, recipient of substantial bequest in the Grace Coulson will of December 1726 (with a slave-exchange codicil of March 1727), and as executor in trust to the Bridget Bates will of January 1733. By the time of his own death in 1744, Jonathan Doveton had served as executor or overseer across nearly four decades, making his administrative career one of the longest documented in the registers, comparable to those of Matthew Bazett, Richard Gurling and Gabriel Powell.

The three specific slave bequests, Worster to John, Toney to Isaac and Margaret to Ann, are each marked not to be valued. The same exclusion from the hotchpot calculation appears in the Elizabeth Griffith will of February 1744, where the silver watch and Cupidore were given to Margaret and Helena without valuation. The recurrence of the device in both wills of early 1744 indicates an established working practice on the island for distinguishing favoured specific bequests from the equalising calculation. The exclusion of son Samuel from the named-slave list, balanced by his exclusive allocation of the Powlers parcel, suggests a parallel scheme: each eldest son and the eldest daughter receives a major specific bequest excluded from valuation, while the working share of the residue equalises the rest.

Speculations

The use of deeds during the testator's lifetime to settle the lands on the sons, with the will operating only as the equalising and supplementary instrument, suggests that Jonathan Doveton had begun winding up his affairs before the onset of his fatal illness in January 1744. The deeds would have given the sons certainty of inheritance independent of any future testamentary challenge, while the will allowed him to add the slave bequests, the goat bequests and the daughters' valuation share at the moment of disposition. The two-stage approach minimised the risk of disputed succession by separating the land transfer (already irrevocable by deed) from the cash equalisation (to be settled at death).

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Item. My Son Samuel. and Daughters Sarah. now the wife of Richard Goodwin. and Martha now the wife of James Scott. upon each of their Marriages. formerly. I Advanced to ea[ch] a certain Sum of Money. which will appear. by my Book. of Accounts wherein they stan[d] Indebted. all which Som. and Sums. of Money. I hereby direct. and intend Shall be take[n] and E[s]teemed as part of their po[r]ti[o]ne. or Dividend. in my Estate. And whereas upon the Marriage of my Daughter Sarah. to M[r] John Bazett. deceased. I promised to make him Equall. with the rest of my other Children. and my said Daughter being now Marri[e]d. to another Husband. my meaning. and intent[i]on is. that the said Childs part. now given. to my said Daughter Sarah. the two thirds thereof. to be Equally divided. amoung. the Children. of the said M[r] John Bazett. dec[ease]d. the other third part to be at my said Daughter Sarah's disposal.

Item. My two old Women Slaves. namely Pegg. & France. having been many Years in my Family. and who are now pretty far Advanced. in Years. I desire my Executors. will not Value them. in my Estate. but desire. they may be taken Care of. in my Family. and to live with my two Youngest Children.

Lastly. I hereby Nominate. and appoint. my Sons. Samuel. and John. and my Son in Law Richard Goodwin. to be Executor[s] to this my Will. utterly Revoking. and Disannulling all former Will. or Wills. by me heretofore made. ratefying. & Confirming this. & no other to be my last Will. and Testament

Sign'd Seal'd. and Declared to Jona[n]. Doveton be the last Will. and Testament of him the said Jonathan Doveton in the Pres[en]ce of us. Samuel Knipe One[s]iphorus Gurling Richard Beale

Jonathan Doveton recorded that he had earlier advanced sums of money to his son Samuel and to his daughters Sarah, now wife of Richard Goodwin, and Martha, now wife of James Scott, on each of their marriages. The sums appeared in his book of accounts where the three children stood indebted. He directed that those advances be taken as part of their share of the estate.

When his daughter Sarah had married her first husband John Bazett, the testator had promised to make Bazett equal with the rest of his children. Sarah was now married to another husband. Doveton directed that two thirds of the share now given to Sarah be divided equally among the children of the deceased John Bazett, and that the remaining third be at Sarah's disposal.

His two old women slaves Pegg and France, who had been many years in his family and were now well advanced in years, he directed should not be valued in the estate. He asked that they be cared for in the family and live with his two youngest children.

He appointed his sons Samuel and John, and his son-in-law Richard Goodwin, as executors. He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament.

Witnesses: Samuel Knipe, Onesiphorus Gurling, Richard Beale.

Interpretations

The reference to a book of accounts in which the three children stood indebted for marriage advances places the Doveton household within the working financial culture of the senior planter administrators. The handover records similar advance-and-account mechanisms in earlier wills, but the explicit reference to a bound book of accounts as the source of record represents the most formal documentation of intra-family lending in the present sequence. The accounts treated marriage portions as loans against future inheritance rather than as outright gifts, with the running balance entered as a debt to be set off against the heir's eventual share.

The Richard Goodwin named as son-in-law and executor descends from the Goodwin line documented across the registers through John Goodwin (will of 16 December 1703), his brother Thomas Goodwin (will of 17 December 1709), and Captain John Goodwin who appeared as executor in numerous later wills including the Thomas Free will of 1726, the Grace Coulson will and codicil of 1726-27, the Henry Francis will of 1722 and the Richard Gurling senior will of 1729. Richard Goodwin is therefore probably the same Richard Goodwin who appeared as grandson and beneficiary in the Ann Fuller will of March 1713, where he received two of five shares of the proceeds. By the 1740s he had reached adulthood, married Sarah Doveton-Bazett, and entered the senior administrative circle of the island.

Speculations

The careful preservation of John Bazett's original entitlement through Sarah, with two thirds passing to the Bazett children rather than to her or to her new husband Richard Goodwin, suggests Jonathan Doveton wished to honour the marriage promise made at the time of Sarah's first wedding regardless of the subsequent change in her circumstances. The mechanism prevents Goodwin from receiving, through Sarah, a share intended for the Bazett grandchildren. The protection of a stepfather situation through testamentary direction echoes the structures used by Stephen Poirier in 1707 to insulate his children's portions from a future stepfather, although here the issue runs in reverse: the grandfather is protecting the grandchildren's portion from absorption by their stepfather.

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S[t] Helena. In the Name of God. Amen. I [Margaret] Goodwin. of the Island. S[t] Helena. Widow being Sick. and Weak of Body. but of [s]ound [and] Per[s]ect [m]ind. and Memory thanks be to Almighty God. for the same. do make and ordain. this my Last Will. and Testament. as God [s]hall and form fo[l]lowing that is to Say. first. and principally I commend. my Soul. into the Hand[s] of Almighty God. my Creator. and my Body I commit. to the Earth. to be decently [Inter]r'd. according to the Discretion of My Executors. hereafter named. and as to my [w]o[r]ldly Effects. (after my Funeral Charges. and Just Debts are fully Pa[i]d and Sati[s]fied. I give. Bequeath. and Devise. of them. in Manner. and form following

Imprimis. To my Beloved Grand Daughter Margaret Goodwin. I give one Black Boy. Named [...] and one Cow. Two Year [...] [Bell]. the Silver Tank[a]rd. with me [...] to be the Silver [Casters and] [Crewells] [Salver?] [...] House. Rings. and All my[?] Wear[i]ng [?] [ing] to be in the P[o]s[s]es[s]ion. of my Executors. Until[l] she Arrives. to the Age. of Twenty one y[ears] or Marriage.

Item. all the Rest. Re[s]idue. & Remainder. of my Estate. both Re[a]l. or [P]er[s]onal. I give and Bequeath. unto my Well Beloved Son. John Goodwin to be. Quietly Enjoy'd. by [him] or his Heirs forever

Lastly. I Nominate. Constitute. and Appoint. my Beloved. Son John Goodwin. to be [...] [and] Sole Executor. of this my Last Will. and Testament. Revoking. and Annulling. all [...] or former Will. or Wills. by Me. [...] or at any time hereto[fore] [...] in any [...] this. and no other to be my Last Will. and Testament. In Witnes[s] Whereof I have hereunto Set my Hand Seal in S[t] Helena. this twenty fifth Day of January in the Year of our Lord. One Thousand Seven Hundred. and forty four[?].

Sign'd. Seal'd. and Declared. by the Testator. to be her Last Will. & T[esta]ment [Marg]t Goodwin Whereas. Stampt P[aper] is not. to be had. In P[r]esence of [J]as[?] Cleeve[?] [F] Wrangham. Jun[r].

Margaret Goodwin, widow of St Helena, made her will on 25 January 1744 while sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. She commended her soul to God and directed that her body be decently buried at the discretion of her executor.

After payment of her funeral charges and just debts, she left her granddaughter Margaret Goodwin one black boy named [...], one two-year-old cow [...] Bell, the silver tankard, the silver casters, cruets and salver [...], rings and all her wearing apparel. These items were to remain in the executor's possession until the granddaughter reached the age of twenty-one or married.

She left the rest and residue of her estate, both real and personal, to her son John Goodwin and his heirs forever.

She appointed her son John Goodwin as sole executor and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed and sealed on 25 January 1744 and noted that no stamped paper was available.

Witnesses: James Cleeve, Francis Wrangham junior.

Interpretations

Margaret Goodwin is identifiable through the handover as the widow of Captain John Goodwin, who appeared as executor across many of the wills of the 1720s and 1730s including the Thomas Free will of July 1726, the Grace Coulson will and codicil of December 1726 and March 1727, the Henry Francis will of August 1722, the Arthur Bradley will of December 1727 and the Richard Gurling senior will of May 1729. She herself witnessed the Henry Francis will of August 1722 as Margaret Goodwin. Her death in January 1744 follows that of her husband by an interval that is not directly recoverable from the visible text, but his earlier active career as executor through the 1720s and 1730s places his own death before hers.

Francis Wrangham junior, witness here, identifies a son or grandson of the Francis Wrangham documented across the registers from the Benjamin Sich will of November 1713, through the Henry Francis will of August 1722, the Bridget Bates will of January 1733 and the Elizabeth Pawling will of August 1742. The use of the junior designation distinguishes him from the senior Francis Wrangham still active in 1742, indicating that both men were on the island in the mid-1740s, with the younger now beginning to appear in the witness role independently of his father.

Speculations

The detailed itemisation of the silver tableware suggests Margaret Goodwin was treating her dining silver as a coherent set to pass intact to her granddaughter rather than allowing it to be dispersed among multiple beneficiaries. The tankard, casters, cruets and salver together formed a working dining service, and by bequeathing them as a group she preserved the set for use in the granddaughter's eventual married household. The same principle of preserving a coherent collection appears in the tea equipage of the Mary Sich will of July 1719, where the items were treated as a unit rather than as separate pieces.

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S[t] Helena In the Name of God Amen. I [Joshua] Johnson. of St Helena Planter. being Wea[k] of Body but of [s]ound mind. and Understand[ing] [t]hanks be to Almighty god. for the same. Do mak[e] this my last Will. and Testament in manner. & form following.

Imprimis. I command. my Soul. into the hands of Almighty God my Creator. hoping [for] Salvation. from him. through Jesus Christ. and my Body. I commit to the [Earth] to be decently Buried. at the Discretion of My Executor[s] hereafter named. and as to my Wordly. goods. Where with it hath. Plea[s]ed God. to Bles[s] me. I give. and Di[s]pose of the same. as follows.

Item. I give and Bequeath. All my Cattle. as I now in P[o]s[s]es[s]ion. & all my Lea[se] [...] House. in Sandy Bay. in this Island. to my Daughter. Mary Alexander. and I also Give her All Hou[s]e. and Utten[s]ils. belonging it. all the Apurtenanc[es] and. all My Hou[s]ehold Furniture. Whatsoever. and Whe[r]esoever

Item. I give and Bequeath. to my said Daughter. Mary. Eight Black Slaves. [vi]z[t] respectively. by the Names of Phebe. Lucy. Sankee. Boy. Billy. Mary. James gross[?]. Jack. the fisherman. and Frank. and Whe[r]ever I am. and four Calves. as the [...] Calves.

Item. I give to my son in Law. John Alexander. all the Right. Title. Term. of [...] [...] [...] that I have in. Freehold. or other Lea[s]e[s]. this I[s]land. Subject to the Mortgage. of the same.

Item. I [Give] and Bequeath. All the Rest. and Re[s]idue. of my Estate. for I do [...] to be all just Debts. and Money[s]. to Equally divided amongst. All my Children [w]hich I send done as Much for. as I have done for my daughter. M[ar]y[?] [...] but they being. otherwise. Setled. He[r] [Pre]se[n]ted. the[?] [...] [...]

Item. I Nominate. and Appoint. John Goodwin. of this Island. Gentleman. John Alexander of the same. Planter and Robert Beale. of this. of the same Gentleman. Executor[s] of this my Will. and do hereby revoke. and disann[ull] all old. Will or Wills. by me. heretofore. Made. and do declare. this. to be my last. Will. and Testament. Signed. Seal'd. my Hand. and Sealed. With my seal. this[?] Nineteenth Day of July. in the Eighteenth Year. of the Reign of [our] [...] Lord George the Second by the grace of God. of Great Brittain. France. and Ireland. King. Defender of the Faith &c. and in the Year of our Lord. 1745

Signed Seal'd Jos[h] Johnson in the Presence of the Testator. before us. Richard Goodwin [Joel?] [...]

Joshua Johnson, planter of St Helena, made his will on 19 July 1745, in the eighteenth year of the reign of George II. He was weak in body but sound in mind and understanding. He commended his soul to God in the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ and directed that his body be decently buried at the discretion of his executors.

He left his daughter Mary Alexander all the cattle then in his possession, his leasehold house in Sandy Bay, all the houses and utensils belonging to it, all the appurtenances, and all his household furniture wherever situated.

He left her eight black slaves named Phebe, Lucy, Sankee, Boy, Billy, Mary, James gross [...], Jack the fisherman, and Frank, together with four calves.

He left his son-in-law John Alexander all the right, title and term he held in any freehold or leasehold property on the island, subject to the mortgage on the same.

He left the rest and residue of his estate, after payment of just debts, to be equally divided among all his children, having done as much for them as he had done for his daughter Mary, since they were otherwise settled.

He appointed John Goodwin of St Helena, gentleman, John Alexander, planter, and Robert Beale, gentleman, as executors. He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament. He signed and sealed it on 19 July 1745.

Witnesses: Richard Goodwin, Joel [...].

Interpretations

Joshua Johnson belongs to the Johnson administrative line documented across the registers from the Elizabeth Johnson will of September 1713, widow of the deceased Governor Joshua Johnson, where her son Joshua Johnson junior was named as sole executor and recipient of two hundred pounds payable from the Company stores. The present testator is that same Joshua Johnson junior of 1713, now risen to senior planter status by 1745. His career spans from heir of a deceased governor in 1713 through recurring witness, executor and beneficiary across the intervening decades, including overseer of the Matthew Bazett will of April 1719, executor of the Gabriel Powell will of September 1729 (where he was named in the safety-net provision in case of any calamity in his own situation), and witness or executor across numerous further wills documented in the handover.

The daughter Mary Alexander identifies the marriage that ties the Johnson and Alexander lines. The handover records the Alexander line from Richard Alexander (will of May 1683), the orphaned Alexander sons recorded in the William Price will of December 1692, and the John Alexander clerk of council documented through the Margaret Cotgrave will of August 1706 and the Richard Alexander the younger will of April 1710. The son-in-law John Alexander named here represents the next generation, married to Joshua Johnson's daughter Mary, and consolidating the Johnson and Alexander holdings under a single working household.

Speculations

The concentration of the specific bequests on a single daughter Mary Alexander, with the residue divided equally among the other children, suggests that Joshua Johnson wished to keep his Sandy Bay working plantation intact as a single unit under one daughter and her husband rather than splitting it among multiple heirs. By giving Mary the cattle, the house, the household furniture and the eight working slaves as a single bequest, and her husband John Alexander the underlying real property, he kept the Sandy Bay establishment together as an operating unit. The other children, being otherwise settled, were left to share the residue without disturbing the working plantation.

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In the Name of God Amen. I John Gurling being Sick and Weak of Body. but of [s]ound. and Per[s]ect Memory. thanks be to [God]. Knowing that it is Appointed for All men. once to die. first. and Princepally I Recommend my Soul into [the] hand[s] of my Saviour. Jesus Christ. & trusting in his Mercies. for the Remi[s]sion of all my Sins. my Body. I Recommend. to the earth. to be Buried. yn[?] a Christian Like. and Decent[?] manner. at the. Discretion of my Executors. as for my Wordly goods. I give. and Dispose of them. yn[?] manner. and form as follows

Imprimis. I give to my Brother. One[s]iphorus. one man. Slave. but not to be Valued. to him Item. all the Rest. and Remainder of my Estate. I give to my two Brothers. Namely Richard. and One[s]iphorus. to Equally Divided. between them.

Lastly. I Nominate. and Appoint. My Dear Brothers. Richard Gurling. Exec[utors] the [Whole?]. of this My Last. and Testament. Utterly Revoking. and Disanulling. all [...] Will. or Wills. by me made. Confirming this. and no Other. to be my Last Will. In Witnes[s] Whereof I have. Set my hand. and Seal. this Twenty fourth day of June 1743

Sign'd Seal'd. and Declared. to be his his Last Will. and Testament. In the John X Gurling Mark Pres[en]ce of Us. Jos[h] Worrall John Doveton

In the Name of God Amen. I Benjamen Pledger Planter. on [the] Island of S[t] Helena. being [s]ound. in mind. Memory. & Understanding. & knowing the [ce]rtainty of death. & the Uncertainty of time thereof. I make this my Last Will. & Testament. Annulling. all. and Every Will. or Testament. heretofor[e] me made. according. this Entery. one. to be in full force. and I dispose of my whole[?] my Per[s]onal. & Heritary E[s]tate. in manner. underme[n]tioned. Trusting for my First Trustee. my well beloved Wife. Susanna. Pledgard. my 2[d]. M[r] Will[a]m. Lea[?] 3 my well beloved Son. Thomas Pledgard. my 4[t]h. M[r] Orlando Bagley. That my my Soul is departed. from my Body. my [s]aid 4 Trustees. may have my [...] both Per[s]onall. & H[ere]ditary. [s]o[s]ized which I desire. to be di[s]po[s]ed. in the follow[ing] manner. v[i]z[t]

Imprimis. I Leave. & bequeat[h] my Soul. to god. from whom I have re[c]ieved. and as to my [body] I de[s]ire. to be Inter[r]ed. in a Christian like manner.

Item. I [Leave?] and bequest [...]

John Gurling, sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory, made his will on 24 June 1743. He commended his soul to Jesus Christ in the hope of remission of his sins and directed that his body be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He left his brother Onesiphorus one man slave, not to be valued against his share.

He left the rest and remainder of his estate to his two brothers Richard and Onesiphorus, to be divided equally between them.

He appointed his brother Richard Gurling as executor [of the whole?] of his last will and testament, revoked all earlier wills, and confirmed this as his only last will. He signed by mark.

Witnesses: Joshua Worrall, John Doveton.

Benjamin Pledger, planter of St Helena, sound in mind, memory and understanding, made this will, knowing the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its time. He revoked all earlier wills and disposed of his whole personal and hereditary estate as set out below. He appointed four trustees: his wife Susanna Pledgard as first trustee, William Lea as second, his son Thomas Pledgard as third, and Orlando Bagley as fourth. After his death, the four trustees were to take his personal and hereditary estate into possession and dispose of it as follows.

He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in a Christian manner.

Interpretations

John Gurling belongs to the Gurling line documented across the registers through Richard Gurling senior (will of 13 May 1729), who was identified there as the principal recurring executor of the period from 1706 to 1718, with siblings including the Robert Gurling who appears repeatedly in the records and the Sarah Gurling who married Edward Bagley. The handover identifies Richard Gurling senior's daughters Sarah and Rebecca Gurling as his immediate heirs in 1729, but the three brothers John, Richard and Onesiphorus named in the present will represent the next generation of Gurling men, perhaps sons or nephews of the 1729 testator.

The brother Onesiphorus Gurling named here is the same Onesiphorus Gurling who witnessed the Elizabeth Griffith will of February 1744 and the Jonathan Doveton will of January 1744. His given name Onesiphorus, also borne by the Steward family of the earlier registers (Onesiphorus Steward, will of July 1704) and Onesiphorus Beale (son of Richard Beale in the William Penny will of May 1723), recurs across the senior administrative circle as a marker of cross-family connection through godparenthood or naming. The brother Richard Gurling here is presumably the same Richard Gurling who appears as continuing administrator after the death of Richard Gurling senior in 1729.

Speculations

The combination of John Gurling's simple deathbed will of June 1743, with everything passing to his two brothers, and his apparent youth or lack of descendants, suggests he died unmarried or without children. The retention of the estate within the male line of his own generation, with no provision for any wife, mother or sisters, points to a bachelor death of a young or middle-aged man. The single-man-slave to Onesiphorus and the equal residual split between Richard and Onesiphorus together represent a small modest estate of perhaps a younger brother in the Gurling line, not yet established as a senior planter himself.

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of Henry Higgins. the Choice of One of two Houses in Chappell Walley. v[i]z[t]. the One Adjoyning. to M[rs] [Riders?]. & M[rs] [Por]ling. & the Other Adjoyning. to M[r] [J]n[o] [F]ountin for. & in full Sati[s]faction of £60. principall. & Interest. of the Said Sum. which Money. I do Acknowledge. to have re[c]ieved. from a Legacy. of her Uncle Stephen [Lufkin?] by her Order.

Item. I leave. & bequeat. unto my well beloved Wife. Sussanna. Pladgard. the One half[?] of my Hered[i]tary. E[s]tate. dur[r]ing her Life. & one half. of my Per[s]onall. Estate. for Ever at her dispo[s]all.

Item. I Leave. & bequeat. unto my beloved. Children v[i]z[t] Tho[s] & Benjamin. Pledgard Eliz[a]beth. Bagley. Mary. Higgins. Sarah. Scott. & Sussanna. Pladgard. the Remainder half of my Per[s]onall. & Heri[d]tary. E[s]tate. to be Equally devided Accounting. to the Said. Estate. the Sum. of £ 31. on part of Eliz[a]beth Bagley Share. Which sum[m]. I have all[r]eady Advanced. unto her. on Cash &c[a]. Allowing my two sons. the Choice. of the half. of my freed Lands. on Condition. they to pay Whatsoever. Sum. or Sum[m]s it may be deficient. in the share. of my Daughters & in case of refu[s]all. for my Daughters. by S[en]iority of Birth. to take. the Free Lands. & to give. to the rest. of her Brothers. & Sisters. the Deficiency. of theirs Share & during. the Minority. of my Children. I Trust. & desire. my well beloved Wife. their Mother. Susanna. Pladgard. to be their Guardian.

In Witnes[s]. Thereof. I have hereunto. sett my hand. and Seall this the Third day of July. in the Year. our Lord. One Thousand Seven hundred. & forty. five.

Sign'd Sealld. & Delivered Sign'd Be[n]j[a]. Pledgerd [Whe]re no [s]tamp[t] papper is to be had [in] the pre[s]ence of Us. [Sea]l'd] Benj[a]. Seale John Hayes Francis Hayes

In the Name of God Amen. I George Moody. Marriner. on b[oa]rd the Ship Wager. (Whereof. Charles Raymond. is Co[m]mander.) now lying at Calcutta. in the River of Bengall being weak. and infirm. thro [...] [...]. to me here & despairing. of my recovery. do make. this my last Will. & Testament. in manner following. v[i]z[t] I Will. & bequeath. unto my friend. Thomas Tenkson[?] my best Bedding. & all my wearing Apparell. I now have. on board the said Ship Wager And Whereas. Richard Gregory. Caulker. Mate. is indebted. to me. ten Rupees. as likewise. is Robert Throuck. seaman. aboard the said Ship indebted. to me. ten Rupees. I will. & require Said. Richard Gregory. & said Robert Throuck. to pay the Same. unto my afore[s]aid. friend. Thomas Tenkson. to whom. I bequeath. the Same. two Rupees. for his own. Use. & Behoof. Moreover I will. & bequeath. unto my Loveing. Brother. Lawrence. Moody. All. & Singular. my Other Effects. Wages. Rights. Titles. & properties. Whatsoever. & I do here. by make. and Ordain. the Said Lawrence. Moody. my Sole Executor. of this my Last Will and Testament. utterly revoking. & disannulling. All Other Wills. and Testame[nt]

Benjamin Pledger directed that Henry Higgins should have the choice of one of two houses in Chapel Valley, either the one adjoining the houses of Mrs Riders and Mrs Purling or the one adjoining the house of John Fountin. The house was given in full satisfaction of £60 principal and interest, being a sum the testator acknowledged having received from a legacy left to her by her uncle Stephen Lufkin, paid at her order.

He left his wife Susanna Pladgard half of his hereditary estate for life and half of his personal estate forever at her disposal.

He left the remaining half of his personal and hereditary estate to be divided equally among his children Thomas Pledgard, Benjamin Pledgard, Elizabeth Bagley, Mary Higgins, Sarah Scott and Susanna Pladgard. He directed that £31 already advanced to Elizabeth Bagley in cash and other items be accounted as part of her share. He gave his two sons the choice of half of his freehold lands on condition that they pay any shortfall in their sisters' shares. If the sons refused, the daughters in order of seniority were to take the freehold lands and pay the deficiency in the shares of the remaining brothers and sisters. During the children's minority, the testator entrusted their guardianship to his wife Susanna Pladgard.

He signed and sealed the will on 3 July 1745. The will noted that no stamped paper was available.

Witnesses: Benjamin Seale, John Hayes, Francis Hayes.

George Moody, mariner on board the ship Wager (Charles Raymond commander), then lying at Calcutta in the River of Bengal, was weak and infirm and despaired of his recovery. He made his will as follows.

He left his friend Thomas Tenkson his best bedding and all the wearing apparel he then had on board the Wager.

Richard Gregory, the caulker's mate, owed him ten rupees, and Robert Throuck, seaman on board, also owed him ten rupees. He directed both men to pay the sums to Thomas Tenkson, to whom he bequeathed the same. He also gave Tenkson a further two rupees for his own use and benefit.

He left all his other effects, wages, rights, titles and properties to his loving brother Lawrence Moody, whom he appointed sole executor. He revoked all earlier wills.

Interpretations

The Henry Higgins identified here as recipient of the choice of one of two Chapel Valley houses, in satisfaction of a £60 debt arising from a legacy of her uncle Stephen Lufkin, identifies the beneficiary as the wife of a Henry Higgins, with the Stephen Lufkin legacy passing through her. The Stephen Lufkin named as her uncle is the same Stephen Lufkin whose deathbed will appeared just before the Elizabeth Griffith will, with Martin Harper and Richard Beale as executors. The Lufkin legacy of £60 to a niece, used as the working capital basis for the Higgins household, indicates that Stephen Lufkin's estate (at his death sometime in 1743 or 1744) had passed substantial sums to nieces in the next generation. The transfer here converts a cash debt of £60 into a real-property settlement, with the choice of two specific Chapel Valley houses standing in for the cash repayment.

The £31 advanced to Elizabeth Bagley to be accounted as part of her share follows the same advance-and-balance principle documented in the Jonathan Doveton will of January 1744 and the Joshua Johnson will of July 1745. The recurrence of the device across three senior wills of 1744-45 confirms the working practice of treating marriage portions or other advances as set-offs against eventual inheritance. The Elizabeth Bagley named here, married to a Bagley, links the Pledger line into the Bagley family documented across the registers from Orlando Bagley senior (will of November 1701) onwards. Given the prominence of Orlando Bagley junior as the fourth named trustee in the present will, the husband of Elizabeth Bagley is probably a son of Orlando Bagley junior or a kinsman in the same generation.

Speculations

The conversion of the £60 cash debt to Mary Higgins into the choice of one of two specific houses, rather than a direct cash payment from the residue, suggests Benjamin Pledger preferred to discharge the obligation through a working property settlement rather than draining the cash estate. The choice between two houses gives Henry Higgins a working option to take whichever house better suited his household's needs, while preserving the second house within the residue for the other children. The arrangement converts a creditor into a beneficiary of land rather than cash, which protected the estate's working capital position at a moment when the cash flow may have been constrained.

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Te[s]taments. heretofore made. In Witnes[s] Whereof I have hereunto se[tt] my hand & Seal. this 21 day of August. in the Year of our Lord. 1745.

Sign'd Seal'd. declared George Moodie pronounced. Publi[s]h'd. & delivered] in the Pres[en]ce of Mungo Clarkson Diggory Renorden[?] John Barr Thomas Tenla[g]ion[?] Sam[u]el Demo[s]e

Whereas. Since the making. of this. my last Will. and Testament. my freind. John Barr. is declared. dr[?]. why de[s]ire. & request to have. his Name out [&] to Sub[s]titute. my Friend. Thomas Tenk[s]on. Tru[s]ted. witnes[s] my Hand

This Sum. to be directed. for Lawrance George Moodie

Moodie. Son. to George. Mfod[?] Farmer. in[?]

[k]nown by Lother[k]erd[i]ng. in the Shire. of fife

North Brittain. to the Care of M[r] John Brown.

Living. at Carfor's[?] back. Door. one of [ye] young

Princes. of Oring[?] head. Wapping. London.

In the Name of God. Amen. I Thomas Cooper. Servant of the Company of Soldiers. belonging. to the Honourable. United East India Company. of England. and Looke Proprietary. of this Island. S[t] Hellena. Do make. this my Last Will. & Testament. all former wills. hereby. revoking. in manner. & form following

Imprimis. I will. & give. my Soul. to Almighty God. that gave it. my body. to the Ear[th] from Whence it came. & as to my Wo[r]dly E[s]tate. it being All Per[s]onal. I give[?] followeth.

Whereas. I have Lodged. a Certain. Sum of Money. in the Hands of Peter Higgins. of the said Company. Part Whereof shall be ne[c]es[s]ary. to [...] towards. my Sub[s]i[s]tance. in the time of my ill[ne]s[s] & say. to the Pier or [...] Part. that. Shall not be Expended. at the time of my decease. I will. & bequeath. to my aforesaid. Loving. Friend. Peter Higgins. for his own house. [&] he shall not be Accountable. to any one for the same.

And Whereas. The Late Governour. Mr Gabriel. Powell. Stands indebted. to me the Sum of Eleven pounds. Six Shillings on the Balance. of the mate. the orig[inal] Debt. having had been. Twenty One pounds. Six Shillings. but now is only. Elev[en] Pounds. Six Shillings. it be reduced by the Payment. of Ten pounds. by the Hon[ble] David Dunbar. Esq[r]. the Present Governour. out of which sa[i]d Sum. of Eleven pounds. Six Shillings. I have re[c]eived in. Beef. to the Value of two po[unds] [fou]r the Beef. weighing. One Hundred. and Sixty pounds. Gro[s]s. ie. Including. offall &c

And Whereas. it is reasonable. & Just. all Acc[oun]ts. all Acc[ompt]s. Stand [...] Settled. and Adju[s]ted. the next Proceed. due. to me. is Nine pounds. Six [Shillings] And Moreover. I have worked. by Order. of the Hon[ble] David Dunbar. Esq[r] Twenty five days. in Making. Wool [...] for which. I Charge. three. Shillings & day. Which. amounts. to Three pound[s]. fifteen Shillings. and Nine [...] [a]

George Moody signed and sealed his will at Calcutta on 21 August 1745.

Witnesses: Mungo Clarkson, Diggory Renorden, John Barr, Thomas Tenkson, Samuel Demose.

In a codicil, Moody recorded that since making the will his friend John Barr had been declared [dead?], and he requested that Barr's name be removed and his friend Thomas Tenkson substituted in his place.

The will was endorsed with the address for remitting Moody's legacy to his brother Lawrence Moody, son of George Moody, farmer, known by Lotherkerding in the Shire of Fife, North Britain, to the care of John Brown living at Carfor's back door, one of the Young Princes of Orange Head, Wapping, London.

Thomas Cooper, servant of the company of soldiers belonging to the United East India Company of England and the sole proprietor of St Helena, made his will as follows. He revoked all earlier wills. He commended his soul to Almighty God who gave it, and his body to the earth from which it came. His estate was wholly personal.

He had lodged a sum of money in the hands of Peter Higgins of the same company. After deducting whatever was needed to support him in his illness, any balance remaining at his death was to pass to Peter Higgins for his own use. Higgins was not to be accountable to anyone for the money.

The late Governor Gabriel Powell stood indebted to him in the sum of £11 6s. The original debt had been £21 6s, but it had been reduced by a payment of £10 by the present Governor David Dunbar. Of the remaining £11 6s, he had received beef to the value of £2 4s, the beef weighing 160 pounds gross, including offal.

When all accounts were settled, the next sum due to him was £9 6s. In addition, he had worked twenty-five days by order of Governor David Dunbar making wool [...], for which he charged three shillings a day, amounting to £3 15s.

Interpretations

George Moody's codicil substituting Thomas Tenkson for the deceased John Barr indicates the working hazards of shipboard testamentary arrangements. Where a witness or named beneficiary died before the testator, a substitution had to be made and re-witnessed on the same document. The substitution here, made aboard the Wager at Calcutta, replaces one of the original witnesses with the friend who had already been Moody's principal legatee for the bedding, wearing apparel and small debts. The arrangement consolidates Tenkson's position as the primary local recipient of Moody's effects.

Thomas Cooper, servant of the company of soldiers of the East India Company on St Helena, represents the soldier-testator pattern documented across the registers from the William Hague will of March 1708 onwards. The phrasing servant of the company of soldiers fixes his status precisely: not an officer, but a serving soldier enlisted by the Company for garrison duty. The same status is documented for Samuel Holland (will of July 1682), Hugh Syms (will of May 1684), William Hague (1708) and others across the registers, although the phrasing here is more elaborate than in earlier wills.

Speculations

The substitution clause in Moody's will, replacing John Barr with Thomas Tenkson after Barr's reported death, suggests that the original witnesses had themselves been mariners on the same ship or in the same Calcutta anchorage, with the high mortality of the eastern trade producing rapid changes in the available pool of witnesses. The same Wager ship at Calcutta may have been losing crew members to local disease during its time on the river, with Moody's own infirmity perhaps part of the same outbreak. The need to update the will before sealing reflects the working uncertainty of shipboard mortality at the Bengal stations.

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the said Wool Carder. I have worked. at making. Mops. at one Shilling [per] Mop. to the Value of four pounds. Eleven Shillings. being. Ninety One Mops.

Item. I will. and bequeath. to my afore[s]aid. Loveing. Freind. Peter. Higgins. the Sum of ten pounds. Sterling to be paid. him. three Week[s] after my decea[s]e. And at my decease. I will. and bequeath. to my afore[s]aid. friend. Peter Higgins. my great Standing. up. my beds feet. containing. my Cloaths & Sundry Other things. my Property. as Wearing. Apparrell. both. Linnen. & Wollen & all & Every thing. therein. contained. & all Other. my Wearing. Apparell in Whose hands. soever. they are

Item. I will. and. bequeath. to M[r] Matthias Campbell. four pounds. & to W[m] Jackson. One pound. twelve. Shillings. and my Other chest. Standing. by the door. with what. it contains. & to Robert Stack. one pound. I do likewise. appoint. the said W[m] Jackson. to pay. Edward Burford. of the Artillery Company. five Shillings. which. he Stand[s] indebted. to me. & in[?] [s]ettlement to will. & give. my Arrears of pay. & all Other Debts. Dues. Sum. & Sums. of Money. & rest. & re[s]idue. of my Estate. & Effects. I will. & bequeath. to my afore[s]aid Loveing. Freind Peter Higgins.

Sign'd. Seal'd. Published. Declared. and Delivered in the Pres[en]ce of the said. Testator this Thirty first day of July Anno Domini 1746 and in the Nineteenth Year. of the Reign. of our Sovereign Lord George of Great Britain. France. and Ireland. King Defender of the Faith Tho[s] Corker Witnes[s]es Matthias Brightwell Richard Knight his mark x Edward Burford

I do hereby Appoint. Peter Higgins. and Matthew Campbell. my

Executor[s] of this. my last Will. and Testament. hereby revokeing. all Other. former Wills. Sign'd. the day and Year. above mentioned. Tho[s] Corker Witnes[s] Matthias Brightwell Richard Knight. his Mark x Edward Burford.

S[t] Helena Febry [the] 21[st]. 1742/3 In the Name of God. Amen. I George Linwa[y]. of the s[ai]d. Island being v[ery] weak. of Body. but per[s]ect [s]ound in Mind. & Memory. and Understanding do therefore. make this. my last Will. & Testament. in manner. & form following. that is to say. first. & Princepally I committ. my Soul. unto the Hand[s] of Almighty. God. My Body to the Earth. there to be decently buried. according. to the Discretion. of my Ex[ecuto]r[s]. hereafter named.

Imprimis. I give. & bequeath. unto my well beloved freind. Joseph Whaley. fun[r] Sergeant. on the Garrison. all my whole E[s]tate. (that it has plea[s]ed God. to bestow. Upon me. dissannulling. & Making. Void. all this [...]

Thomas Corker [the soldier whose will continues here from the preceding passage, his name now appearing in place of the earlier reading of Cooper] had worked at making mops at one shilling per mop, producing ninety-one mops to the value of £4 11s.

He left his friend Peter Higgins £10 sterling, to be paid three weeks after his death. He also left Higgins his great standing piece at the foot of his bed, containing his clothes and various other items of his property, including wearing apparel both linen and woollen, and all the other wearing apparel held by anyone on his behalf.

He left Matthias Campbell £4. He left William Jackson £1 12s together with his other chest standing by the door, with its contents. He left Robert Stack £1. He directed William Jackson to pay Edward Burford of the Artillery Company five shillings owed to him.

He left his arrears of pay, all other debts and sums of money, and the rest and residue of his estate and effects, to his friend Peter Higgins. He appointed Peter Higgins and Matthew Campbell as executors and revoked all earlier wills.

The will was signed, sealed, published, declared and delivered on 31 July 1746, in the nineteenth year of the reign of King George.

Witnesses: Matthias Brightwell, Richard Knight (by mark), Edward Burford.

George Linway of St Helena made his will on 21 February 1743, being very weak in body but sound in mind, memory and understanding. He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be decently buried at the discretion of his executors.

He left his friend Joseph Whaley junior, sergeant of the garrison, his whole estate, revoking and making void all [earlier wills].

Interpretations

The mop-making work at one shilling per mop, producing ninety-one mops, establishes a working piece-rate for handicraft labour by garrison soldiers. The shilling per mop, combined with the three shillings per day for wool carding documented in the preceding portion, indicates that the soldier-craftsman could earn substantially through piecework when not on garrison duty. The volume of ninety-one mops suggests sustained production over many weeks, fitting the working pattern of a soldier who supplemented his Company pay through specialised craft work for the governor or other senior figures.

George Linway of February 1743 belongs to a class of brief soldier or garrison wills where the entire estate passes to a single friend without intermediate provisions. The handover records similar patterns in the John Boyce will of February 1711 (where everything went to friend James Greentree) and the Isaac Bothway will of June 1710 (where Septha Fowler received the estate as sole executor and beneficiary). Linway's will follows the same compact form, naming a single beneficiary and presumably a single executor (the visible text breaks off before the executor naming).

Speculations

The substantial sum of £10 sterling to Peter Higgins, payable three weeks after death, plus the great chest of clothing and the residue including arrears of pay, makes Higgins the principal beneficiary of Thomas Corker's estate by a wide margin over the other named soldiers. The three-week delay on the £10 payment may reflect the working time required for the executors to gather the cash from the testator's deposit accounts and the Company pay office. The handover does not record similar timed payments to executors, suggesting the device here reflects the particular illness pattern: a soldier who knew he had three weeks of subsistence costs left to bear, with the remainder going to his friend after that period.

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or Wills. by me formerly. Made. Allowing. this. & no Other. to be my last Will. [&] Testament.

Item. I do Nominate. & Appoint. the said. Joseph Whaley. to be the Only. [Executor] to this my last Will. & Testament. In Witnes[s] Whereof. I have hereu[nto] set my hand. & Seal

Sign'd. & Sealed. in the pre[s]ence of Us The Mark Ω L f Henry Beale George Linwa[y] Thomas Watts Jun[o]

In the Name of God. Amen. I John De[s]fountain. L[t] in the Hon[ble] [...] Compa[ny]s. Service. at S[t] Helena. being Sick. & Weak of Body. but of [s]ound. & [P]er[s]ect mind. and Memory. do make. and Ordain. this my Last Will. and Testament. in manner. and form following. that is to say. My soul. I recommend. to the Mercy. of Almighty God. My Body. I committ. to the Earth. to be buried. in a decent manner. and my Wo[r]ldly. E[s]tate. I di[s]pose of as follow[s]

Imprimis. I will. and bequeath. unto my well beloved. Sons. John De[s]fountain. Samuel. De[s]fountain. forty Acres of Freeh[o]ld. Land. formerly Risen [Mill?][?] with the Plantation. & Hou[s]e. thereon. Standing. to be Equally. divided between them. When. they shall severally. Arrive. to the Age of Twent[y] One Year[s]. or Marriage. but in Case. of the decea[s]e. of either. of before which shall first. happen. then. I give. the said. forty Acres of [Land] Hou[s]es. and Plantations. abovementioned. to the Survovour of them without being. Accountable. to any Person. whatever. for any p[ar]t there[of]

Item. I Will. and bequeath. unto my two Daughters. An[n]. & Rebecca. the [int] Provisions. or Yams Growing. on my Lands. Exclu[s]ive of what is Plante[d] on the Lands. for me. by [Jp]n. [...]. to be valued. for their Use Immediately. after my decea[s]e. and that. the s[a]id. Lands. or Plantation be continued. on the said Land. untill my Yongest Son. Shall Arrive to the Age of Twenty One Year[s]. & that the Produce. thereof during the time afore[s]aid be divided. Equally. between any said two daughters. and I direct. that no part. of this Plantation. be reckoned. or deemed. as part of their Share. of my Per[s]onal Estate. and when my Youngest Son. Shall Arrive to the Years afore[s]aid. then. the said Land. to be di[s]po[s]ed of as I shall hereafter [A]ppoint.

Item. To my Bro[r]. Joseph De[s]fountain. I give the sum of forty Shillings for a Mourning. Ring. and also. One Acre. & one eighth. part. of an Acre

George Linway revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament. He appointed Joseph Whaley as sole executor. He signed by mark.

Witnesses: Henry Beale, Thomas Watts junior.

John Desfountain, lieutenant in the Honourable Company's service at St Helena, sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, made his will as follows. He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be decently buried.

He left his sons John Desfountain and Samuel Desfountain forty acres of freehold land formerly Risen Mill, with the plantation and house standing on it, to be equally divided between them when they reached the age of twenty-one or married. If either son died before reaching that age or marrying, the entire forty acres of land, house and plantation were to pass to the survivor, who was not to be accountable to any person for any part of it.

He left his two daughters Ann and Rebecca the provisions or yams growing on his lands, exclusive of what had been planted on the lands for him by [...]. These were to be valued for their use immediately after his death. The plantation was to continue working on the land until his youngest son reached the age of twenty-one, with the produce divided equally between the two daughters during that period. He directed that no part of the plantation was to be reckoned as part of the daughters' share of his personal estate. When the youngest son came of age, the land was to be disposed of as he should later appoint.

He left his brother Joseph Desfountain forty shillings for a mourning ring, and one and one-eighth acres [of land].

Interpretations

John Desfountain, lieutenant in the Company's service, identifies himself by his Company military rank rather than as planter or gentleman. The handover records the Desfontaines or Desfountain line from the Samuel Desfontaines will of 15 November 1707, where five children Samuel, John, Martha, Mary and Joseph were named as principal heirs of their father's estate. The present testator John Desfountain is the same John named in Samuel's 1707 will, by then grown to adulthood and having entered Company military service rather than continuing as a planter. His progression from named son of a Huguenot planter in 1707 to lieutenant by 1746 represents the working trajectory of the next generation of the Desfontaines line, moving from agricultural to military service while retaining the family lands.

The yams growing on the land, treated as the principal working crop, confirm the central role of the yam in the island's plantation economy in the 1740s. The handover records yams as the basic produce of multiple wills, including the 40,000 yams and suckers valued at £30 in the John Goodwin will of December 1703, the yams of Thomas Burnham in January 1702, and the three young yams given to godson William Swallow in the Richard Harding soldier's will of May 1726. The continuity of the yam as the working subsistence crop across forty years indicates its central position in the island's agricultural economy.

Speculations

The progression from the original Samuel Desfontaines's elaborate Huguenot will of 1707, with its spiritual autobiography of refugee experience and detailed multi-continental dispositions, to the present John Desfountain's brief soldier-style will in 1746 reflects the working assimilation of the Huguenot line into ordinary St Helena planter and Company-service society. The first-generation refugee had organised his testament around the religious history of his exile and the spiritual education of his sons. The third-generation descendant draws his will in the standard local form, with no reference to French origin, Reformed Protestant identity, or the displaced family network that had defined his grandfather's disposition. The transition reflects the working integration of the family into local society over three generations.

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of Lea[se]hold Land. that was formerly. my Father in laws. M[r] I[s]aac Wood's. Adjoyning. to the Main Ridge. & his own Free Land. formerly. Jo[a]nne Wood[s]

Item. My Dwelling House. in Chappell Valley. I give the refu[s]al of. to my Son John. When my Daughter Ann. shall arrive. to the age of twenty one Years. he Paying. to Each of my Daughters. for the same. the Sum of thirty Pounds. but if he sh[oul]d decline the said Purchase. Then I give the refer[ence] to my son Samuel. on Paying the Sum afore[s]aid. & in Case. he also[?] refu[s]e to Purchase. the same. then. I direct that the said Hou[s]e. be Equally divided. between. my said two Daughters. And that the same. be Set apart. from the time of my Younge[s]t Son's. Arriving to twenty one Years. to the time. my Eldest Son. is admitted. to the Purchase. thereof for the Use. and sole Benefit. of my said two Daughters. and that Neither the Hou[s]e. or the Profitts. thereof be deemed. as part of their Share of my Estate. And in Case of the decea[s]e of Either. of them. before age. or Marriage. then the Su[r]vivor of them. to enjoy the deceas[e]d's. part but if. they Shall both. die. before age. or marriage afore[s]aid. I bequeath. the said House. Equally. between my said two Sons.

Item. I will. & bequeath. all my Other Lands. both Freehold. & Lea[se]ho[l]d. & my Dwelling House. in the Country unto my said Sons. John. & Samuel. to be Equally. divided. between. When. they Come to the age of twenty One Years. or Marriage. they paying to my Daughters. Ann. & Rebecca. an Equall Proportion. or Dividend. at Valuation. by two indifferent. Men.

Item. I give. & bequeath. unto my Son John. One Black Girl named Nanny. One Gold Dollar. One Gold Ring. with a Motto. ([when this You See remember] me) One Silver Salver. Four Silver Spoons. and One Silver Snuff Box. not to be Valued. to him.

Item. I give. and bequeath. unto my Son Samuel. One Black Girl named Patt. One Gold rupee. One Guinea. One Gold ring with a Stone in it. one [...] ring. & three Silver Spoons. Not to be Valued. to him.

Item. I give. and bequeath. unto my Daughter Ann. One Black Girl. named Peg. One Silver Mug. three Silver Spoons two Gold rings. that was. her Mothers. Two Guineas. & the Sum of five pounds. not to be Valued to her.

Item. I give. and bequeath. unto my Daughter. Rebecca. One Black Girl. named Ellen. Three Silver Spoons. two Gold rings. that was. her Mothers. two Guineas. & the Sum of five pounds. not to be Valued. to her. & in Case of my sons. should die. before they come to Age. or Marriage. the Survivors then. to enjoy the Above Legacy. & also if either of my Daughters. should die before Age or Marriage. the Other. to enjoy. the decea[se]d's Legacy.

Item. I Will. and bequeath. unto my Nephew William De[s]fountain. Twenty Shillings. & One Heifer.

Item. I Will. & bequeath. unto my Nephew William Seale. Twenty Shilling & One Heifer.

John Desfountain held leasehold land formerly belonging to his father-in-law Isaac Wood, adjoining the main ridge and Wood's own freehold land formerly Joanne Wood's. He gave [...] of this leasehold to his brother Joseph.

He gave his son John first refusal of his dwelling house in Chapel Valley when his daughter Ann reached the age of twenty-one. The price was £30 to each of the daughters. If John declined the purchase, the same offer passed to his son Samuel on the same terms. If Samuel also refused, the house was to be divided equally between the two daughters. From the time the youngest son reached twenty-one until the eldest son took up the purchase, the house was to be set apart for the sole use and benefit of the two daughters. Neither the house nor its profits during that period were to count as part of their share of the estate. If either daughter died before age or marriage, the survivor was to take her share. If both died before age or marriage, the house was to be divided equally between the two sons.

He left the rest of his lands, both freehold and leasehold, and his country dwelling house to his sons John and Samuel, to be equally divided between them when they reached the age of twenty-one or married. The sons were to pay daughters Ann and Rebecca an equal proportion at valuation by two indifferent men.

He left his son John the black girl Nanny, one gold dollar, one gold ring with the motto "when this you see remember me", one silver salver, four silver spoons and one silver snuff box, none of these to be valued against his share.

He left his son Samuel the black girl Patt, one gold rupee, one guinea, one gold ring with a stone in it, one [...] ring and three silver spoons, none to be valued against his share.

He left his daughter Ann the black girl Peg, one silver mug, three silver spoons, two gold rings that had been her mother's, two guineas and £5, none to be valued against her share.

He left his daughter Rebecca the black girl Ellen, three silver spoons, two gold rings that had been her mother's, two guineas and £5, none to be valued against her share.

If either son died before age or marriage, the survivor was to take the deceased son's legacy. If either daughter died before age or marriage, the survivor was to take the deceased daughter's legacy.

He left his nephew William Desfountain twenty shillings and one heifer.

He left his nephew William Seale twenty shillings and one heifer.

Interpretations

The father-in-law Isaac Wood ties John Desfountain's marriage into the Wood line documented across the registers through the Isaac Wood who served as guardian and executor of the Simon Whaley will and as witness to the Stephen Audward soldier's will of May 1727 and the George White will of 1732. Isaac Wood had served as a recurring administrator and witness over more than two decades, and his death sometime before 1746 is implied here by his designation as formerly the holder of the leasehold. The marriage of his daughter to John Desfountain consolidated the Wood and Desfountain lines through the inheritance of the working leasehold adjoining the main ridge.

The substantial specific bequests to each of the four children, with named slaves, gold and silver coins, gold rings, silver salvers, mugs, spoons and snuff boxes, indicate that John Desfountain had accumulated a substantial inventory of working luxury goods by 1746. The handover records earlier silver inventories across the registers, including the silver tankard, casters, cruets and salver of the Margaret Goodwin will of January 1744 and the silver objects across the Gabriel Powell will of September 1729. The Desfountain inventory by 1746 represents one of the most extensive private hoards of precious metal documented in the registers.

Speculations

The decision to fix the price of the Chapel Valley house at a flat £30 to each daughter, rather than at a working valuation by indifferent men (the mechanism used for the rest of the lands), suggests John Desfountain wished to establish a definite price for the town house in advance, perhaps to avoid disputes over valuation at a future date when local property values might have shifted. The fixed price gives certainty to all parties and avoids the complication of finding two indifferent appraisers for a specific town building, while the lands could be more readily valued by working agricultural appraisers using standard methods.

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Item. I Will. & bequeath. unto my Brother in Law. Samuel Doveton. forty Shillings to buy him a Ring.

Item. My Per[s]onal. E[s]tate. as not yet bequeathed. I give to my Beloved Children Namely. John. Samuel. Ann. & Rebecca. to be Equally divided. between them When. they Shall Severally. Attain to the Age of twenty One Years. or Marri[age]

Item. To my Sister Martha Lo[r]y. I give a Room in my Dwelling hou[s]e. in Chapel Valley. untill my son Samuel Shall come of Age. and longer if my Executors. shall think proper. and I direct that she be maintained at the discretion of [my] Executors. out of my Estate. untill my Younge[st] [Son] Shall Arrive at Age aforesaid. and afterwards. I de[s]ire that. as my Sons[?] have the Greatest. Part of my Estate. they will continue to afford. her in[?] like manner. as my Executors. thought fitt to allow. her. out of my whole Estate. and in Case my Executors. shall not think it Convenient to suffer my said Sister. to continue longer. on[?] my Hou[s]e. at the fort. than the time prefixed. then I direct. that. she be Accomodated. with a Room. in one of [my] Hou[s]es. in the Country. While she remains. a Widow. & no longer. and with this Restriction. that. she shall not let. or di[s]po[s]e. of the same in any or manner whatever.

Lastly. I do hereby Nominate. & Appoint. my beloved. friends. Samuel D[oveton] and Joseph De[s]fountain. and my two Sons. John. and Samuel. De[s]fountain When. they Arrive to the Age of Nineteen. to be Executors to this my last Will. and Te[s]tament. hereby revoking. & Making. Void. all Wills. by me heretofore made. Confirming this. & no Other. to be my last Will. and Testament. In Witnes[s] Whereof. I have Set my hand. and Seal[e] this Fourteenth day of January. One Thousand Seven hundre[d] and forty four five. Jn[o] De[s]fountain Sign'd Sealed. and Declared as the last Will. of the Testator in the Pres[en]ce of Memo[r]andum the Word[s] (out of my Estate) being Interlined before the Signing. & Sealing.

M. Bazett. Francis Hayes. James Long

In the Name of God Amen I John De[s]fountain. of the I[s]land. S[t] Helena having made my last Will. & Testament. bearing date. the fourteenth day of January. One thousand Seven hundred and forty four - five. I hereby direct &require that this Codicil. Shall be taken. & deemed. as part of my said. last Will. and Testament. And Whereas. in the Second. Paragraph of my said Will. I have given. unto my Wellbeloved Daughters. a Plantation of Yams. to be set apart for their Proper. Use. & Benefit. &c[a]. The which said Paragraph. I do annul[?] [...]

John Desfountain left his brother-in-law Samuel Doveton forty shillings to buy a ring.

He left the rest of his personal estate, not otherwise bequeathed, to his children John, Samuel, Ann and Rebecca, to be equally divided between them as they reached the age of twenty-one or married.

He gave his sister Martha Lory a room in his Chapel Valley dwelling house until his son Samuel came of age, and longer if the executors thought proper. The executors were to maintain her from the estate until the youngest son reached his majority. Thereafter, since his sons would hold the greater part of the estate, he asked that they continue to support her on the same scale that the executors had allowed her during the interim. If the executors did not think it convenient to let Martha remain in the fort house beyond the prefixed time, he directed that she be given a room in one of his country houses for as long as she remained a widow and no longer, with the restriction that she was not to let or otherwise dispose of the room in any manner.

He appointed his friends Samuel Doveton and Joseph Desfountain, together with his two sons John and Samuel Desfountain on their reaching the age of nineteen, as executors. He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament. He signed and sealed it on 14 January 1745. The words "out of my Estate" were interlined before signing.

Witnesses: M. Bazett, Francis Hayes, James Long.

In a codicil dated to the same will, John Desfountain directed that the codicil be taken as part of the original will. In the second paragraph of the will he had given his daughters a plantation of yams set apart for their use. He annulled [that paragraph and substituted new provisions].

Interpretations

The brother-in-law Samuel Doveton named here is the same Samuel Doveton documented across the registers as son of Jonathan Doveton (will of January 1744), recipient of the slave Roger under the Grace Coulson codicil of March 1727, and witness to the William Coals will and codicil of December 1743. The identification of Samuel Doveton as John Desfountain's brother-in-law indicates that John's wife was a Doveton, presumably a daughter of Jonathan Doveton named in his will as Sarah, Martha or Ann. Given that the late mother of the four Desfountain children would have died before 1746, and that her gold rings have already been distributed in the present will, the working chronology points to a marriage between John Desfountain and one of the elder Doveton daughters that produced four children before her death. This makes the Desfountain children grandchildren of Jonathan Doveton and cousins of the Doveton children named in the January 1744 will.

M. Bazett, witness here, is presumably Matthew, John or Thomas Bazett of the generation documented across the registers through Matthew Bazett (will of April 1719) and his sons John and Thomas Bazett named in the Elizabeth Pawling will of August 1742. The use of the initial M alone is ambiguous, but the working presence of multiple Bazett kinsmen in the witness role across the 1740s indicates the continued centrality of the Bazett family in the administrative circle.

Speculations

The careful provision for Martha Lory, with multiple fallback arrangements covering her accommodation in either the fort or country house, and with maintenance to continue from the sons after the executors' working period had ended, suggests John Desfountain felt a particular obligation to his sister that went beyond ordinary kinship duty. The arrangement of a guaranteed room with maintenance during widowhood, terminating only on her remarriage, parallels the provisions sometimes made for unmarried daughters in the registers. The treatment of a widowed sister as a long-term family dependant indicates that Martha Lory had no working means of her own and depended entirely on her brother's working estate for her continued maintenance.

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Void. & in[s]tead. thereof. I give. to my [s]a[i]d two D[aughters] Sum. of One. hundred pounds. to be set apart soon after. my decea[s]e. which [I] leave to the discretion. of my Executors. & the same. to be put. to Interest. if they have an Opportunity. Which Principal. & Interest. thereof. to be Equally. divided between my said two Daughters. as they shall come to Age. or Marriage and not. to be reckoned. as their Proper Share. or Proportion. of my E[s]tate And in case of the death of either. that the Survivour to enjoy the Whole. to which I have hereunto set my hand. and Seal. this thirty first day of January. One Thousand. Seven hundred. & forty five - Six.

Sign'd Sealed. and declared. Jn[o] De[s]fountain in the Pres[en]ce of Us. Roger Neorinov[en?] Rich[d] Beale.

In the Name of God. Amen. this Seventh Day of December in the Year of Our Lord God. One Thousand. Seven hundred. and forty five. I [Da]niel Owen. of the Island. S[t] Helena. Lieut. in the Service. of the Honourable [Com]pany. being sick. and Weak. of Body. but of [s]ound. and Per[s]ect Mind. and Memory. thanks to Almighty God. do make. Ordain. and Appoint. this. my last Will and Testament. that is to say. Principally. and first of all. I give. & Recommend my Soul into the Hand[s]. of Almighty. God. my Body. I commit. to the Earth. to be Buried. in a Christian. like. & De[c]ent manner. at the Discretion. of my Executors. my Wo[r]ldly. Good[s] I give. Devi[s]e. & Di[s]po[s]e. in the manner. and form following.

Imprimis. I de[s]ire. that my goods. & Chattles. may be put. to Pu[bl]ick. Sale. & all my & Funeral Charges. be defrayed. in some Convenient. time. after my Decea[s]e

Item. After my Debts. are fully. Sati[s]fied. & paid. all the Remainder. & Re[s]idue. there I give. to my Wellbeloved. Daughter. Elizabeth Owen. to be Delivered. at Age. or Marriage I Desire. my Executors. at S[t] Helena. to remit. what Money. or Overplus. that there [is] in their Hands. to my Brother. Rich. Owen. in England. & to remain. in his hand. un my s[ai]d Daughter. shall be. of Age. or Marriage. as afore[s]aid

Lastly. I Nominate. & Appoint. my Wellbeloved. Brother Rich Owen. in England. & [Tho] Kirkpatrick. & John Skelton. of S[t] Helena. my Executor[s]. revoking. & Disannulling. all f[ormer] Will. or Wills. by me made. ratifying. & Confirming. this. & no other. to be my last [Will] and Testament Sign'd Daniel Owen Sign'd. Seal'd. and Declared. as the last Will & Testament. of Daniel Owen. on the Pres[en]ce of Us Edward Sparkes Rich Beal

In the codicil of 31 January 1746, John Desfountain replaced the earlier yam-plantation provision with a cash settlement. He left his two daughters £100, to be set apart soon after his death. The executors were to put the sum out at interest if they had an opportunity, with the principal and interest to be equally divided between the two daughters as they came of age or married. The money was not to be reckoned as part of their proper share of the estate. If either daughter died, the survivor was to take the whole.

Witnesses: Roger Neorinoven, Richard Beale.

Daniel Owen of St Helena, lieutenant in the Company's service, made his will on 7 December 1745 while sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory. He commended his soul to God and directed that his body be buried in a Christian and decent manner at the discretion of his executors.

He directed that his goods and chattels be sold at public auction soon after his death and that his funeral charges be defrayed from the proceeds.

After payment of his debts, he left the residue to his daughter Elizabeth Owen, to be delivered at age or marriage. He asked the St Helena executors to remit any money or overplus in their hands to his brother Richard Owen in England, who was to hold it until Elizabeth reached her majority or married.

He appointed his brother Richard Owen in England, together with Thomas Kirkpatrick and John Skelton of St Helena, as executors. He revoked all earlier wills and confirmed this as his last will and testament.

Witnesses: Edward Sparkes, Richard Beale.

Interpretations

The £100 cash settlement replacing the yam-plantation provision for the Desfountain daughters represents the working alternative to a produce-based maintenance during the minority. By converting the daughters' interim provision from a stream of agricultural produce to a fixed cash sum at interest, John Desfountain shifted the risk away from the variable success of the plantation crop and onto the working financial markets where the sum would be lent out. The provision that the executors put the money at interest if they have an opportunity reflects the limited but expanding lending opportunities on the island in the 1740s.

The handover records earlier interest-bearing arrangements, including the Edward Heath will of June 1706 (with John Affleck and son Gilbert Affleck as executors holding shares), the Henry Francis will of August 1722 (where executors were to deposit estate proceeds with the Honourable Company at interest), and the William Gaa will of March 1731 (where £122 was held by Captain Robert Lyle and the principal and interest were to be delivered later). The Desfountain codicil of January 1746 follows this established working pattern, treating the orphan's portion as capital to be invested rather than spent or held idle.

Speculations

The shift from a produce-based to a cash-based provision for the Desfountain daughters in the January 1746 codicil suggests that John Desfountain had reassessed the working economics of the plantation during the year between the will and the codicil. The original arrangement had assumed that the yam plantation would continue to operate at its previous productivity during the youngest son's minority. The replacement with a fixed £100 at interest indicates that the testator had come to doubt either the plantation's continued viability or the working competence of the executors to manage agricultural operations as well as financial ones. By converting to cash, he shifted the working management burden from agricultural operations to financial investment, a task more readily handled by executors whose own expertise lay in administrative rather than plantation work.

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EAP 1364 St Helena

Document Name and Date: Register of wills 1682 - 1745

Dimensions (l x h x depth) (cm): (L) 47cm x (h) 32 cm x (d) 5 cm

No. written pages: 266

No. blank pages: 5

Spine and cover: Good condition recently rebound

Inside pages: Good Condition foxing present

Additional comments:

Time taken to photograph (hours): 5 hours