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A selection of Wedderburn wills, listed by first names, in (approximate) alphabetical order. 1. Isabel Edward d. 1787 2. James Wedderburn d. 1799 3. James Webster (Graham) d. 1841 4. James Stewart d. 1839 5. James Webster d. 1789 6. James Wedderburn d. 1831 7. James Wedderburn d. 1815 8. Dr. James Wedderburn Colvile d. 1807 9. James Wedderburn d. 1822
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This Will of James Wedderburn, (marked �A�) was written on 6th October 1790. A Codicil (marked �B�) was added on 1st April 1791 and another (marked �C�) on 1st May 1792. A brief undated Codicil (marked �D�) was added later, as was a �Heads of a Will� (marked �E�). The Will, with its four Codicils, was proved in Jamaica on 2nd & 3rd August 1797 and at London on 20th February 1799, �by the oath of John Wedderburn, the brother and sole Executor�. James
was born at Merknish, in the parish of Inverness, on 23rd
September 1751. - In footnote� on W.B. p. 342, �A.W.� states: �The
following is the entry in the Inverness Register: 23rd Sept.
1751, Mr. Thomas Wedderburn, collector of excise at Inverness, and his
wife, Katharine Dunbar, had a child baptised by Mr. Alexr. McBean called
James. Witnesses, Robert ffraser of Phopachie, Mr. Alexr. McBean.� In
footnote�, �A.W.� states: �He is not mentioned by name in the
entail of Idvies which follow a disposition made before his birth.
References occur in the Will of old James Webster in 1789, when he is
designed �of Trelawny, Jamaica�, and in that of his sister Thomasina
in 1797��. [�James Wedderburn
of Trelawney� (sic) was left �250 by James Webster in 1789.] �James
went out to Jamaica at the end of 1768 or early in 1769. He became a
member of the House of Assembly in the Island where his talents gained him
a reputation and where for many years his influence, and it must be added,
his speculations were almost unbounded. He was home in 1789, in which
year, 27 July, he received the freedom of Inverness, but he returned to
Jamaica and died at Bluecastle, 17 July 1797� . He was buried no doubt
in the garden there. A notice of him, which appeared in the Kingston
(Jamaica) Gazette is quoted in the Gentleman�s Magazine, vol. lvii., p.
889. He was never married.� (W.B. p. 342) [James�
father, Thomas Wedderburn �of Cantra�, the seventh but third surviving
son of Alexander Wedderburn, 4th Bt. of Blackness, was born on
2 April 1710 and baptised at Dundee on 5 April. On 5 September 1727 he was
named as a merchant in Dundee but �he went to the north country between
1730-40��and so met the lady of his choice�.
His marriage, on 20 Sept. 1740, was unusual for the times, in that
his family was Episcopalian but his wife�s family was Presbyterian.
Katharine Dunbar was the youngest child of Alexander Dunbar of Grange, co.
Moray, by Mary Fraser, daughter of James Fraser, LL.D., secretary of
Chelsea Hospital. �Dr. Fraser was son to a Presbyterian minister in the
county of Inverness, where he had been born in 1645. He married an English
lady connected with the Impeys, and practised in London as a physician.
His family is unknown but his fortune was considerable. He was educated at
Kings College, Aberdeen, and in 1725 he repaired and added to the college
library and constructed the south side of the College Court of buildings.
In consequence of a quarrel with his son-in-law about a fit site for a new
mansion at Grange Hill, Dr. Fraser bequeathed all he possessed to King�s
College, where a portrait of him is preserved. He died in 1731. See also
the Wills of Katharine Dunbar�s son James, of her son John and of her
daughter Thomasina for reference to various Fraser relatives�. (W.B. p. 341, footnote�.) �Either somewhat before or immediately after his marriage Thomas became collector of excise at Inverness�.and after Culloden he seems to have escaped and continued to act as collector of excise.� The
sons of the marriage were brought up as Episcopalians and the daughters as
Presbyterians. - The eldest son, Alexander, was born at Grange Hill in the
parish of Dyke on 20th August 1741. (His
baptism not traced.) He went out to Jamaica in the spring of 1760
�staying on his way South with his uncle [Robert Wedderburn] at Pearsie,
to whom his mother wrote a letter of thanks for the kindness shown to her
son, dated from Gallacantry, on March 20th 1760. In 1766, he is
named in the entail of Idvies as his father�s eldest son but four years
later died unmarried at Bluecastle, parish of Westmoreland, Jamaica, 10
Feb. 1770, and was no doubt buried in the garden there�. (W.B.
p. 345) �There is no mention of any Wedderburn monuments in the
Island�. (W.B. p. 342, footnote�) The second son, John, born at Forres, co. Moray, on 19th August 1743, was baptised there on 22nd August. [A daughter Mary was bap. at Forres on 18th Sept. 1742.] John went out to Jamaica in 1762 and married there, 27 May 1782, Mary Wisdom Bedward. He returned to Scotland on 12 July 1789 and received the freedom of Inverness. - His brother James apparently did so on the same day. - John settled in London and became a partner in Wedderburn, Webster & Co., the East & West India Merchants in Leadenhall Street. (W.B. pp. 343-44) It is John�s eldest son, James, born at Bluecastle, Jamaica, on 2nd June 1788, who, in 1797, inherited his uncle James�s �Mint� estate, as shown in the Will which follows. (On the death of John Wedderburn, in 1820, James succeeded also to his father John�s �Spring Garden� estate in Jamaica �and the greater portion of his colonial property�. - W.B. p. 345)] Wedderburn James /A/ Jamaica Is. Proved
2d & 3d August 1797 In
the Name of God; Amen. I James Wedderburn of the parish of
Westmoreland in the County of Cornwall and Island aforesaid Esquire being
of sound mind and memory and understanding do make this my last Will and
Testament in manner and form following ffirst I desire that my Body may be
Interred in a decent but frugal manner Item I request and desire that all
my just Debts and ffuneral Expences be paid by my Executors hereinafter
named as soon as may be after my Decease Item I give devise and bequeath
unto my Dear Mother Katharine Wedderburn the Sum of two hundred and fifty
pounds Sterling Money of Great Britain to be paid to her each and every
Year during her natural life the said Annuity to commence upon my decease
and for the regular payment thereof I hereby Subject and make liable all
my Estate Real and Personal whatsoever and wheresoever Item I give and
bequeath unto each of my dear Sisters Katherine Wedderburn Thomasina
Wedderburn and Robina Wedderburn the sum of two hundred pounds Sterling
Money of Great Britain to be paid within a Year after my decease and also
to each of them during their natural lives respectively an Annuity of
ffifty five pounds Sterling Money of Great Britain to commence one Year
after my decease Item I give and bequeath unto my sister Elizabeth Blyth
the sum of one hundred pounds Sterling Money of Great Britain to be paid
to her or laid out for her use in such manner as my Executors may judge
best Item I give and bequeath unto my dear Sister in Law Mary Wisdom
Bedward one hundred Guineas to purchase a Mourning Ring in Remembrance of
me Item I give and bequeath unto my dear Niece Elizabeth Susanna
Wedderburn one thousand two hundred pounds Sterling to be paid her on the
day of her marriage but to be at her own disposal at the age of twenty
years provided she is /not/ married before that period the Interest of the
said one thousand two hundred pounds Sterling to be paid her Annually and
regularly from the age of fourteen Years Item I give and bequeath unto my
dear Niece Mary Wedderburn the sum of seven hundred pounds Sterling Money
of Great Britain to be paid her on the day of marriage but to be at her
own disposal when she attains the age of twenty [p.2]
Years if she is not married before that period the Interest of the said
seven hundred pounds Sterling to be paid her Annually and regularly from
her age of fourteen years Item I give and bequeath unto my Cousin Hugh
ffraser of the parish of Westmoreland in the said Island of Jamaica
millwright /an Annuity of �160 Sterling P. Annum/ my Bookcases &
Books Item I give and bequeath unto my Cousin Henry Scrymgeour /1000�
& to his Eldest son of the present marriage �1000 and the Eldest
Daughter �500/ of the Parish of Hanover in the said Island Planter my
Gold Watch Chain and Seals and a Mourning Ring of the value of [�twenty
one pounds� crossed out] 100 pounds Sterling Item I give devise and
bequeath unto my cousin James Wedderburn Dunbar the Annual Sum of twenty
five pounds Sterling Money of Great Britain to commence upon my decease to
be paid to him each and every Year until he shall attain the Age of
ffifteen Years and if the said James Wedderburn Dunbar attains the Age of
ffifteen Years I give and bequeath to him the Sum two hundred Pounds
Sterling to be laid out for his use as my Executors shall judge best [Item
I give and bequeath unto my worthy friend ??ffrancis Grant of the parish
of Trelawny in the Island aforesaid Esquire a Mourning Ring of ffifty
pounds Sterling value - this last Item crossed out] Item I give and bequeath unto my worthy
ffriends John [�and James�
crossed through] Graham of the Parish of Westmoreland in the Island
aforesaid /Walter Adam/ Planters a mourning [sic]
of the value of thirty Pounds Sterling I also give him /each/ four of my
best Horses such as he shall chuse [�Item
I give� crossed out] and bequeath unto my worthy and esteemed
ffriends David Lyon and Doctor Andrew Gairdner a Mourning Ring each of the
value of thirty pounds Sterling I give to my worthy friends William Arthur
[James Gibson crossed through]
John Hatton and James ffarmin each a Mourning Ring of the value of twenty
Guineas I give to my Cousin Peter Dunbar two new Negroes to be purchased
by my Executors for him I give and devise and bequeath unto a quadroon
Child named Lydia supposed to be mine by a Mulatto Woman named Hannah /�100
Sterling p. Annum to be paid Quarterly/ all that piece or parcel of Land
situate in the parish of Westmoreland adjoining Blue Castle Estate known
by the name of the Chateau together with the Buildings thereon and that
may hereafter be erected upon the same also those two Negroe Girls Nancy
and Christmas and also eight new Negroes to be purchased by my Executors
which said piece or parcel of Land and Negroes with the future increase of
the ffemales of the said Negroes are to be In Trust to my Executors for
the use and behoof of the said quadroon Child named [p.3]
Lydia during her natural life so as that she may not by any means alienate
the same or any part thereof and in case of the death of the said quadroon
Child leaving lawful Ifsue Then the said Land and Slaves with the Increase
thereof to go to such lawful Ifsue for ever but in case of her death
without lawful Ifsue Then the said piece or parcel of Land and Slaves with
the increase thereof to revert to and become part of my Estate and in case
I should at any time between the date of the Execution of this my Will and
my decease give unto the said quadroon Child any new Negroe or other
Slaves the same are to be considered as part of the eight directed to be
purchased my intention being to give her the said Child in manner
aforesaid ten Slaves in the whole and no more and my Will is that the
mother of the said Child shall be allowed twenty five pounds Current Money
of Jamaica Per Annum for the support of the said Child until she attains
the age of fourteen Years but in case the said Child shall be sent to
England then I allow the Sum of thirty five Pounds Sterling Per Annum for
her support until she attains the Age of twenty one Years and in the event
of her marriage /with a Creditable white person / I give her 100�
Sterling p. Annum additional to be paid her in the same mode and by no
means I object to her Husband I give her five hundred Pounds Sterling and
I grant the Mother her freedom and allow her fifteen Pounds Current Money
of Jamaica Per Annum during her natural life the Child to be taken from
her of necefsary I give devise and bequeath unto a mulatto Child Daughter
of my Negroe Wench named ffanny four new Negroes to be purchased In Trust
for her by my Executors and in such manner that she cannot alienate the
same and upon the death of the said Mulatto Child the said four Negroes
with their Increase if any to Revert to my Estate and my Will is that the
said Negroe Wench named ffanny be made pet and that she be allowed ten
Pounds Current Money of Jamaica Per Annum during her natural life I give
and bequeath unto John and Alexander Blyth two /new/ Negroes to be
purchased for them by my Executors I give and bequeath all my Madeira Wine
which is fine and old in manner following I give two pipes to Hugh ffraser
herein before mentioned I give to John Graham and James Graham also herein
before mentioned two pipes that is one pipe each and all the rest of my
Madeira Wine I give unto my Dear Brother John Wedderburn my whole [p.4]
Stock of bottles Liquor I give to John Graham and Hugh ffraser aforesaid
to be equally divided between them I direct all my old
Wines to be sold but not under the value and I also direct all my
ffurniture Pictures Plate Horses (except the four given to John [�and
James� crossed through] Graham and Carriages to be sold to the best
advantage but not under the Real value or nearly so all my Wearing Apparel
I give to John Blyth and Alexander Blyth to be equally divided between
except some of the worst which is to be given unto the Mulatto Woman named
Hannah herein before mentioned I give and bequeath the Sum of two hundred
pounds Sterling to the Academy lately Instituted at Invernefs in Scotland
All the rest residue and remainder of my Estate Real & Personal
whatsoever and wheresoever not herein before given away and disposed of
(after payment of my Debts ffuneral Expences and Legacies) I give devise
and bequeath the same and every part thereof unto my Nephew James
Wedderburn Son of my Dear Brother John Wedderburn in manner following
(that is to say) all my personal property I hereby direct to be collected
by my Executors (in doing which they are to observe my Will is that
whatever Sum Walter Adam of Montego Bay may be due to me at the time of my
decease he is to be allowed three Years for the payment of) which said
Personal Property when collected and of which the profits of the Mint
Estate will be a part is to be put out to Interest in England and when the
same shall amount to the Sum of ffifteen thousand Pounds Sterling to be
laid out in the purchase of Landed Property in that part of Great Britain
called Scotland of double the value of the said Sum of ffifteen thousand
Pounds Sterling and a Mortgage to be granted on the same if necefsary to
secure the payment of the said Purchase Money as the Rents of the Property
so to be purchased together with the Crops of the Mint will soon pay off
and liquidate the same and the said property when so purchased to be
entailed upon my said Nephew and the Heirs of his Body for ever according
to the forms used in Scotland and in such strict manner that the same
cannot be cut off and my Will is that if at the end of the Year one
thousand eight hundred (when the Works will require no Repairs and the
Canes will be all on the Stock) my Executors shall find that the Mint
Estate with [p.5] with the Lands
thereunto belonging being three pieces or parcels of Land commonly called
and known by the Names of Golden Penn Linton Penn and ffrasers Mountain
all situate in the Parish of Westmoreland do not yield a clear real Annual
Profit of seven Per Cent Per Annum to be estimated upon a fair Valuation
of the said Properties Then the said Mint Estate with the said three
pieces or parcels of Land to be sold together with the Negroes and /Stock/
thereunto belonging as soon as may be convenient thereafter but not
exceeding three Years and the Money arising from such Sale to be also
applied to the purchase of Landed Property in Scotland to be entailed upon
my said Nephew as is before directed but if at the end of the Year one
thousand eight hundred it is found that the Mint Estate and the three
pieces or parcels of Land do yield a real Annual Profit of seven Per Cent
Per Annum Then I direct that the said Estate and Lands be kept up as a
Sugar Plantation until the Year one thousand eight hundred and ten when I
direct that the said Plantation and Lands with the Slaves and Stock
thereunto belonging to be sold as the Works will by that time be in want
of Considerable Repairs and the money arising from such Sale to be laid
out by my Executors in the purchase of additional Landed property in
Scotland to be entailed upon my said Nephew in such manner as that the
same may not by any means be cut off and failing my said Nephew without
Heirs of his Body lawfully begotten Then all the said property herein
before directed to be entailed on him to belong to and devolve upon the
next Son of my said Brother John Wedderburn by his present Wife and the
Heirs of his Body for ever and failing such Son and Heirs Then to my said
two Nieces share and share alike and the Heirs of their Bodies
respectively for ever And in case my Executors shall neglect or decline to
dispose of the Residue of my Estate in manner as above mentioned Then and
in that case I give devise and bequeath the whole of the said Residue to
my said three Sisters Katherine Wedderburn Thomas/ina/ Wedderburn and
Robina Wedderburn to be divided among them share and share alike and to
their Heirs for ever and my Will is that at the Age of twelve [p.6]
Years and not sooner my said Nephew is to be allowed the Sum of twenty
five Pounds Sterling Per Annum until he attains the Age of fourteen Years
the Sum of ffifty Pounds Sterling Per Annum thereafter and until he
attains the Age of Sixteen Years The Sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling
Per Annum thereafter and until he attains the Age of Eighteen Years and
thereafter the Sum of one hundred and fifty Pounds Sterling Per Annum
until he attains the Age of twenty Years
and from that time the Sum of two hundred Pounds Sterling Per Annum
until he attains the Age of twenty five Years at which period my said
Nephew is to be put into absolute pofsefsion of all the property hereby
bequeathed to him But my Will is that if by failure of my two said Nephews
or their lawful Ifsue as aforesaid the said property shall devolve upon my
said Nieces or the Survivor of them Then and in such case I give and
bequeath the Sum of one thousand Pounds Sterling to every other Daughter
of my said Brother that may hereafter be born of this marriage and in case
of the death of my said Nephews and Nieces also without lawful Heirs of
their or any of their own Bodies Then I give and bequeath an additional
Legacy of ffifteen hundred Pounds Sterling to each of my three Sisters
first herein mentioned and the Sum of one thousand Pounds Sterling to my
other Sister Mrs. Blyth also herein named this last mentioned Sum to be
laid out by my Executors in such manner as they shall judge most for the
benefit of her ffamily all of these last mentioned Legacies to be liens
upon the said properties if then purchased but otherwise to be paid out of
the Residue of my Estate and in such Event my Will further is that the
Residue and Remainder of my Estate shall go and belong to the Eldest Son
of each of my Cousins Sir John Wedderburn and James Wedderburn that is one
half to the Eldest Son of Sir John Wedderburn and one half to the Eldest
Son of James Wedderburn and to the Heirs of their Bodies respectively for
ever hereby declaring them that is the Eldest Son of each of my two
Cousins aforesaid to be the next Heirs in Tail to my said Nephews and
Nieces should they all die without lawful Ifsue as aforesaid [p.7] and I do hereby nominate and constitute and appoint my said
Brother John Wedderburn my sole Executor and Trustee for carrying out the
purposes of this my Will into Execution but I earnestly recommend to him
to join with himself in the Execution of the Trusts of the said Will Henry
Scrymgeour Hugh ffraser and John Graham and if Henry Scrymgeour shall
happen to be in Jamaica at the time of my decease Then I direct and my
Will is that he shall be Executor of this my Will jointly with my said
Brother But if he should not
be in Jamaica at the time of my decease nor on the way or on the eve of
returning Then it is to be at the option of my said Brother whether he the
said Henry Scrymgeour shall act or not And if at the time of my decease
the ?trust that I now hold on the Estates of Henry Cuniffe in Trelawny
shall be vested in me and the term thereof unexpired Then my Will is that
Henry Scrymgeour jointly with John Graham should conduct and manage the
same and the Commifsion arising therefrom to be equally divided between
them my Will being that as far as relates to the Commifsions of the said
Businefs they the said Henry Scrymgeour and John Graham jointly shall
stand in the same situation as I might do myself And I do hereby revoke
all former and other Will and Wills by me at any time heretofore made
declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament In Witnefs whereof I
have to the two preceeding Sheets of this my last Will Subscribed my Name
and to this third and last sheet set my Hand and Seal this sixth day of
October in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety - James
Wedderburn Signed Sealed Published and declared by James Wedderburn
in the presence of us this day as his last Will and Testament we having in
the presence of each other affixed our Names hereto in Testimony of the
truth thereof Jas.
Stewart - T. Stewart - Wm.
Witter [p.8]
(B�) Codicil added this first day of April in the Year one thousand seven hundred and ninety one I do hereby confirm and ratify the foregoing Will in every matter and thing therein contained except as follows ffirst my Will is that one hundred Pounds Sterling Per Annum be added to the Annuity to my Dear Mother Katherine Wedderburn making in the whole the Sum of Three hundred and ffifty Pounds Sterling Per Annum instead of two hundred and fifty as is mentioned in the first Sheet of my said Will the same to be and continue during the natural life of the said Katherine Wedderburn and I subject all my Estate Real and Personal for Payment of the same Item my Will is that forty five Pounds Sterling be added to each of my three Sisters Katherine Wedderburn Thomasina Wedderburn and Robina Wedderburn making to each of them an Annuity of one hundred Pounds Sterling Per Annum instead of ffifty five Pounds as mentioned in the first Sheet of my said Will the same to be and continue during the natural life of each of my said Sisters and I hereby direct and my Will is that no person shall be allowed to have any access to my Books of Account and Papers in the Island of Jamaica except Hugh ffraser or some person with his knowledge and Consent In Witnefs whereof I have to this Codicil Signed my Name and affixed my Seal this fourth day of April one thousand seven hundred and ninety one James Wedderburn Signed Sealed Published and declared by James Wedderburn in presence of us as a Codicil to the before written Will and Testament we having in the presence of each other affixed our Names hereto in Testimony of the truth hereof. John Arthur - Jas. Stewart - T. Stewart (
C ) Codicil added this first day of May one [p. 9] thousand seven hundred and ninety two In Consideration of the good will and affection I bear to my Cousin Henry Scrymgeour in this my Will before named I hereby direct that in the event of his marriage my Executors to pay to the Eldest Son of the said Henry Scrymgeour the Sum of one thousand Pounds Sterling on his coming to the Age of twenty one Years the Interest of the said Sum of one thousand Pounds to accumulate from the birth of the said Eldest Son until he attains the Age of fourteen Years and on his attaining such Age Then the further accruing Interest to be paid him Annually until his coming of Age when the Principal with the accumulated Interest of fourteen Years to be paid him Subject to no restriction or restraint of any person whatsoever and further I give to the Eldest Daughter of the said Henry Scrymgeour the Sum of five hundred Pounds Sterling to be paid to her on her attaining the Age of twenty one Years or on the day of her marriage with the Consent of her Parents or Guardians as the case may be the Interest of the said Sum to accumulate �till then the further accruing Interest to be paid her Annually until she comes of Age or until the day of her marriage as aforesaid Then the Principal with the accumulated Interest if fourteen Years to be paid to her Subject to no restriction or restraint of any person whatever And I do hereby declare that these bequests to the Eldest Son and Daughter of the said Henry Scrymgeour are upon this express Condition that he shall marry within three Years at the farthest after the date of this Codicil but if he should not marry within that time Then the said bequests are to all intents and purposes utterly null and void James Wedderburn Signed Sealed Published and declared by James Wedderburn in presence of us as another Codicil to the within Will and Testament we having in the presence of each other affixed our Names hereto in Testimony of the truth hereof. Jas. Stewart - John Sewell [p.10]
( D ) And I
devise unto the within named Child Lydia five thousand Pounds on the day
of her marriage or coming of Age In Trust to Hugh ffraser & from him
to his Executors - James Wedderburn (
E ) Heads
of a Will In the first place after the usual preamble ffirst pay ffuneral expences and all just Debts as soon as can be accomplished Second to my Mother Catherine [sic] Wedderburn one thousand Sterling Per Annum each and every Years during her natural life the said Annuity to commence upon my decease to be paid half Yearly [�and for which I subject� crossed through] Third to my Sisters Catherine Wedderburn Thomasina Wedderburn and Robina Wedderburn I bequeath one hundred Guineas to each for Mourning and to each of them during their natural lives one hundred and twenty Pounds Sterling to commence at same period and for payment of said Annuities Subject all my Real and Personal ffourth I give and bequeath unto my Sister Elizabeth Blyth the Sum of one hundred Pounds Sterling P: Annum during her natural life to be paid to her Quarterly and that her Conduct meets with the approbation of my Executors herein after named and it is to be observed that her husband is to have no connection whatever therewith the Annuity to commence at same period as above ffifth I give and bequeath unto my Sister in Law Mary Wisdom Wedderburn one hundred Guineas for Mourning and one hundred Guineas for purchase of a Mourning Ring in remembrance of me Sixth I give and bequeath unto my Niece Elizabeth Susanna Wedderburn ffive thousand Pounds Sterlg. And from the confidence I have in the propriety of her Conduct I desire the same may be paid to her on the day of Marriage but to be at her own disposal in every respect whatever when [p.11] she attains the age of 21 Years providing she is not married before that period and the int. of the said Sum is to be paid her Annually and regularly from the age of fourteen Years until she attains 21 Years Eighth I give and bequeath unto my Cousin Hugh ffraser one clear Yearly Annuity of one hundred and sixty Pounds Sterling to commence &c and the whole of my Book Cases and Books Ninth I give and bequeath unto Henry Scrymgeour my Gold Watch Chain and Seals and a Mourning Ring of the value of one hundred Pounds and to his Eldest Son of the present Marriage one thousand Pounds Sterling on his attaining 21 Years and to his Eldest Daughter five hundred Pounds Sterling on her attaining same Age or on the day of Marriage if before Tenth I give &c to my Cousin James Wedderburn Dunbar the Annual Sum of �40 Stg P. Annum to be paid half Yearly and to commence from the time of my decease until such time as he attain the age of 15 Years when I give and bequeath 400� Stg to be laid out for his use as my Executors shall judge best 11. To my worthy ffriends Andrew Gairdner David Lyon Wm. Arthur Walter Adam William Daggers and James ffarmin a Mourning Ring each value �50 Stg. 12. I give and bequeath unto a quadroon Child named Lydia supposed to be mine by a Mulatto Woman named Hannah a clear Yearly Annuity of one hundred Pounds Sterg. Per Annum to be paid /Quarterly and/ to be in Trust with Hugh ffraser or his Executors for her use and further I bequeath to her in Trust to him the Sum of �5000 Sterling to be paid on day of Marriage provided she remains in Great Britain and does not return to Jamaica in the event of Marriage not taking place when she shall have attained the Age of 21 Then it is my desire she have the Interest of the said Sum paid Annually at which period the Annuity of �100 Stg to cease and in case death without Ifsue lawfully begotten the �5000 to revert to my Estate and be considered as part thereof 13. Unto her Mother the said [p.12] H: 20: I allow and bequeath her 50 Stg. P. Annum during her natural life to be paid Quarterly Also her choice of six of the Negroes she has at present of mine to remain with her during her natural life and to have the use of the Chateau and Lands belonging to it and in case of my disposing of that previous to my decease some of her adequate provision to be made her and this bequest is made under the Idea of the two Children a Boy and Girl say�d to be mine residing with her to each of whom I grant an Annuity of twenty Stg. Each P. Annum during natural life and desire that six new Negroes may be purchased for each to be In Trust for their use and benefit but not Subject to any Debts they may Contract or to be Sold or disposed of by them and unlefs Ifsue lawfully begotten at their death to revert to my Estate and the 6 Slaves bequeathed to H 20 to them on her decease in the same manner as above 14. Unto John Alexander and Stewart Blyth two new Negroes each X 15.To John Graham a Mourning Ring value one hundred Guineas and all my bottled Liquor to be divided betwixt him and Hugh ffraser X & to each of their Sisters that are Educating by us �100 Sterling 16. To John Drummond my Small Close Carriage Harnefs and a pair of Horses /17/ to Mr. James William ?Carwina a pair of Horses 18. To�. [At this point the �Heads of Will� document ends.] Several Depositions follow, which read: Jamaica
Is.~ In
obedience to the dedimus & Protestation hereunto annexed I have
administered an Oath unto James Stewart one of the Subscribing Witnefses
to the Paper Writings hereunto annexed marked with the Letters A B C and D
who being duly fworn on the Holy Evangelists maketh Oath and faith that he
was present and did see James Wedderburn the Testator in the said four
several Instruments of Writing hereunto annexed marked with the Letters A
B C and D being of sound mind and memory Sign Seal Publish and declare [p.13] the said Instrument of Writing marked A to be his last Will
and Testament and the said three other Instruments of Writing marked B C
and D to be Codicils to his said Will and which he desired might be
declared and taken as part thereof and that at the same time Thomas
Stewart William Witter John Arthur and John Sewell were also present and
together with him Subscribed their Names as Witnefses to the same in the
presence of the said Testator and at his request and that the Deponent was
well Acquainted with the manner and character of handwriting of the said
Testator and for cause of such his knowledge and belief saith he hath
frequently seen the said Testator write set and Subscribe his Name and
that the several Interlineations with Pencil in the said Paper Writing
marked A are as Deponent believes of the proper Handwriting of the said
Testator And further that he knows nothing of any other Will or Codicil
since made by the said Testator which may tend to the disadvantage of the
Will marked A and the three several Codicils marked B C and D hereunto
annexed save and except a certain other Instrument of Writing also
hereunto annexed marked wit the Letter E purporting to be another Codicil
to the said Will Given under my Hand and Seal this third day of August
Annoque Domini 1797 Jas.
Rob. Tomlinson Jamaica
Is.~ In obedience to the Dedimus & Protestation hereunto annexed [p.14] I have administered an Oath unto William Rogers of the Parish of Westmoreland Coachman who being duly fworn maketh Oath and saith that he knew and was well Acquainted with James Wedderburn late of the Parish of Westmoreland Esquire deceased for several Years before his death and also with the manner and Character of his Handwriting he having frequently seen him set and subscribe his Name and further that the first part of the Paper Writing hereunto annexed marked with the Letter E beginning �heads of a Will� and ending �to John Graham a Mourning Ring value one hundred Guineas and all my bottled Liquor to be divided betwixt him and Hugh ffraser� is of the Proper Hand-Writing of the said William Rogers and was by him written at the express desire and by the directions of the said James Wedderburn some time on or about the months of January or ffebruary one thousand seven hundred and ninety six and further that the latter part of the said Paper Writing hereunto annexed marked E commencing �and to each of their Sisters that are Educating by us� and ending �18 To� is of the Proper Handwriting of the said James Wedderburn And further that he knows nothing of any other Will or Codicils since made by the Testator which may tend to the disadvantage of the Paper Writing hereunto annexed marked E save and except four other Instruments of Writing also hereunto annexed marked A.B.C and D - Given under my Hand and Seal this second day of August Domini 1797 Jas. Rob. Tomlinson [In another hand is written, below: Vera Copia, Copied G. Atkinson, Secy.] [p.15]
Jamaica
Is. I
the Right Honorable Alexander Earl of Balcanes Lieutenant Governor and
Commander in Chief in and over /this/ his Majesty�s Island of Jamaica
and other the Territories thereon depending in America Chancellor and Vice
Admiral of the same &c Do hereby Certify and make known to all whom
these Presents shall come or may concern that George Atkinson Esquire
whose Attestation is hereunto annexed is Secretary and Notary Public of
/this/ His Majesty�s Island of Jamaica duly admitted allowed and fworn
and that to all Acts and Instruments by him Signed and attested full
ffaith and Credit is and ought to be given in Judgment Court and without -
In Testimony and Confirmation whereof I have hereunto put my Hand and
caused the broad Seal of this Island to be appended at Saint Iago de la
Vega the twenty first day of September in the thirty seventh Year of the
Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the third King of Great Britain ffrance
and Ireland &c and in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred
and ninety seven - Balcanes Jamaica
Is I George Atkinson Esquire Secretary and Notary Public of this His Majesty�s Island of Jamaica duly admitted allowed and fworn dwelling in the Town of Saint Iago de la Vega in the Island aforesd. Do hereby Certify and make known to all whom those presents shall come or may concern that the Instruments in Writing hereunto annexed Signed and ateested by me and marked A B C and D are true copies of the last Will and Testament Codicils Testamentary Writing and probates thereunto [p. 16] Subjoined of James Wedderburn late of the Parish of Westmoreland Esquire deceased as they remain of Record in my Office of Secretary to the said Island I having carefully compared and examined the same Done and performed in my Office at Saint Iago de la Vega aforesaid this twenty first day of September Annoque Domini one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven. Quod Attestor Manu ac Sigillo Rogatus H. Atkinson. Sec. et Not. Pub. This Will was proved at London with four Codicils marked B.C.D and E the twentieth day of ffebruary in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine before the Worshipful Samuel Pearce Parson Doctor of Laws Surrogate of the Right Honorable Sir William Wynne Knight also Doctor of Laws Keeper or Commifsary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury lawfully constituted by the Oath of John Wedderburn Esquire the Brother of the Deceased the sole Executor named in the said Will to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said deceased having been first fworn duly to administer. |
Peter Garwood
L'Eau Sal�e
Malauc�ne
84340 France
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