Jamaican Family Search Genealogy Research Library

WILLS

Links to Wills of :
Margaret Andries, 1730
Joseph Hodges 1719
John Andreis Hodges, 1733
John Hodges 1768
George Blair Virtue


Will of Margaret Andries, 1730,
[PRO London, PROB 11/643]

I Margaret Andries Widow and Relict of Col. Barnet Andries deceased lately inhabiting the Parish of St. Elizabeth in Jamaica and now of the parish of St. Clement Danes in the county of Middlesex...
Bequeath to my Sister Hannah Browne one annuity of £60 Sterling to be paid her yearly during her natural life and her abode in Jamaica and in case my Sister shall leave Jamaica and arrive in England then I revoke the legacy of £60 and give her an annuity of £50...
I give unto my Brother Brutus Browne £20 for mourning and to my Brother in Law James Preston £20 for mourning...
Unto my loving Niece Margaret Preston daughter of my late Sister Elizabeth Preston her heirs and assigns for ever all those my two Lotts of Land with the houses edifices and buildings thereupon erected and built situate in Harbour Street in Kingstown Jamaica and also that parcel of Land meadow pasture and woodland situate in St. Elizabeth parish in Jamaica containing by estimate 300 acres lately granted unto me by Her late Majesty Queen Ann and also that Lott of Land being in St Peters Alley on the Parade in Kingstown...
I bequeath unto my Niece Margaret Preston her Heirs Executors and Administrators al my plate jewells Negroes slaves money and debts and also all the Residue of my Estate Real and Personal whatsoever not before disposed of...
Lastly I do make and ordain James Preston to be Executor of this my will

Signed, Margaret Andries, 7th August 1721
Witnesses, Jonathan Jacob, Hannah Guilliam, Agnes Griffin

20th November 1730
The many warnings of my dissolution being at this present tolerable...I think fitt now to add what is my will and desire
Now my Cause with Mr Hodges1 is given in my Favour there may be sufficient to answer all Expences and if not a suitable reward for all the Trouble of a Vexatious suit
I have made no other will but that in Mr Jacob's keeping a few Legacies I give of no value but a mark of Gratitude that I do not forget old Friendship
Mrs Hook was much my friend when I went abroad and since I commenced the suit I have been concerned I should not have it in my power to shew some kindness to her whose circumstances are strait It is my desire that you will pay her £20 a month after my decease
Mrs Elizabeth Price I give all my Sute of Cloaths stays and crimson quilted pettycoats...
I give to Sarah Presley my servant maid if with me at the time of my death all my wearing apparel gowns pettycoats linen and £5 more than the wages due at the time of my death...
My Gold watch I give to my Brother Brutus Browne...
If my Exit is at Mrs Powle as she have been very kindly and civil and continues so I give unto her Daughter Miss Powle my dressing glass, powder boxes and silver plate boxes and my Italian Fann and a ring
To Mrs Powle a ring and twenty shillings apiece to all her servants...
I desire my Funerall may be very private and devout

Not witnessed but signed Margaret Andries "for Mr James Preston"

3rd April 1731
Proved in London together with the codicil
____________________
1. Presumably Joseph Andries Hodges who inherited Lacovia from his father, who had it from Col. Bernhart Andries. [see their respective wills]


Will of Joseph Hodges, 1719,
[PRO London, PROB 11/567]

I Joseph Hodges of the parish of St. Elizabeth in the Island of Jamaica...
Give unto my brother Thomas Hodges £100 Sterling to be paid in London...
Unto my sister Sarah Burrows £100 like money to be paid in London...
Unto my son in law Rowland Williams Esqr. £50 Jamaica money...
Unto John Campbell of the parish of St. Elizabeth Esqr. £50 Jamaica money...
Unto my kinsman Mr Isaac Gale £50 Jamaica money...
Unto my overseer John Steen £20 Jamaica money...
Unto my Negro woman Grace who nursed my son Joseph Andries Hodges 40 shillings like Jamaica money yearly during her life...
I bequeath unto my sister Sarah Burrows separate and apart from her husband £50 a year English money to be paid in London without deduction during the term of her natural life...unto her own hands...
I give unto my nephews Thomas Burrows and Joseph Burrows the sons of my sister Sarah Burrows to each of them when they attain the age of fifteen years the sum of £100 English money towards putting them out apprentices or in such other way of living in the world as my sister shall direct...or in case of her death as their father John Burrows shall joyntly  with my executors approve...
 If my said nephews shall survive their mother then I bequeath unto each of them the sum of £15 Sterling yearly to be paid in London during their natural lives...
I bequeath unto my nephew John Hodges the son of my brother Thomas Hodges the sum of £300 English money to be paid him in London within two years after my death...
I bequeath unto my loving wife Anna Hodges my coach and chaise and eight of my coach horses...and £300 Current money of Jamaica a year during her natural life in lieu of her Thirds or Dower out of my estate...
It is my will that my wife have the use of my dwelling house at Luanna with the furniture and silver plate and also the use of six House Negroes with the Coachman and Postillion during the time of her being Guardian to my son Nathaniel Hodges...
I bequeath unto my beloved daughter Bonella Hodges the sum of £2,000 Sterling money to be paid her at the day of Marriage or at the age of twenty one years whichever happens first by my two sons Joseph and Nathaniel and for a maintenance until my daughter is married or arrive at Twenty one my will is that each of my sons allow her the sum of £25 yearly Current money of Jamaica untill she arrives at Ten years of age, and from that time untill she arrive at Twenty one or day of Marriage they allow her £50 a year each Sterling...
I order and appoint that each of the aforesaid Legacies be paid out of my Real and Personal estate in manner and form following...
My Daughter's portion, the £100 given unto my brother Thomas, and the £300 given unto my nephew John Hodges and fifty pounds to Isaac Gale I would have paid by my said son Joseph out of that part of the estate now left him
And the Legacies left to my sister and to my nephews Thomas and Joseph Burrows, Rowland Williams, John Campbell, John Steen and Negro woman Grace and the £300 a year to my wife and the £400 that I owe Peter Beckford Esqr. For to answer the debt upon the estate of the late Florentius Vassall Esqr. Deceased I would have paid by my son Nathaniel out of that part of the estate now left him...
I bequeath unto my wife Anna Hodges all that sum of money due to me from the estate of Florentius Vassall whether it be on Assignment of Bond Book Debt or any other kind of Debt and all Negroes or cattle in partnership now on Florentius Vassall's Estate
I give unto my two sons all the moneys goods credits and stock I shall have in Great Britain or in my Factor's hands in this Island or at sea at the time of my death to be equally divided...
I give unto my son Nathaniel Hodges all my estate both Real and Personal lying to the Westwards of Middle Quarters or being at a place commonly called Lowanna Plantation [Luanna] which I hold in my own right or in right of my late wife Bonella or by exchange or purchase or by any other right or title...
I give unto my son Joseph Andries Hodges all my estate both real and Personal lying to Eastward of Middle Quarters commonly called Lacovia Plantation which I either hold in my own right from the late Barnart Andries Esq. or by my late wife Magdalin or by purchase or by any other right or title...
In case my wife Anna should be with child at the time of my death I give unto such child if alive born the sum of £2,000 money of Jamaica to be paid equally by my two sons their heirs and assigns when such child shall attain the age of Twenty one years...

[Provisos: in case of his children dying without issue either son to inherit the other's share, daughter to inherit if both sons die, brother Thomas and his heirs to inherit should none of Joseph's children survive]

I appoint my sons executors of my will when they shall respectively arrive at the age of seventeen that is to say...Joseph for that part so much as concerns himself and Nathaniel for that part as so much concerns himself...and untill Joseph shall arrive at that age I appoint my brother Thomas Hodges to be Guardian for that part of my will which relates to Joseph untill Joseph shall arrive to full age...and it is my will that Joseph be devoutly and virtuously Educated in the Principalls of the Church of England and that his Maintenance be devout and suitable to his Estate...
And in case Thomas Hodges should happen to dye I appoint my good friends Messrs. Humphrey South and Robert South of London Merchants executors of this my will so far as it relates to Joseph and Guardians of his Body and Estate...
I desire and request my kinsman Mr Isaac Gale to take care of the management of my part of the plantation of Lacovia for the time being untill my executor and guardian of my son Joseph shall send over a Letter of Attorney for that purpose...
Untill my son Nathaniel arrives to the age of seventeen I appoint my wife Anna to be executrix to that part of my will which relates to Nathaniel and my daughter Bonella...and Guardian of [their] body's and Estates untill [they] arrive at full age...
It is my will that my son Nathaniel and daughter Bonella be devoutly and virtuously Educated in the Principalls of the Church of England...
In case my wife should happen to dye...I appoint my kinsman Isaac Gale and Humphrey and Robert South executors of my will as far as it relates to Nathaniel and Bonella and Guardians of [their] body's...

Signed, Joseph Hodges, 20th April 1718
Witnesses, William Pusey, Joseph Hiscox, Robert Hanford

Proved in London by Thomas Hodges on 13th February 1719
[There is an added marginal note dated 9th February 1731, otherwise illegible]



Joseph Andreis Hodges, 1733,
[PRO London, PROB 11/661]

Sentence given for the validity of this will 11th November 1736

[A copy of the original will was entered as follows]

Memorandum 22nd September 1733 Joseph Andreis Hodges of the Inner Temple London doth make this my last will and testament as followeth...
All those 175 acres of land1 being in the Parish of St. Elizabeth Jamaica adjoining the Luanna plantation there purchased by my Father of Mrs. Vassall2 together with ten Negroes bought by me or my agents and now employed on the said Luanna plantation I give to my loving cousin Elizabeth Hodges3 and her heirs for ever...
All that Moiety of the plantation called Lacovia I give to my loving cousin Capt. John Hodges4 and his heirs for ever...
I bequeath unto my loving uncle Thomas Hodges £400 and also one Bill of Exchange drawn by Lieutent. Dodd from Jamaica for £200payable in London together with all the moneys due thereon...
I bequeath unto my servant William Shaw the sum of £40 and all my wearing apparell my furniture excepted...  
I give unto my loving cousin Mrs Thomasina Barnard* Widow £100 due to me on a note from Mr Henry Moore...
I bequeath unto my loving friend Albert Bland of Greys Inn all my Library of Books...
I bequeath unto my friend Mr John George Cox the sum of £100...
All the rest and residue of my personal estate I bequeath unto my uncle Thomas Hodges cousin John Hodges and Elizabeth Hodges to be equally divided amongst them...whom I appoint Executors of my will...
I do hereby revoke all former wills...

Witnesses, Richard Arnold on St. Lawrence Poultney, William Henry Vickers, Ann Slater

4th October 1733
Proved in London by Thomas Hodges Esq. John Hodges Esq. and Elizabeth Hodges spinster.

15th November, 1736
The Prerogative Court of Canterbury was required to give a judgement on the validity and dispositions of the will over a dispute between:
1) Capt. John Hodges, Elizabeth Hodges, now Elizabeth Hadley the wife of John Hadley, on the one part
2) Bonella, the sister of Joseph Andreise Hodges, now Bonella Pennant, wife of John Pennant on the other part
The validity of the will was confirmed.

* The initial letter of this name is incomplete

___________________________
1. In 1754 these 175 acres were listed as belonging to John Hodges. A further 280 acres in St. Elizabeth were listed as belonging to Hodges & Woodstock (Bernard Andreas Woodstock, who had recently died) and 7,676 acres to BA Woodstock & John Hodges.
2. The widow of Florentius Vassall  who died 1710-1711
3. The daughter of Thomas Hodges
4. The son of Thomas Hodges


1737
Nathaniel Hodges [PROB 31/160/43]

Nathaniel Hodges had died instate. The reference above is for an inventory of his estate in the National Archives in London noted as,
Exhibit: 1737/43. Nathaniel Hodges, bachelor, (died in Jamaica, West Indies). Probate inventory, or declaration, of the estate of the same, deceased . Exhibit: 1737/43. Nathaniel Hodges, bachelor. Date: 1737.


Will of John Hodges, 1768,
[PRO London, PROB 11/941]

I John Hodges of St. George's parish of Brook Street Middlesex devise and bequeath to my dear wife Sarah Bridges daughter of Sir Richard Fowler Bart. all my estates Real and Personal in possession and reversion to her fore ever to dispose of as she shall think fit and give her the same powers over my children as I have over them to give tem their fortunes in such proportion and at such times as she shall think fit as I have a great love and affection for her and in whom I have always had the greatest confidence I appoint her my sole Executrix and Guardian of my children...
In case of her death I appoint my son Thomas Hodges when he is of an age to act Executor and Guardian...
If my sons [sic] should dye before my wife then I give her all my Estates Real and Personal for ever paying to my daughter Sarah during her lifetime £200 per annum Sterling money out of my Jamaican estates...
I reserve a power to add a codicil to this my last will and testament
Signed, John Hodges, 10th August 1766
Witnesses, Charles Lawrence, Matthew Hall, Richard Towgood

17th February 1766
I recommend Harmony and Affection to my dear wife and children to avoid all Law suits and desire that if my son or daughter ever marrys without their mother's consent...I revoke my gift to him or her   Signed, John Hodges

9th January 1768
As a codicil to my will I bequeath all those purchases of buildings and personals of all kinds purchased by my attorneys in Jamaica to the sole use and property of my wife...but if my wife should give up the purchases of the Works of Lacovia Estate to my son then I order him to pay to her £1,000 Sterling one year after my death which is less than the value of those purchases but if he dont comply with those terms then I give them to her for ever for her own use...
I give to my servant Joseph Baker who has lived with me about twenty years and has been a faithfull good servant £20 per annum quarterly for his life which I desire my son Thomas Hodges to pay...
I give to my good friend Lord Cadogan to whom I have been greatly obliged ten Guineas for a ring
I give to my Nephews Thomas Hodges and Capt. John Hodges1 five Guineas each for a ring as I done much for them in my life time  Signed, John Hodges

17th January 1768
Whereas my wife may be prevailed on from her good Nature to consent to a Match for her daughter Sarah Hodges2 I add to the Codicil to my will that I order that my son Thomas Hodges's consent shall be obtained by my daughter if he dont think fit to join with his mother in consenting and my daughter marrys then I order that my daughter forfeit all reversions given to her
Signed, John Hodges

17th June 1768
The above for failure to go to my Nephew Thomas Hodges Esqr. Governor at Bombay3

[Proved in London, 18th August 1768 by Richard Fuller and Charles Lawrence. Sole administration granted to Sarah Hodges, widow.]
______________________
1. John Hodges was a captain in the Royal Navy.
2. Sarah Hodges married in 1769 George Hastings of Leicester, England. She died in Britain.
3. Thomas Hodges died in India [1770-71]. He had one legitimate son, Thomas Hallett Hodges and two natural sons, John and Henry. Henry's mother was his mistress in Bombay, Ripsima, an Armenian woman who was the only mother of his children alive at the time. Thomas succeeded to estates in England, John and Henry £10,000 each and an annuity


Will of George Blair Virtue

This is the Last Will and Testament
of me George Blair Virtue, late of Magdalane College, Cambridge now about to proceed to New Zealand in The Oriental, after payment of my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses   I give and bequeath the whole of my property real and personal of whatsoever nature and kind to my nephew James Virtue Wynen son of my sister Bethia Wynen by James Wynen her husband and should this Will take effect before the said James Virtue Wynen attain the age of twenty one years then I appoint Gerard Wynen of the city of London and Hackney in the County of Middlesex, Merchant my executor desiring him to collect as soon as may be all debts and monies due to my estate and invest the same as he may judge best for the benefit of the said James Virtue Wynen and also at his discretion to sell and realise all my property real and personal in Great Britain & elsewhere or to retain for the use and benefit of the said James Virtue Wynen    I authorize my said Executor to compound and settle with any debtors as he may judge best and to take the means he may judge requisite for the recovery of money due to my estate and to give discharges for the same and should the said James Virtue Wynen die before attaining the age of twenty one years then I give and bequeath all my property as before mentioned to his heir or heirs appointing the aforesaid Gerard Wynen Executor with full powers as above specified till such heir or heirs reach the age of twenty one years should there be more than one heir then I desire they may share and share alike and till the said James Virtue Wynen reach the age of twenty one I authorise my said Executor to appropriate such portion of my above bequeathed property towards the maintenance education and advancement in life of the said James Virtue Wynen as he may judge necessary, finally I revoke and make void all wills and testaments made by me heretofore as witness my hand in London this sixteenth day of June in the year of our Lord 1841 George Blair Virtue in the presence of -Edward Cook-Alf Woodmason- Thos. C Maltby witnesses
It is my intention that on the said James Virtue Wynen attaining the age of twenty one years he shall be put in full possession of all my property and the functions of my Executor are then to cease also that til that period any property realized (that is the proceeds thereof) be placed in the public funds or such other securities as my Executor may think proper
Dated the 16 June aforesaid 1841 George Blair Virtue in the presence of -Alf Woodmason- Thos. C Maltby- Edward Cook
In the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
In the goods of George Blair Virtue deceased
Appeared Personally Edward Cook clerk to Mr Gerard Wynen of No. 49 Commercial Sale Robin Minting Lane in the City of London Merchant and referring to the last Will and Testament and Codicil thereto of the said George Blair Virtue formerly of Magdalen College in the University of Cambridge but late of Clapton in the County of Middlesex deceased the same being now hereunto annexed bearing date respectively the sixteenth day of June one thousand eight hundred and forty one made oath that on the said day the said testator duly executed his said will and codicil by signing his name at the end of each respectively in the joint presence of this deponent and Alfred Wood Mason and Thomas Cotton Maltby who thereupon severally attested and subscribed the said will and codicil as witnesses of the due execution thereof in the presence of the said testator Edward Cook.  On the 7th day of May 1845 the said Edward Cook was duly sworn to the truth of this affidavit before me John Danbury-__ Fred Robarts Not. Pub.
Proved at London with a Codicil the 9th May 1845 before the worshipful John Danberry Doctor of Laws and Surrogate by the oath of Gerard Wynen the sole Executor named in the said Will and Codicil in manner therein mentioned until James Virtue Wynen (now a Minor) the Nephew of the said deceased shall attain the age of twenty one years to whom Administration was granted having been first sworn duly to Administer


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