Will of John Tinker, 1754

In the Name of God Amen, I John Tinker Governour and Captain General
of his Majesties Bahama Islands, in America, being of sound and disposing mind, and
memory, but mindfull of mortality, do make and publish my last will, & testament, in
manner & form following (that is to say) first. I Will, & Direct that all my Debts
be punctua[l]ly paid by my Executors. Item: I do give and bequeath the Sum of three
hundred pounds St[e]r[ling] to Mr Jeremiah Tinker Collector of his Majesties Customs in these
Islands, to be paid by my Executors hereafter mentioned a twelve month after my decease;
if he be then alive Item, I give, devise & bequeath to my honoured mother, Dame Hannah
Tinker; (if She survive (me) an allowance of fifty pounds per ann[u]m during her natural
life, at the discretion & appointment of my Executors, hereafter named. Item I give and
bequeath unto a certain youth called George Sarran the sum of fifty pounds to be paid, and
applied at the discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned. Item I give and
bequeath to Mrs Eleanor Le Croix, my housekeeper the Sum of fifty pounds, provided,
at the time of my death, she will proceed for England, with the care of my Son William &
Daughter Catherine Mellish, now left under her care, as also a sufficient allowance
for her travelling Charges at the discretion of my Executors, hereafter named, or
mentioned; Item to a Negro Woman Slave known by the Name of Abanaba, I give
& grant her freedom (the Noblest Gift can be conferred on humane kind) -------------------------
And; I do, hereby, Give, Devise and bequeath, unto my dearly & best beloved,
friend, Dame Sophia Snow, Widow of the late Hon[oura]ble & Reverend J[oh]n Snow, & one of
the Daughters of Mrs Anne Trigge of Richmond in trust for, William & Catherine Mellish,
Minors, my Son and Daughter, the former born on the Island of Madeira, & Catherine born
on this Island; by the Said Dame Sophia; all my Estates Real & Personal, in
Great Britain, in Providence, 1 or any other part of the Universe, and
Interest therein, in possession, reversion, remainder or expectancy, whatsoever or where-
soever, equally between them; & any other Children, I may hereafter have, by the said Dame
Sophia, to hold to them, & for them, their heirs or assigns, & to take the same as tennants [sic] in
common. I also, give & bequeath unto my said dearly beloved Dame Sophia Snow, &
to my Son William & Daughter Catherine Mellish aforesaid, all my Negro Slaves, houses,
rest & residence of Monies, Plate, Jewells, furniture, Pictures, household goods (except
what is in my hired house in Holles Street) to be equally divided between them; share

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The island of New Providence, in the Bahamas. It is home to the capital, Nassau
& share alike --------------
Item I do hereby Cancel, & acquitt John Bladen Tinker a lieutenant in 2 of
his Majesties Navy a bond, or obligation for the penal sum of three thousand six
hundred & thirty pounds, with Condition, thereunder written, for payment of the sum
of one thousand eight hundred and thirty pounds unto me, my heirs, Executors or
administrators; Now I declare my Will to be; that if he give no embarrassment, to my
Executors hereafter mentioned; they shall release him from the afore 3 Said Bond, or have it
in their power, to execute it against him, as they shall see meritorious - then and
in such case, the household goods, in the house, where he & his family resides in Holles
Street; (above excepted) shall there remain for his & their Use and behoof. -
And I do hereby Constitute & appoint John Gore Esq[iu]r[e] of Burlington Street, Timothy
Waldo Esq[ui]r[e] of Salters Hall; & Dame Sophia Snow aforesaid to be the Executors &
Executrix of this my last Will & Testament, & I do revoke all former & other Wills by me
made, at London, or at any time, or place, heretofore made, and I do declare this to be my last
will & testament, all written, with my own hand, upon two sides of paper. In Witness
whereof, I have hereunto sett my hand, & seal at arms, in New Providence, this fifth day
of Jully in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & fifty four
Signed sealed and Declared by the Testator, as, & for his last
Will & Testament in the presence of us
Rob[er]t Haldane J[oh]n Gambier J[oh]n Tinker (LS)
William Ross

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The word ‘in’ interlineated above the line
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The word ‘afore’ interlineated above the line