WILL OF DONALD/DANIEL SINGLETON OF PETERS ROAD

Liber 9 Folio 101

In the name of God Amen

I Donald Singleton of Peters Road Township No 63 Kings County Prince Edward Island Farmer being in a state of great infirmity of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the general 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 bless me in this life; I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

1. I give and bequeath unto my eldest George, the homestead and farm on which I now reside / viz. 100 acres. /

2d. I give and bequeath to my son in law Philip Bears the western / 100 acres / next to homestead farm and my beloved wife and children are to live with him for the future a dwelling house is to be erected for Philip George assisting him to build it two rooms to be completed by next faul (sic) for the convenience and use of my beloved wife and children.

3d. I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Ann 1 cow and 4 sheep which are to be kept on the farm as long as she remains with them. Her assisting in the work on the farm generally and she is to have a decent livelihood for her assistance and further she is to be paid 100 dollars in Cash at the expiration of two years from the date of this will if she continues under the control of mother as she remains with her otherwise the amount will be forfeited. /

4th. My daughter Fanny Jane, being delicate she must be sent to school and to have a decent livelihood and at her mother's decease. She is to have her mother's property and at her decease her property to be equally divided between George, Susannah, William Daniel, and Samuel Jenkins but if she lives she is to have /100 Dollars /one hundred dollars cash at the expiration of / 15 / years from date of this will.

5th. William Daniel to assist in working the farm according to his strength to get two years schooling and when old enough to be sent to learn a trade if he wishes the upper / 100 / one hundred acres known as / Acorns farm / to be sold and the proceeds divided between Samuel Jenkins and William Daniel William Daniel to have two thirds of proceeds or if they wish to keep the land it is to be divided in like proportion. William Daniel also to have the Foal that is to come this Spring said foal to be kept on the farm until it is / 3 / three years old / He can sell it any time after that if he chooses / but it is to work on the farm whilst it remains.

William Daniel is not to be under George's control. Philip must use him kindly. I do not consider that George is Master of his own family and therefore I cannot trust them under his care. Samuel Jenkins is to be sent to school until he is old enough to go to learn a trade and to be comfortably provided with clothing until he learns his trade, and further George & Philip are to have all farming implements and machinery that I now own they are to work together as two brothers and partners, studying and consulting each others interests until the time expires that the several payments are to be made as mentioned above after which time each can do for themselves by making an equal division of Stock & and further that my beloved is to have a comfortable maintenance out of the property while she lives jointly from George and Philip, they providing equally towards her support and the support of the other children while under her care. She is also to have privilege of a Horse and Carriage summer and winter when need requires also to have / 1 / one dozen of hens and all the geese / 4/ four sheep and her choice of a Cow, the same to be kept on the farms, her to have the proceeds of the same, also I wish George to sell the young horse and the large pile of mud proceeds to pay my debts. I also wish George to remain where he now resides until Philip new house is ready for use. If George's wife is able and refuses to do what she can on the farm then George is to provide help in her place, and lastly I give and devise to my beloved wife Jane Singleton all my household furniture wearing apparel etc.

I ordain and appoint James Clow Coutrey ? Mc Clure and Thomas Bears, Junr. as Executors of this my last will and Testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in the presence if the witnesses named below this third day of march 1876.

(signed) Donald Singleton

Signed sealed published & declared by the said Donald Singleton as and for his last will and Testament in presence of us who at his request & in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witness hereto.

witnesses

(signed)
James Clow
        his
Joseph Acorn
       mark
Thomas Bears, Jr.

CODICIL

And further / 10 / ten dollars a year to be paid out of my Property by George & Philip to George Bears Senr., Brooklyn, as long as he lives because he was an Instrument in God's Hand to bring my soul back from the wandering again to the Fold for I had strayed with the world, the world may mock and Jear for they did the same to our Saviour he bears the marks that the Saviour bore but let them mock on the time is coming when they will be brought down with a crash but the Lord Jesus will strengthen him in his own cause in which he is engaged they dare not face him.

The weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that shall rise up in Judgment against thee thou shalt condemn this is the Heritage of the Servants of the Lord and their Righteousness is of me with the Lord.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal and publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament, in the presence of the witness named below this 3 day of March 1876.

(signed) Donald Singleton (SEAL)

witness

signed James Clow his Joseph Acorn Mark Thomas Bears, Jun.

The above Will and Codicil were proved on the 21st March 1876, oath of Thomas Bears, Jun., a subscribing Witness thereto respectively, and on the same day Probate was granted to the said Thomas Bears Jun. one of the Executors reserving power to grant the Same to the other Executors or either of them, when required.

Ex
Charles Young
Judge of Probate

NOTE: Donald Singleton appears as Daniel Singleton in census and deed records. He seems to have used the two names interchangeably. His wife was Jane Jenkins. She survived him by more than forty-four years and died 1919. Sarah Ann Singleton married David Henry Hume. After her death he married her sister Susanna. Fanny Jane married James A. Dewar.