The Will of Johannes Van Yderstyn/John Van Iderstine (1753-1839, Vernon River)
Liber 4 Folio 36
In the name of God, Amen, I John Van Iderstine Farmer at Vernon River Lot 50 Prince Edward Island being weak in body, but sound in mind and memory, (blessed be God), make this my last will and testament in manner following :
That is to say I give and bequeath to my beloved Grandson Andrew Van Iderstine his heirs and assigns forever the Fifty Acre lot that his father live upon along with four chains running from the fifty acre lot acrop (across) unto my other farm making in all Ninety Eight Acres by paying my beloved Daughter Kitty nine pounds Currency.
I give and bequeath to my beloved son Grandson George Van Iderstine his heirs and assigns forever Ninety Six Acres bounding and joining upon the aforesaid Andrew his Brothers Land by paying my beloved Daughter Kitty nine pounds Currency.
I give and bequeath to my beloved oldest Son John Van Iderstine and his lawful Wife all the good and benefit of both the aforesaid Andrew and George’s land during their life and no longer and thru fell in the hands of both the aforesaid Andrew and George as mentioned before to their Sole benefit.
I give and bequeath to my beloved Grandson, Donald Van Iderstine / being lame in one foot / his heirs and assigns forever Ninety Six Acres of land bounding and adjoining upon Mr. Rod’k McNeils’s land by paying my beloved Daughter Kitty to the amount of Nine Pounds Currency in produce and cattle. And I give and bequeath to my beloved youngest Son Peter Van Iderstine and his wife all the good and benefit of the aforesaid Donald Van Iderstines Share of the land during their lifetime and no longer and thru fell in the hands of the aforesaid Donald Van Iderstine as mentioned before to his sole benefit. sig "John Van Iderstine".
I give and bequeath to my beloved Grandson John Van Iderstine (Peter’s oldest Son One hundred Acres of land bounding on one side by Donald his Brother and on the other Side by George his cousin with all the Gardens, Orchards and buildings along with all my Cattle, Sheep, Saws, Tools and Furniture belonging to me, to him his heirs and assigns forever, by paying nine pounds Currency to my beloved Daughter Kitty.
I make, constitute and ordain my beloved aforesaid Grandson John Van Iderstine / Peter’s Son / to be my Executor and I give and bequeath to him two feather beds, Pillows and blankets and to see my body after my death buried in a decent and christian manner and order the sums specified above to be paid to my beloved Daughter in twelve months time after my death and I do hereby revoke all the former wills that may have been made by me and I further declare this to be my last Will and Testament . In witness wherof I set my Hand and Seal this 22nd day of November and in the year of Our Lord , One Thousand , Eight Hundred and thirty four.
Signed , Sealed , published and}
Declared by the Said Testator}
As and for his last Will and}
Testament in the presence of}
us now and at his request in his}
presence and in the presence}
of each other have subscribed}
Our names as witness thereto
Roderick MacNeill Junior
John Furnessx John Van Iderstine
Registered the 15th November 1839 on the oath of John Furness a subscribing witness. Probate granted to John Van Iderstine the Executor above named at the same time.
R. Hodgson
Surrogate Judge of ProbateNotes: John Van Iderstine was a United Empire Loyalist who settled near the headwaters of the Vernon River about 1786. He was granted 340 acres of land on what is known today as the Vernon River Road.The 1881 Atlas shows the land owned by his four grandsons: Andrew, George, Donald and John to which he left his various holdings. The last Van Iderstine property was sold out of the family name in the 1950’s.
The daughter Kitty mentioned in the will was the wife of David Hugh of Murray Harbour, the son of another Loyalist family.
John’s son Peter and his wife Elizabeth Nicholson gave land for the construction of the Vernon River Church and Cemetery.This was the site of the Vernon River Bible Christian Church which later became Methodist and in 1925 became a United Church of Canada. The Church was closed in 1969 and was removed from the site.
Many of the early Van Iderstine settlers are buried in the adjoining cemetery.