THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF WILLIAM WOOD (1820)

Liber 2 Folio 12

I, William Wood of Bedford Parish, Lot 49, Yeoman, being now sound in mind though weak in body, considering that death is common to us though time is uncertain; in order to prevent any disputes among my surviving friends and relatives as to the division of my property and the effects after my decease, do make this my last will and testament, commending in the meantime my soul to the beneficent author of my existence.

After payment of my first and lawful debts and funeral expenses, I hereby give, grant, devise, and bequeath all my landed property, and moveable property of what nature or kind whatsoever which I now have or may afterwards acquire as follows.

In the first place, to my beloved wife, Prudence Wood, I give and bequeath one-third of my whole property, real or personal, during her lifetime, recommending her to her children and mine to whom she has been a good mother and for the love and esteem I bear her.

In the second place I give and bequeath to my oldest son, William, one shilling sterling and no more of his portion of my property, and no more for onerous causes- - but in the event that his said mother Prudence at a future period in her life finds him a dutiful son and she makes a later will, she is at full liberty to give him a division of land like my other sons. After her death her later will regularly done will be binding as if now made by me in so far as to give him an equal share with his other brothers of the disencumbered real estate. As this is an eventful case and to regulate things according to my present wishes, I do hereby give, grant, devise, and bequeath all my property, real and personal, in equal portions among my other sons, viz; Robert, Theophilus, James, and Thomas.

Reserving and bequeathing to my dutiful daughters Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth thirty pounds each currency each to be paid them in a year after my demise- - and I do hereby nominate and appoint my two beloved sons Robert Wood and Theophilus Wood Executors of this my last Will and Testament, in witness of which I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of February, one thousand, eight hundred and twenty at Squaw Bay.

(signed) William Wood

Witnesses: Joseph Smith, Angus MacAulay, Matthew Redmond