Source: LOS Will Vol. 25, folio 126, Last Will of Henry Wisdom of St. James, Jamaica.
In the Name of God Amen I Henry Wisdom of the parish of St. James in the Island aforesaid Planter being of sound mind and memory do make constitute and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (first I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it and my body to be decently buried in such manner as my Executors hereinafter named shall think fit. And as to what worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bless me with I give devise and bequeath in manner and form following First I give devise and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary Wisdom one Negro Woman named Celia for and during the Term and Time of the Natural life of my Said Wife and from and after her decease to be Descend and continue with her Increase unto which of my Sons hereinafter named my wife shall think proper and to his heirs for ever.
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Juliana Wisdom Six young Negro Girls to be bought out of the produce of my Estate after my lawful debts are paid as also one hundred pounds Current money of the Island aforesaid, the said Six Negroes to be of the Value of twenty five Pounds Current money of this Island each of them and to be remain and continue with their Issue Offspring & Increase unto her the said Juliana Wisdom and to the heirs of her body lawfully to be befotten for ever. I will and ordain that the Legacy above devised and bequeathed unto my Daughter Juliana be deliverd her when she shall attain to the age of Sixteen years But if she should dye before she arrive to that age or have Issue Lawfully to be begotten of her Body then to my two Sons Michael and John Wisdom and to their heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son Michael Wisdom my dwelling house and the run of Land it stands upon likewise twenty six acres of land commonly called and known by the name of the Pond Pimmento Walk to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give devise and bequeath unto my son John Wisdom one piece or parcel of land called and known by the name of Ann Pitts to him and his heirs forever.
Item my will and intent is that Sarah Brown a mulatto slave belonging to me shall have her manumission and perfect freedom from all manner of slavery when she shall attain to the age of twenty one years.
All the rest residue and remainder of my Estate both real and personal I give devise and bequeath unto my two sons Michael Wisdom and John Wisdom above named to be equally divided between them share and share alike to be and continue to them and their heirs forever and I will and appoint that my two sons Michael Wisdom and John Wisdom shall at the age of eighteen years inherit possess the several Legacies respectively to them bequeathed and that they and my Daughter Julian be maintained and provided for with convenient and necessary education apparel out of the produce of my Estate until their several legacys are respectively paid to them And lastly I nominate constitute and appoint my beloved wife Mary Wisdom, John Lawrence Esq, and Jarvis Gallimore to be the Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all other wills heretofore by me made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fifth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-four.
Henry Wisdom
Signed sealed published and declared by the said Henry Wisdom the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the said Testator and of each other
Robt Atkinson
Henry Wisdom Junr
John Wisdom
Memd this 4th day of September 1746 Personally came and appeared before me Henry Wisdom and made Oath upon the Holy Evangelists that he was present and did see Henry Wisdom the Testator within named sign seal publish and declare the within written Instrument to be his last Will and Testament and that at the due time Robert Atkins and John Wisdom were also present and together with him subscribed their names as witnesses to the same in the presence of the said Testator. And further that he knows nothing of any other will since made by the said Testator which may tend to the disadvantage of the within written will.
Edw Trelawny
This is to Certify, I renounce all Right share of being Executor to the last Will and Testament of Henry Wisdom of the parish of St James as Witness my hand this 29th day of Augt 1746
Jarvis Gallimore
Memd this 4th day of September 1746 Personally came and appeared before me Henry Wisdom and made Oath upon the Holy Evangelists that he was present and did see Jarvis Gallimore above named sign the above written Renunciation as his act and deed.
Edw Trelawny