Source: Island Record Office, Registrar General’s Department, Spanish Town, Jamaica, Wills Liber 110, folios 26–27, will of Richard Palmer Martin, 23 January 1823; entered 18 June 1829.
Last Will of Richard Palmer Martin
Jamaica
ent 18 Jun 1829
I, Richard Palmer Martin of the parish of St Thomas in the Vale in the County of Middlesex and the Island aforesaid, being of sound mind, memory and understanding, and now in perfect health but considering this transitory life, do publish make and declare this as my last will and testament in manner and form following. I recommend my soul to God, and my body to the dust, and that all my just debts be paid with [] with speed after my decease. Item I give bequeath and devise unto my loving sons Benjamin Tharpe Martin, William Tharpe Martin, John Tharpe Martin, Henry Tharpe Martin, James Tharpe Martin, all my pen lands in St Thomas in the Vale and St Ann's, houses and buildings well known by the name Mount Sion with all the negroes, cattle, mares, mules and meat cattle thereon belonging to me. Item I also give my sons above named all my properties in St Marys well known by the names Dover Castle, & Windsor Castle with all the negroes and cattle thereon belonging to me, also all my household furniture, beds and bedding, plate etc etc etc, also all claims or rights of possession I may have in the island of Jamaica, to hold and enjoy the same as joint tenants and not as tenants in common. It is my express will and desire that my sons shall never sell nor by any means dispose of any my said properties herein given them and should they be persuaded by the craftiness of all disposed knaves to sell said properties, in such case they shall forfeit my said properties herein named and given them to my next nearest heir, and in case of no heir to his majesties heirs and successors. I now make my properties liable to pay my loving daughter Sarah Tharpe Martin one thousand pounds currency. I also give unto her the following negroes; Eliza Jones, Sarah Martin & her three children and all her increase, Henrietta Martin & all her increase, Patty Stafford & her increase and Joe alias Jack Bush to have and hold the same slaves to her and her heirs & successors forever. But in case of the death of my said daughter, the slaves shall return to my sons, share & share alike. Item I give and bequeath to my wife Christian Christian Martin one hundred pounds annually for life, which I make my properties liable for. Item I herein give her the following negroes, Mary Waters & all her increase, Susanna Thomas & her children James Jackel Wittington, Ellick, Quashie & Batt and all the increase of said Susanna Thomas. Also John Morgan & James Buchanan and I also leave my loving wife Mt Sion house buildings and fifty acres attached to said house. Also my [xxxx] and sire drafthorses for her life and at her demise to go to my daughter Sarah Tharpe Martin to hold the same to her and her heirs forever and ever. Item I give my natural daughter Maria Tharpe Martin my small place called Mahogany Hall containing twenty five acres of Pimento Walk at the foot of Mount Diablo to her and her heirs, and in case of her death to her two sisters Bessy Lord Martin and Jane Ann Martin, to them and their heirs forever. I give my God daughter Ann Martin Clarke and her four children Susanna Clarke, Jane Vesey Clarke, Caroline Clarke, and John Martin Clarke ten pounds a year for life and two negroes, Eleanor Williams and daughter Maria Williams to serve them for their lives, and in case of their death to return to my lawful sons. I also give her three acres of land on the Kings old road forming the former old toll gate and request a house made on it of fifty pounds value. I nominate my esteemed friend John Bellett Shattock, Benjamin Tharpe Martin & Thomas Rennalls esqs. as my executors to comply with my wishes contained in this will. I also leave each of my executors a ring of three guineas value as a token of my esteem & confidence in them, and have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal this 23rd day of January 1823 revoking all other wills made by me this being my last.
R P Martin (his x mark)
signed sealed delivered in
the presence of the subscribing witnesses this
28th day of November 1828
Witness in the presence of
John G B Clarke
Richard Martin
Elizabeth Shattock
Jamaica
Scroll made Jan 23rd 1823
By R P Martin Since makg this will Jno T Martin and H T Martin are dead So their names are scratched over by
RPM
Jamaica SS
In obedience to the dedimus potestatem hereunto annexed I have administered an oath unto Elizabeth Shattock who being duly sworn on the holy Evangelists deposeth and saith that she was present and did see Richard P Martin the Testator in the annexed Instrument of writing named being at that time of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding sign seal publish and declare the same as and for his last will and Testament and at the same time John G B Clarke and Richard Martin 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 she knows nothing of any will since made by the said Testator that can tend to the disadvantage of the will herein amended
Given under my hand and seal this 17th day
of June Annoque domini 1829
John Nethersole