Source: The National Archives, PROB 11/1305/261, will of Thomas Gray, merchant of Kingston, Island of Jamaica, West Indies. The National Archives catalogue entry.
Last Will of Thomas Gray
Thomas Gray
Jamaica ss.
George the Third by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King and of Jamaica Lord Defender of the faith &c To our trusty and well beloved William Mitchell and James Jones of the parish of St Catherine Esqrs. Know ye that we have constituted authorized and appointed and by these presents do constitute authorize and appoint ye or either of ye to administer an oath unto Henry Bayley Sundlow[?], Alexander Roberts and Philip Allwood or either of them on any oath that are witnesses and can make oath of the signing sealing publishing and declaring of the last will and testament of Thomas Gray late of the parish of Kingston Merchant deceased and thereof you or either of you are to make a due return under your or either of your hands and seals unto our Captain General and Governor in Chief of our said island at St Jago de la Vega, this twenty fourth day of January Anno Domini 1784 and in the 24th year of our Reign.
Archd Campbell by paper the Secretary’s Office
[signature / seal unclear]
The Execution of the within dedimus appears by the probate taken on the back of the will within mentioned and thereunto annexed. Given under my hand and seal this 28 January 1794.
James Jones
This is the last Will and Testament of me Thomas Gray of the parish of Kingston in the island aforesaid Merchant first I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral expences be paid as soon after my decease as possible also I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Gray the sum of five thousand pounds sterling and said sum of five thousand pounds sterling so given and bequeathed to my said wife as aforesaid to be in full satisfaction of all and every claim and demand she may hereafter have upon or for dower or otherwise in or out of any of the lands slaves and hereditaments real or personal property now or in any ways held by me in deed or in law.
Also I give and bequeath to Edward Payne and [Saml?] Payne of London Esquires and to the survivor of them and to the executors and executor of such survivor the sum of seven thousand five hundred pounds sterling In trust for the use of my three nephews Thomas, John [?] Baker in equal portions when and as they respectively shall have attained the age of twenty one years and in case of the death of one of my said nephews before he shall have attained the age of twenty one years then in equal portions for the use of the two Survivors when and as they respectively shall have attained the age of twenty one years and in case of the death of two of my said nephews before they respectively shall have attained the age of twenty one years without issue lawfully begotten then the whole sum of seven thousand five hundred pounds sterling for the use of the Survivor when he my said nephew shall have attained the age of twenty one years as soon as it can conveniently can be done to place out at Interest the said Sum of Seven Thousand five hundered pounds under such Security as the said Edward Payne and [?] Payne and the Survivor of them and the Executors and Executor of such Survivor and any or either of them may think proper and from time to time to apply for such of the Interest Monies as they or any [?] may deem sufficient of the Maintenance of Liberal Education of my said three Nephews until they respectively and in case of the deaths of [?] of them until the Survivors or Survivor shall have attained the age of twenty one years and afterwards to apply the surplusage of any of Interest Money all or any part thereof and without rendering any amount there of to any person or personal whomsoever to such use of uses as they the said Edward Payne.
and [Saml?] Payne or the Survivor of them or the Executors or Executor of such Survivor may see or think fit also I give and bequeath to my son in law Mr William Jamison the Sum of two thousand five hundred pounds sterling and it is my Will that all the aforesaid Legacies be paid with Interest from six months after my decease In just proportions from time to time as the money shall arise from my Estate making the dividend thereof yearly and lastly I do hereby direct authorize and empower my Executors hereinafter named or either of them or the Survivor of them to sell and dispose of all my real Estate and hereditaments and of all the rest residue and remainder of my personal Estate for the most money and the best price that can be got for the same and do hereby give and bequeath all the monies arising therefrom together with such Rents or Profits as shall arise from and out of my said Real Estate until the Sale thereof unto my siad two Nephews Thomas Gray and John Gray in equal proportions when they respectively shall have attained the age of twenty one years but if it shall so happen that either of them shall die before the aforesaid period without issue then I give and bequath the whole thereof to the Survivor when he shall have attained the age of twenty one years and if it shall so happen that both my said nephews Thomas Gray and John Gray shall die before that period and without issue then I give and bequeath the whole thereof to the Survivor when he shall attain the age of twenty one years and if it shall so happen that both my said Nephews Thomas Grand and John Gray shall die before that period and without issue then I give and bequath the same to my niece Mrs Ann Jamison and in case of her death to my son in law Mr William Jamison and I do hereby direct that the said monies be remitted to England as soon as it may be convenient and be placed at Interest under public security and the interest thereof as it arises be also placed at Interest under the like Security and I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint Rene{?] Payne Esq of London and Thomas Bent and Richard Batty of this island esquires Executors of this my will hereby revoking all former will by me at any time heretofore made declaring this only to be my last Will and Testament In witness whereof I have to this my last will and testament set my hand and seal this twenty ninth day of September in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and eighty two.
T Gray
Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said testator Thomas Gray as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names thereto.
Henry Bayly Sudlow
Alexr Roberts
P. Allwood