EDWARD HUNT COUSENS
"This is the last Will and Testament of me Edward Cousens of St. John's in the Island of Newfoundland Master Cooper. First: I give devise and bequeath to my Wife Maria Cousens during her natural life if she remain single, and at her death to be divided between such if any children as may then be alive, all my property real and personal except the Tenement hereinaftermentioned and in case my said Wife Maria should at any time marry it is my Will and desire that my surviving Executors should manage my Estate for the benefit of my surviving children until they shall be of age. Second: It is my Will and desire and I hereby direct that my son Nicholas Cousens shall be Manager of the business until there shall be a division of my said Estate receiving as Wages therefor the sum of One Hundred and Ten Pounds Currency per annum, with absolute privilege and right of having the use and occupation Tenement now occupied by him free of Rent provided he employ his full time in the conduct of the business and manages it to the satisfaction of a majority of my Executors; but if otherwise it is my Will and desire and I hereby direct that my surviving Executors shall conduct it themselves until thereshall be a division of my Estate as before mentioned for the benefit of the said parties interested in this Will. Third: I appoint my said Wife Maria Cousens Executrix jointly with James Hunt Cousens of the South Side of St. John's Agent - William John Barnes of same place Clerk [WJB was married to Edward's daughter] and Nicholas Cousens (my said son) Executors of this my last Will and Testament. Signed sealed published and declared by the said Edward Cousens as and for his last Will and Testament in our presence and in the presence of such others who have hereto set our hands at St. John's aforesaid this twenty fifth day of November AD one thousand eight hundred and seventy five Edward Cousens Edward Botwood Incumbent of St. Mary's John Colton Augustus Hayward " [Attached is Affidavit and Bond sworn by Maria Cousens, Jas Hunt Cousens, Nicholas Luscombe Cousens, William John Barnes 0n 20th December 1875 to do true inventory and pay dues.] [Attached is Oath by Augustus O Hayward Barrister at Law that Edward was of sound mind and small print on will was added before execution of will] [Attached is Petition by "Maria Cousens of St. John's Widow, James Hunt Cousens of same place Agent, William John Barnes of same place Clerk, and Nicholas Cousens of same place Cooper That Edward Cousens - late of St. John's Master Cooper - died in the Morning of the Twenty Ninth Ultimo [November] leaving him surviving his Widow Maria Cousens . . . and Five Children viz Nicholas Luscombe Cousens . . . James Edward - Elenora (wife of . . . William John Barnes) - Charlotte Medley - and Jessie Eliza. . . . That at the time of decease of said Edward Cousens he was possessed of property and effects of the probable value of Two Thousand Dollars Dec 4th 1875"] George Hunt COUSENS Mar 27 1860 St Johns (SS)
James Edward COUSENS Apr 27 1864 St Johns (SS)
Charlotte Medley COUSENS Oct 1867 St Johns (SS)
Jessie Eliza COUSENS Aug 15 1870 St Johns (SS)
Robert Hunt COUSENS Apr 7 1873 St Johns (SS)
Nicholas Luscombe COUSENS married LAVINIA TOMS born in Shoe Cove, daughter of James TOMS & Mary YOUNG
Will of Nicholas L. Cousens
from Newfoundland will books volume 12 pages 337 & 338 probate year 1923
In re NICHOLAS L. COUSENS. DECEASED.
This is the last Will and Testament of me, Nicholas L. Cousens, of St. John's in the Island of Newfoundland, Master Cooper, made this 1st day of April A. D. 1922.
I hereby revoke all former Wills and Testamentary dispositions by me at anytime heretofore made.
I hereby appoint my dear wife, Lavinia Cousens, and George R. Williams of St. John's aforesaid, Commission Merchant, Executors of this my Will.
I give and bequeath unto my said Executor, George R. Williams, the sum of Five hundred dollars to be paid to him immediately after my death.
I give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my Estate unto my dear wife, Lavinia Cousens, absolutely, subject nevertheless to the following bequests, which are to be paid to the legatees as soon as may be convenient after the death of my said wife:
I give devise and bequeath unto my niece, Henrietta Searle, wife of Robert Searle, the freehold land and dwelling No. 235 Southside Road.
I give devise and bequeath unto my niece, Gladys Redstone, the freehold land and dwelling No. 233 Southside Road.
I give devise and bequeath unto my niece, Olive Redstone, the freehold land and dwelling No. 263 Southside Road; also the sum of One thousand dollars.
I give devise and bequeath unto my nephew, William Edward Redstone, the house No. 265 Southside Road; also the sum of One thousand dollars.
I give devise and bequeath unto my Executor, George R. Williams, the sum of One thousand dollars, to be held by him in trust for my nephew, Aleck F. Redstone, this money to be invested by my said Executor and the income therefrom to be paid over annually by him to my said nephew.
I give devise and bequeath unto my adopted daughter, Marjory Redstone Cousens, my freehold land and dwelling now occupied by me and known as "The Cottage", together with all the household furniture and effects therein contained; also the sum of Twenty thousand dollars.
I give devise and bequeath unto my adopted son, Ethelbert Clayton Cousens, the freehold land and four dwellings Nos. 279, and, 285, 287, 289 Southside Road; also all the land and buildings thereon, consisting of cooperages and stores, and known as the "Cooperage", situated on the Southside Road adjoining said dwellings.
To the four children of my adopted son, Ethelbert Clayton Cousens, Phylis, Roy, Charles and Harvey, I give and bequeath the sum of One thousand dollars each.
To my cousin, Lucy Cousens, daughter of James Hunt cousens, I give and bequeath the sum of Five hundred dollars.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first before written. NICHOLAS L. COUSENS.
Signed Published and declared by the above named Nicholas L. Cousens as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, both being present a the same time, who at his request, and in his presence, have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. Cyril J. Cahill. Florence M. Crane.
Elenora COUSENS (SS)married William John BARNES
Louisa BARNES Oct 14 1875 St. Johns
Edward Cousins BARNES May 7 1877 St. Johns
Arthur Charles BARNES July 10 1879 St. Johns d June 10 1880
James Robert BARNES July 1 1881 St. Johns d May 15 1882
Eleanor BARNES Sep 30 1886 St. Johns
Gertrude BARNES Sep 2 1888 St. Johns
Will of William John Barnes
from the Newfoundland will books volume 12 pages 157 & 158 probate year 1922
In re WILLIAM JOHN BARNES. DECEASED.
This is the last Will and Testament of me William John Barnes of Saint John's, Hardware Merchant.
I appoint my wife Eleanora Barnes Executrix of this my Will.
I give and bequeath the income of my Estate to my said wife during her lifetime for the use and support of herself and my daughters while my said daughters shall respectively remain unmarried.
After the death of my said wife I give and bequeath the income of my Estate to my said daughters equally while they shall remain unmarried.
In the event of the marriage of one of my daughters she shall take One fourth only of the income and the remaining Three fourths shall go to my other daughter while she shall remain unmarried.
In the event of the marriage of both my daughters the income shall be divided between both my said daughters and my son Edward C. Barnes during their lives all sharing equally.
On the respective deaths of my said children the portion of the capital of my estate which shall be proportionate to the shares of income of which they shall respectively be in receipt at the time of their death shall go to and be divided equally between their respective children then living (if any) and if none, then to my other children equally the share of any dying in the meantime leaving issue going to such issue.
I give to my Executrix and her successors in the trust power to realize such portion of my Estate as she may think fit: To continue any investments which I may have at the time of my death and to vary the same at their discretion: To invest any portion of my Estate upon the security of mortgages upon landed property in or near Saint John's and to use and expend such portion of the capital of my Estate from time to time as they may consider necessary for the proper maintenance and support of my said wife and Daughters.
Witness my hand at Saint John's aforesaid this 10th day of December Anno Domini One thousand nine hundred and Seventeen. WILLIAM J. BARNES.
Signed published and declared by the said Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other (all present at the same time) have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. W. E. Wood, Solr. Dec 10/17. Margaret Quirk Fortune Harbor.
