A/1691/F/2/2
Jamaica SS
I Henry Conran Esquire
Lieutenant Governor
and Commander-in-Chief in and over this His
Majesty’s Island of Jamaica, and other the Territories thereon depending in America, Chancellor
and Vice-Admiral of the same, &c. DO HEREBY CERTIFY and make known, to all to whom
these Presents shall come or may concern, that
William Bullock
Esquire, whose Attestation is hereunto annexed,
is Secretary and Notary-Public of this His
Majesty’s Island of Jamaica, duly admitted,
allowed, and sworn, and that, to all Acts and
Instruments by him signed and attested, full Faith
and Credit is and ought to be given in Judgement-Court and without.
In Testimony and Confirmation whereof
I have hereunto put my Hand and
caused the broad Seal of this Island
to be appended, at St Jago de la
Vega, the 8 Day of May
in the third Year of the Reign
of our Sovereign Lord George the
Fourth, King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
&c. and in the Year of our Lord 1822
Hy Conran
Jamaica SS
I William Bullock Esquire Secretary
and Notary Public of this His Majesty’s said
Island of Jamaica duly admitted allowed and
sworn Do hereby certify and make known to
all to whom these presents shall come or may
concern that the instrument in writing hereunto
annexed is a true copy of the last Will and
Testament of Benjamin Crossley late of the Parish
of Saint George in the County of Surry in the
said Island Esquire deceased as the same
remains of record in the Secretary’s Office of
the said Island I having carefully compared
and examined the same.
Done and performed in my office
of Secretary of the said Island at
Saint Jago de la Vega the eighth
day of May Annoque Domini one
thousand eight hundred and twenty two
W. Bullock
Not Pub
Jamaica SS George the fourth by the grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
King and of Jamaica Lord Defender of the faith etc. To our trusty and well beloved the Honorable
George Kingham and William Savage of the City and Parish of Kingston Esquires. Know Ye that we
have constituted authorised and appointed and by these presents do constitute authorise and appoint ye
or either of ye to administer an Oath unto Henry Trutch William Gale and Andrew Schonborg or any
other that are witnesses and can make oath of the signing sealing publishing and declaring of the last
will and testament of Benjamin Crossley late of the parish of Saint George Esquire 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 Lieutenant Govr & Commander in Chief of Our said Island or to the Governor in Chief of the
same for the time being with this power annexed so that such proceedings may be ordered therein as
may be according to Law.
Witness His Honor Henry Conran Esquire Lieutenant Governor and Commr in Chief of Our
said Island at St. Jago de la Vega the 21st day of March Annoque Domini 1822 and in the 3 rd year of
Our Reign.
Passed the Secretary’s Office
W. Bullock Secretary
Henry Conran
Jamaica SS
By virtue of the within Dedimus Potestatem to me and another directed I have
administered an oath unto the within named Andrew Schonburg in manner and form within directed
which I hereby certify under my hand and seal this 22 nd day of March
Annoque Domini 1822
Wm Savage
Jamaica SS
In the Name of God Amen I Benjamin Crossley of the Parish of Saint George
In the county of Surry and Island aforesaid Esquire being of sound and perfect mind memory and
understanding Do make publish and declare my last will and testament in manner and form following
that is to say I give and bequeath unto my dear mother Sarah Charlesworth resident in England an
annuity of one hundred pounds sterling money of Great Britain during her life, I give and bequeath
unto each and every of the male and female issue of my sister Ann Helliwell that may be now living or
may hereafter be born of the body of the said Ann Helliwell the sum of five hundred pounds sterling
money aforesaid on their attaining their several ages of twenty four years. I give and bequeath unto
each of my three natural children John, Thomas and William Crossley born of the body of Elizabeth
Hannah a free woman of colour the first some time in June in the year of our lord one thousand
eight hundred and twelve, the second some time in August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and thirteen and the third in May one thousand eight hundred and sixteen the sum of five
hundred pounds sterling money aforesaid on their attaining their several ages of twenty four years and
it is my desire that my said three natural children be sent to England under the protection and direction
of my Brother Luke Thomas Crossley and there be decently educated and maintained at the Expence of
my estate until they shall respectively attain the said age of twenty four years and that as soon as they
shall severally arrive at the age of eighteen years they be brought up to some trade or profession as they
may choose. Benjamin Crossley
I give and bequeath unto the beforementioned Elizabeth Hannah an annuity of twenty pounds Currency
during her life should her conduct be such in the opinion of my Brother as to render her deserving of it.
I give and bequeath unto my much esteemed friend William Anderson Orgill of the said parish of Saint
George Esquire the sum of One hundred pounds sterling money aforesaid for the purpose of being
expended in any way which he may think best as a memorial of my friendship and esteem for him. All
the rest residue and remainder of my Estate real, personal and mixed I give devise and bequeath unto
my said Brother Luke Thomas Crossley his heirs and assigns for ever but it is to be understood and I do
direct that no part of my real Estate in this Island shall be sold before the expiration of three years after
my decease and that during the said term of three years my sugar estate called Lenox in the parish of
Saint George and my two Pns (plantations?) called Kendal and
Industry the former in the parish of Saint Thomas in the Vale and the latter in the parish of Portland be
carried on and conducted as heretofore And I do empower my Executors hereinafter named to purchase
Spanish Cattle and mules from time to time and them again to dispose of For the benefit and advantage
of my said Estate but this restriction of the sale of my said real estate is not by any means to preclude
My said Brother from disposing at any time during the said term of three years by his last will and
testament of the said real Estate as he may think proper Or after the expiration of the said term of three
years to sell and convey the same in fee it being my Intention to give, devise and bequeath my said
Brother the whole of my real and personal mixed estate subject to the payment Of the annuities and
legacies
Benjamin Crossley
hereinbefore bequeathed to hold to him his heirs and assigns for ever. I nominate constitute and appoint Patrick
Lynch Of the parish of Saint Mary Esquire, Philip Jaquet and Thomas Spicer both of the parish of Saint George,
Planters, and George Mills Of the City and parish of Kingston Esquire Executors of this my will to act only in this
Island and I also nominate and appoint my said Brother Luke Thomas Crossley Executor of my will to act as such in
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Exclusively as well as jointly with my other Executors in this Island
and I do hereby revoke all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made and declare this and this only my
last will and testament In Witness whereof I have to the two foregoing pages of this my will affixed my hand and to
this the third and last my hand and seal Dated the seventh day of July in the year of Our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventeen
Benjamin Crossley