John Gawn, 1788

50                 Bride
The last will and Testament of John Gawn of the Parish of Bride made
 declared and committed to writing on the 3rd day of February 1788,
 being of perfect mind and memory at the making and declaring thereof.  
First he committed his soul to God & Body to Christian Burial.  
He left to his two sons namely John Gawn Jnr. & Danl. Gawn and his
 two daughters namely Issabel Gawn and Alice the wife of Paul Quirk, 
one shilling each.
He left to his said son John Gawn Jnr. all his shaped clothes- Lastly he
 nominated and appointed his loving wife Isabel Gawn alias Quay sole
 executrix of all the rest of his goods and effects of what kind, nature 
or denomination soever.  Witnesses: John Christian -X, Philip Wade 
 Curate At a Chapter Court held in Lazayre on 10th June 1788

The executrix is sworn in Court in form of Law and consents to take 
care of the above named. Isabel Gawn who is weak in her intellect
 and hath given pledges for the payment of Debts & Legacies namely
 the witnesses of this will. Probatement.
To the Rev. John Moore & Ewan Christian Vicar Genl. of the Right Rev.
 Claudius  Sodar & Man.  The Humble Petition of John Gawn of the
 parish of Bride on behalf of his poor sister Isabel Gawn.
Herewith That John Gawn Senr. Father of the Petr. lately departed this 
life and previous to his decease made his last will and Testament where
 by he left to his children a shilling each and all the rest of his goods to 
his wife Isabel who is step Mother to the Petr. and his said poor sister.
  That the deceased was prevailed upon and inviegled by his wife to
 leave the goods to herself & to cut off with a shilling legacy his said poor
 daughter who never did anything to subsist herself, but as a vagrant went
 from place to place as long as she could till of late she has got her self with
 child and is supposed to be pregnant of twins to the great sorrow of the Petr. 
as he has alas to much to do to support his own family of little children and
 never to be burdened with her, who is not fit to be trusted with the care of 
a child as she is not firm of intellects and is subject to other infirmities too
 tedious to be mentioned here as can be made to appear.
The Petr. therefore prays that your reverences may be graciously pleased to
 postpone the probate of the deceased's will till such time as evidence can be
 produced to certify the Court of the truth hereof- and that upon hearing of 
this matter, the Petr. will may be vacated and administration granted to the
 Petr. & the rest of the deceased's children according to the law of the Country 
and the Petr. as in duty bound shall for your Reverences health & happiness ever 
pray.