Simon Bell, 1876

SIMON BELL
Douglas
1876 - 39

This is the last Will and testament of me
Simon Bell of Seventeen James Street in the town of
Douglas general dealer:  I bequeath the income of
my personal estate and I devise the whole of my
real estate to my wife Jane bell for and during
her natural life and I do hereby direct and declare
that the said life estate shall be subject to and
chargeable with the maintenance and support
of my son James Bell in case of sickness or in
failure to obtain employment but that such maintenance
be only such as may reasonably be expected; and
I further declare that the foregoing bequest and
devise to my said wife shall be accepted by her in
full satisfaction of any claim to dower as
widowright she may have out of my real and
personal property, and I also hereby direct and
declare that the said life estate shall cease if
my said wife shall marry or misconduct herself
according to the judgment of the executors or their
heirs after them.  On the decease of my said said (sic)
wife, I leave to my children John Wesley Bell,
Jane Bell and James Bell and their heirs the
whole of my personal property, and I devise to my
said children their heirs and assigns the whole of
my said real estate, to be held by them conjointly
or divided into equal portions as the executors, assigns
or their heirs may deem fit, my said daughter's
share to be for her own sole and separate use
free from marital control.  I appoint my said
sons John Wesley Bell and James Bell as executors
of this my will hereby revoking all other wills
heretofore made by me, and I also empower my
said sons after my decease to receive all rents
and interests arising out of my personal and
real property and to give a conjoined receipt
for the same, none other receipt to be considered legal
except in case of decease when I empower their
heirs and assigns so to act, and I enjoin them
to give such monies to my said wife Jane Bell
after deducting from them all necessary expenses
and I entrust my said sons with the entire
supervision and control of all my said personal
and real property, to hold and keep in repair
and to let or lease as they may deem fit, but
not to be liable for any loss or accident arising
in the same, during the lifetime of my said
wife Jane Bell.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed
My name this eleventh day of March one 
Thousand eight hundred and seventy six.

Signed and delivered by the said     )
testator as and for his last will    )                 Signed:  Simon Bell
and testament signed by him          )
in our presence who in his presence  )
and in the presence of each other    )
and at his request have signed the   )
same witnesses.                      )

Signed:  John James Cubbon           )
Signed:  Arthur Bell                 )

*From this point on, the handwriting changes and is almost entirely unreadable.  I believe it is the 
certification of the two above named witnesses, John James Cubbon and Arthur Bell.  I am therefore not 
including the complete text, but only the first few lines as follows:

At a Chapter Court held at Ramsey on the
12 May 1876 -
??
and ? by John James Cubbon and Arthur
Bell the subscribing witnesses to the ?
paper writing purporting to be the last will
and testament of Simon Bell ? of the
Town of  Douglas Car Proprietor deceased
made _____  _____ _____ _____ _____ the Testator
Simon Bell where of ______ _______ _______????

				_____________________________________________

Whereas, the Eccelesiastical Court of this Isle and diocese of Sodor and Mann hath this day
granted probate of the
Will of Simon Bell
late of Douglas in the Parish of Braddan
deceased, to John Wesley Bell and James Bell the Executors.

And Whereas, Edward Kenyon of Ramsey
in the parish of Maughold and Thomas Brayden
of Ramsey in the Parish of Maughold
have agreed to become Pledges for the due and faithful Administration of the said Estate by the
said John W. Bell and James Bell according to Law.

Now, know all men by these presents, that we, the said Edward
Kenyon and Thomas Brayden hereby bind and
oblige ourselves, jointly and severally, and our Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, firmly by
these presents, as pledges for the said John W. Bell and James Bell
that they shall well and truly administer, all and singular, the Personal Estate and Effects
of the said deceased, according to Law.  And in their default we bind ourselves, and each
of us, our Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, to be answerable and responsible for the whole
to the said Court, and to all parties interested in the said Estate and Effects, or the administration 
thereof, in the place and stead of the said John Wesley Bell and
James Bell.

Witness our Subscriptions, this 12th day of May in the Year of our Lord
One Thousand Eight Hundred and Seventy Six.

At a Chapter Court, held at Ramsey                                                 )           Signed:  Thomas Brayden
on the 12th day of May 1876                                                           )
The foregoing Bond and Obligation was duly signed and delivered     )           Signed:  Edward Kenyon
and above acknowledged by the executing parties to be their proper )
Act and Deed.            Before me,                                                      )
				
				A. Jebb(?)