Early Bermuda Wills 1629-1835; summarized and indexed, Author Hollis Hallett, C.F.E.
Introduction
The importance of wills as sources for genealogical research can never be over-estimated. When a man lists the members of his family on a given date, signs the document himself, and is witnessed as so doing by certain persons who then sign their names, the researcher immediately has positive confirmation that all those persons were alive on that given date.
The emphasis in this compilation is on the date of writing of each will (or other estate document), as indicative of persons who were alive at the date, thus establishing their certain "proof of existence". In the same way, the date of probate, or the administration or inventory of an estate, establishes the fact that a death has taken place at some time before that date; in some cases the probate record reports the death of a witness or executor as well.
The stress of this compilation is not on property, but on people. Although many Bermuda wills give descriptions and boundaries of land held, the interest of this work lies only in the fact that certain persons are named as being present occupants of certain lands, again establishing a "proof of existence". Property references are given only if they provide genealogical details.
Every attempt has been made to avoid the ambiguity or confusion which can result in abbreviated or summarized versions of documents.
All information presented in this compilation is factual; no attempt has been made to interpret any of the documents.
Every name in every estate document has been extracted and indexed in this compilation; the text includes all testators, family members, administrators, executors, witnesses, and in some cases estate appraisers.
Since most appraisals of estates were done by persons already active in the relevant estate documents, their names have not been included with a separate entry as appraisers. On the other hand, if the only reference (or the earliest reference) to an individual is as an estate appraiser, that entry is included in this text.
Many wills have been found in two (or sometimes three) different books of wills. In these cases both references have been given; the value of this is evident when the researcher is able to compare possible slight variations in the interpretation of the scribe in each case. In addition, sometimes one version of a will is almost illegible, while another version is quite clear.
This compilation includes the complete contents of:
Books of Wills, Volumes 1 to 15 (1629-1835)
Books of Administrations, Volumes 1 to 4 (1782-1835)
In addition, estate documents are included which have been found in:
Composite Volumes of deeds, indentures, etc. (1677-1781)
Colonial Records, Volumes 1-9 (1616-1692)
Researchers are encouraged to apply to the Bermuda Archives, Government Administration Building, 30 Parliament Street, Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda, for photocopies of documents of interest to them, using the reference numbers as given in this index.
Abbreviations
admin administration,
administrator (s)
app appraiser,
appraised by
att attorney
b born
Bda Bermuda
Bdos Barbados
bro brother
c circa
ch child,
children, issue
d died,
deceased
dau daughter
Dem Demerara
Dv Devonshire
Parish
exec executor
(s)
f father
g grand,
great
Hm Hamilton
Parish
int intestate
m married
mo mother
nph nephew
Pg Paget
Parish
Pm Pembroke
Parish
R.A. Royal
Artillery
R.E. Royal
Engineers
reg regiment
res resident,
residing
R.G.B. Royal
Garrison Battalion
s son
Sg St.
George’s Parish
sis sister
Sm Smith’s
Parish
Sn Southampton
Parish
sp spinster
StV St.
Vincent
Sy Sandys
Parish
w wife
wd widow
wit witness
Wk Warwick
Parish
wr widower
REFERENCES (as
filed in Bermuda Archives)
Ad Administration
Books
CR Colonial
Records
CV Composite
Volumes of deeds, indentures, grants, warrants
D Books
of Deeds
PP Private
papers accessions
RG Letters
of Administration
W Books
of Wills
APPOWEN,
Joseph 1689,
March 13
wit
to will of Richard JENNINGS, Sm WS,1:164
APPOWEN,
Martha 1773, Dec.
24
wit
to will of Benjamin BETHEL, Sy W12a:203
APPOWEN,
Nicholas 1718,
March c 4
holds
land for Edmund MALLORY, Hm (his will) W6:31
APPOWEN,
Richard 1688,
March 30 1688,
April 27
planter,
Dv, w Bridget
ch:
Richard, John, Lydia WISE, Mary BURCH, Ann
g
ch: Richard APPOWEN(of Richard), Mary APPOWEN, Lydia WISE, Ann BURCH
exec:
s Richard and John APPOWEN
wit:
Jonathon TURNER, John BURROWS, Charles WALKER
W3,1:16
APPOWEN,
Richard 1705,
March 4 1707,
July 24
Dv,
w Elizabeth, ch: John, Charles, Mary, Elizabeth, Martha
exec:
w Elizabeth, s John
wit:
William DAVIS, Joseph YOUNG, Thomas BOSTOCK, inventory W4:7
APPOWEN,
Richard 1715,
March 26
wit
to will of Phillip SIMMONS of Sm and Bdos
W6: 25
APPOWEN,
Richard 1715, Jan.
15
wit
to GILBERT will
W5:163
APPOWEN,
Richard 1729,
Sept. 11
wit
to will of Joseph PACKWOOD, Dv
W7:29
APPOWEN,
Richard 1745,
March 20 1746,
Oct. 19
Cordwainer,
Bda, now in Antigua, ch: Charles, Richard (minors)
exec:
Benjamin RICHARDSON, nph Benjamin APPOWEN
wit:
Jane LEAYCRAFT, Richard TAYLOR, Robert BANNISTER W12a:8
APPOWEN,
Richard 1747, Feb.
26
Mariner,
Dv, d inventory W8:77
APPOWEN,
Richard 1787,
Sept. 27 1789,
June 2
carpenter,
Dv, w Deborah
ch:
Benjamin RICHARDSON, nph Benjamin APPOWEN
exec:
Nathaniel and John TYNES
wit:
Isaac SKINNER, William and Nathaniel TYNES
W10:302/12a:45
APPOWEN,
Richard 1791, Feb.
23
Dv,
d, inventory of his estate
W9:465
APPOWEN,
Sarah 1739,
Sept. 12
d,
dau of Thomas BOSTOCK, ch: Bostock APPOWEN W12a:117
APPOWEN,
Thomas 1698,
March 15
wit
to will of James MALIGAN, Sm W2,2:153
APPOWEN,
Mrs. 1821,
March 14
St.
Kitts, recently sold land in Pm to Benjamin BASDEN, Pm
W15:42
ARCHER,
Edward 1717, Feb.
1 1718,
June 3
Pm,
w Rhoda is dau of William SEYMOUR, bro John ARCHER of Rhode Is.,
Sis Mercy GIBBS, sis Hannah MANCHESTER
of Rhode Is., s-in-law William PLACE, dau in law Bethia LEAYCRAFT (w of
Jeremiah), cousin Edward DAVIS (abroad now)
exec: Thomas BURTON
wit:
Edmund BROMWICH, John WARD, Charles GEORGE, Joseph STOWE
W6:8,19
ARGENT,
Elizabeth 1733, June
18
dau
of Edward DUNSCOMB W6:343
ARGENT,
George 1657, May
4 1657,
July undated
w
Elizabeth, ch George, plus others not named
exec:
w Elizabeth, Thomas WOODS, Henry PASCOE
wit:
George LEWIS, Charles RICHIER, John LEMBERY
inventory
1657, Oct. 20, incomplete
BULL,
Fenwick 1779,
Oct. 18
Sg,
d, int, admin of his estate to Henry TUCKER, inventory W9:318.319
BULLARD,
Solomon 1690,
Sept. 23
Occupant
of land in Pm (will of Perient TROTT) W3,1:119
BULLARD,
Sarah 1759,
Jan. 20
In
S. Carolina, dau of Benjamin TUCKER, Wk W12b:291
BULLER, No
name c. 1640
now
of Staffordshire, sis of John WELSH, Dv W1:12
BULLOCK,
John 1699, Feb.
19
ref.
in will of John GILBERT, Sm W2,1:115
BULLOCK,
Robert 1690,
Sept. 23
merchant
of London, friend of Perient TROTT (his will) W3,1:122
BULLOCK,
Stephen 1690, May
31
wit
to will of Hugh PEASLEY, Hm W3,1:100
BULLOCK,
Stephen 1695,
March 19
Mariner,
d, admin of his estate to wd Mary W2,1:155
BULLOCK,
William 1637, Dec.
9
wit
to will of Hugh WENTWORTH, Wk CR2:62
BULLOCK,
William 1659, Oct. 19
w Patience
(will of Stephen PAYNTER) W1:69
BURCH, Ann 1687,
March 30
minor,
g dau of Richard APPOWEN, Dv W3,1:16
BURCH, Ann 1777, Oct.
30
G
dau of William BURROWS, Sy W12a:94/9:269
BURCH, Bethia 1719,
May 11
sis
of Cornelius HINSON, Pm W6:16
BURCH,
Catherine 1762, Aug.
10
wit
to will of Mrs. Martha AUCHINLECK (wd, Sg) W12a:20
BURCH,
Catherine, jr. 1765,
May4
wit
to will of Samuel PAYNTER, Hm W10:187
BURCH,
Catherine 1765, Dec.
27
wit
to will of Richard MINORS, Sg W10:283
BURCH,
Catherine, jr. 1767,
April 3
wit
to will of John STEED, Hm W11:222
BURCH,
Content 1822, Dec.
23
dau
of Mary is w of Thomas Morgan
JAMES, Pm (his will) W15:55
BURCH.
Content 1826,
June 5
wit
to will of Thomas JAMES, Pm W15:161
BURCH,
Copeland 1781,
April 5 1789,
Aug. 7
father-in-law
and exec. of will of William HEESOM, mariner, Dv W10:316
BURCH,
Daniel 1777, Dec.
29 1779,
May 13
mariner,
Sy, w Elizabeth
ch:
John, Jeremiah, Thomas, William, George (d, dau Mary), Keturah, Elizabeth
exec:
w Elizabeth, sons as named
wit:
William TATEM, Thomas RIGHTON, Daniel TUCKER W12a:146/9:461
BURCH,
Daniel B.J. 1822, Nov.
12
wit
to will of Thomas Tapping TUCKER, Sy W15:210
BURCH,
Daniel B.J. 1831, Nov.
24
wit
to will of William YOUNG, Sy W15:400
BURCHALL,
Mary 1761. Aug.
20
wd,
dau of Edward ROBERTS, Sg W12b:171
BURCHALL,
Peter 1784,
July 3
wit
to will of Benjamin APPOWEN, Hm W10:271
BURCHALL,
Peter 1796,
Sept. 1 1800,
Aug. 27
exec.
of will of Briggs SMITH, Hm Q12:32
BURCHALL,
Peter 1800, Nov.
26 1801,
June 17
exec. of
will Robert HILL, Hm W12:72
BURCHALL,
Peter 1800, Dec.
19 1801,
June 17
exec.
of will Sarah SMITH (Hm , wd of Briggs SMITH) W12:74
BURCHALL,
Peter 1804, July
18 1816,
Nov. 17
s-in-law and exec. of will of Englesbe SEON, Hm,
w Mary W14:172
BURCHALL,
Peter 1805, May
10 1821,
Oct. 22
exec.
of will of Daniel Woolrich OUTERBRIDGE, Hm W15:15
BURCHALL,
Peter 1811, Oct.
3 1811,
Dec. 11
exec.
of will of Miss Ann MALLORY, Hm W13:299
BURCHALL,
Peter 1827,
Sept. 7 1834,
Sept. 22
Master
shipwright, Hm, w Ruth, sis Martha OUTERBRIDGE (ch Stephen),
late
bro De Nice BURCHALL (daus Elizabeth, Sarah)
bequests
to: Thomas and Emily HILL (ch of Thomas and Mary),
Daniel,
Thomas, Cornelius, Englesbe, Edward Burrows, and Mary Outerbridge SEON
(ch
of late Thomas SEON), Robert HILL, Miss Lydia HILL, Ann HILL (wd of William),
Peter
BURCHALL and w Mary, Mary PEARMAN (w of James Love PEARMAN),
Misses
OUTERBRIDE: Elizabeth Burrows, Hannah, Sarah, Susanna, Frances,
Nancy,
Ruth Seon, Mary Burchall, Elizabeth OUTERBRIDGE (w of Stephen),
Ann
Trott DAVIS (w of John Mallory DAVIS), Margaret ZUILL (w of John ZUILL),
Elizabeth
COX (w of John COX, Sg), David FOGGO, Jane DAVIS (w of Thomas DAVIS)
exec:
w Ruth, John FRITH, Englesbe SEON, John William FOGGO
wit:
Samuel D. J. DOE, George WAINWRIGHT, Benjamin D. HARVEY W15:371
BURCHALL.
Robert 1714,
March 21
wit
to will of Isabelle PLACE (Sg, wd of John) W5:156
BURCHALL,
Robert 1718,
Nov. 17 1718,
Dec. 11
exec.
of will of Miriam BRIGGS, wd, Sg W6:4
BURCHALL,
Robert 1725,
Nov. 25 1727,
July 20
Sg,
w Ruth, ch: John, James, and Judith HILTON
g
ch: James, Daniel, and Robert BURCHALL (ch of James)
exec.
w Ruth, s John, s James
wit:
Nathaniel ROBERTS, Charles HIGGS, John CHAPLIN W6:122
BURCHALL,
Robert 1775,
March 28
wit
to will of Richard BUCKMASTER, Sy W10:206
BURCHALL,
Robert 1777,
Jan. 3
wit
to will of Mary TUCKER (wd of John TUCKER, Sy) W12:19
BURCHALL,
Robert 1777,
July 30
wit
to will of Love CAREY, wd, Sy
W9:295/12a:260
BURCHALL,
Robert 1777, Dec.
9
wit
to will of Nathaniel BOWSER, Sy
W9:271/12a:104
BURCHALL,
William 1762,
Sept. 16 1770,
Nov. 14
joiner,
Sg, w Elizabeth g s John FOX
exec:
Richard WRIGHT, Joseph BURCHALL
wit:
Jean RAWLINGS, Susanna SKINNER, John ROBERTS W12a:128
BURGESS,
Aaron 1706,
Dec. 18
d,
wd Elizabeth is dau of Florentius and Ruth SEYMOUR (both d) W3,2:164
BURGESS,
Aaron 1715,
Nov. 28
Planter,
Sy, d, int, admin of his estate to wd Elizabeth, inventory W5:120
BURGESS,
Ann 1722,
March 20
dau
of William OUTERBRIDGE, Hm W6:91
BURGESS,
Anthony 1690,
Sept. 23
wit
of will to Perient TROTT, Hm W3,1:126
BURGESS,
Anthony 1692, Jan.
27
Hm,
d, inventory W2,2:31
BURGESS,
Benjamin 1780,
Nov. 9
Mariner,
Hm, d, int, admin of his estate to John BURGESS W9:416
BURGESS,
Daniel 1688, Aug.
20
wit
to will of Edward EVANS, Sy W3,1:207
BURGESS,
Daniel 1695, Mar.
24
wit
to will of John TANKARD W3,2:6
BURGESS,
Daniel 1712, Dec.
15
wit
to will Mary KEELE, Sy W5:234
BURGESS,
Daniel 1725, Nov.
17 1726,
Sept.22
Sy,
ch: Mary BASSETT, Elizabeth WELLS (w of Jeremiah)
g
daus: Elizabeth and Mary BURGESS
exec:
Jeremiah WELLS, Mary BASSETT
wit:
Samuel NEWBOLD, Edward EVANS, William TUCKER, jr W7:91
BURGESS,
Daniel 1726,
Oct. 18
Sy,
d, wd Elizabeth is guardian of ch Elizabeth and Mary W6:118
BURGESS,
Daniel 1761, July
8
Sy,
d, int, admin of his estate to Edward SEYMOUR, mariner, Sy W8:254
BURGESS,
Daniel 1772, July
10
Sy,
d, int, admin of his estate to Mary SEYMOUR W9:25
BURGESS,
Edward 1796,
Feb. 8 1810,
July 27
mariner,
Sy, w Mary
exec:
w Mary, John TUCKER
wit:
Marischal KEITH, John J. TUCKER W13:204
BURGESS,
Edward 1803,
Aug. 29 (probate date)
W
Mary, nph and exec of undated will of Thomas YOUNG, Sy W12:164
BURGESS,
Elizabeth, Mrs. 1705,
July 3
Cousin,
and trustee of estate of Agnes RICHARDS, wd, Sn W4:15
BURGESS,
George 1797,
May 31
Dv,
d, int, admin of his estate to Samuel WILLIAMS, Nathaniel TYNES Ad3:88
BURGESS,
Jeremiah 1692,
Oct. 7
wit
of will of Mary TROTT, wd, Hm W3,1:190
BURGESS,
Jeremiah 1695,
date obscured
wit
to will of William NELMES W2,1:215
BURGESS,
Jeremiah 1726,
Jan. 29 1727,
Feb. 10
Hm,
bro John BURGESS (d, ch: Thomas, Jeremiah, Mary)
sis
Miss Mary BURGESS
sis Sarah STOVELL (wd, Pm, ch:
Anthony JOHNSON, John JOHNSON, Mary JOHNSON, Sarah JOHNSON, Elizabeth STOVELL)
sis Miriam PENISTON (Sm, ch:
Elizabeth, Richard, Samuel, John, Wm, Jeremiah, all with surname PENISTON)
cousins: Miss Martha and Samuel
DUNSCOMB, Pm, (siblings), Ruth PITCHER, Sg
exec: counsin Jeremiah BURGESS,
William STONE, Thomas BOSTOCK
wit: Thomas BOSTOCK, Nathaniel
DUNSCOMB, Perient TROTT W6:141
BURGESS,
Jeremiah 1737,
Nov.3 1739,
Nov. 13
Hm,
cordwainer, w Catherine (pregnant), s John
exec:
w Catherine, s John
wit: Thomas MUSSON, Peter NICE,
Luke BOWSER, Charles Walker PENISTON W12a:75
BURGESS,
John 1691,
March 31
d,
Hm, inventory
W2,2:29
BURGESS,
John 1726,
Jan. 29
d,
bro of Jeremiah of Hm, ch: Jeremiah, Mary, Thomas W6:141
BURGESS,
John 1759,
Aug. 13
wit
to will of Thomas COX, Dv
W12a:229
BURGESS,
John 1761,
Feb. 19
wit
to will of Edward BURROWS, Sy
W12a:166
BURGESS,
John, 1774,
May 12
wit
to will of John TYNES, Sm
W12b:303
BURGESS,
Mary 1706,
Sept. 16
lives
in house in Sm owned by Richard PENISTON
W3,2:157
BURGESS,
Rachel 1774,
Sept. 25
dau
of Thomas RIGHTON, Sy
W12b:178
BURGESS,
Roger 1740,
May 10
wit
to will of John RIGHTON, Sy
W12b:163
BURGESS,
Thomas 1657,
June 8
App
of inventory of estate of Hannah STONE W1:59
BURGESS,
Thomas 1664,
Jan. 12 1665,
Aug. 1
Hm,
w Frances
ch:
Anthony, John, Jeremiah, Martha, Mary, Miriam, Sarah, Elizabeth DUNSCOMB
exec:
w Frances, dau Martha, overseer John MORRIS
wit:
John MORRIS, Anthony JENOUR
codicil
1665, July 15 inventory,
1666, April 13 W1:95,98
BURGESS,
Thomas 1716,
Oct. 2 1717,
June 24
“son”,
and overseer of will of Rowland GREATBATCH W5:229
BURGESS,
Thomas 1732,
June 23 1732,
Nov. 10
mariner,
Dv, w Miriam
ch:
Grace, Miriam
bro-in-law
Benjamin WRIGHT, late uncle Jeremiah BURGESS
exec:
illegible, page torn
wit:
Wm SANDIFORD, Thos GREATBATCH, John MALLORY, Thos BOSTOCK W6:305
BURGESS,
Thomas 1752,
Nov. 29
d,
w Miriam, dau Grace now w of Robert HILL (his will)
W12a:495
BURGESS,
Thomas 1788,
Feb. 16
d,
dau Miriam is wd of Elisha HILL W11:93
BURGESS,
Will 1821,
March 14
negro
servant of Benjamin BASDEN, Pm W15:42
BURGESS,
William 1834,
March 8 1834,
April 19
exec
of will of Rev. George GALLOWAY of Christ Church, Wk W15:358
BURKE,
Michael Rowland 1829,
July13 1833,
Jan. 26
St.
Kitts, w Arabella Louisa Moreton is dau of Admiral Sir William Charles FAHIE
exec
of English part of estate of FAHIE
W15:305
BURLACE,
John 1827,
March 1 1827,
March 17
foreman
of shipwrights, H.M. Naval Yard, now a patient in Naval Hospital
sis
Mrs. Mary BOYLE, sis Mrs. Susanna PEARCE
exec:
Felix KING, Thomas GILBERT
wit:
Asael WELLS, James HALL W15:171
BURR,
Hannah 1734,
May 12
wd,
aunt of Thomas and Mary GILBERT, lives on their land in Sm
W12a:428
BURR,
Jonathon 1665,
Aug. 12 1665,
March 8
Dv,
w Elizabeth is dau of John STOWE, dau Elizabeth (minor)
exec:
w Elizabeth, f-in-law John STOWE
wit:
Samuel STIRRUP, Richard MORRIS W1:102
BURROWS,
Alice 1762,
Aug. 10
niece
of Mrs. Martha AUCHINLECK, wd, Sg
W12a:20
BURROWS,
Ann 1684, Aug.
18
aged c 22,
“dau-in-law” of Thos HARFORD, deposition re will of Henry CRAFTS W1:307
BURROWS,
Ann 1748,
Nov. 23
wit
to will of William ALBOUY, Sy W12a:9
BURROWS,
Ann 1806,
April 24
wit
to will of Jeremiah Burrows DICKINSON, Sn
W13:206
BURROWS,
Ann 1828,
Feb. 8 1833,
July 10
Sn,
bro James BURROWS
niece
Elizabeth Burrows BELL (ch: James Burrows BELL, Elizabeth Hinson BELL)
exec:
bro James BURROWS, John Irving BELL, St. James Burrows BELL
wit:
John NASH, John H. L. KING, Sarah KING W15:332
BURROWS,
Benjamin 1735,
Dec. 2
wit
to will of Sarah WOOD (wd, Tucker’s Town)
W12b:328
BURROWS,
Benjamin 1737,
Aug. 22
wit
to will of Martha HARFORD, wd
W7:81
BURROWS,
Benjamin 1738,
Sept. 8
wit
to will of Miriam HINSON, wd, Hm W12a:501
BURROWS,
Benjamin 1747,
Aug. 19
wit
to will of Elizabeth SANDERS W12b:204
BURROWS,
Christopher 1660,
April 24
wit
to will of John SEYMOUR, Sy W12b:237
BURROWS,
Christopher 1663,
July 20
wit
to will of Josias FORSTER, Sy W1:107
BURROWS,
Christopher 1668,
May 21
wit
to will of John BURCH, Sy
W1:124
BURROWS,
Christopher 1676,
June 29
wit
to will of Hugh WHITLOCK, Sy W1:229
BURROWS,
Christopher 1679,
Sept. 3
overseer
of will of William WAYLETT W1:267
BURROWS,
Christopher 1690,
Sept. 23
ref.
in will of Perient TROTT, Hm W3,1:119
BURROWS,
Christopher 1711,
May 8
Pg,
half-bro of Elizabeth MALLORY (d), who is sis of Mary RICHARDSON,
(wd
of John RICHARDSON. Sy), joint admin of estate of John RICHARDSON
to
Christopher BURROWS and Mary RICHARDSON
W4:108
BURROWS,
Christopher 1714, Dec.
9
wit
to informal will of John LEA, Pg
W5:115
BURROWS,
Christopher 1724, May
22 1724,
Nov. 19
mariner,
Pg, w Lois, s-in-law Hugh WENTWORTH
dau-in-law
Lois BROWN (w of Bristow BROWN)
“g
ch-in-law”: Hugh, Samuel, Henry, and Anna WENTWORTH
exec:
w Lois, Richard HUNT
wit:
John HARVEY, Nathaniel BASCOME
W6:98
BURROWS,
Edward
1713, April 15
wit
to will of Thomas DURHAM, Sy
W5:25
BURROWS,
Edward 1719,
Aug. 14
wit
to will of Samuel NEWTON, Sm W6:43
BURROWS,
Edward 1724,
June 7
wit
to will of Richard STONE, Hm, d by date of probate, 1731, Feb. 23 W6:281
BURROWS,
Edward 1732,
July 17
d,
Hm, w Elizabeth also d, guardians of ch Jane, Elizabeth, and Michael BURROWS
are
Benjamin and Elizabeth APPOWEN, Hm W6:292
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