In The name of God, Amen
I , Christopher Mercer, being at present weake and sick in body but of good and perfect memory, God Be Praised - Upon the consideration of the certainty of my mortality doe make my last will and testament and revoking, nullifying and making voyd and every former will or wills , gifts or promises by me heretofore had made, done or executed any wayes relating to my temporal Estate either real or personall, doe now make this present writing and declare the same to bee and forever abide my last will and Testament as followeth : dated this Fifty day of December in the year of our Lord , One Thousand Six Hundred and Seventy.
Imprimus - I surrender my soul unto Almighty God the Giver and faithful Creator of my body I committ to the ground in faith and full assurance through Christ Jesus of a glorious resurrection.
Secondly - for my Temporall Estate be reall Estate or personall Estate I will bequeath give and devise unto my loving wife to be hers and her assigns forever.
Thirdly - I will and give unto my sonne Thomas Mercer, Three hundred pounds of Muscovado Sugar or Forty Shillings Sterling money for his portion when he shall come to his Island to receive the same. And unto my sonne Joseph Mercer I will and bequeath three hundred pounds of like sugar or Forty Shillings Sterling money for his portion when he shall come to this Island to receive same, the which two said portions I give unto my two said sonnes to be their portions in full to each of them and each of them and both to be barred from all further claimes by any pretence whatsoever unto the prevised and prebequested Estate.
Fourthly - I will and bequeath to William Hart, the sonne of Thomas Hart, Four Hundred pounds of Muscovado Sugar to be paid at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter named.
Lastly - I nominate and make well beloved wife Elizabeth my sole Executrix to receive my credits, to pay my debts to see my body in case of my mortality to be buried. To pay my Legacies and after all these are done and executed, the remainder of my Estate it real or personal to be and remain to and with her or her assigns forever. In witness of this my last will and Testament the same I doe declare and publish in the presence of Henry Hunt, Thomas Hart and Thomas Cardew and hereunto put my hand and seal the day and year aforesaid.
X The Mark of Christopher Mercer
Henry Hunt
Thomas Cardew
Tho. Hart
By the Deputy Governor - Personally appeared before me this 18 th day of April 1671, Henry Hunt, Thomas Cardew and Thomas Hart, being sworne on the Evangelist of God and say that they did see the above named Christopher Merser signe seale and publish the within and above Will to be his last will and Testament as it is written and that their several names and handwritings are subscribed as above for proof thereof. Given under my hand the day and year above written.
Christopher Codrington
