Will of Robert Gawn, Otago, New Zealand

I, Robert Gawn of Mosgiel in the Dominion of New Zealand Farmer hereby revoke all former Wills and testamentary dispositions and declare this to be my last Will and Testament.  I appoint my sons Thomas John Gawn, William Robert Gawn and James Gawn Executors and Trustees of this my Will. I give to my daughter Margaret Cullin the sum of Three hundred pounds  (£300)  (my said daughter having already received from me the sum of Seven hundred pounds) (£700) and I also give to my daughter Margaret my Piano and I give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes Findlay the sum of Five hundred pounds (£500) and my silver prize presented to me by the Massey Harris Company. 

I devise to my son, the said Thomas John, for his own use absolutely All that piece of land containing One hundred and five (105) acres more or less being section nine (9) and ten (10) Block Five East Taieri District and also all that parcel of land containing about Forty-six acres (46) three roods and twenty four poles being part of Section eleven, Block five comprised and conveyed to me by Deed and Conveyance from Henry Aldborough Stratford and John Shaw to me registered Number 67037 and also all that parcel of land containing about Fifty two acres more or less being section twelve, Block Five East Taieri District and also that piece of land containing twenty acres – now at the date of this my Will in his occupation being part of section four, Block Nine, East Taieri District having a frontage to Dukes Road of One Thousand five Hundred Links (1500) and bounded in other directions as follows  namely on the North East by Section Three of the same block on the North West by other part of the said Section Nine and on the South West by part of Section Five of the same block now a railway line which last mentioned land is part of the land comprised in the conveyance from Peter Cullen to me herinafter mentioned And also all that piece of land containing Fifty One (51) acres more or less conveyed to me by Deed of Conveyance from Robert Stevenson Registered Number 50299 being part of Section numbered Three Block Twenty, East Taieri District but as all the said lands subject and charged with the payment of the sum of Five Hundred pounds (500) to my said son James to whom I bequeath that sum.

I devise to my son William Robert Gawn for his own use absolutely All Those parcels of land containing together about Eighty acres One rood and Fourteen poles more or less being the remainder of the land comprised in Deed of Conveyance from Peter Cullen to me, Registered Number 54240 AND BEING Section Four (except the portion of that section hereinbefore devised to my said son Thomas John Gawn)  And part of section Five Block Nine East Taieri district And Also all those pieces of land containing together One hundred and twenty two acres Three roods and Thirty four poles comprised in Deed of Conveyance from David Law to me Registered Number 70871 being Section Twelve and part of Section Eleven Block Nine and half of Section One Block Ten East Taieri District And Also all that piece of land containing about Fifty Two acres and Two roods more or less being Section Six Block Nine, East Taieri District together with all the live and dead stock farming implements and household furniture in and about the sad lands being Section Twelve and part of Section 11 Block 9 aforesaid but as to all the lands hereinbefore devised to the said William Robert Gawn subject to and charged with the payment to the said James Gawn of the sum of Five Hundred pounds which last mentioned sum I bequeath to the said James Gawn.

I give to my said son James Gawn the sum of Two thousand pounds in addition to the aforesaid two sums of Five hundred pounds and also I devise to my said son James Gawn all that piece of land containing Three hundred and fourteen acres Two roods and thirty poles more or less being parts of Sections numbered Three and Five and the whole of the Sections numbered Seven, Nine, Ten, Eleven and Block Fifteen, Clutha District comprised in Deed and Conveyance from Francis Gibson and William Baillie to me Registered number 99890 together with all live and dead stock, farming implements and furniture therein belonging to me and this devise and bequest to the said James Gawn is in addition to the three sums hereinbefore given to him two of which sums are as aforesaid charged upon the lands devised to my other two sons.

I give to my grandson Robert Gawn Cullen the sum of Five hundred pounds and I give to my present housekeeper Anabella  Selina Gardiner Spinster if she shall continue in my service till my death the sum of One hundred pounds.  I declare that the aforesaid legacies to my said two daughters and to the said Robert Gawn Cullen and Annabella Selina Gardiner  shall be free of all estate succession or other duties and I direct the duties on all the four legacies to be paid out  of my general estate in exoneration of the legatees thereof but all other devises and bequests are subject to the payment of duty by the devisees and legatees. 

I give to my said three sons all the furniture chattels and effects in my present residence not hereby otherwise disposed of to be divided equally between them as nearly as be and in case of difference between my said sons as to such division the decision of any two of my executors administrators and assigns upon trust to convert the same into money by sale or otherwise and out of the proceeds to pay my funeral and testamentary expenses and debts and the cost of executing the trusts of this my Will and of conveying to and vesting in the Devises under this my Will and the hereditaments devised to them respectively and the duties payable by law in respect of the aforesaid legacies and bequests hereinbefore declared to be given free of duty and to stand possessed of the residue In Trust to pay and divide the same to and among all my children in equal shares and if any of my children shall die in my lifetime leaving issue who shall be living at my death such issue living at my decease shall take equally amongst them if more than one the share that their respective parent would have taken in the aforesaid residue if living at my death.

Robert Gawn