Kissengunge 8th October 1809
In the name of God Amen
I, Seraphina Donclere, do hereby Make and Declare this to be my last Will & Testament. To wit,
To my beloved Daughter Charlotte Hunter, I bequeath my Diamond Ring and gold Trichindpoly Chain.
To Mrs Bridget Watson at this time residing under the protection of Mordaunt Ricketts Esqr HC(?) Civil Service I leave the Sum of Sicca Rupees four Hundred (Scks 400)
To the Child of which I am now pregnant I leave, if a Boy, the Sum of Sicca Rupees one Thousand (Scks 1000) if a Girl, I desire that the whole of my Property real and personal be equally divided between her and my beloved Daughter Harriet Slessor; with the above mentioned exceptions - In the Event of the Death of either of the above Children, my property to Devolve to the Surviving one -
I hereby nominate and appoint Captn William Slessor, of the Bengal Army, to be my sole executor - Seraphina Donclere.
Signed and Sealed, where no Stampt Paper is to be had, in presence of us -
James Barnes, C A Munro, witnesses.
In the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William in Bengal Ecclesiastical Side, In the Goods of Mrs Seraphina Donclere late of Kissengunge Deceased
To the Honourable Sir Henry Russell Knight Chief Justice and his Companions Justices of the said Supreme Court - The Humble Petition of William Blackstone of Calcutta Esquire - Register of the Said Court Humbly Sheweth That Seraphina Donclere abovementioned hath lately departed this life leaving Effects within the Provinces Countries or Districts of Bengal Behar Orissa and Benares or some of them having first made and published her last Will and Testament which is here annexed and thereof appointed Captain William Slessor her Sole Executor -
That the said William Slessor died Shortly after the said Seraphina Donclere without having proved the said Will -
Your Petitioner Therefore humbly prays your Lordships the Next of Kin and Creditors of the Deceased having been duly cited and not appearing or not having made their Claim to the Administration of the said Deceased that Letters ad Colligenda or of Administration with the said Will annexed as to your Lordships shall seem meet of the Estate and Effects of the said Seraphina Donclere Deceased may be granted to your Petitioner -
And your Petitioner shall ever pray - Wm Blackstone Regr.
(Name J A Simpson in the left hand margin next to the above.)
upon reading the annexed Certificate of the Register and William Blackstone having been duly Sworn before me I do order that Letters of Administration with the Copy of the Will annexed of the Estate and Effects of Seraphina Donclere deceased be granted to the said William Blackstone
Dated the 30th day of May 1810
H Russell.
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