Probate of Francisco Domingo Pons (1786-1846), Fernandina, Florida File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Robin Bango, bango@erols.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. *********************************************************************** Francisco Domingo Pons #1617 PROBATE b. 10 March 1786 FRANCISO D. PONS Will dated 28 June 1846 TRANSLATION In the name of the almighty God, being in perfect health and sound understanding, I declare this, to be my last will and testament, which I wish to be obeyed, executed and respected, by my wife and sons and daughters and that these same execute and see executed by my hereinafter mentioned executors, and to this effect name two, Mr. Domingo Acosta and my son John M. Pons as the parties who shall settle my business and property dividing with my wife and all my children and paying my debts. I testify that Dna Maria A. Pons was my wife, and as my legitimate children by my defunct wife Dna Mariana Villalonga, Maria Marcella, Manana, Francisca, Juan M., Ildefonsa, Manuala, Ignacia; with my present wife Dona Maria Acosta, Maria Louisa and Francisco Jose; to the first seven by my late wife Dona Mariana Villalonga stands the right to divide the property heired and belonging to my late wife Dona M. V’s. from her late Parents and which is the following – slaves, two, Thomas and Inez. The said Inez during my possession has had four children, their names Luisa, Mary, Sally, and Tom, also One Thousand, Two hundred and Eighty seven Dollars being a share which came to her by right of succession of a house and lot belonging to her parents, Don Juan Villalonga and Dona Mariana Gardemas. Of these, my children by Dona Mariana Villalonga, four are married, of these, three, Juan M., Ildefonsa and Ignacia have received a slave each, valued at Three hundred and fifty dollars each, and this shall be counted as part of their share. There was in my possession and care and they belong to my present wife Dona Maria Acosta, Two slaves, Isabel and her daughter Juana, also Five Hundred and Thirteen dollars, being her share left by her first husband Don Bartolome Acosta, being a share belonging to him by right of succession of a house and lot, sold and belonging to his late parents; the amounts and slaves, which are herein mentioned shall be divided equally to whom they belong by rights of succession and appointments. I declare as my property adjusted by testamentary executions, four hundred acres of land on the south shore of St. Augustine’s river Matanzas, being part of the property of my late parents Don Matais Pons, and Dona Juana Vila; in this place Fernandina, my property consists of the house, my habitation with kitchen, and another small house and other improvements, also two lots on White Street a small house with two lots planted with orange trees, one house where I keep the store, with half a lot, one and one half lot, without improvements, some seven or more lots which may be found by the Deeds and receipts for the payments thereof; the plantation in good order known as _____ which I purchased it from one; A. McDermot, about seven or eight miles from this place in this Island of Amelia, a lot of two hundred acres of land, in the South point of this same island; one hundred and thirty acres of land on the shores of the St. Mary’s on the Florida side. The stock in business in the store of dry goods and groceries, etc., etc., is all mine, without a single partner with me, by my books will be found obligatory notes and other documents, all the amounts and names of persons who are my debtors. In the book will be found an amount which I loaned to my son John M. Pons, and which amount he is to credit me with, if he collects the amount owing him by the companies of Captain Berck of Militia, who have not been paid for their services in the war against the Indians. I also declare as my property, my slaves, seventeen in number, as for their names – Jim, Jack, Will, Mingo, Obie, Freda, JKuana, Betsy, William, Feliaro, Felip, Eustacio, Steven, Edward, George, Rosalla, Victoria; mares and colts nine; cows, calves steers, eleven; Three of my children, Juan M. Pons, Ildefonsa P. Acosta, Ignacia P. Canova, have received a slave each and every one of them valued at Three hundred and fifty dollars each, and the same shall be counted in as part of their share already received. The mulatto, Betsy, I have given and do give to my wife Dona Maria A. Pons as I Bought her with that object.. I hereby declare that I am debtor to Don Juan Villalonga, who has a promissory note of mine, and my books will show my accounts against the said J. Villalonga; I am debtor to Don Juan A. Caredo, he has my promissory note, and my books will show that the amount of same is right. I had a partner in my store, my brother Pedro Pons for some years, but said partnership ceased to exist in May, l823. I was the party left in charge to settle and liquidate all the accounts of said partnership, and to receive and pay all accounts, etc., that existed against said copartnership. The capital of said copartnership from its beginning was all mine. Don P. Pons was partner without bringing nor having given me one real for the company - my books will prove all I have said in the case, and the truth, and if said P. Pons is creditor for anything. I wish, should I die before my wife, Dona Maria A. Pons, that the above mentioned mulatto slave called Betsy, the bed with all the linen, mattresses and belonging to the same, the chest of drawers, dressing table and other articles of the bed and bed clothing, half a dozen chairs, a table of mahogany, cots with mattresses and linen for the use of the same, in use for the two children, Louisa and Francis, all my clothes and jewelry to be delivered to my wife Maria A Pons. I wish for my son Francis should be engaged in any studies, at my death, that Three hundred dollars shall be taken from the______ to continue to pay the expenses of his education or studies. Of all the property - that may remain clear of encumbrances after paying my debts, to my wife Dona Maria A. Pons shall be given her share and by Law she is entitled to as my wife, but if she should find it to her advantage to join in with my children and one of the heirs, in that case, two shares, or parts shall be given to my wife Dona M. A. Pons, that is to say, my children being nine and two shares for my wife M. A. Pons will make eleven shares or parts. My body is to be buried at the side of my late wife Dona Mariana Villalonga Pons, that is if I die in Fernandina; Then Three Masses of the Lord shall be said for me. If any required formality should have been omitted in this my last will and Testament, I charge my executors with carrying out and complying with what is needful. I hope that my wife and all my children who are in the house unmarried may live together, in the same house, as only in that way will they be able to live frugally in this village of Fernandina Amelia Island. In this will is a correction and a repetition of which I give due notice etc. This being my last will, I sign this in the presence of these witnesses, June 28, 1846. June Twenty-Eighth, Eighteen hundred and forty-six. Frances D. Pons Witnesses James L. Richardson George Latham John A. Canova