Letter41
My Lords [in Denmark],
As I know that my brother-in-law, Peter Smith (Pierre Le Serurier), had the honor of being known to you, having long been one of the inhabitants and one of the most important merchants of this island [St. Thomas], I heard that it is my duty to inform you of his death on January 11, six weeks and a day after the death of his wife.
He left two wills, one made on January 5th, 1698, and approved by Monsieur Le Gouverneur Lorents. It contains and bears that the last one living of him or his wife will be and will remain heir and possessor of all their property and possessions generally, after having paid whatever gifts and legacies are mentioned therein, and that the survivor will by testament or may in some such manner dispose of it any way he likes. The said will is signed by him and his wife on November 13, 1698.
By the second, which is dated the 3rd of January last, he leaves to the relations and heirs of his deceased wife four thousand pieces of eight, and the remainder to his legitimate heirs.
However, although I was one of his heirs, having married his own sister with whom I have a living son, and that we are of the same family, being cousins, and besides that he instructed me and named me the executor of his last will & testament, Monsieur our Governor and the prive council have seized and taken possession of all his inheritance. They sealed and registered it, then put it out on public auction in which I took a goodly part and made no opposition.
I beg you very humbly, my lordship, as executor of the will and also on behalf of my other co-beneficiaries, that you would have the goodness to approve and ratify the approval given by governer, Mr. Lorents, upon the first of these wills, especially since it was in accordance with the custom of that time.
Besides, for nearly thirteen years this protocol has never been said to be defunct, and there was never the slightest doubt or difficulty that they had received regarding it. Therefore they died in this belief with the assurance that my brother-in-law enjoyed the goods peacefully without anyone speaking or complaining about it all the time that he was looking after his wife.
If my brother-in-law thought that this testament was not valid, he would certainly have taken other measures. He relied on public faith and has a solemn act ratified by a governor [the first will].
Moreover, since the beneficiaries of said brother-in-law remain outside of the country, I returned to the Company a considerable sum by the 6th and 10th last. And besides that, I take the liberty of offering as a token of appreciation to the Company on behalf of the other beneficiaries and myself upon the confirmation and approval of the will of 1698, two thousand pieces of eight. Said confirmation will also validate the last one that is based on it.
I can demonstrate and make it clear that my brother-in-law leaves more and gives more by his will to the beneficiaries of ... [unfinished]
Messeigneurs, if you have the goodness to grant me my request, please do me the favor to have my secretary send me two or three copies of your confirmation, only certified by the said secretary, by way of England, addressing them to Messrs. Peter & Steven Cabibel, merchants in London who will send them to me by the packet boat. The orginal can then come by way of one of your own ships.
Your very humble and obedient servant and vassal,
Jacques Smith
St. Thomas,
5 March 1711
Letter41
Mes Seigneurs,
Comme je sais que mon beau frere, Peter Smith, a eu l'honneur d'etre connu de vous, ayant ete longtemps un des habitants et des plus considerables marchands de cette votre isle, j'ai eveu qu'il etoit de mon devoir de vous informer de sa mort arrivee le 11 Janvier dernier, six semaines et un jour apres le deces de sa femme.Il a laisse deux testaments scavoir un fait le 5 janvier 1698 et approuve par monsieur Le Gouverneur Lorents. Il contient et porte que le dernier vivant de lui ou de sa femme sera et demeurera heritier et possesseur de tout leur biens et possession generalement, apres avoir paye quelque dons et legs qui y sont mentiones, et que le survivant poura par testament out de telle autre maniere qu'il lui plaira en disposer. Ledit testament est signe de lui et de sa femme et protocole le 13 Novembre 1698.
Par le second qui est datte le 3 Janvier dernier il laisse aux parens et heritiers de sa defuncte femme quatre mille pieces de huit, et le reste a ses legitimes heritiers, cependant quoi que je soie un de ses heritiers, ayant epouse sa propre soeur dont j'ai un fils vivant, que nous sommes de plus de meme famille etant cousins, et q'outre tout cela il m'a ordonne et nomme pour executeux de soudit testament, Monsieur notre Gouverneur et le conseil prive, se sont saizis et mis en possession de tout l'heritage. L'ont seele et registre et fait vendre en vente et criee publicque, ce que j'ai pris de bonne part et ne m'i suis aucunement oppose.
Je vous prie tres humblement messeigneurs comme executeur dudit testament et aussi au nom de mes autres coheritiers que vous vouliez bien avoir la bonte d'approuver et ratifier l'approbation donnee par le defunct gouvernment.
Monsieur Lorents au premier desdits testaments d'autant plus qu'il etoit conforme a la coutume de ce temps la, et que d'ailleurs, il a ete pres de treize ans dans le protocole qu'on n'a jamais dits aux defuncts qu'il y avoit le moindre doute ou difficulte qu'ils ont recu et sont morts dans cette croyance et assurance, que mon beau frere a joui du bien paisiblement sans que personne en parlait ou se plaignit le temps qu'il a surveeu a sa femme.
Si mon beau frere eut cru que ce testament n'etoit point valable, il auroit pris d'autres mesures. Il s'est fie a la foi publique et a un acte solemnel ratifie par un gouverneur.
D'ailleurs comme les heritiers de mondit beau frere demeurent hors de pays il reviendra a la compagnie une somme considerable par le 6 et le 10 dernier. Et outre cela, je prens la liberte d'offrir comme une recognoisance envers la compagnie de la part des autres heritiers et de moi meme pour la confirmation et approbation du testament de 1698 deux mille pieces de huit. Ladite confirmation rendra valable le dernier qui est fonde dessus.
Je puis demontrer et faire voir clairement que mon beau frere laisse plus et donne d'avantage par son testament aux heritiers de...
Messeigneurs, si vous avez la bonte de m'accorder ma demande, faites moi la grace de me faire envoyer par votre secretaire deux ou trois copies de votre confirmation seulement certifiee par ledit secretaire, par la voie d'angleterre, les addressant a messieurs Peter & Steven Cabibel, marchands a Londres qui me les enveront par le packet boat. L'orginal poura venir par un de vos propres navires.
Votre tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur et vassal,
Jacques Smith
St. Thomas,
5 Mars 1711
