Last Will and Testament of John George Evans of Orepuki

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Orepuki, Southland, New Zealand
Surname/tag: Evans

Last Will and Testament of John George Evans of Orepuki, Miner

---

This is the last Will and Testament of me John George Evans of Orepuki in the County of Wallace and Colony of New Zealand. Miner. I hereby revoke all Wills and Testamentary Dispositions heretofore made by me and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal property of whatsoever kind and wheresoever situated of which I shall be possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease unto my son James Sim Evans of Invercargill in the Colony of New Zealand Mining Agent his heirs executors and administrators respectively according to the nature and (??) thereof upon trust that the said James Sim Evans his heirs executors and administrators (hereinafter referred to as my said Trustees) shall deal with the whole of my said estates in such manner as he in his absolute discretion shall consider most advantageous giving him power to sell lease mortgage or deal with my said estates or any part of parts thereof and to convert the same into money, and shall out of the moneys to arise from such sale calling in collection and conversion and the ready money of which I shall be possessed at my death, pay all my just debts deathbed funeral and testamentary expenses and shall invest the residue of the said moneys in the names or name or under the legal control of my said Trustees in any Funds or Government Securities of New Zealand or upon mortgages of real estate or in or upon the Bonds, Debentures, or Securities of any public municipal or local body or authority in New Zealand or to place the same upon fixed deposit in a Bank and to (??) the said Investments and any of them at discretion for any other or others of a like nature, and shall pay the Income arising from the said Trust moneys and of the Investments for the time being representing the same, and also all the proceeds and Income of any and every description arising from my said real and personal estates unto and to my wife Grace Evans and my daughters Agnes McGill Evans Isabella Elizabeth Evans and Grace Jane Evans in equal shares so long as they shall live and remain unmarried, should my said wife marry again she shall cease to have any benefit from my estates and should either of my said daughters be married at the time of my death or marry after my death then from and after marriage such daughter shall cease to have any benefit from my estates and when my said wife and my said three daughters shall all have died or married then my said Trustee shall cause the whole of my estates to be sold and converted into money and shall divide the same between my six sons James Sim Evans, John George Evans, Walter Fairley Evans, Evan George Evans, Charles Joseph Evans, and Leslie Dallas Evans in equal shares share and share alike and I declare that should any of my said sons die before division as aforesaid leaving lawful issue such issue shall be entitled to and shall receive the share to which their father if alive would have been entitled and that in equal shares amongst such issue. I appoint my said son James Sim Evans to be the Executor of this my Will In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this Seventh day of April - One thousand eight hundred and ninety eight --

John George Evans

Signed by the said Testator John George Evans as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his sight and presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as attesting witnesses.

James Allan Adamson, Draper, Orepuki.

Boston Bell McEwan, Miner, Orepuki

---

This is a codicil to the Will of me John George Evans of Orepuki in the County of Wallace and Colony of New Zealand Miner which Will bears date the Seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and ninety eight whereas by my said Will I have given devised and bequeathed all my real and personal property of whatsoever kind and wheresoever situated of which I shall be possessed or to which I shall be entitled at the time of my decease unto my son James Sim Evans his heirs executors and administrators respectively according to the nature and (??) thereof as Trustee and appointed him to be executor of my said Will. Now it is my Will that my son Evan George Evans of Orepuki aforesaid Student shall be appointed along with the said James Sim Evans as one of the Trustees and Executors of my said Will and I direct and declare that my said Will shall be read and construed and take effect in the same manner as if the name of the said Evan George Evans had been originally inserted throughout the said Will as a Trustee and Executor thereof along with the name of the said James Sim Evans And I confirm my said Will in all other respects In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name on this fifteenth day of July one thousand eight hundred and ninety nine --

John George Evans

Signed by the said John George Evans as and for a Codicil to his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us present at the same time who at his request in his sight and presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as attesting witnesses --

Walter Bayne, Miner, Orepuki

Edward James Weir, Miner, Orepuki

---

In the Supreme Court of New Zealand Otago and Southland District In the matter of the Will of John George Evans of Orepuki in the County of Wallace and Colony of New Zealand Miner deceased -- A true full and particular Inventory of all and singular the estate effects and credits of the above named John George Evans deceased which have at any time since his death come to the hands possession or knowledge of James Sim Evans of Invercargill in the Colony of New Zealand Mining Agent and Evan George Evans of Orepuki in Wallace New Zealand Student the Executors duly appointed and acting under the Will and Codicil of the above named John George Evans deceased made and exhibited upon and by virtue of the corporal oaths of the said James Sim Evans and Evan George Evans as follows to wit

Cash in the Bank of New Zealand at Riverton 27 / 5 / 2

Furniture goods chattels and effects valued at 58 / 12 / -

One Cow valued at 3 / 15 / -

Residence area at Orepuki with Groomed dwelling and improvements valued at 175 / - / -

One fifth share in Water race no. 5081 with branch races and extensions valued at 160 / - / -

One fifth share in 4 gold mining claims Reg folios 77, 101, 102, 103 valued at 90 / - / -

One fifth share in 2 tail races Nos. 85284, 92320 and Dams valued at 20 / - / -

Valuation of Total 534 / 12 / 2

And we severally further state that no estate or effects of or belonging to the said deceased have at any time since his death, come to the hands possessions or knowledge of these Deponents save as before mentioned --

Sworn by the said James Sim Evans at Invercargill aforesaid this fifth day of October 1899 Before me (signature) A Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand

Sworn by the said Evan George Evans at (??) this (??) day of October 1899 Before me (signature) A Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand

---

John George Evans died in 1899. He and Grace Evans had fourteen children, only nine (3 daughters and six sons) are mentioned in this will. Of the others:

• Margaret Evans died in 1863.
• George Evans died in 1871.
• William Evans died in 1874.
• David Evans died in 1875.
• Owen Evans died in 1892.

Of the female beneficiaries of his will:

• Isabella married in 1906.
• Wife Grace Evans died in 1909.
• Grace married in 1913.
• Agnes did not marry and died in 1945.

Of the male beneficiaries of his will, after the death of Agnes in 1945:

• James died in 1922, with one daughter surviving after 1945.
• Leslie died in 1925, with four sons surviving after 1945.
• Evan died in 1933, with four children surviving after 1945.
• John died in 1949.
• Charles died in 1964.
• Walter died in 1966.