Hi Chris, I've just turned up the 2004 message from you, quoted below, which asks for info that might identifiy a Mary Johnson who died in Antigua in 1722. A descendant of the US branch of my Irish family has just come up with (via Robert above) a transcription of the will of William Irish (about 1692 - about 1724 by my reckoning). Unfortunately this transcription is unsourced and dated 29th October 1729 alongside the signature. Yet his widow is said to have re-married Colonel Samuel Martin 1 May 1728 and; Somewhere some years ago I found (I would have said on the Antigua film project pages but I cannot now find it there) a snippet of a report published January 1725 (or was it really 24 or 26!) of the death of the said William Irish. I thought the correct transcription of the date of that will might have been 1724 instead of 1729. However if it instead had been 1719 this will might have identified Mary Johnson for you. =========================================== "I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Sarah Irish, the sum of one thousand pounds sterling, money of Great Britain, to be laid out with all convenient speed upon interest, in some of ye public funds of Great Britain. And my will is that ye yearly interest of ye said sum be laid out in the same manner for the use of my daughter until she attains the age of twenty years, and then the sum and interest be paid her. I give unto my brother, Nathaniel Irish, the sum of five hundred pounds of Great Britain, to be paid him one year after my decease. I give unto my dear wife, Sarah Irish, ye yearly sum of one hundred pounds sterling of Great Britain during her natural life. I also give her any two of my horses she shall make a choice of, and the use and labor of four negroes during her life, viz: George, Kitty, Lucy and Pide. But my will is that these legacies and bequeaths unto my wife be in lieu and full bar of her dower. I give and bequeath unto the poor of this Island the sum of twenty pounds of money of the Island for twenty years after my death. But my will is that if the Island of Montserrat be taken or invaded by any enemy of ye Crown of Great Britain before my daughter shall attain the age of twenty years, and my estate, real or personal, be taken, burnt, plundered, carried away or destroyed by such enemy, that the legacies be lessened, moderated and apportioned as my executors may direct. I give unto my brother-in-law, William Johnson, and my sister, Mary, his wife, and to my brother-in-law, Thomas Lee, and my sister Elizabeth, his wife, and to the executors of this will, a suit of mourning apiece. All the rest and residue of my estate I give to my son, William Irish, and his heirs forever. I nominate and appoint my father-in-law, George Clyke, and my brother- in-law, Thomas Lee, and my friend, Dominick Trant, executors of my last will, and to each give the sum of fifty pounds sterling to buy them a mourning ring." =========================================== Might this will have come from Caribbeana? There are some curious things (YE public funds); the father-in-law surname should be WYKE and George his Brother-in-law. Father-in-law was Edward wherever reported. Maybe the source is not Caribbeana or there were printing errors when this was privately re-published in, I think, 1961, What do you think? Cheers David From: "C.M.Codrington" <[email protected]> Subject: [CARIBBEAN] Surname Interest and Caribbeana Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2004 08:01:24 -0500 Family Bible notes the death of a "Mary Johnson" May 30,1722 on Antigua, very likely in the parish of St. John or St. Mary. Olivers' History of Antigua provides very little on the various Johnson families resident on the island although they produced Governors etc. Very possible this Mary Johnson a member of the Gov.'s family who removed to Carolinas, but I haven't any true clues. If anyone encounters information on Johnsons on Antigua or the Leewards during the period 1680=1740's please drop me a line....or if someone has access to Caribbeana and would be willing to do a lookup on the name Johnson for me a thousand thanks........ For my research I am reduced to tracking these micro clues to learn anything I can about the social and kinship connections of the Bible owner/recorders.... TIA Cod