Description Will of Roderick McKenzie of West Branch, River John, Pictou Co., NS

(Handwritten)

Estate of Roderick McKenzie, late of the West Branch, River John, Farmer, deceased, Testate

Copy of Will for the Registrar of Deeds

In the name of God, Amen.

I Roderick McKenzie of the West branch, River John, in the County of Pictou and Province of Nova Scotia, Farmer, being of sound mind and memory, Do make, publish and declare this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following, that is to say –

1st. I give devise and bequeath all my Real and personal Estate of every name and nature whatsoever to my beloved son Roderick subject to the exceptions, charges, and Legacies hereinafter set forth.

2nd. I give devise and bequeath to my beloved wife and her assigns for and during the term of her natural life one annuity or clear yearly rent or sum of Eighty dollars free of all taxes and other deductions, to be issueing and payable out of the Real Estate above devised to my son Roderick in equal half yearly payments to be calculated from the day of the date of my death an I do hereby charge and subject the said real estate with and to the payment of said annuity yearly rent or sum of Eighty Dollars at the times and in the manner aforesaid, and in the event of my having in my possession at the time of my death any cash or Bank Notes, then and in such case it is my desire and I hereby bequeath order and direct my Executors to pay to my said beloved wife the sum of thirty two dollars additional yearly out of the said money so left by me as last aforesaid until the whole fund shall be exhausted, provided she shall so long survive,
and in the event of her death taking place before the said fud shall be exhausted then and in such case I bequeath the same to m y said son Roderick, and it is my further will and desire and I do hereby order and direct that my son Roderick shall keep two sheep each year for the use and benefit of my wife during her natural life and also furnish and provide a good and comfortable room with a fireplace therein, for the use and accommodation of his said mother during the term of her natural life as aforesaid and that he will furnish provide and prepare for use whatever wood or fuel she may require for the use of one fire during the term of her natural life which said duties and obligations I do hereby constitute and make a charge on my Real Estate hereinbefore devised to my son Roderick.

I do hereby bequeath to my beloved wife one half of the furniture at present in the Dwelling House now occupied by me to be used and enjoyed by her during her natural life an after her death the same to revert to my said son Roderick, the above devises, gifts, and bequests to my aid wife are to be taken and accepted by her in lieu of Dower.

And I hereby constitute and appoint Roderick McKenzie Roderick’s son, my son in law James McIntosh and Sandy Murray of Roger’s Hill to be Executors of this my last Will and testament directing my said executors to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses and the legacies hereinafter given out of my estate, and also to erect a suitable Headstone over the graves of myself and my beloved wife out of the personal Estate left by me at the time of my death.

I give to each of my daughters viz Jennie wife of Murdoch McTavish, Nancy wife of Walter Campbell, Catherine wife of David McMillan, Margaret wife of Alexander McKay, Mary wife of James McIntosh, Henny or Henrietta wife of George Sutherland, Isabella wife of Kenneth Innes, Christy wife of George Murray, Minnie and Alexis the sum of Six Dollars of lawful money of Nova Scotia, to be paid out of my personal Estate, as soon after my decease as conveniently may be done.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto made my mark and affixed my Seal and Publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in the presence of the witnesses named below tis Twenty Sixth of March A.D. 1867.

Signed X his mark Roderick McKenzie L.S.

Signed Sealed Published and Declared by the said Roderick McKenzie as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names as witnesses hereto, the said Will having first been distinctly read over to the said Testator in our presence by James Fogo, another said testator having expressed his approbation with the provisions thereof.

Signed ---- James Fogo
" ---- James Ives
" ---- Smith Copeland

County of Pictou Sf
In the Court of Probate of Wills

I do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument consisting of three pages, is an exact and literal copy of the last Will and Testament of Roderick McKenzie, late of the West Branch of River John in the County of Pictou, Farmer, deceased, Testate, which has been duly filed and admitted to Probate in accordance with the practice of the Court.

Given under my hand at Pictou this 13th. day of March A.D. 1884.
John H. Lane Registrar

To the Registrar of Deeds for the County of Pictou

No Stamp

Province of Nova Scotia, Registrar of Deeds
Office, County of Pictou, 10th July 1884 I certify that the within instrument was duly registered at 4 PM of the above day in the registry of Wills Book No 1, pages 238,239 & 240 on the certificate of John H. Lane Rgr.

John Ferguson Regr