Description Will of Donald McDonald of Cape John, Pictou Co., NS

(Handwritten)

Probate Court 1899

Estate of Donald McDonald, Deceased, Testate

Certified Copy of Will for Registrar of Deeds
 
In the name o f God Amen

I Donald McDonald of Cape John and County of Pictou Farmer being of sound mind and retainable memory but the infirmities of old age making visible inroads upon my body calling to mind the uncertainty of time and acknowledging that is my duty to put even my earthly house in order before the dissolution of the body takes place I do make and ordain this my last will and Testament as follows

My first concern is to commend my soul to the God who gave it and commit my body to the dust whence it came to be buried in a decent Christian manner by my friends or executors and as regards my worldly effects I dispose of them as follows

1st. I direct that my debts or balance of debts due at the tie of my death be collected and any just debts if any together with the expenses in connection with my funeral and the probating of this will be paid out of my personal property.

2nd. I  give and bequeath to Alexander my beloved Son the farm on which I now reside also the grey mare and horse Tilly, 2 Cows 1 Truck waggon, one third of Sheep and the use of Express waggon, mowing machine and Roller conjointly with his brothers John and David.

I also order that while his brothers remain at home as they do now and make themselves generally useful in working a reasonable share on said old farm that it is and will be a home to them as heretofore.

And also that the said Alexander my son is to support his mother if she survives me in a decent and becoming manner becoming her age and position of life, so long as it suits her she is to sit and eat at the same table with the rest of the family and in this case she is to have two cows and six sheep to be chosen out of the stock by herself and Twenty Dollars in Cash to be paid semi-annually, the use of a front room and bedroom and room upstairs and firewood to be procured and left ready for use in her bedroom if required

But if it should happen that the above arrangements would not be satisfactory to her and that she wishes to live and eat in a separate appartment then in place of the above conditions she is to be furnished with rooms as above mentioned cows and sheep as above mentioned with the additional proviso that she will be supplied in her own appartment with 5 cwl. flour 2 cwl meal either oat or barley or buckwheat or a part of each to make up the 2 cwl, 150 lbs meat either Beef, pork or mutton or a part of each 8 lbs. tea, 40 sugar and 10 Bush potatoes and Twenty Dollars in cash.

In case she is dissatified she can vacate her said rooms and go and reside with any one she chooses but in case of such removable she will be obliged to receive the above allotted appartments at any place where she may choose to live. If she will require any medical and or medicines be the said Alexander is to procure and pay the same.

I also order and direct that my said son Alexander erect a suitable and respectable monument  to the memory of myself my wife and those of the family who are already dead and that the cost of the Same to be paid out of the bequests made unto him.

2nd. I give and bequeath to my son John  the East half of the lot which I own adjoining the one on which we now live to run North and South, - also the horse Terry, 1 cow and the use express waggon Mowing Machine and roller in co union with Alexander and David

3rd. I give and bequeath to David my son the West half said lot adjoining Robertsons, also horse Frank, 1 cow and express waggon, Mowing Machine and Roller in co union with Alexander and David

4th. I give and devise unto my daughter Margaret wife of George McConnel my sewing machine

I also order and wish it to be understood that if my said sons John and David put up buildings on the properties which I do hereby bequeath that they can and are at liberty to take and procure a reasonable share of lumber  out of any of the properties granted to either Alex, John or David

I order also and direct that in the case of the death of either Johor David while in a state of celibacy that his property revert to is two surviving brothers or that in the case of the death of both John and David that the property revert to the their brother Alexander.

I  hereby constitute and appoint Alexander McDonald my son and George McConnel my son in law, executors of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testaments wills  legacies bequests and Executors by me in any wise before made  willed and bequeathed ratfying and comprising  this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.

In  Witness whereof and whereunto I have Hereto Set my hand and Seal this tenth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety

Signed           Donald  McDonald        L.S.

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator as his last will and Testament in the presence of us both present who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names

Signed          Angus McKenzie
Signed           Alex F Fullerton

County of Pictou S.S.
In the Court of Probate of Wills

In the manner of the estate of Donald McDonald late of Cape John in the County of Pictou Farmer deceased testate

I do hereby certify that the annexed and foregoing instrument is an exact and literal  copy of the last Will and Testament of Donald McDonald the above named deceased  which said will  was duly admitted to Probate in accordance with the practise of this Court

Given under my hand at Pictou this 6th. day of September AD 1899.

John D. MacLeod  Registrar of said Court

Stamp -
PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA, REGISTRAR OF DEEDS
Office, County of Pictou,  SEP 6 1899   I certify that the within instrument was duly registered at 2 PM of the above day in Book 3, page 215-217  on the certificate of John D. MacLeod Reg

John Yorston  Registrar.