Description Will of Laughlin MacDonald of Bailey's Brook, Pictou Co., NS

(Handwritten)

 

Estate of Laughlin MacDonald late of Bailey's Brook, Farmer, deceased, Testate.

Copy of Will for the Registrar of Deeds

This is the last Will and Testament of me Laughlin MacDonald of Bailey's Brook in the County of Pictou, desiring to dispose of my property now that I find myself sane in mind and body.

I desire that my funeral shall be made according to the customs in the County.

I ordain that all my just and legal debts shall be paid out of the proceeds of the property hereby bequeathed.

I give and bequeath to my beloved son Roderick forty acres of land on the north side of my homestead farm to be laid off from front to rear, I also ordain that after the lapse of ten years from the date hereof Roderick shall become possessed of ten acres additional on a parallel to the north line to have and to hold forever.

I give and bequeath to my beloved son Donald the rest and residue of my homestead farm to become possessed there of when he attains the full age of twenty five years, for the maintenance and support of my daughters Catherine Isabella and Janet and my said son Donald.

I give and bequeath to my said sons the mountain wood lot situate at Bailey's Brook Forks so called, to be by them owned mutually and in common.

I ordain that after my son Donald shall attain the age of twenty five years he shall after that date support my beloved wife in a becoming manner suitable to her station in life.

I ordain that my son Roderick shall have free use of half my house and half my barn.

I ordain that all my goods, chattels, farming implements and household furniture shall be mutually owned and used by my wife and son Roderick except as hereafter provided.

I also ordain that after the lapse of ten years from the date hereof all goods, chattels, farm implements and household furniture then existing shall be equally divided between my sons Roderick and Donald.

I ordain that my house shall always be free and open to my son John at any time he is out of employment.

I ordain that my beloved daughters Catherine Isabella and Janet shall be supported and maintained during their unmarried period of life by my beloved wife, they my said daughters assisting my wife in all reasonable work in the house and on the farm and should they or either of them my said daughters become married within the next ten years from the date hereof in that case each so married shall receive as portion two cows and four sheep out of the stock hereby bequeathed.

 I ordain that after the lapse of ten years from the date hereof my said daughters are then to be clothed and supported and receive their marriage portion from my said sons instead of from my wife.

I ordain that provided my said daughters or either of them become reasonably dissatisfied with the support and maintenance provided them by my said sons in that case I decree that my said daughters shall have house room one Cow and three sheep instead and pasture for each of them respectively during their unmarried period of life for their own and absolute use and benefit in lieu of being supported by my said sons.

And lastly I ordain that all the foregoing orders and decrees shall be duly and faithfully carried out and I hereby appoint Donald McGillivray in Alexander McDonald both of Bailey's Brook whom I make, constitute, and ordain executors of this my last Will and testament, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament this eighteenth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and Seventy nine.

Signed.    X his mark.   Laughlin MacDonald LS.

Signed Sealed published and declared by the testator as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereto Subscribed our names as witnesses at the request.

Signed D. D. Macdonald

    "       John D. Macdonald

    ".      Donald McDonald

County of Pictou SF

In the Court of Probate of Wills

I do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument consisting of two & a quarter pages is an exact and literal copy of the last will & testament of Laughlin MacDonald, late of Bailey's Brook, 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 first day of October A.D., 1896.

John H. Lane Register

To the Register of Deeds County of Pictou.

Province of Nova Scotia, Registrar of Deeds

Office Pictou 14th. Oct 1896 I certify that the within instrument was duly registered at 10 AM of the above day in the Book No.3, page 74-5 & 6, on the certificate of J.H. Lane Reg. of Probate.

John Yorston, Registrar.