Description Will of Donald McLean of Bailey's Brook, Pictou Co., NS

(Handwritten)

Estate of Donald McLean 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 Donald McLean of Bailey’s Brook, in the County of Pictou. Desiring to dispose of my property now that by the grace of God I find myself sane in mind and body. Before everything else I recommend my poor Soul to the Infinite mercy of God.

I desire that my funeral shall be made according to the custom of the county.

I order that as soon as conveniently can be twenty five masses be celebrated for the repose of my Soul with alms of one Dollar for each mass.

I desire that all my just and legal debts shall be paid by my sisters Catherine and Lydia from the proceeds of the property hereby bequeathed.

I ordain that my beloved brother William shall have his maintenance or support during the natural period of his life from my real Estate or farm.

I also ordain that my beloved sisters Catherine and Lydia shall have their maintenance and living during their respective unmarried period of life from my said real estate.

I will that William and my sisters shall live together occupying and using my House and barns mutually in common and peacefully together cultivate my farm for their own support, so long as they can agree to do so. But should William so choose he shall be at liberty to cultivate and work one half share of my farm on the South side thereof for his own support and that of his family should he become so possessed. And my sisters shall be at liberty to cultivate the other half share on the north side for their own support during their unmarried period of life should William choose to build a new house for himself and family he shall be at liberty to do so provided he shall allow my sisters to use and occupy one half of said new House during their unmarried life – my sisters must and shall assist him in the building of said new House.

To the first lawful male heir born unto my brother William I bequeath the whole of my real Estate that at the time of my death I may die seized of to have and to hold the same forever. But if the first heir shall not survive William then in that case I bequeath my real Estate to William’s next oldest living male heir but if he should not survive his father than to the oldest living child of William if a male but if not his oldest then living daughter.

I further ordain that i the event of William not being blessed with children then i such case I ordain and bequeath the whole of my Estate to my sisters they to become absolute owners thereof after the death of William and his wife.

To my sisters I bequeath all my personal goods chattels Furniture Farm Implements Promissory notes Gold and silver of which I may die seized and possessed or in any way entitled to and wheresoever situate to have and to hold.

And lastly I ordain all the foregoing orders and deeds shall be duly and faithfully carried out and

I hereby appoint John McLean and John D. 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 fourth day of January in the year of Our Lord one Thousand Eight hundred and seventy nine.

Signed Donald McLean L.S.

Signed Sealed and 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 his request.

Signed ---- Donald MacLean
" ---- John MacDougald

County of Pictou Sf
In the Court of Probate of Wills

I do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument consisting of two and a half pages, is an exact and literal copy of the last Will and Testament of Donald McLean, 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 25th. day of August A.D. 1880.
John H. Lane Registrar

To John Ferguson Esqr.
Registrar of Deeds for the County of Pictou

No Stamp

Province of Nova Scotia, Registrar of Deeds
Office, County of Pictou, 4th September 1880 I certify that the within instrument was duly registered at 4:10 PM of the above day in the registry of Wills Book No 1, pages 60 & 61 on the certificate of John H. Lane Rgr.

John Ferguson Regr