Description Will of Richard Clarke Murdoch of Pictou, NS

(Handwritten)

Estate of R. Clarke Murdoch late of Pictou, Custom’s Officer, deceased, Testate

Copy of Will for the Registrar of Deeds

This is the last Will and testament of me Richard Clarke Murdoch of Pictou, in the County of Pictou, Custom’s Officer.

I give and bequeath to my brother William Murdoch One hundred dollars.

I give and devise to my wife Margaret during her life the lot of land and premises with the right of way and appurtenances thereunto belonging, situate in the town of Pictou, and whereon I now reside, also the use for her life of all the household furniture and effects situate or being in and upon said devised premises.
After the decease of my said wife I devise the said real estate as follows, measuring the same from west side line of the Church of England lot to the east side line of the right of way granted to me by Robert Murdock on the west side of my said real estate, and dividing the same into two equal parts by a line drawn north and south through the center of the dwelling house thereon, and parallel with the west side line of said Church of England lot, I give and devise the eastern half part of the said real estate and dwelling house to my son John Murdoch his heirs and assigns, and the western half part of said real estate and dwelling house to James Murdoch his heirs and assigns, the said right of way granted to me aforesaid to be used in common by my said sons John and James, their heirs and assigns.
And after the decease of my said wife I give and bequeath to my son John Murdock all my said household furniture and effects.

I give devise and bequeath to my Executors (a name is scratched out and initialed) and trustees hereinafter named and the survivor o them and his successors, appointed by such survivor by deed or last will and testament, or in default by the Court, all moneys and Securities for money insurance Stock and other personal property not before devised whereof I am possessed or to which I am or may be entitled, upon the trust that my said executors or trustees shall take possession of the same and after reducing the insurance stock and other personal property into money by public or private sale, to pay out of such moneys, all my debts, testamentary and other charges and expenses including executors commissions, and then to keep the balance of said moneys or proceeds invested, as also all other moneys devised to them, by deposit in a chartered bank or banks or upon mortgage or other good security, and from and out of the interest arising thereon, to pay or retain their reasonable charges and commissions, and then to pay the balance each and every year to my said wife Margaret during her life.

After the death of my said wife I give and bequeath out of the said investments and deposits four hundred dollars to the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of the Parish of Saint James, in the Town of Pictou, or other the lawful representatives for the time being of the said Parish.

To my daughter Catherine I give and bequeath One thousand dollars.

And to my sons John and James the balance in equal proportions.

Lastly, should my sons John and James and my daughter all die before my said wife and leave no issue which shall be living at the decease of my said wife, after payment of the above legacy to the Rector Wardens and Vestry of the Parish of Saint James, I give devise and bequeath all my real and personal property to Richard Tanner the elder of Pictou and Robert McLeod of New Lairg, farmer, and their heirs share and share alike.

I hereby nominate constitute and appoint Charles E. Tanner of Pictou Barrister at Law, and Robert McLeod aforesaid of New Lairg farmer, and the survivor of them executors and trustees of and under this my last Will and testament.

I hereby revoke all former wills by me at any time heretofore made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto my hand and Seal Subscribed and Set this twenty third day of July in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and eight three.

Signed R. Clarke Murdoch L.S.

Signed Sealed and Executed by the testator Richard Clarke Murdoch in the presence of us, present at the same time, who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names as witnesses.

The words ‘not before devised’ on the eighth line of third page being interlined before execution.

Signed ---- John McMillan M.D.
" ---- R. P. Fraser

County of Pictou Sf
In the Court of Probate of Wills

I do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument consisting of three pages or thereabouts is an exact and literal copy of the last Will and Testament of Richard Clarke Murdoch late of Pictou, in the County of Pictou, Custom’s Officer, 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 31st. day of July A.D. 1883.
John H. Lane Registrar

No Stamp

Province of Nova Scotia, Registrar of Deeds
Office, County of Pictou, 6th August 1883 I certify that the within instrument was duly registered at 1 PM of the above day in the registry of Wills Book No 1, pages 187,188,189 & 190 on the certificate of John H. Lane Rgr.

John Ferguson Regr