| 27th April 1917 Will of John Atkins Husband of Catherine Smart Brooks | From records of Notary Cyrille Renaud No. 7299 Transcribed from the original at the Quebec Archives |
On this twenty seventh day of April one thousand nine hundred and seventeen, before me, Cyrille Renaud, Public Notary residing at Loretteville, undersigned, personally appeared John Atkins, Farmer, residing in the parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, who being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding hath requested me the said Notary to write down and receive in due form of law his last will and testament which he has declared in manner and form following, that is to say:
1º I will and resign my soul into the hands of Almighty God in the humble hope that he will receive it to his favor through the sole merits and intercession of Jesus Christ my Saviour.
2º I desire that all my just debts, funeral an testamentary expenses be paid by my Executor hereinafter named as soon as possible after my death.
3º I give and bequeath to my daughter Mable Atkins the black horse.
4º I give and bequeath to my wife Catherine Smart Brooks all my other moveable and immoveable properties wherever the same may be found and to whatever the same shall amount hereby instituting my said wife my universal legatee and the Executrix of this my will and testament.
Done and passed at Valcartier in the residence of the said Testator under Notarial Number seven thousand two hundred and ninety nine. After the reading of the present will to the Testator by the Notary in presence of William Smith and John Corrigan, both of the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, Farmers, the Testator having declared his inability to sign his name has made his mark in the presence of the witnesses and Notary and the witnesses and Notary have signed in presence of the Testator and in the presence of each other.
John Atkins, his mark;
William Smith, his signature;
John Corrigan, his signature;
Cy. Renaud, N.P., his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, 2011
Note by Patricia Balkcom: John died about 3 months later (July 17th) aged 65 years.