| 23rd April 1921 Last Will of James Bowles Husband of Mary Gurry | From records of Notary Cyrille Renaud No. 8580 Quebec Archives |
On this twenty third day of April, one thousand nine hundred and twenty one.
Before me Cyrille Renauld, Notary, residing in Loretteville, undersigned, personally appeared James Bowles, husband of Mary Gurry, farmer and butcher, residing at Ste. Catherine, who being of sound and disposing mind, memory and understanding hath requested me the said notary to write down and receive in one form of law her last will and testament which he has declared in a manner and form following that is to say
- I desire that all my just debts funeral and testamentary expenses be paid by my
Executor thereinafter named as soon after my death and one hundred (?)
dMasses for my soul after my death.
- I desire that a monument for me and my husband be erected in the cemetery of the parish of St. Gabriel de Valcartier.
- I give and bequeath unto my husband James Bowles the use, usufructs and enjoyment during his life of all my properties.
- I give and bequeath unto my son, Hugh Charles Bowles the emplacements and buildings situated in the parish of Ste Catherine with the stock, horse, cow, etc., house furniture, except a part of this last for my daughter Margaret Mary Bowles.
- Margaret Mary Bowles will be entitled by this will and the will of my husband, in the sum of two thousand and five hundred dollars, Michael Joseph Bowles in the sum of two thousand dollars, Harold in the sum of one thousand dollars and William Bowles in the sum of five hundred dollars and Mary Ethel in the sum of four thousand and five hundred dollars.
- After the payments legatees herein before mentioned the balance of my properties will be divided by equal share between Margaret, Michael, Harold and William Bowles.
- I nominate, constitute and appoint my husband James Bowles and my son James Bowles of Montreal as my executors and in the case of my husband predeceasing me my son James will be the sole executor and his charge shall continue during five years if needed for the execution of my will and the sale of the properties in Ottawa; the said executor having the power and authority for the sale of properties.
- I revoke all will and codicil I may have heretofore made and I declare the present to be my only true last will and testament.
Done and passed at Ste Catherine in the house of said testator under notorial number eight thousand five hundred and eighty one. After the reading of the present will to the testator by the notary in presence of Napoleon Beaumont and Donat Beaumont, farmers, both of Ste Catherine, the testator, the notary and witnesses have signed in the presence of each others.
<signed> James Bowles
<signed> Napolean Beaumont
<signed> Donat Beaumont
<signed> C. Renauld, N.P.
Transcribed by Patrick and Barbara Keily, Feb. 2012
Note by Patricia Balkcom: James died about 3 months after writing this will. He died on the 9th of August 1921 at 69 years of age. His seven youngest children are mentioned in the will. He and Mary Gurry had 14 children – four of whom died in one week in 1888. They were aged 2 through 5 years and died of diphtheria. Wife, Mary, died 2 months previous to James’ death.