| 6th April 1865 Last Will of John Bowles Sr. | From records of Notary Benjamin Lelievre No. 1207 Quebec Archives Film #4MO1-4421, Images 713+ |
On this day the sixth of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty five. I the undersigned Notary Public duly commissioned and sworn for Lower Canada riding in the District of Quebec at the request of John Bowles residing in the Parish of Val-Cartier in the County of Quebec, farmer, went to the residence of the said John Bowles situate at Val-Cartier aforesaid. Where being in the presence of James Lannin, farmer, and John McLaughlin, farmer, both residing in the Parish of Val-Cartier aforesaid. I found the said John Bowles sitting in his kitchen same being sound of mind, memory, judgment and understanding as appeared to me the said Notary and to the said above named and undersigned witnesses by his actions, words and discourse.
*Marginal Note ( Witnesses’ here unto required for the purpose here of the said witnesses’ signing with me the said Notary) initials James Lannin, John McLaughlin, Benjamin Lelievre.
And the said John Bowles, considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the hour thereof, doth hereby make, publish, declare and dictate unto Benjamin Lelievre, the said undersigned Notary in the presence of the said above named and undersigned _______ witnesses, his last will and testament in manner following. That is to say the said John Bowles recommends his soul to God, his Creator, hoping for a free pardon and remission of his sins when it shall please Him to dissolve his mortal body through the intercession of his blessed Son our Savior.
The said John Bowles doth hereby give and bequeath unto Rose Ann Bowles, his daughter and James Maher, his son-in-law. All his moveable and immoveable property what same of which he is now possessed of or may hereafter be possessed of without any reserve, whatsoever sum or sums notes at hand or obligations, or otherwise, and wherever the said immovable property may be found whether in Canada or elsewhere
The said Rose Ann Bowles and James Maher to have, hold, possess and enjoy the said moveable and immoveable property in full property and forever. and in common from _______ after the day of the decease of the said John Bowles.
*Marginal Note (This present and last will and testament is made by the charge of the said Rose Ann Bowles and James Maher of paying unto Thomas Bowles his son aged fourteen, the sum of five hundred dollars which said sum the said John Bowles directs to be paid by the said Rose Ann Bowles and James Maher as soon as the said Thomas Bowles shall have attained the full age of twenty one, free from interest.) initials James Lannin, John McLaughlin, Benjamin Lelievre.
The said John Bowles directs that his just and lawful debts be paid by his executor hereby after named.
The said John Bowles directs that his body be buried in a decent manner and that five said masses of Requiem be said after his decease that the same be said monthly.
The said John Bowles doth hereby constitute and appoint the person of John? Bowles, his son of Val-Cartier aforesaid, farmer, as executor to his last will and testament. Whom he doth hereby request to render him this last act of kindness.
The said John Bowles hereby annulling, cancelling, objurgating, and making void all former will or wills which may have been heretofore made and executed by him the said John Bowles.
Thus done, made and dictated word by word by the said John Bowles unto the said Benjamin Lelievre, and said undersigned Notary in the presence of the said above named and undersigned witnesses on the day and year first above written under the number one thousand three hundred and twenty four, and after having read and re-read the present last will and testament unto the said John Bowles in the presence of the said above named and undersigned witnesses which he declared well to understand as being his last will and meaning, he hath persisted therein, and hath declared that he could not write or sign but make his ordinary mark by a cross, having the two above named and undersigned witnesses sign with me the said Notary in faith and testimony of the premises.
Words struck out are null.
Marginal notes approved are good.
John + Bowles
(mark)
James Lannin
John McLaughlin
Transcribed by Janice Copeman, 2012
Note by Patricia Balkcom: John died 10 months later on the 20th of February 1866 at the reported age of 78 years. He had been married three times – his first two wives predeceased him. His third wife, (Hannah Ready) although living at his death, is not mentioned in the will. The two children – Rosanna and Thomas were children of this marriage. John had at least eight other children by his first wives.