| 8th November 1899 Last Will of Mary Jane Brooks Wife of George Neil | From records of Notary Cyrille Renaud No. 1683 Transcribed from the original at the Quebec Archives |
On this eighth day of November one thousand eight hundred and ninety nine, before me Cyrille Renaud, Public Notary, residing in the Parish of St. Ambroise of Jeune Lorette, undersigned, and George Todd and John Todd, both farmers residing in the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, witnesses wanted for the purposes of these presents, personally appeared Mary Jane Brooks, wife of George Neil, Farmer, residing in the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier, Farmer, which has requested us to write down and receive in due form of law her last will and testament which she has declared in manner and form following, that is to say:
1º I desire that all my just debts, funeral and testamentary expenses be paid by my executor hereinafter named as soon as possible after my death.
2º I give and bequeath to my two sons Herbert Neil and Frederic Neil my share in all my lands, moveable and immoveable properties and buildings whatsoever, which said properties will be divided in two equal shares between my two sons Herbert and Frederic Neil, that I constitute and appoint my sole heirs.
3º I nominate, constitute and appoint my husband George Neil as Executor of this my will.
4º I revoke all wills and testament that I may heretofore [have] made and I declare the present to be my only true last will and testament.
Done and passed in the Parish of St. Gabriel of Valcartier under Notarial Number sixteen hundred and eighty three. And after the reading of these presents to the said Testatrix by Notary in presence of said witnesses, the Testatrix, the Notary and the witnesses have signed in the presence of each other.
Mary Jane Brooks, her signature;
George Todd, his signature;
John Todd, his signature,
Cy. Renaud, N.P., his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, 2011
Note by Patricia Balkcom: Mary Jane died 10 years later (01 Nov. 1909) at the age of 72 years. The two children mentioned in the will were the two youngest of her known 18 children.