| 29th July 1861 Will of Patrick Coughlin Widower of Ann Flynn | From Notary Records of Daniel Watters No. 3729 Quebec Archives Microfilm #4M01-5809 |
On this day the twenty ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty one, I the undersigned Notary Public duly admitted, commissioned and sworn in and for the Province of Lower Canada, residing in the Parish of St. Augustin, County of Portneuf, in the said Province, and the witnesses hereinafter named and denominated, went to the residence of Mr. Patrick Coughlin, farmer, residing in the Parish of Ste. Catherine, where being we found the said Patrick Coughlin in his bed being bodily sick but of sound mind, memory, judgment and understanding, who declared unto us the said Notary and witnesses, that considering the certainty of death & the uncertainty of the hour thereof and in order to be better prepared to leave this world whenever it will please God Almighty to call him hence, he desired us to make out his last will and testament which he dictated unto the said Notary, in manner and form following:
Firstly, I recommend my soul to God Almighty, My Creator, begging forgiveness of all my sins, and the enjoyment of eternal happiness in the world to come.
Secondly, I do will and ordain that all my just debts be paid and any wrongs by me done, if any there are, repaired as soon as possible after my decease by my Testamentary Executor herein after named and appointed.
Thirdly, I do will and ordain that my body shall be interred in a manner suitable to my condition, relying in the discretion of my said Testamentary Executor hereinafter named.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath unto Mary Coughlin, Julia Coughlin and Ellen Coughlin, my daughters, and to Arthur Coughlin, one of my sons, each of them, the sum of three pounds currency, and moreover to the said Mary Coughlin my bed and bedding. The whole to take lieu & being payment to them of all heredity claims in my estate & succession.
And lastly, as to all and singular the remainder and residue of my property, real and personal, moveable and immoveable, that I may die possessed of and whatever kind and nature the same may consist, and in what place soever the same may be situated, I do give and bequeath the same unto Cornelius Coughlin, the other of my sons, for by him to enjoy, use and dispose thereof from the day of my decease as he may think proper, hereby instituting him my universal legatee in property.
And for the execution of the present will, I name for my Executor, the said Cornelius Coughlin, my beloved son, into the hands of whom I do hereby divest and disseize and dispossess my self of all the said property according to the meaning of the law actually in force concerning wills.
And finally, I do hereby revoke all other wills and testaments that I may have heretofore made desiring this present one may have its full effect for such is my last will and desires.
Thus done and dictated by the said Testator unto the said Notary on the day and year first above written, in the house and residence aforesaid, in the said Parish of Sainte Catherine, under the number three thousand seven hundred and twenty nine, in the presence of Messrs. Patrick White and Patrick Walsh, both farmers of the said Parish of Sainte Catherine, witnesses, called for the effect hereof, and these presents having been read over by the said Notary unto the said Testator, in the presence of the said witnesses he declared that he well understood the same in all its contents and persisted therein, the said Testator having been requested to sign, declared that he could not sign nor write his name sign, the said witnesses signed these presents together with the said Notary, first duly read over according to law.
Patrick White, his signature;
Patrick Walsh, his signature;
D. Watters, N.P., his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, 2012
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: Patrick had been predeceased by his wife, Ann Flynn. He died a few days (August 2) after this will was written at the reported age of 66 years.