| 22nd June 1858 Last Will of Mary Dalton Wife of John Woodlock | From records of Notary Edward George Cannon No. 3402 Quebec Archives Film #4M01-1572 |
On the twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight, before the undersigned Notaries Public residing in the City of Quebec, personally came, appeared and was present Mary Dalton, of the place called St. Gabriel de Valcartier in the County of Quebec, wife of John Woodlock, Farmer who being in good bodily health and of sound mind and understanding as to us appeared by her manner and conversation and considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of its hour hath declared unto us the said notaries that she desired to make her last will and testament which she hath requested us the said notaries to receive and which we Edward George Cannon, one of the said notaries in the presence of Mtre. Philippe Huot, our confrere, have taken down as dictated to us by the same Mary Dalton word for word and as follows, viz.,
I recommend my soul to Almighty God hoping for a free pardon and remission of my sins through the intercession of my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ.
I will and direct that all my just debts be fully paid and satisfied by me Executor hereinafter named.
I give and bequeath unto my beloved husband the said John Woodlock, all and every the property real and personal, moveable and immovable (without any exception or reserve) which I may die possessed of herein after instituting her said husband her universal legatee.
It was thus made, dictated and named by the said Mary Dalton unto us the said Notaries in the day and year above written, and the present Last Will and Testament having been read over and over again lu et relu au long to the said Mary Dalton, Testatrix, by Mtre. Edward George Cannon one of us the said notaries in the presence of the said Philippe Huot who was present all the time during the execution hereof the said Mary Dalton declared to have perfectly heard and understood the said Will and Testament and persisted in the contents thereof.
Done and passed at the said City of Quebec in the Office of Edward George Cannon one of the undersigned notaries in Donnacona Street in the Upper Town of the said City of Quebec, under the number three thousand four hundred and two, the said Mary Dalton Testatrix having signed these presents first twice duly read as aforesaid with us the said notaries in faith & testimony of the promises.
Mary Dalton, her signature;
Philippe Huot, N.P., his signature;
E.G. Cannon, N.P., his signature
Transcribed by Gerald Neville, April 2011
Notes by Patricia Balkcom: This is the first known will of Mary, she died many years later, so there may be further wills.